72. Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Z oey
The next few days are going to be torture, far more agonizing than traveling cross-country with my family in order to hold hate signs in the hot sun. This morning every minute has felt like an hour and we just finished breakfast.
The males are competing in their second heats this morning. Dhoom bowed out, even though Steele insisted they had finished their last match in a tie. It was obvious the male hadn’t recovered as much as he had wished.
A’Zul chose not to compete yesterday. He sat in the stands with his mate and child and enjoyed the show. When Dhoom withdrew, the magnificent dragon shifter offered to take his place.
Bayne and Willa are sitting in the stands. “No shifting into canines today,” Bayne assures everyone. “We had enough fun yesterday.”
“Pick again!” the silver pilot Braxxus calls to Savannah who is announcing again today. “Axxios and I shouldn’t compete against each other. We’re too evenly matched.”
“You afraid you’re going to lose to me, brother?” Axxios teases.
Brianna, who seems to run constant interference between her two mates, interrupts. “Savannah, I’ll never hear the end of it when we’re alone in our room. Can you pick again?”
Braxxus and his twin Axxios come from planet Mythros where all males are born as twins. They turn silver and gold at puberty and assume different roles. Braxxus is supposed to be the more laid back of the two, but from what I’ve observed, I wouldn’t want to encounter either of them in a dark alley, especially if I had ill intent toward their mate. Talk about two protective males!
“Okay. Next up Axxios and A’Zul. Then Braxxus and Sextus.”
Since A’Zul travels on the pirate ship, none of us know him as well as the people on the two gladiator ships, so there isn’t as much testosterone-fueled banter as usual. A’Zul is a big male who found his mate in the irradiated green salt mines on some backwater asteroid. From what I’m told, he and KJ were near death when the pirates rescued them and offered them a place to live.
A’Zul is a shifter who can change into anything he wants. To hear KJ talk, he became a fire-breathing dragon to help them escape Daneur Khour’s evil clutches. I’m told he was originally a huge, green Shrek-like male, but you wouldn’t know that to look at him now. His skin is golden, and he has a long gold braid that travels down to his ass.
I get teary-eyed when I think that KJ fell in love with him when he looked like Shrek. She certainly wound up with a handsome prince. Although it’s romantic, it starkly reminds me my fairytale isn’t going to come true.
Savannah announces, “Start,” and I can’t believe my eyes when A’Zul’s body shimmers, then he turns into a small white, purple, and pink creature the size and basic shape of a fox, except it has two tails. I’m told it’s called a dreambaby.
Because its center of gravity is low and it has four feet instead of two, he makes it across the balance beam in record time. He immediately shifts into his humanoid form to go hand over hand on the rings, then drops to the sand and shifts into a magnificent palomino, dark gold with blond mane and tail.
He races across the sand, leaping the hurdles with ease, including the last one where he surges over it, clearing it with feet to spare and lands clear of the water. He races full speed toward the wall looking like he’ll collide with it, then shifts again into the dreambaby, scampering up the wall like it was horizontal and not vertical.
He leaps to the rope and slides upside down with his two tails wrapped around it and all four paws held out to his sides like an adorable cartoon animal. As he drops off the rope and lands in the first vine tire, he efficiently hops from one to the other.
He hits the last tire, transforms into an enormous, magnificent cobalt dragon, scales shimmering with iridescent highlights in the bright suns, does a barrel roll, and flies over the rocks to the finish line.
I have goosebumps after watching that. I’d heard he could shift, but to see his dragon form is surreal. “Wow!” is all I can say after observing such a performance. If things were different between Steele and me, I’d be holding his hand, jumping up and down, and asking him if he can believe what his eyes just saw.
Instead, I stand and exclaim in awe, like everyone else, but I don’t touch my mate. I shouldn’t even think of him as my mate anymore. That will officially be over in 48 hours.
“I call foul!” Axxios says as he crosses the finish line and stands to watch A’Zul shimmer and shift back to his humanoid form. For the entire race, he had followed behind the ever-shifting form of A’Zul, barely watching where he was going, as entranced as the rest of us.
I can’t tell whether he’s really angry or just upset that he lost. I question if the whole shifter advantage was really fair.
“Take it up with Naomi,” Savannah calls while at the same time A’Zul says, “I cede my win,” with a smile, hands in the air.
“Wow!” Savannah and Nova, our officials, exclaim simultaneously.
“That was amazing, but I guess even though it technically didn’t break the rules, it was unfair,” Savannah says with awe in her voice.
“He just wanted to show off,” his mate KJ calls to the group. Her smile is wide as she jiggles adorable little Bran’Zen in her arms.
Axxios looks surprised and possibly a bit abashed that his complaining made the other male forfeit. I can’t hear what Axx is saying to the big golden male, but I think he’s apologizing.
“I just wanted to have fun,” A’Zul says loud enough to be heard by all. “On my planet, people don’t compete with each other. Anyway, I do have an unfair advantage.” He shrugs, a smile stretching his handsome face.
A few minutes later, Savannah announces, “A’Zul has promised to turn into a dreambaby again as part of tonight’s entertainment. You’ll all be able to pet him, but KJ wants to remind you there are limits to both their patience.”
I laugh. I don’t know if I’d want every female in the compound petting my mate, even if he were in a different form. My thoughts come to an abrupt halt when I remember Steele isn’t my mate anymore.
I’ve been studiously avoiding looking at Steele, but when my gaze flicks toward him, I see how serious he looks. He must be clenching his teeth, because a muscle is leaping in his jaw. I get it. He’s got to feel terrible about last night. He possibly feels worse than I do. No male likes to feel like a failure, especially in his female’s eyes.
I nod to myself. I’ve made the right decision. In a few days, he’ll be flying off-planet to start a new life. It will be so much better for him.
Braxxus and Sextus are up next. Sextus provides the muscle on the pirate ship. He’s a large male with beautiful cobalt whorls on his luscious blue skin. He carries an air of anger and danger unless his mate Lexa is at his side. The words that describe him when he’s with her are “puppy dog.” They’re adorable together.
Braxxus and Sextus are neck and neck the entire way, with neither gaining a clear advantage at any time on the course. Both are focused with no attempt to throw the other off balance. We all rise to our feet to urge them both across the finish line. I don’t know what everyone else is hoping for, but I’m rooting for a tie. They both deserve it.
When Dawn announces, “Dead heat!” everyone cheers.
There are only two women interested in competing—Nova and Savannah. Savannah was a marine and is one of the most courageous, focused women I’ve ever met.
Nova was an MMA fighter back on Earth and competed as a gladiator for her first two years in space. The way her previous owner treated her, she’s lucky to be alive. Daneur Khour certainly got around. It’s as if he purposefully touched every one of our lives in a negative way.
The two discussed it and neither of them wants bragging rights of beating the other, so they’ve decided to do an exhibition match tomorrow for the big finale.
At the end of today’s competition, we’ve narrowed the field to ten participants for the final race tomorrow.
“Let’s call it a day to relax until dinner and the Entertainment show tonight,” Callista announces.
I have no special talents and feel like I performed a lifetime’s worth at karaoke last night.
As we’re leaving the arena, blue Dr. Drayke approaches, computer pad in hand. “Steele, I have you slated as the second to last act tonight. What will you need for—”
Steele cuts him off, “I have everything ready. Thanks, doc.”
Drayke hurries off, leaving me looking at Steele, dumbfounded. “Do you have a hidden talent I don’t know about?” I ask.
“I’ve managed to keep this a secret,” he says, his face unreadable.
After an afternoon of being in the heat of the triple suns, both of us need a shower. We don’t attempt to shower together. He politely motions for me to go first. It takes me longer than usual because I have to find a way to quit crying before I turn off the water.
I keep recalling my bath last night. I think I was in shock, or maybe just thunderstruck with disappointment.
When I’m finally drying off, Steele calls through the door, “We could go mronck riding this afternoon. I’m told you have similar animals on Earth called horses. We could explore the large steaming water hole in one of the caves, Naomi says it’s called a natural hot tub where you’re from. Or we could hover to the fair. I haven’t been there yet.”
A plan forms out of thin air. I still love Steele. He’s without a doubt the best male I’ve ever known. Although I can’t make him happy when we’re together, I can make him happy when we’re apart. He was built for a mate. His biggest desire is to be with a female and please her. I can make this happen.
I’ve been watching Allura, and I think they’d make a great couple. She’s beautiful, her name says it all, although I was told that when A’Zul, KJ, and the pirates rescued her from that awful mining planet, she was a slave called It. Whenever I feel bad about my circumstances I remind myself things could have been so much worse.
Allura is a four-armed Mordite. Her body oozes grace from every pore, and she’s sweet and pleasing. She and Steele would make a perfect couple. A blast of jealousy and grief bolts through me with such ferocity I have to press my lips together to keep from crying out.
I’m going to the fair with Steele, but let’s see if I can get Allura to join us. I can walk off and leave them alone for a while. Our ships meet up a few times a year. Perhaps they could keep up a correspondence and who knows, maybe by next Blessed Peace Day they’ll be a couple.
My stomach lurches and I hurry to the toilet, although I don’t vomit. Just the thought of Steele with anyone else, much less a beautiful female like Allura, makes me nauseous. It doesn’t matter, though, I’ve made up my mind.
“Let’s go to the fair,” I call through the door. “While you’re getting dressed, I’ll see if Allura wants to join us.”
Allura is happy to have something to do this afternoon, so soon the three of us are hovering to the fair.
Steele was snatched when he was in pre-school, and I certainly never learned to drive a hover on Earth. But our friends tutored us on how to fly last time we touched down on Fairea. Steele is piloting while I get to know Allura.
“I’ve been dying to go to the fair,” she says, her amethyst eyes alight with excitement. “It’s just not safe for me to go alone.”
“I understand,” I say, “because you’re so small. There are thousands of people of all types swarming the dirt walkways.”
“Well, yes. Because of my stature and the sheer number of people, but also because of my species.”
“What about your species?” I ask as Steele taps my knee with his, the slightest frown on his face. I’ve obviously stumbled into a touchy subject, but I can’t undo my question now.
“I’m a Mordite? You haven’t heard the… stories?”
I shake my head, then quickly add, “But I don’t need to discuss it if you don’t want to.”
“No problem. It is what it is. We’re the thing every male talks about when discussions turn to sex.”
Oh no. What have I stepped into?
“Every male dreams of one night with a four-armed Mordite trained in the Moruvian Butterfly Technique.”
My gaze flicks to Steele, whose Adam’s apple is bobbing nervously while he keeps his eyes studiously on the empty air in front of us. Then I glance at Allura who looks unfazed by the conversation.
“You’ve never heard of it?” she asks.
“Uh, no. Nope.”
“I’m glad I’ll have you to walk with. No one will bother me if I’m with you,” she says with a small smile.
I realize now I have heard of it before. I’ve seen it in a few vids I watched where the males joke about being willing to pay a year’s salary for one night with a Mordite trained in that technique. I’m too mortified to ask her if she’s trained, but by the way she mentioned it, it seems she is.
My stomach clenches in jealousy when I think of her and Steele together, her being able to provide Steele with everything he needs—and more. As painful as it is to imagine, it also gives me comfort to think of them together. He’d protect her, and she’d provide him pleasure. It would be a gift I could give to two deserving people.
The rest of the ride is awkward and silent, then we arrive at the fair. After paying our admission and each of us getting our own computer tablet loaded with a map of the grounds, we set off to explore.
Steele parked in the same lot we set down in the other day, so I see a few familiar booths. This time I look at all sorts of things I was too preoccupied to see when I was here last.
“I’d like to separate for a while,” Steele says. “I have a few things I’d like to pick up. In private.” He almost puts his arm around me, but instead, it drops to his side a moment before he touches me. “Will you two feel comfortable without me for an hoara ?”
Things are so awkward between him and me. I think it’s a great idea to separate, but we both glance at Allura to make certain she feels safe.
“If you’ll stay close, Zoey, I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s the middle of the day. Certainly nothing could go wrong, right?”
In order for me to explore new things, Allura and I strike off down a different path than I traveled last time. I have credits loaded onto my bracelet and need to find something for Steele. I won’t bother to spend a lot. I know him well enough to feel certain he’ll throw it out the waste chute into the vacuum of space after I refuse to board the Fool at the end of the holiday.