Chapter 23
The ship dockedin a different sector of Cassan than the one they’d left from. Without the spiders, they didn’t have to pay for the secure dock with additional security—an expense Cyra was happy to be relieved of. Rhysa and Blaize had taken off in separate directions. Cyra was sad that they weren’t becoming closer, but they were so different. At least they didn’t fight. After g-weeks together on the ship, getting time apart was good.
“Veda, I’m going to take care of the Din’Gale delivery and then make contact with some of the bartenders here and see what the gossip is. I need to put out the word we’re looking for a Communications Officer. Do you want to go with me?”
“I’ll stay and keep watch over the thuringies. Why don’t you see if Dez can go with you?”
“Subtle.”
“I can be less so if needed.”
“You aren’t going to let this go, are you?” Cyra huffed.
“You’ll thank me for this some day.”
“No, I won’t.”
Cyra paused in the open entry to Dez’s quarters. He was sprawled out on the too small bunk, reading something on the comm display. “Dez?”
Dez held up a finger to her before using it to tap the screen. “I have been reading the most excellent stories about how other beings find and seduce their mates.”
“Romance?” He was reading romance novels?
He held up the screen and showed her the cover of two half naked beings wrapped in an embrace. “Veda load them to me.” He rose from the bed. “You require my services?”
“I’m contacting the receiver for the Din’Gale goods and then I’ll take care of some errands and grab a meal. Would you like to go with me?”
“It would be my pleasure, my queen.”
“Captain.”
“That, too.”
Cyra stomped off the ship. Between Veda and Dez, she was getting frustrated with them not accepting her decision. She didn’t have time to argue with him. Her errands were critical and if at all possible, she’d try to secure another contract and get back on track for delivering Dez. Kolben wasn’t coming to her. And the cycles before the penalty kicked in were ticking way with alarming speed.
They traced their way through the crowded marketplace filled with vendors and shoppers, laced with the scents of exotic foods and the echoes of too many languages. She found the office of the buyer that the prince had contracted with.
“Captain Cyra. Right on time.” The thick male grasped her hand with stubby fingers. Did Dez growl? She glared at him over her shoulder. “And you are?” The man asked Dez.
“Dezmuhnd Cuocua, brother-in-law to the crown prince of Din’Gale.” Dez gave the slightest bow.
“Royalty.” The man smacked his hands together. “I can’t tell you how happy I was to make this deal. I’ve been working on it for ages. How soon can we receive the order.”
“Now if you have a place to receive it. The goods require some reasonable refrigeration as they’re fresh.”
“Yes, yes. I have room in our storage.”
“Do you wish to inspect first?” Cyra asked, not completely certain of the expectations of the buyer. She hadn’t accompanied Auvi on many deliveries.
“Not necessary. If the prince sent his brother-in-law to over see the deal…well, then.” He held his arms wide in an accepting gesture. “I’ll send my men to your ship to retrieve the goods.”
Cyra considered pointing out that his delivery wasn’t the reason Dez was present, but why bother? She texted Veda to expect local warehousers to arrive shortly. “There’s just the matter of payment.”
The buyer settled in his chair that had retained the shape of him while he stood. He tapped a few keys. Cyra’s comm pinged. She checked her account. The credits had arrived. Her half of the deal. Already she felt lighter, having a small cushion of funds not allocated to getting to Kolben.
“When can I expect another delivery?” the man asked Dez.
“It’ll be awhile before we get back to Din’Gale,” Cyra answered. “We have to go to Kolben next.”
The man shivered. “Why would you go there?”
“Other contracts.” It was none of his business.
“Good, good. But don’t forget to contact me when you can run another shipment.” He rubbed his jowly chin and peered at his display. “Actually, this will keep the goods rare, in demand.” Cyra could almost see the credits stack in his eyes.
“Great. Well, I’ll be in touch.” Cyra and Dez left the man to his schemes. “That went well.” Cyra told Dez when they were outside the office, back in the streaming mass of public. There was no time to celebrate, but maybe some time to eat? “We need to put the word out for a communications officer. Let’s grab a mono-tram, and head to some of the popular hang outs.”
Dez nodded, his gaze swiveling around the space.
“You okay?
“There is no air here. It’s worse than the ship. Nothing grows.”
“Not true. They have greenhouses with grow lights on a different level. Hydroponics and waste reclamation growing a variety of crops.”
“It smells dead.” His face wrinkled.
“It’s not that bad.” It was. She recalled having the same reaction to Cassan the first time she’d been there with Auvi. She’d acclimated. Their trip to the retail district where the cheaper bars were found was brief and wordless. Dez seemed to be deep in his own thoughts, and Cyra wasn’t sure what to say to him. It didn’t matter if he got used to the station, he’d never be back.
They visited several of her favorite watering holes. The bartenders were happy to see her and more than willing to chat with her. None of them knew of a communications specialist who was looking for a contract but would keep the word out. They had the same story for contracts to Kolben. Not many transporters would go there, so they didn’t see a lot of demand from the suppliers. Many of them expressed shock that she would be willing to travel so far. She shrugged off their doubts. Time was going to pass either way. Better to pass it with paying contracts.
“Are you hungry?” Cyra asked Dez. He had been her quiet shadow during her visits. Not far from her body, but not intrusive in any way. She had to admit that it was nice to have his company, and she felt more secure than if she’d been by herself.
“I’m always hungry,” Dez answered. It sounded to Cyra as if he was talking about more than food. She chose to ignore the subtext of his statement.
“Great, we’re near my favorite Chalcanth-themed restaurant. You shared your home with me. Now I will give you a taste of my home.”
“Is there a reason none of your other crew mates are willing to dine there with you?”
“I didn’t invite anyone else to go with us. I’ll admit, it’s not Veda’s favorite.”
“Take me and I will decide for myself.”
Dez followed Cyra to a small eatery was tucked away in a remote corner, a few meters from a residential section of the station. The walls of the restaurant were painted a deep cobalt blue and bright green strips of translucent fabric hung from the ceiling. Dez’s head swam a bit at the contrast of the artificial gravity and the sense of being underwater. The server had similar features to Cyra, blue skin and gills, dark green hair tied up on her head. She didn’t spark any attraction.
Only his queen existed in his heart. If only he could find a way into hers.
Cyra ordered for them both. Dez was nervous about her selections, like sea snake and raw bittlefish. He was willing to try it. It was the food of his mate’s childhood. The meal would bring him a new understanding, provide new details for him to contemplate, as he pined for her alone in his room.
Once the meal was served, Dez started with a small bite of the sea snake. At least it appeared to be cooked unlike the other morsels on the flat wooden serving platter. He placed the cooked piece of snake gingerly in his mouth. Cyra studied at him the entire time, tense anticipation built between them.
Flavor burst over his tongue. Salty, a bit sweet and some other indescribable flavor that only food that once breathed actual life contained. The texture was flaky and delicate. “Its delicious.”
“They make it in the traditional way at this place. Slow smoking it over salt-saturated driftwood. You can taste the ocean and the land in every bite. Nothing reminds me more of my planet than this dish.” Cyra’s approval was evident in her tone. Dez warmed under her praise. He would have faked enjoying the meal if he had to. Luckily, it hadn’t come to that.
“Do you ever visit your home?” The last visit to his own home planet too close to the forefront of his mind.
She glanced away. “No, I didn’t leave under the best of circumstances. I don’t know if I would be welcome.”
Impossible. “Your family is still there?”
“As far as I know. I’ve never heard otherwise.” Maybe she really did need a communications officer desperately if she hadn’t been able to figure out how to contact the planet. It explained all the running around they’d done earlier.
“Why did you leave?” Something horrible must have happened.
“I wanted to be more than a baby factory. I wanted to have adventures. I thought I knew more than I did and that I could take care of myself.”
She left to avoid her family obligations? Not what he had expected. There was probably more to the story, something she wasn’t telling him. “You seem to have taken care of yourself quite well.”
Cyra smiled at him, but it was a little wistful. “I don’t know if I should take credit for where I am right now. I’m struggling to make the best of a situation I wasn’t prepared for.”
Dez could related. His vision of what his life would be in indentured servitude hadn’t been close to the reality. It had been a huge adjustment when he learned he would be treated as if he held very little value, warehoused with others until the owner had take a liking to him. The few years he’d spent as a personal companion had been closer to what he’d anticipated. Too bad it hadn’t lasted longer. “It’s difficult to be completely prepared for any circumstance. It’s more important to be adaptable and creative. A plan is only worthwhile as long as all the variables remain unchanged. That is rarely if ever the case in my experience.”
“I had a lot of help to get to this point. Captain Auvi gifted me the ship after he saved me as a runaway. Veda has been incredibly supportive and taken care of details I would never have been able to handle, like feeding those damn spiders.”
“Her tiny frame belies her brave strength.” Dez chuckled.
Cyra’s face lit. “I think she might be the smartest, bravest person I’ve ever known. I love her more than a sister.”
“I would like to be this kind of friend to you too. Someone who helps you. Someone you rely on.”
She tilted her head, the light left her face. “You’re going to be gone soon.”
“We have several g-months of travel ahead of us. Would you be willing to let me do more than cook meals?”
“Like what?”
She didn’t say no. “I’d like to continue to help look for a communications officer for you while we are on Cassan. Perhaps, I could secure another contract as well?”
She shook her head slightly. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to help me. I’ve been paid to transport you. It seems like I’d be taking advantage of you.”
Did she not understand she couldn’t take advantage of her mate who wished to give her everything, care for her in every way? “We may not know each other well. And we may not have long together, but you are my mate. It would bring me pleasure to help you.”
“If you want to do it, I won’t stop you. But, you don’t have to do anything. You don’t even have to cook.” She served herself more colorful pieces from the platter.
“I disagree. I absolutely have to cook.” Dez grinned, relieved that she was able to give in even if it was a tiny amount. He selected two more pieces, more colorful and much less cooked than the sea snake, tasting her planet and enjoying every moment of the shared, private meal. He rarely saw his mate alone for more than a few moments.
“Did you get enough to eat?” Cyra asked, shifting the empty platter on the table by millimeters.
“I did. It was wonderful.” She lifted her gaze, a hesitant smile teased her plump lips. “Thank you for sharing your food with me.” If only he could kiss her.
“Do you want to go with me to one last stop? There’s one more bartender I need to connect with.”
He stood and held out his hand. “I would be pleased to accompany you.”
When she placed her hand in his, he tried to memorize the feel of it so he would never forget her willing touch, the shape of her fingers, the warmth of her delicate grip. They walked down the row of businesses. Her skin pressed against his was a small balm to his aching heart, his demanding soul. His mate hadn’t touched him since she’d changed his markings. He was starving for her. The simple connection eased his never ending pain. If only she would give him more. The kiss of her sensuous navy blue lips. His hands through her dark green locks. His naked body against her soft blue skin. But he could settle for holding her hand.
The bar she led him to was crowded. They stood near the seats that surrounded the bar itself. Every seat was filled with a variety of beings. Short and dark like Veda. Pale and lean like Blaize. Thick and muscled like himself. All chattering in the common language, tossing back drinks and searching for some measure of happiness at the end of a long day or longer journey.
The two bartenders moved so fast as to be running, making and serving drinks to the demanding crowd. There was a band tuning up their digital instruments at the back of the room adding to the overall noise. He and Cyra would have to wait to speak with her contact.
Dez stepped closer to Cyra. He made himself as big as possible to appear as imposing as he could. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to touch her. If only he could wrap her in his arms, but there was no way she wouldn’t permit that. Finally, one of the bartenders acknowledged them. They ordered a couple of drinks, but this male was not her contact. They continued to wait. A bar this busy had to be a good source for networking.
A drunk male stumbled toward them. He stared at Cyra. There were four others with him. The pack was moving toward his mate. “Cyra, we should go?”
“What? No. We have drinks coming and I still need to make contact.”
“Please, my queen.” Before he could continue to present his reasons for leaving, the group was on them.
“It’s her,” the male slurred loudly. “This is the tentacle slut. Varik told me about you. We may not have tentacles, but there’s five of us. It will feel like tentacles when we fuck you like the slut you are.”
“Apologize.” Dez stepped forward out of the shadows and moved Cyra behind him.
“You don’t have tentacles either. How are you going to pleasure that fucking slut all by yourself?” He grinned his stained toothy smile and winked a red-rimmed eye.
At the word slut, Dez roared and hit the male in the face so hard that the breaking of bones was audible over the sounds of the bar. The unconscious male flew back into his buddies knocking them down in a writhing pile. Dez roared at them again. They scrabbled and pulled their leader with them, leaving the bar as they made fear-filled noises of apology. They never turned their back on Dez. Their eyes were as wide as saucers.
Dez turned to check on Cyra.
“Your, your eyes.” She stuttered.
They must have gone red orange. He consciously lowered his lips from the fearsome grimace and pinched his flared nostrils. He’d meant to be menacing, but she was nervous—scared of him. He reached for her.
She gasped and cringed back from him.
“I would not hurt you, my queen.” Although he’d exposed his brutal predator side, it was only to protect her.
“They were just talking.”
“They would have attempted to harm you. There were five of them.” He crossed his arms to keep from reaching for her again. How could she not perceive the threat? “They were not in their right minds with drink. And I would never allow you to come to harm.”
She placed her hand on his forearm. “Thank you, Dez.”
Dez wrapped his arm around her torso and tugged her close, noting the bar had gone quiet. The band and all the patrons stared at them. There was no way she’d be able to communicate with her contact. He’d had no choice but to protect her, but maybe he’d gone too far. “We should go.”
She glanced around. “Right.”
They returned to The Treasure. Dez guided her through the halls of Cassan by the hand based on memory and his innate sense of direction. He kept her closer to him than he had when the left the restaurant. He couldn’t make himself let her go even after they were safe on the ship.
“Are you alright?” Dez asked her once they were in his room and he could finally release her. He shifted his gaze over every inch of her, confirming she was truly unharmed.
“Yes, thanks to you.” She shivered. “They really did want to hurt me didn’t they?”
“They did, my queen. Something I would never allow.”
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. It was chaste, but she kissed him. His heart and brain exploded. His mate had voluntarily touched him and kissed him. He embraced her around her waist, holding her close, prolonging their kiss. She allowed it for such a short time before she pulled back and put her forehead to his. He loved that she was almost as tall as him. He could look her in the eyes. Or he could have if her eyes were open. Her shuddering breath heated his skin.
She lifted her head and opened her gorgeous ocean-blue eyes. “I have to go.”
She freed herself from his hold and left.
He flopped back on his bunk. It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress. He could still feel her on his lips. Slowly, he licked them and savored her taste. With a groan, he rolled over pressing his erection into the thin mattress. She would kill him before they got to Kolben.