Onidus 13
I’ve finally found a piece of that independent female I saw all those years ago as she braced herself in the caves to hold the shield up.
The Delsfein had scrambled for their teleportation pad, barely making it before the Nebulous soldiers lit up the cavern.
I only wish I knew why they didn’t take her with them when they left.
I Mask myself so I’m invisible, then follow Solara to her room to make sure she makes it without incident. When her door shuts, I call ION Striker. Hey, can you keep an eye on her door? Let me know if anyone disturbs her.
“Yes, sir. Scanning.”
I rush back to my room and frantically rip my uniform off, throw my swim trunks on, then look down at all the scars on my body and know I can’t show up like this.
I dig through the drawers and find a t-shirt with an Abr logo on it.
I throw it on, slide my feet into the strange foamy shoes, and muse at the human world’s obsession with showing skin and being so vulnerable in their attire.
Zorin wore his armor.
I change my mind and pick up my Smolder suit.
“Sir, she’s leaving her room.”
Damn it. I drop the armor and hesitantly peer out into the hallway. There are too many racers. I Mask myself and close my door, then hurry to the female wing until I spot Solara in an Abr navy blue bikini with pearl trim to match her bands.
She smiles and waves at the blue-banded woman, who meets up with her. They walk to the pool together, talking about the planetarium, how far the Federation reaches out into space, and what activities they want to do as their electives.
A snort behind me makes me turn around.
“I know you’re here, Isonian. I cannot see you, but I can smell you.”
I don’t respond as I slip by the Luna Pack wolf shifter. I still don’t like his kind, but they have been dealing with the Nebs and Myndrous without our help since the packs split.
“Maclyn, what are you doing?” Solara asks him.
“I can smell your Isonian shadow.”
“He has walked me to my room in the past. And I was just training with him, so maybe it is his sweat on me that you smell.”
He curls his lip. “I do not know why you like him.”
“Because he protects me and doesn’t judge me. You judge, then protect only those who share your beliefs. But sometimes, we need others with different beliefs but the same values to help us grow because we can do things that benefit each other.”
He grabs his head. “I don’t know why you must speak in riddles!”
“I got it,” the blue-banded woman says.
“If he gives you trouble, Ashani, just bite his ear.”
The woman smiles. “I’ll do my best.”
He scoffs. “You conspire against me.”
“Teasing you, ya big brute,” Solara remarks. “Be good to my girl.”
He grumbles. “We are scent-bonded. I will do whatever she asks.”
Solara slows for a moment like she’s thinking hard, and I begin to wonder if she’s figured me out.
I follow them out the door, which hangs open a second longer like it detects me. Solara looks back and grins, though she does not find me like Tessi once did. But I like that I still have the element of surprise with her, even if she knows I’m following her.
We walk out along the path to the pool in the light of dusk. It’s lit up with two tiki bars, buffet tables, and string lights all over the pool. Colorful holos pulse to the beats of electronic dance music as big speakers rattle the ground like the heavy drone of starship thrusters.
Solara and Ashani get into the pool near the middle, but Ashani and her Luna male, Maclyn, soon swim off together.
A Ksion I’ve seen eyeing Solara gets up from his chair among his herd and covertly tries to make his way toward her. I ease closer, until a Ginarigon stops him.
“She is mine. Her glowing shadow is not here. Back off unless you want to be drugged too and not in a good way.”
The Ksion hangs his head and lifts his hands.
Pussy.
I would agree to let Solara be with a Ksion because they can portal her anywhere if they get attacked by Nebs. But not fighting for her earns a hard no from me. I will fight even if it destroys me because that’s what she deserves.
As the Ginarigon makes his way toward her, I plan my countermeasures. When he leans over and reaches for her, unquestionably aiming for her throat, I nudge him with my foot. His body tips forward and flails as he enters the pool.
Solara looks up, surprised. She backs away from him as he submerges. When he surfaces, he snarls and scans the otherwise empty deck.
“What were you trying to do?” she asks.
He fumes and storms away, wading through the water.
I walk out into the surrounding hedges, drop my Mask, and enter the pool area. “What is going on here?”
Solara cocks her jaw to one side. “Ginarigon tried to grab me but lost his balance and fell in like the big lumbering a-hole he is.”
“You…” The Ginarigon gets out and glares at me. “You keep fucking things up!”
“What things?” I coolly and quietly ask. “You don’t want her. You want her money or her reputation. Maybe her augment expertise so you can get a bigger dick.”
That may have been a step too far and out of line for a Smolder, but I am tired of putting up with his wavering aura. I know he is not what he fronts to others.
But neither am I. He pretends to be good when he is not. I pretend to be nobody when I am one of my people’s most powerful weapons, and I have taken the lives of thousands of our enemy.
Solara covers her mouth and chuckles.
His orange hues darken. He’s almost a head taller than me and a bit broader in the shoulders, but I have taken on many bigger things than him…when I could use my power. Here I can’t.
“Only a squeak like you wears a t-shirt to the pool. What are you? A virgin?” he booms as he grabs my shirt, drawing the attention of everyone in the pool.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” I say it, but I do not feel strong as he threatens to expose me in a way I really don’t want Solara to see.
“I do what I want, and I take what I want.” He shoves me back and rips my shirt clean off of my body. The shock of his disrespect makes me struggle to lift my Mask.
And finally, part of me gives up.
Solara’s lips part in shock. Even the Ginarigon’s anger fades into something of regret, like he realizes he’s crossed a line.
“Did you lick a Novark?” I ask as sarcasm and fury collide, trying to help me hide from my mortification. “This is what a Smolder’s body looks like.”
The big lumbering beast looks down at the scraps of my shirt. “But… You pushed me.”
“You can’t prove that. And it doesn’t matter. Solara doesn’t want you. You’re not respecting that boundary.”
He seems to find his arrogance again and gnashes his teeth. “Females are all the same until they try our kind of high.”
“You’re disgusting,” Solara snorts. “It’s a false high.” The way she says it makes me wonder how she knows.
“You didn’t deny being a virgin,” the Ginarigon challenges me in front of everyone.
I cock my head. “Do you think someone like me has ever had the time or gotten a look from a female more than once?”
He smirks. “Definitely not. But females deserve a mate that knows how to please them. You don’t have the practice to be successful.”
His remarks hit hard. “I am not the first. At least I’m out there working to keep the planets of the Federation safe while you use females and leave them behind, always promising yourself the next one will be the one you want to keep.
But unless your harem is all friends, if she doesn’t get pregnant, you’ll toss her away like a used sock, fight whatever battle is convenient to your anger, then return to your hunt.
But seriously, how does that work when you’re so small?
I may be inexperienced, but at least I can please a female without having to try so hard. ”
A woman in the pool, holding a martini glass, casually sips her drink and flicks her hair behind her shoulder. “Drugging bites only postpone the disappointment, Garnak.”
“Shut up, Mina.” The Ginarigon snarls and steps toward me.
Solara gets out, walks to him, reaches up, and grabs Garnak by the throat, just under his jaw, and tugs him hard down to her level. He tenses and takes a knee. His face darkens, and he desperately grabs her hands. She squeezes harder.
Garnak lets go and lifts his hands, rasping, “Okay, okay.”
Solara, my gorgeous, feisty friend, stares him down. “Let’s get one thing straight. Bite my friends or me, and I bite back. And since I’m an augment surgeon, I have all kinds of enhancements I can use on you.”
“Fuck…” A nearby Amphiran chuckles. He’s sitting up on a bench, prepped to get up and get involved. “I would die to be taken by such a bossy beauty.”
He’s not the only one who’s turned on. I hate that I can’t hide anything in these thin shorts.
I’m in battle.
I’m in battle.
I’m in battle.
Thankfully, I regain control before I make my embarrassment worse.
Solara jerks free of the Ginarigon, walks over to me, and stands at my side. “You have disrespected someone I greatly admire. He saved my life when I was barely a teen. Now leave me alone, you festering blister.”
Garnak rubs his throat and gets up.
“Lashina isn’t going to like to hear that you’ve refused my offer.”
“Tell her to bring it on, bitch. But if she had balls, she’d find a way to face me herself.” Solara tilts her head. “But nooo,” she sings out. “She’d rather pay an unruly sex-addict who has no honor to do her dirty work.”
No honor? I cringe. Oh shit, she’s done it now. Even if it’s the truth, it’s not something that Ginarigon take lightly.
He growls, gets to his feet, and tenses. I don’t like the way every muscle dances like he’s pumping them up for action.
“Solara…” I stretch an arm across her front and guide her behind me.
The Ginarigon charges, eyes warped with rage, spittle flying from his bared teeth.