Chapter 12 #3
“Fascinating.” Faith shifted Ari to one arm and reached out to take the disk with her free hand.
She examined it closely, tilting it to catch the light.
“The craftsmanship is exquisite. These symbols—they match other Precursor artifacts I’ve studied.
If this really does respond to Aurelian touch... ”
She held the disk close to Ari, who immediately reached for it with eager fingers.
The moment her small hand made contact with the metal, the disk blazed to life again, the symbols glowing in shifting patterns before the same resonance filled the room, until the entire building seemed to echo the song.
Then the sound died and disk went inert, just as it had before.
“Fascinating,” Faith said thoughtfully. “You know that sound, or something like it, could be what the Silver Key is supposed to activate. The Seven Key Species were supposed to be the inheritors of the Precursor legacy. There are theories that they were engineered specifically to interface with Precursor technology—that their DNA contains a kind of genetic key.”
“So Ari is like... a living password?”
“More than that. She might be the only being in the universe who can actually use this device.” Faith’s expression turned serious. “No wonder the Grorn want her. If they could control her, they could access every other artifact the Precursors left behind.”
“We have to protect her,” she said fiercely.
“We will.” Faith reached out to squeeze her arm with her free hand. “Whatever it takes. You’re not alone in this anymore. It’s possible—”
Before Faith could continue, a heavy body thudded against the door. Emma jumped, but Faith only laughed.
“I think Precious is worried about me.”
“Precious?”
Faith grinned and opened the door to reveal the largest, ugliest animal Emma had ever seen.
It had large, bulbous eyes set in a broad homely face with only thin slits for its nose and ears, and its skin was a mottled muddy brown.
The animal looked from Faith to Emma and then to Ari and its whole rear half started to wag. Emma’s heart immediately melted.
“This is Precious. She’s very fond of children. And very protective.”
Ari seemed equally fascinated, cooing happily as she reached for the animal.
“I see you’ve met Athtar’s baby,” Doren said dryly as he appeared in the open doorway with Athtar right behind him, effectively blocking the doorway.
Athtar snorted but ignored the comment. “You both need food and rest. Especially you.” He jabbed a massive finger at Doren. “You look like fucking death warmed over.”
“Your hospitality is overwhelming as always.”
“Shut up and come eat.” Athtar turned and stalked away, leaving Doren shaking his head.
“He’s right,” Faith said. “We’re not going to solve any mysteries tonight. Let’s get some dinner and then you can both get some real sleep.”
She handed Ari back to her, along with the now-dormant disk. “We’ll talk more tomorrow. I have a lot of questions.”
“So do I,” she admitted.
Faith smiled and headed for the door, pausing next to Doren. “I like her,” she said quietly, pitching her voice so Emma could barely hear. “Don’t screw this up.”
Doren muttered something in response that she couldn’t catch, and then Faith was gone, leaving the two of them alone. He stepped further into the room, letting the door slide closed behind him. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m...” She considered the question. “Overwhelmed. Scared. Amazed. Take your pick.”
“All reasonable responses.” He crossed to where she stood and reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. “You can trust Faith. She’s brilliant, but she’s also... kind.”
“I know. I liked her immediately.” She leaned into his touch. “She said you don’t share easily. That the fact you told me about your past is significant.”
His hand stilled. “Faith talks too much.”
“Maybe. Or maybe she’s just observant.” She met his eyes. “Is it true? Is it significant?”
He was quiet for a long moment, his blue eyes searching her face. Then he sighed, a sound of surrender.
“Yes,” he said simply. “It is.”
Ari chose that moment to yawn hugely, her tiny mouth stretching wide, and she laughed despite herself. “I think someone is ready for bed.”
“Someone is not the only one, but dinner first.”
“Will you stay with me tonight?”
The question slipped out before she could stop it, and the heat rose to her cheeks. But she didn’t take it back. She was tired of pretending she didn’t want him, tired of maintaining distance that felt increasingly artificial.
His expression softened. “If you want me to.”
“I always want you to.”
Something flickered in his eyes—heat, and something deeper that made her breath catch.
“Then I will.” He swept her an elaborate bow. “May I escort you to dinner, my lady?”
“You may.”
But as she took his arm, she was already thinking about what would happen after dinner. She looked up at Doren, with his golden mane and brilliant blue eyes and the way he held himself as if he was always ready for a fight, and her heart felt full in a way she hadn’t known it could.
She was on an alien planet, caring for an alien baby, falling for an alien male, and nothing had ever felt so right.