Chapter 34

I snuggled with Kal on the couch, lying side by side. We were currently watching Stargate SG-1, and I liked it more than I would’ve thought. It helped that there was eye candy on both sides with Sam and Daniel, though I had a massive TV crush on Daniel. A hot scientist. What more could I want?

Kal readjusted, and Lucy, who slept on his hip, squeaked in annoyance.

“Lucy doesn’t want you to move,” I said.

“I guessed that, thank you. I remember the law.”

I smirked. God, I should not have lied, but it was funny.

When the episode ended, I rolled over and Kal asked, “Can I kiss you?”

“I was going to talk, but sure.”

“What did you want to talk about?” He shifted out of reach, making Lucy squeak again and jump off his side.

I shouldn’t have said anything, but I answered him anyway, “Urgg told me about the planet we’re coming to.”

His expression tightened.

“And I’m going to go planetside,” I said.

Kal’s tail let go of my wrist and swished in agitation. Lucy watched the movement, butt wiggling, and I snatched his tail. Kal’s breath stuttered.

“Lucy was going to attack it,” I explained, blushing.

The appendage was smooth under my fingertips. Unable to stop myself, I slid down until I reached the silver-blue tuft of hair. Tails had never been my kink, but I liked it now. When I dragged my nails over it, Kal began to breathe hard.

“You okay?”

“I like you touching my tail. It’s sensitive, especially near my spine.”

My cheeks warmed. “Ah.”

Kal returned to the previous topic. “Do you have to go?”

“Yes.” I’d suspected this might be an issue after what happened on Petty. Urgg and Wyn had made plans to go, and I wanted to join them. Social settings were not my favorite, but it sounded fun to go with them.

“Alone?” he asked, his tail spiraling up my forearm.

“Urgg and Wyn are going too.”

He relaxed his hold. “That will be fun.”

A random thought raced across my mind. “You’re not going planetside alone, right?”

“Monqilcolnen will go with me, and I’ll have guards. You should have guards as well, though Urgg and Ensign Wyn are probably adequate protection.”

I nodded so hard that I swore my eyes rattled. I did not want guards.

“You will be careful.”

“I will,” I replied, even though it hadn’t been a question. “Maybe,” I said against his lips, “we could also spend time on the planet together?”

“I want to do that.”

My heart beat a rapid tattoo as excitement rushed through my veins like electricity. Me and Kal. As it should be.

Kal placed a kiss on my temple right before he left for the day. He had a meeting with Captain Talvax, then his father about landing on Vx-93. They intended to trade with the Sidlis, offload passengers, and pick up more.

I rested back against the couch arm, book on my chest. NAID had translated some of the more popular books from Kal’s planet into English for me to read. I would have had an easier time reading them on my tablet, but Kal had his favorites in print format. Currently, I was reading one in Drakconese and occasionally glancing at the English translation.

We would be arriving at the Vx-93 in the next week or so. I’d suggested the two of us spend time alone together on the planet, but now, my anxious brain went round and round about the plan.

I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t sure if Kal would want to or if it would be too emotionally attaching for him. Fucking Kal was all I could think about recently. My desire was quickly turning into a pressing need. I’d jerked off thinking about him every night this week, and it hadn’t helped.

Lucy jumped onto my chest, settling on the book, and I petted her. If we stayed overnight, someone would have to check on Lucy, though I was hesitant to leave her even for a short time.

Wyn would be a smart choice. He was kind, diligent, and would probably agree. “Would you like Wyn to take care of you?” I asked, stroking her nose. “How about I bring him here for you to meet?”

Lucy gave no response, falling asleep.

I sat for an hour or so, petting Lucy, utterly relaxed. Nowhere to go. Nothing to do. This was something I’d wished for my entire life. Hell, this was what everyone wished for—undisturbed peace.

With gentle movements, I placed Lucy on the couch. She glared at me before standing, circling, and curling into a ball. I ruffled her fur, making her give me some serious side eye for disturbing her.

“Ensign Wyn.” The touchstone grew warm beneath my fingers.

Wyn’s voice resonated in my ear. “Seth?”

“Where are you?”

“On deck eight, subsection five, tunnel nine. The phase variance will not regulate. It keeps wandering around the ship, which shouldn’t be possible. My superior thinks I’m insane, but there has to be a shipwide problem. Please say you want to get lunch later.”

“Sure.”

“Perfect. I have to go,” he said, ending the conversation.

Lunch was not even close to now. “NAID?”

“Yes, Seth.”

“Can you direct me to Wyn?”

“I can, but why? He’s on duty.”

“Because I want to talk with him. Is it wrong to bug him at work?” I didn’t know what was acceptable or not in Drakcon culture yet.

“Other people do it. Why shouldn’t you? Take the lift to deck eight.”

NAID gave me orders via the touchstone, leading me through the ship until I came to a hatch, and I shimmied in.

After winding through the tunnels, I came to a ladder and went down before sliding into another tube. Sweat dripped down my face, and I swiped it off with my sleeve. The crawl space was uncomfortably hot, and shifting through the tunnels made my muscles burn with exertion.

When I spotted Wyn, I sagged. Thank fucking god. Every inch of me trembled and my knees ached.

Wyn sat halfway down the length of a tunnel, tail flicking. He pressed the glowing tip of a strange device against the circuits, muttering under his breath about the variance.

I moved forward, panting.

Wyn jerked toward me. “Seth, how did you get here?”

“NAID directed me.”

“You’re not a crew member. You’re not supposed to have access to the tunnels.”

My mouth fell open before I shrugged. “NAID didn’t tell me that. I’m sure Captain Talvax will be fine with it.”

He scoffed. “I hope so.”

“I won’t let you get in trouble.”

“It’s not myself I’m worried about. It’s NAID. She’s not meant to break the rules.”

“NAID,” I called, pressure building in my chest, “this won’t get you in trouble, right?”

She manifested on the panel near the circuit board. NAID grinned. “Not if neither of you says anything.”

Wyn squeaked, but I took that as tacit agreement. NAID winked, then disappeared.

“Is there something you want?” Wyn asked, his voice higher-pitched than usual.

I settled against the tunnel wall, hugging my knees up to my chest. “I want to spend some time planetside with Kal.”

“Do you?” he asked with a grin.

I blushed. He clearly knew what I intended. “I wondered if you would take care of Lucy overnight for me.”

“Overnight?” he asked, his bright pink eyebrows wiggling.

If possible, my face grew hotter. “Yes.”

“I can do that. Are you going to tell Prince Kalvoxrencol about your plans?”

“He knows I want to spend time together.”

“Does he know you want to stay overnight?” Wyn pressed.

“No, should I tell him?”

“Yes,” he said, swiping the glowing tool over the exposed circuits before glancing at the tablet on his lap. “I assume you already have each other’s permissions, but he might not want to go, or if he does, he might want to secure special lodgings.”

We did not have each other’s permissions, because I kept skirting the conversation, but I wasn’t going to tell Wyn that. He’d probably lecture me. But the thought of reservations hadn’t crossed my mind.

“I’ll run it by him.”

He reached out but paused. “I would like permissions.”

“I’m-I’m mated.” The word felt weird in my mouth, but it was true.

“Not romantic ones. Friends, family, and even acquaintances have permissions too. Some people don’t like to be touched.”

“Like what?” Drakcol were odd creatures.

“Being able to pat you, hug you, or wrap my tail around your wrist. For me, you can hug me or pat me occasionally, but I’m not physically affectionate.”

“Okay.” I saw no reason to deny him, and Wyn beamed like I’d given him a great gift.

I sat on the couch with Lucy on my lap. It was past the middle hour, and I’d returned in the hopes of eating with Seth, but he wasn’t in our quarters. I’d had no idea where he was, and my first instinct had been to ask NAID, but I controlled it.

My fingers trailed over the spine of one of my books. Seth was reading it, which made me oddly happy. He was starting to read Drakcon works and learn about our history. I hoped it was a sign that he was planting roots—roots keeping him with me.

Lucy leaped off the couch, meowing in welcome, as Seth strode in. He bent over to pet her and revealed Wyn behind him.

Wyn bowed low, tail wrapped around his own leg. “Prince Kalvoxrencol, I’m sorry to intrude.”

“Not at all. You’re Seth’s friend, and you’re welcome here.”

“Thank you,” Wyn said, but I barely noticed because Seth beamed at me, which ignited a flame in my chest. I wanted to cross the room, push him against the wall, and taste him.

I banished the image of his hands buried in my hair and the taste of him on my lips. “What can I do for you?”

Seth came to my side, Lucy in his arms. “Wyn is here to meet Lucy.”

My tail twisted around Seth’s ankle.

“He’s agreed to watch her when we go to Vx-93.”

Why would Lucy need someone to watch her? We’d be gone for a few hours at most. My mouth opened as the realization hit me. “We’re staying overnight.”

“That’s not a problem, right?” Seth asked.

Glancing at Wyn, who hovered awkwardly near the door, I said, “We’ll talk about it later.”

As Seth approached Wyn, Lucy pressed against Seth’s chest, eyes round. Wyn extended a single finger, and Lucy’s black nose twitched. After a minute, she moved closer, rubbing on his finger.

Just like that, she liked him.

The sting of jealousy pricked my gut. It had taken days for Lucy to accept me, but Wyn she liked? I sat on the couch, scowling, and watched Wyn play with Lucy, throwing her ball with a bell inside it. Seth sat beside me and placed my hand on his lap. His fingers traced my palm, making my scales tingle in awareness.

I pressed my forehead against his neck, nuzzling him. Seth didn’t say anything and continued to stroke my palm. After a few minutes, Lucy began to pant, and Seth called to Wyn to stop.

“Let’s eat lunch together,” Seth said.

Wyn glanced at me. “I should go.”

“You should eat with us,” I offered, coming to Seth’s side.

“Yes, Prince,” Wyn said.

I had no way to relieve his discomfort at my presence, so I suggested instead, “Or you and Seth could go get lunch by yourselves?”

“If it’s alright, I should go. It’s getting late.”

Seth said, “Next time.”

He waved at Seth and gave me his throat before he left.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Seth asked, brow furrowing.

“Scaring him away. I’m from a much higher station, and it makes some people uncomfortable.”

Seth hooked his arms around my waist, hauling me flush against him. “He just has to get to know you.”

“I suppose,” I said. Seth smiled, and I ran a finger over his lips. “Overnight?” I watched in delight as his cheeks darkened.

“It might be fun.”

“It would,” I replied, but even as I said the words, worry swelled in my soul. If we had sex and he chose to go home, it would hurt even more. But if he went home, didn’t I want to have at least one memory with him? I would never want anyone else besides Seth. He was my last chance for love and sex. Not that I planned to survive long after he was gone.

Some drakcol never recovered from the loss of their mate, drastically shortening their lives. I knew I would be one of them.

“It would be,” Seth said, drawing me back to the present.

“We would have to have a certain conversation, even if it’s a basic one.”

Seth met my gaze. “I know.”

Unable to stop it, even if I had wanted to, a smile stretched over my face. I tried to force my mouth to close, as I didn’t want to upset Seth with the sight of my sharp canines, but he grinned in response before going up on his toes to place a kiss on my lips.