Once we finally make it close enough to have some hopes of entering the village, the sun has completely disappeared, and I’m barely able to see the shape of our feet when looking down.

Nero insisted we hold hands earlier on so that we wouldn’t get lost, and I eventually gave in to his suggestion. A part of me cannot help but think of how awkward this is, though I’m mostly thankful, for his warmth is contagious, and the heat of his palm has chased most of my shivers away.

As we near buildings made of ice, I spot other Vlexidians thriving in the night, hanging up lanterns and all sorts of fancy lights as merchants come out of their houses, selling food, both grilled and fried.

It doesn’t seem like they mind the storm. Every precaution has been taken so that they are able to live as freely and as possible.

But for how long can this momentary peace last?

I wonder what father would say if he were here to see this.

“They have very big coats,” Nero mutters. “Maybe you could ask them for one.”

I shrug. “Without money, it could be a tad complicated.”

“Why don’t you just tell them the truth?” Nero asks me. “Why don’t you just say you’re a lost prince and that you need—”

My eyes go wide. I press a palm to his lips in hopes of silencing him. He says something, but it’s muffled against my skin. “Not another word,” I hiss, “and don’t tell them about my identity.”

Nero wriggles against me.

I sigh, and finally release him.

“Are they enemies?” he says, his voice a lot lower, more menacing than before.

“They don’t know I’m alive. They think I’m dead. It would cause a fuss if I told them about my origins.” I turn to face him. “Understood?”

Nero nods. We exchange a smile and glance into each other’s eyes for more than a few seconds before I decide to avert his gaze. It’s still not the easiest task, to look at him freely—I blame the incident in the pod for that.

A merchant strolls up to us. “Greetings gentle…” his attention wanders over Nero’s figure. “alien-men?”

“Vlexidians.” I correct him with a curt nod. “My friend here was playing around with some rather strange technology and got stuck in this form. Don’t mind him, it’s not contagious, only purely aesthetically disturbing.”

“Ah.” The man presses both his palms together and wriggles his fingers. His smile seems forced. “One of us then,” he says it in a voice that sends shivers down my spine; and although Nero’s case could be a possibility in this land, I don’t think he believes us. “You’ve got an interesting taste for fashion at least, I can tell you that.” He snorts. “Naked and barely wearing anything. Where did you even come from?”

“We got lost,” I say, all the while doing my best to keep the trembles in my voice at bay. “We were searching for help and ended up here. This blizzard, it’s—”

“Yeah, yeah.” The man waves us inside the village. “You can stay the night. I’ll give you a room in my inn. Not like business is bloomin’ anyway since this weather started and our selfish excuse for a king abandoned us all.”

I want to ask him what he means by that, but stating that I don’t know anything about the planet’s current political climate would only raise suspicions.

It’ll have to wait—right now, I must play along with this charade.

“Oh.” I pause. “We don’t have that kind of money, apologies.”

The innkeeper glances at me from over his shoulder. “It’s fine, brother,” he says. “As long as you don’t trash the place, couples get the room for free.” Greed flashes through his gaze. “For one night only though.”

Couple?

“That’s great!” Nero exclaims. “We needed help for tonight! You’re very kind!”

He thinks we’re a couple?

Upon seeing my lack of reaction, the innkeeper chuckles and tells me, “My, there’s no need to be shy. Come on, I know what this is and why you’re being so secretive.” He slaps me on the back. “I’ve seen you lot travelling around before. Every other day we get visits from a pair eloping together far from their villages.” He shakes his head and scratches his head. As he leads us through the crowd of people bustling about and into an inn of modest size, he mutters: “Guess that’s what the end of the world does to people…”

As much as I want to argue that Nero and I certainly aren’t involved with each other in…such ways…I can’t.

Or else he would make us pay.

He would kick us out.

“Ah!” I laugh and throw my hands in the air. “You caught us!”

Nero tilts his head. He raises a brow at me, and I figure I might have to explain the art of lying to him later tonight, before he gets any more confused by my words.

“Great, great!” The innkeeper points us to a room and gives me a key-card, along with two boxed meals. “Here you go! You’ll find that there’s two rooms waiting for you inside: the main corridor, where you may eat and talk the night away, and another where you may”—he winks at me; I try not to cringe—“sleep, if you know what I mean.” The innkeeper snickers as he nudges my sides. “Enjoy yourselves!”

“Thank you, we will,” I assure him with yet another forced smile as I watch him leave.

Gods, what have I gotten myself into?