Chapter 49: Bones.

NEXT TO NIGEL, Pete awakened with a start. Nigel knew it even with his eyes closed. His tentacles, which had somehow found their way around the alien in the dark, let go. Nigel sensed everything about the royal, despite missing that particular limb. All night, he’d been unconsciously tuned into the royal, listening to him sleep. Mostly, Nigel had dozed, wrestling with an unnatural, persistent urge to protect the silly sod.

The alien squirmed, a restless ...