Chapter 5
How will I hide now?
I stared at my injured hand, lying in my bunk, which was tucked into the wall of my berth.
I’d woken up in the medbay, and I didn’t recall much from my time there.
I remembered Qinlin talking about something…
What? I wasn’t entirely sure. I was fairly certain she’d talked about Noxlyn, who’d been gone by the time I’d awoken.
When I’d asked, Qinlin had said he was off stalking the humans, being invasive and pesky.
Apparently, he believed in firsthand research, which was reasonable.
However, I wasn’t sure how Seth or Bartholomew or any of the other humans would feel about a drakcol following them, though I was certain Noxlyn would keep the distance the Council of Seekers had determined each human was allowed to have from any researcher.
Still, I doubted any of the humans would enjoy it.
I hadn’t mentioned the possibility of Noxlyn following the humans to Seth when he’d visited me, because he’d brought Prince Kalvoxrencol.
The prince was highly protective of his mate, as he should be, and he would be upset at the thought of someone following Seth, though I doubted Noxlyn meant any harm.
He was trying to learn. It was what we seekers did.
Most seekers hyper focused on a single subject, and we chased it with reckless abandon, dedicating our lives to learning about it.
Not all of us did, but from what I’d learned about Noxlyn, he had a focus, humans, and he would chase them until he was satisfied.
I highly doubted that time would ever come.
Perhaps I should introduce Noxlyn to Camden.
Camden was the friendliest human, baring Caleb, I’d met.
Noxlyn and Camden would probably be well suited to each other.
Noxlyn could ask whatever he wanted without worrying about causing offense, and Camden would have another friend.
The cheery human was always trying to fix things or surround himself with people, so another addition to his crowd of friends would probably make him happy.
My hand throbbed as I shifted, drawing my focus to the injury once more.
My palm was wrapped in a plaster to keep the healing ointment against my delicate skin.
The wound and surgical site had been closed with a laser, but Qinlin had been forced to remove the scales, which sometimes didn’t regrow depending on how damaged the beds were.
If my scales didn’t grow back, I’d have a difficult time in the future.
Drakcon skin was exceedingly sensitive, as it was meant to be covered in scales.
High temperatures or extreme weather could affect the skin, drying it out.
I would spend a lot of time simply caring for my hand, and I’d have to wear gloves whenever I was grabbing things.
Too much pressure, and I could puncture the fragile skin.
My scales would most likely return, statistically speaking, and I was taking good care of the wound in the meantime while I waited for reassignment. I couldn’t work in the tunnels while injured, and Qinlin had given me the week off to rest.
Seth had immediately volunteered to spend the whole week with me or to have me come to his and Prince’s quarters.
The instant proposal had warmed my soul—Seth was truly my best friend—but I’d refused.
He was busy with keeping the humans calm and answering their questions as well as caring for Bobbinvoxlyn.
He didn’t need more responsibility. He and Kalvoxrencol needed more time alone, and my presence in their quarters or stealing Seth’s limited free time wouldn’t help.
Urgg had to work at their bakery, but they’d also volunteered to spend time with me, or they said I could work for them in the interim, earning units for my house god fund.
I’d told them I would think about it. I needed to see what Doctor Qinlin planned for me first. She was the head seeker on the Admiral Ven and doled out assignments, though they had to be approved by Commander Monqilcolnen.
I frowned as a fuzzy thought of him hovering over me while he demanded to know what was wrong floated through my thoughts.
Had he come to the medbay? That seemed highly unlikely.
While incidents were reported to the commander, it was unlikely he’d show up in the medbay for a simple injury on a random lieutenant, especially one he didn’t even like.
My false memory was probably on account of the medication Qinlin had administered.
“Lieutenant Wyn,” said the smooth voice I dreaded.
“No,” I groaned, covering my face.
Commander Monqilcolnen was pinging me. I couldn’t, in all honor or according to regulations, ignore his ping or I’d get in trouble. I slid my touchstone out of my pocket. “Commander Monqilcolnen.”
His even voice sounded in my ear, so different from the rough growl I’d dreamed in the medbay. “Are you well?”
“Well enough. How can I assist you?”
“I would like to speak to you in my office.”
“I’m coming.”
“It’s no rush, if you are feeling ill, Lieutenant. I don’t want you to get more hurt. Your health is of the utmost importance.”
I blinked. Monqilcolnen almost never talked in front of me besides short sentences. Now that I thought about it, it seemed like he avoided me as much as I did him. That hurt, oddly. Why should it have, though? We were not friends.
“I’m fine.”
“Excellent.”
I said, “I will be there soon.”
“Understood.” He disconnected, and I stared at the touchstone.
Monqilcolnen was acting oddly, not that I possessed much frame of reference. While I lived in the palace and spent time with the royal family because of my connection to Seth, I hadn’t seen Monqilcolnen often.
I stood, tucking my touchstone back into my pocket, and smoothed my casual clothes.
I was technically off duty until Qinlin cleared me for light duty.
The white shirt looked nice against my lavender scales, the tall collar accentuating my long neck, and the lack of sleeves showed off my lithe, yet muscular arms. My black trousers clung to my thin legs.
I wore little jewelry except the gold studs in my ears up to the tapered point and the stud in my lobe had blue stones to match my eyes.
My braid was still neat, even after lying on it.
Normally, someone of my station would keep their hair short, but since I’d started working at the palace, I’d grown it out until it was a thick braid hanging down my back.
The sides of my head were shaved, not to the scales of my scalp, but until they were short enough I couldn’t run my fingers through it.
I glanced around the silent berth. All lower-ranked officers and civilians had the same quarters: a hallway consisting of four bunks set within the wall with a single compartment for storing our items at the end.
There was no door, so anyone walking by could see into the berths, and all of the officer berths shared a communal bathroom.
As a lieutenant, I could’ve applied for private quarters with only three other people and its own bathroom, but I liked my current lodgings well enough, even if it lacked privacy.
One of my three berthmates was asleep on his bunk, face turned toward the wall.
I moved to my storage to grab my boots. All of my clothes were neatly folded or hung inside.
My tools were evenly lined and etched with my name.
An old habit, but one I’d never bothered to try and get over.
I put my name on every piece of clothing, tool, screen, or even styluses I owned, making sure everyone knew they were mine.
With a steadying breath, I left my berth, walking past more, some empty and some not. I greeted the people who acknowledged my passing through the officers’ berths.
I took the lift to deck two. Monqilcolnen didn’t have an office on the same deck as command, like Captain Talvax did, which was unexpected, but for all I knew, he’d requested it. Maybe he wanted to be closer to his quarters, which were on deck two with the royals and other senior officers.
With a push on the black panel alight with the blue of NAID beside the door, a bell chimed.
“Enter,” Monqilcolnen called, and the door slid open, revealing the commander.
He leaned over his desk crowded with screens.
A xyihyn tree, with golden leaves and black bark, stood next to a long window that looked into the void of space.
He had a couch, cluttered with even more items. On the built-in shelf behind him, I spotted trinkets, from rocks to an orange leaf held in stasis to different carvings.
Oddly enough, there was a plain stylus on a stand directly behind his right shoulder.
Maybe items from his previous travels or his past.
A meow sounded, and my soul froze. A cat was curled up on an over-stuffed bed in the corner of the room, next to an artificial tree that had plenty of places for the Earthen god to rest. The cat itself was fluffy with orange and white fur, making the creature look rather creamy.
I wanted to squeeze them close and bury my face in their ruff.
“Lieutenant,” he said.
“You have a cat,” I burst out, then shied away, my tail curling around my ankle.
“I do indeed. Cincin was a gift from Kalvoxrencol when I expressed an interest in having a house god, or goddess in her esteemed case. She is friendly, if you wish to introduce yourself.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. I went down on my knees, my tail thrashing.
She cracked one golden eye and rolled, showing off her white belly.
I sank my fingers into her thick fur and groaned at the softness.
I gently stroked her, and she purred, eyes closing, as if she expected to be worshiped, which she probably did.
I didn’t know how sentient cats were, but Lucy, Seth’s cat, wasn’t stupid.
“Greetings, Cincin,” I whispered. “That’s a fine name.”
I glanced at Monqilcolnen, and he was already watching me with a peaceful expression, but I’d hardly expected anything different. He usually appeared serene. I doubted much upset him, though I didn’t know how that was possible. No one could always be calm. Emotions and life didn’t allow for it.
“I apologize,” I said.
“For?”
“Getting distracted. What can I do for you, Commander?” I asked, but when I tried to stand, he waved it off.
“Keep petting Cincin. She likes it.”
My butt hit the backs of my calves as I kneeled on the soft moss, my fingers buried in her fur.
Monqilcolnen said, “Doctor Qinlin was working on your assignment, but I feared her choices would be too straining for your hand, so I’m going to take you on as an assistant.”
“Excuse me?”
He gestured to the mess of screens on the desk and couch. “I could use assistance collating, organizing, and refining all of the reports I have to read. I also need someone to manage my schedule. I’d intended to hire a civilian, but in the interim, I thought you could assist me.”
No. No way could I work with Monqilcolnen. One arched eyebrow, and he would send me fleeing. I couldn’t work with him on a regular basis. But how did I politely decline his kind offer?
I couldn’t. He wasn’t only my superior; he was also a much higher rank than me. And if the rumors were to be believed, he was going to take over his father’s position as royal advisor when Hallonnixmin took the throne.
No safe way out of this political snare existed.
“I would be honored,” I said.
A gentle smile bloomed on his lips. A full one. Not a smirk like when we’d been on the mat. This was a real, true smile. I blinked. He was smiling at me. It was… I didn’t have words. But even more curious, the sight of his full lips turning upwards and revealing his white teeth set my soul ablaze.
Monqilcolnen cleared his throat. “Excellent. After your week off, you can start.”
Cincin meowed, because I’d stopped petting her, and successfully ripped my gaze from Monqilcolnen’s face. I rubbed her head, and she settled again. At least I would be able to interact with his cat. That was a massive benefit.
Wyn was cuddling Cincin as she pressed against him, happy as can be.
I’d lied. Cincin wasn’t a friendly cat. She liked me, and that was it.
She was shy and usually ran from anyone who approached her, ears folded and a hiss building in her throat.
Seth had promised to make friends with her, and I believed him, but I’d hoped she would like Wyn, much like Seth’s Lucy had—and she did.
Even now she pressed her head into his palm, making him smile. My soul calmed at the sight, and my serenity wasn’t fake.
When I’d approached Qinlin about having Wyn work for me, she’d said it was a waste of his talents.
I fully agreed. Wyn was far too intelligent and competent to merely assist me, but I wanted him to stay by my side to assure myself he was healing appropriately.
I feared he’d push himself too hard to the point of harm. Wyn was far too important to risk.
My eyes flicked to his wounded hand, which was still covered in a thick plaster.
While Qinlin had assured me he was healing, I wanted to see it for myself, to run my tongue over the injury and clean it thoroughly, but I could not.
I didn’t have the right; I didn’t even have the right to have such instincts. Wyn and I were nothing.
Yet my instincts demanded I clean the wound and ignoring it wasn’t easy.
My patience was wearing thin. I wanted to close the distance between us and find out what he would mean to me. That would mean telling Wyn of my inner fire and my premonition regarding him; I didn’t want to do that. Not yet, at least.
Keeping secrets had become my normal, and I was unsure how to change that. Telling the truth was far harder than people thought, especially after years of secrets, after years of hiding. But I would do it. I had to. Wyn deserved the truth of me.
Wyn smiled, and peace filled me. He was worth waiting for, no matter how we turned out or how long I had to wait. I was beginning to suspect that Wyn was worth everything.