Chapter 2
Linsea
Ilanded in front of the Iron Empire Club, folding my massive wings behind me as soon as I touched the ground.
It was a remarkable architectural creation with a modern industrial gothic style.
I walked up the stairs nodding at a few people in the crowd, some standing outside while a few others were also making their way inside.
As I passed through the open heavy metal doors, I couldn’t help being impressed by the interior design.
In my mind, I had pictured a dark, cluttered, and slightly claustrophobic space meant to force intimacy.
Instead, a pleasantly elegant hall beckoned me, with sharp lines, exposed beams, the occasional cement walls, minimalist decor, and huge windows that let the place breathe.
Although it was currently being used as a club and concert venue, it could easily serve for more formal events.
Any misgivings I previously had about coming faded away.
Tala had been right about this being the perfect networking scene.
It was classy and yet agreeably informal and relaxed.
As was to be expected based on the type of students attending Acadia, the crowd comprised many different species, most of the people being the offspring of influential political, scientific, and socio-cultural figures.
There was a reason Acadia had some of the strictest and most thorough background check requirements for admission.
With my family evolving in some of the highest ranks of the political and legal spheres, I was acquainted with many of the people present.
However, I needed to turn these acquaintances into actual alliances and maybe even friends.
Beyond the fact that I had too much pride to simply rely on my good name to open doors, personal relationships went a long way into helping us achieve goals that could be otherwise heavily challenged.
I made my way to Tala, who was having an animated conversation with Colin Wilson.
It surprised me that he should be here. Being an over achiever, at the age of 35, Colin had already earned a position as Senior Director of the Enforcers—the galactic peacekeeping forces under the umbrella of the United Planets Organization.
The UPO acted as a moderator and protector to ensure the peaceful coexistence of its various member planets.
It helped define and enforce the rules of conduct for fair trade, territorial sovereignty, guidelines on interacting and protecting primitive worlds, vetoed or approved colonization efforts of new planets, as well as helped navigate galactic disputes in all their forms. My mother worked as a negotiator for the UPO.
My nan also worked for them but as senior legal counselor.
Whereas my father was a criminal lawyer for the Enforcers.
And I hoped to follow in the footsteps of the two most important females in my life by also joining the UPO but as an ambassador for the organization.
So yes, making friends and forging alliances among these people, many of whom would become my counterparts or future colleagues was of the essence.
“Good, you’re here!” Tala said enthusiastically as I closed the distance with them. “I told Mares I was going to come drag you kicking and screaming if needed.”
“You shouldn’t make threats of bodily harm in the presence of a Senior Enforcer,” I said in a playfully chastising tone while giving her a hug.
She huffed. “I’ve got connections, too. And Colin’s got my back, right?”
He chuckled and bowed his head in agreement as I turned my attention towards him.
“I most certainly do, and anyway, I was a little too distracted to have heard anything,” he replied in an overly innocent fashion that had me smiling.
“Traitor!” I said with false outrage. “Fancy seeing you here, though. What brings you to these parts?”
Before he could answer, Tala interjected, her face turned away from us as she seemed to look for someone in the crowd.
“If you’ll both excuse me for a minute, I need to find my man out there. I bet you some bimbo is hugging him or trying to pluck a leaf from his hair.”
We both snorted, and Colin waved a hand indicating for her to proceed. We watched her march resolutely in the general direction of the bar where Mares had gone to fetch them some drinks.
I glanced back at Colin, an attractive human male.
At 6’2, he was barely an inch taller than me.
He kept his black hair in a short, somewhat military style.
Piercing gray eyes peered at me in his ruggedly handsome face, with a square jaw, and a Roman nose.
The slight bump on the bridge hinted that it had likely been broken before.
It wouldn’t be surprising as he used to indulge in competitive boxing.
Although muscular, he had more the fit body of a swimmer rather than a bodybuilder.
Like many of the people in attendance, he was wearing casual chic clothes in darker shades.
Admittedly, I never quite understood why species who needed to wear clothes tended to pick dark colors. While I recognize that black held and undeniable aura of strength, I would want to adorn myself with a more joyful and exciting palette like Tala did.
“To answer your question, I’m here to assess potential recruits,” Colin said calmly.
My eyes widened in surprise. “Who?”
He gave me an indulgent smile. “That would be telling, my dear.”
I made a face at him before glancing around the room, trying to identify someone who could make an interesting candidate for the ultimate peacekeeping force in the galaxy. Pursing my lips, I gave him a suspicious look.
“You came to assess potential recruits here? Why not at a sports event, science fair, or debate? Those strike me as far more appropriate venues to evaluate candidates in the heat of action.”
This time, his mysterious expression piqued my curiosity even more.
“You’d be surprised about where we go for recruiting. The best candidates are usually found in the oddest places. That said, I’m also here investigating.”
“Investigating what?”
He smiled in a way that implied I should know better than to pry but still in a gentle fashion. “You’ll hear about it soon enough.”
Just as I was opening my mouth to ask another question, a swarm of people suddenly rushed in while those already inside hurried to the front of the stage.
“The main event is about to start!” Colin said in an amused tone.
“How do you and they know?” I asked, confused.
There was no specific schedule as to the start of the concert, only that the club opened as of 6:00 PM.
“Everyone came in because the singing heartthrob just flew in,” Colin said with a teasing glimmer in his gray eyes. “Enjoy the show. I will see you later.”
“See you,” I replied distractedly, annoyed by the sudden flutter in the pit of my stomach.
A wave of excitement blasted my way, and I immediately recognized it as emanating from my friend.
As an empath, I could passively feel the emotions of anyone within a fifty-meter radius, or up to a hundred meters if I focused on a single target.
But as that would be overwhelming to constantly be flooded by people’s feelings, Temerns could shut down that ability or only keep it active on a specific person.
When I went out with friends, I kept a thin tether on them, excluding everyone else.
In this instance, it made it easier to zero in on Tala’s position amidst the throngs.
Tala hastened to my side, her boyfriend Mares in tow, holding a drink in each hand, one of which he extended to me.
Mares was a stunning male. Typical of his Edocit origins—a dryad-like species—he had a beautiful brown skin—although on the darker end of the spectrum as they went from pale hazelnut to ebony.
Embossed swirls adorned his arms, cheeks, and visible spots on his muscular chest. Those natural patterns called yevins marked an Edocit’s lineage and could also serve as fingerprints.
Being an Utzac—one of the different breeds of the Edocits—Mares possessed a majestic set of antlers.
Delicate leaves sprouted from the thin vines intertwined with his bluish-green hair.
A few white flowers actually blossomed in his hair, an involuntary reaction that expressed happiness.
Unlike other Edocit breeds, the Utzacs also had natural colorful leaves that strategically grew to hide naughty bits, shaped like a loincloth for males, and like a long skirt for females.
He smiled at me, his dark green eyes devoid of sclera or pupils, sparkling with excitement.
I genuinely liked Mares. More than once, I felt ashamed of the envy their loving relationship stirred within me.
I wanted to meet someone who would look at me the way Mares looked at Tala.
The emotions that radiated from both of them merely being in each other’s presence was a gift in and of itself.
They had been together for over a year now, and their love only seemed to grow.
I didn’t doubt they would eventually marry.
“He’s here!” Tala said excitedly as I thanked Mares for the drink.
“So I heard,” I replied, unimpressed. “It appears he wants to make the grand diva entrance.”
“No,” Tala replied with a stern look. “Stop hating on the poor male.”
“I’m not hating,” I said dismissively. “But that so many people were just hanging out outside waiting for him to arrive hints that this is a recurring thing. He just shows up at the last minute, knowing his fans are foaming at the mouth, ready to rush inside to see his perfection.”
Shamed burned my gut at the disappointed look my friend gave me. I’d never been the snooty type. This snarky behavior over a mere smirk screamed how much he had gotten under my skin.
Even as those thoughts crossed my mind, I saw him gracefully fly past one of the back windows then disappear behind a wall.