the flies scattered for a heartbeat , and then circled back to settle on him where he lay . i miss you , my dear beautiful friend , i whispered in his ear . on the third night he said to me , `` do you know why captain julius hired me to be his mate ? i wonder if she moved us or was just creating an illusion . * * * * * he felt her mouth touch his then slide to his jaw , up his jaw and to his ear . 