Chapter 27
An outing to remember.
I stepped into the promenade with my tail curled around Wyn’s.
My gut roiled as if the ship’s stabilizers were malfunctioning.
At any moment, I was going to vomit, which wouldn’t endear Wyn to me.
The nerves were almost too much. This had to be the most perfect outing in the history of couples.
I needed to show Wyn we matched and were utterly perfect together.
I already knew it, but he didn’t. I had to prove it to him.
I had to show him I was good enough for him, that even though I hadn’t joined the Ranks, I was still worthy.
He needed to see me and accept me because…
If he left… I was unable to even finish the thought. His absence would destroy me.
Wyn’s arm brushed against mine, and I suppressed a shudder. We were both out of our uniforms and in sleeveless shirts, and the mere touch of his scales to mine sent shocks of electricity through my body. Would he be offended if I suddenly dragged him back to my quarters?
No. I shook my head to banish the thought. Wyn had said he wanted to eat, and I would ensure he was fed. I might not want to share his presence with anyone, but we did need to exist and live. If we didn’t make a routine, how would he know I’d fit into his life?
He glanced at me, and I tried to smile, but it couldn’t crack through my well-affixed mask of serenity. I tried; however, my nerves were too much. Wyn’s tail tightened on mine before loosening, as if he was going to release me. No! I clutched his tail.
“Wyn?”
“Are you well?” he asked.
“Certainly. I’m with you.”
Wyn smiled, but it was strained and his eyes darted around like they used to when he was nervous of me, when he wanted to run away.
I supposed he was still nervous of me; that he still wanted to leave me.
That thought was enough to gut me as effectively as a claw.
My mate was unsure of me. I was already failing.
I brushed the backs of my fingers down his arm, and he shivered. I asked in a low voice, “Where do you wish to go?”
His eyes landed on the cat shrine, and I shook my head. Of course Wyn wished to spend time with cats. Cincin wasn’t enough for him, it seemed. I imagined we would have many cats in the future.
“I would be more than happy to purchase you a feline,” I said.
He stilled, ignoring the bustling crowd around us. People grumbled and some swore as they were forced to veer around us. Only a few blatantly stared until I glared at them, making them dart away.
Wyn’s expression was hard. “I do not require you to buy me anything.”
His tail slipped from mine, and I felt my soul shatter. I had messed up. I hadn’t intended to. “Wyn—”
“I am not here for your money, Monqilcolnen, nor your status.”
“I know that.”
“When I get a cat, and I will get one, it’ll be because I bought one with my own money. Not because you or Seth purchased me one.”
“I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.”
He looked at me, his shoulders straight and his gaze locked on mine. “You know what people are going to assume, though, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I replied. Wyn was from a far lower station than I was, and people would talk about the two of us, especially since Wyn was so lovely and he’d worked as my assistant for a time.
But, at the same time, my soul would make them whisper even more.
Why was I in space? If I had joined the ranks would I have chosen someone else?
Why couldn’t we just be together without any questions about why we liked one another?
“I don’t need you to add more power to their words.”
I struggled to find the right words to soothe Wyn’s concerns. I had none. There was a matter of truth to his words that couldn’t be talked away. I brushed his arm again. “My apologies.”
“Accepted.”
“Well, well, well, if it’s not Monqilcolnen and Wyn,” a voice said that made me swallow a snarl. My tail coiled around Wyn’s in a possessive claim.
Wyn gave me a slight smile that said he wasn’t unaware of my claim and was amused by it. He faced the newcomers, Camden and Noxlyn.
Camden had his elbow cocked on Noxlyn’s shoulder, and he watched us with a wide grin. He shook his free arm, making the very fine bracelet wiggle. “I have to thank you for letting me win the bet.”
Noxlyn glared at his friend, but he didn’t comment.
“What bet?” Wyn asked.
“Nox here didn’t think the two of you would get together, and I did. I won this cool bracelet as well as his digital catalog because you did,” he said. “So thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Wyn said slowly and glanced in my direction. I lifted my palms in response. Who knew how the minds of humans worked? They were odd creatures, and Camden, like all of his race, was just as confusing.
“What are you two planning to do today?” Camden asked, wiggling his sculpted eyebrows. “Something romantic?”
I fought the urge to growl. I wished I could claim I didn’t know why this particular human annoyed me, but I did.
It was because of the very tenuous claim he’d placed on Wyn—though from how Camden acted, he didn’t care for Wyn as I did, which was a good thing for everyone involved.
I would never allow anyone to take Wyn from me now that I had him.
If I was honest, I wouldn’t have allowed anyone to lay permanent claim to Wyn before I’d succeeded in claiming a small portion of his affections.
If someone had tried, there would’ve been blood.
Wyn smiled at his friend. “We’re going to get some food.”
My mask was perfectly affixed, but internally I was daring the attractive human to try and ask to join us.
Camden didn’t. He just gave Noxlyn a smirk, shaking the bracelet again, and the other drakcol shook his head, crossing his arms. The two of them were an odd pair, but their friendship rang with true authenticity, even though Noxlyn had a seeker’s obsession with studying humans.
“We’re off to try and entice the other humans into a game night with us,” Camden said, then leaned closer. “I’m hoping Teddy and Seth might help me convince the Cohort to bring my brother on board. I can’t leave him on Earth. So game night. Perfect time to schmooze the powers that be.”
I glanced at Wyn to see if he understood the human terms of “game night” and “schmooze” any more than I did.
I knew what games were, but I didn’t know what games had to do with nighttime.
NAID supplied friendly manipulation for schmooze, which confused me.
Wyn’s wide eyes told me he didn’t understand Camden any more than I did.
“What is a game night?” Wyn asked.
“I asked him the very same thing,” Noxlyn said. “Not all of their games are like ours.”
That was hardly surprising. Most Drakcon games were physical and usually involved some sort of mock violence.
Humans, or the ones that I knew well, were not of the sort to play Drakcon games, though Bartholomew did run and play with Serlotminden.
And in truth, it was a bit much for me to judge the whole of humanity on the handful of humans I actually knew.
I had done no research into their species, so I truly couldn’t say.
“What sort of games do you play?” I asked in an attempt to be more friendly with Camden. The human hadn’t truly done anything to warrant my animosity, but being nice to him was like being shot with a blaster.
“Me personally? Mainly card or drinking games, but there are many different types,” Camden said. “Tonight we’re going to play poker.”
“I’ve heard of this. Seth and Caleb play with Gilvaxtin,” I replied.
Hallonnixmin’s mate had a love of gambling, though she usually bet on fights, but she’d fallen in love with the human card game.
And from the amount of stuff she’d taken from Seth and Caleb, it was safe to say she was skilled at the game.
“Have fun,” Wyn said, slightly tugging on my tail, as if he wished us to leave.
I gave them a short goodbye and led Wyn away. When I was sure Camden and Noxlyn were far enough away to not overhear us, I asked, “Did Camden upset you?”
“No,” he replied, glancing at me. “Why would you think that?”
I directed Wyn around a couple of barbarus who were loudly debating whether clubs or bats were better. I said, “I thought the tug might indicate you wished to leave right away.”
Wyn ducked his head, but he pressed closer to my side. “I did want to leave.”
“Why?”
His voice dropped to the point I almost couldn’t hear him as he whispered, “I didn’t want Camden to invite us, and us to have to go for politeness’ sake.”
A blazing fire swelled in my chest and sent my soul thrashing. “Why?”
“Because I want to spend the night with you. Just you.”
I bumped up his chin, so his gaze met mine. Wyn’s clear blue eyes were wide and his breath sharp. I brushed the line of his jaw before dropping my hand, recalling our permissions discusssion—Wyn didn’t want me to touch him all that much outside of fucking.
“I desire the same thing,” I told him.
Wyn smiled. “Let’s eat, then.”
I allowed him to lead me through the bustling crowd of the promenade.
The usual sound of conversation and laughter faded to a low murmur, the normal bright colors and flashing signs became nothing more than a soft glow, and the strong scents of savory food, sweet treats, and soft floral fragrances faded away under the light perfume that came off Wyn.
All I saw, heard, and smelled was him. He was everything.
There was nothing else in my sight besides Wyn.
We stopped in front of a Foblen noodle shop, and Wyn led me to a table in the corner.
“Is this a favorite of yours?” I asked.
“Yes. I come here several times a week.”
I stored that information away in my mind. I wanted to learn everything about Wyn that there was to.
“Do you trust me to order for you?” Wyn asked.
I folded my hands on the table and gave him a warm look. “I trust you with everything.”