Chapter 9

After a week of leaving my room, things were getting easier for me and Kal. We’d settled into a routine. In the morning we would eat, and then he would leave to see his mentor. I would usually hang out in the apartment with Lucy before he came back to take me out to explore—I hadn’t gone out by myself yet.

Me and NAID would often chat when Kal was gone or in the evening. She did indeed identify as a female, though she hadn’t chosen a name yet.

This afternoon, like many others, I spoke with NAID. “So,” I started, petting Lucy, “they have an emperor and empress, but they also have a parliament? Like England?”

“It’s called the Cohort. A third of the seats are inherited by family lines, the other two-thirds are elected. The Chief of the Cohort has to be elected, regardless of their bloodline,” she explained.

“And this Crystal nominates the next emperor or empress from the royal children?”

“Yes.”

“What is this Crystal?”

“Science has yet to explain it with any clarity, but the spiritual souls have a connection to the Crystal, and they have described it the best they can.”

“Which is?”

“An entity. It was discovered long before drakcol understood science or traversed the universe. A religion grew around the Crystal, which withstood the infighting between the different clans until it nominated one ruler.”

“How?”

“It glowed bright red and wrapped around one of the warriors, or so the legend says. She became the first drakcol empress. The entire planet eventually aligned under one ruler,” NAID explained.

“So how did it pick me for Kal?”

“When someone appeals for their mate, the Crystal makes a connection with them. Sometimes, it does not find anyone at all, which can mean they have no soulmate or their soulmate is dead or not born yet, and some spiritual souls theorize this also happens when their soulmate is already mated, though no one knows for sure. This used to be a more common occurrence pre-space travel.”

“How does it make a connection?”

She chuckled. “You are very curious.”

“Not everything you’re saying is making sense.” How in the world did a crystal find me across the universe? It didn’t seem possible.

“Technology, while it cannot explain the Crystal, can interact with it. Prince Kalvoxrencol knew you were in a remote and desolate part of the universe because our sensors gave us a direction. After some refining and the closer he got, the sensors told him you were on Earth. He did not know who you were until we orbited. But when he saw you, he would have felt the bond between the two of you,” she explained.

“He feels a connection?” I didn’t.

“Prince does.”

“Should I…” I trailed off. Was something wrong with me?

“Not all species feel the genetic link forged by the Crystal. Just as most species cannot mind-speak as Crystal-bound drakcol mates can.”

“I’m sorry. What?” I asked. “Can he hear my thoughts?”

“No, not yet.”

I had no words to fight the growing alarms in my mind. Kal would be able to read my mind. How was that possible? Well, he was an alien. Who knew exactly what kind of creatures were out there among the stars?

“When you and he reaffirm your bond with the Crystal, it will form a stronger, unbreakable connection between the two of you. For drakcol, this allows the bonded mates to speak to each other in their minds. Most species are not compatible enough for this side effect.”

“He’ll be able to read my thoughts.” I couldn’t keep the horror from my voice. My every thought, my every worry, everything. Kal would see it all. I would have no privacy. Though, in some ways, Kal knowing everything without me having to say a single word would be incredibly nice. Not that I was staying.

“If compatible, you and he will be able to mind-speak. We will not know if it will work with your brain chemistry until you reaffirm your bond with Prince Kalvoxrencol.”

“So you don’t know everything, even with all your advancements?”

“Of course not. The universe is growing as we speak. People and cultures are evolving. That is why there are seeker souls. They’re the scientists who seek to explain everything. The search will never end. There are even things drakcol do not understand about themselves.”

“Like?”

“You should ask Prince Kalvoxrencol.”

I frowned. She was ever the matchmaker. “Is he like my species?” I asked, fighting back a blush.

Her head tilted to the side, brow crinkling. “In what way?”

My mouth opened, but the words got caught. I was not ready or interested in having sex with him, but I was curious. How could I not be?

“Ah,” she said, nodding sagely. “Copulation.”

“Sure,” I squeaked in a strangled voice.

“There is no need for embarrassment. It’s a natural, biological need for most species. And yes, you are similar. You and Prince Kalvoxrencol will have no issues.”

Another squeak came out of my throat that was much higher-pitched than I liked.

“As for children, should you and he desire some, biologically, you and he are not compatible to make a child, as neither of you can carry or birth a baby, though your DNA seems viable together. You and he can donate, and a scientist will develop a child, then it will be incubated until term. The child would be genetically yours and his,” she explained, completely oblivious to the fire in my cheeks.

I wished she would stop talking because I deeply regretted the question. The answers didn’t matter anyway. I was going home at the end of this. Sex, kids, and anything else was pointless.

“Would you like me to discuss the exact process and upload a sexual health manual to your screen?” she asked with a helpful smile.

My blush would not dim as I shook my head. I’d been trying to learn about the new universe I was a part of. Reading had been slow going because NAID had to translate everything. Though she had downloaded pretty much everything from Earth so I could read and watch things in English.

“It would be no problem. I’ve already translated a manual for you. I have several diagrams depicting drakcol sex and anatomy. One shows two men, so it should be quite informative.”

“I’m good,” I croaked.

“You want to discover it with Prince Kalvoxrencol. A wise choice. Edith often says, ‘Discovering what you and your partner like is paramount to a relationship. Communication is integral to that process.’”

“N-no,” I stammered.

“There’s no shame. He is considered attractive by his species.”

“We’re getting off topic.”

“I don’t think so,” NAID countered. “You wanted to know about copulation between your two species. He is considered handsome. All the same topic.” Her eyes narrowed. “Do you not find him attractive?”

Even more heat swarmed my face, if possible. I felt like I would burst into flames, which might be preferable to this conversation. Kal and his strong features, full lips, thick eyebrows, and steel-blue scales entered my thoughts. His tail that always curled about me. His muscular arms, which I saw all the time because of the sleeveless tunics he wore. Never had blue skin, or rather scales, and tails been a thing for me, but I couldn’t deny I found him attractive.

“Do you find him attractive?” I asked.

“He is within acceptable proportions.”

“What does that mean?”

“The prince is perfectly fine. I have no sexual thoughts or opinions of attractiveness.”

“Ah.” Drawing one of my knees to my chest, I asked, “What’s he like?”

“You have asked this before. I need more specific parameters to respond.”

My lips pursed. What exactly did I want to know? His childhood? His family? His personality? I wasn’t sure, so I started with something simple. “He has siblings?”

“He is the youngest of five children, all male. All of his older brothers, except one, are unmated.”

“Does he get along with them?”

“I don’t know how to answer your question. There are many reports of him defending his older brother of three years, Zoltilvoxfyn.”

“Defending?”

“The second youngest prince has had trouble because of a private matter I am not authorized to disclose. Prince Kalvoxrencol has protected him multiple times, even to the point of issuing challenges. The most famous incident occurred when he was five. He attacked a child of a lord to protect his older brother. From then on, his overprotectiveness became legendary among drakcol. He was seen as an ideal mate for that trait.”

An ideal mate, huh?

“Though, there are many other reports that have dulled his reputation and have become marks against his honor,” NAID continued.

“Such as?”

“Trouble making. Pranks that have gone awry. Drinking. Fighting. Unnecessary challenges. Theft. Prince Kalvoxrencol is known as the royal problem child.”

“I see.”

“But,” NAID said, “he has never injured his romantic companions. He is kind and protective.”

“I’m not judging him, NAID.”

A sly grin tugged at her wafer-thin lips. “From the number of men he’s courted, I assume he is well-versed beneath the sheets. Experience, I understand, is an important factor.”

My blush returned in full force.

The door swished open, and NAID winked, which made her look like a cheeky grandma, before vanishing.

Kal paused. “My Seth, are you alright?”

He took a step forward, and Lucy bolted off my lap to rub against his legs—the traitor. She’d decided to like him a couple of days ago, always demanding his attention.

When I didn’t respond, he scooped Lucy into his arms and strode toward me. “Seth?”

I took several deep breaths, longing for the redness to recede from my face and make it less tomato-like. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

His tail hooked around my wrist. “You are red.”

“Yep.”

“Why? What does it mean?” he asked, sitting beside me. Lucy wriggled out of his arms and headbutted me.

“Nothing,” I lied. His mouth thinned, and I averted my gaze. “I was speaking with NAID about different things.”

“Which were?”

“Personal.”

“Was there something that bothered you? Maybe I could explain better.”

His tail let go of my wrist and twitched. His fingers tapped incessantly on his knee before he dragged his claws against the fabric of his black trousers. He was nervous, an all too familiar feeling for me.

“It wasn’t anything bad.” I didn’t like him upset, and oddly enough, I wanted to soothe him. My fingers itched to run over his arm or draw him close, but I kept them at my side. “I do have a question.”

“I will answer anything.”

“I know this Crystal showed me to you, but why did you go to the Crystal in the first place? Or does everyone on your planet do that?”

Kal lifted one of his legs and tucked it beneath him to sit in my direction. “Not everyone seeks the Crystal. Once the Crystal reveals your soulmate, you have no other option. There is a longing that cannot be overcome.”

“So why did you?” I asked when he didn’t continue.

“It had been a childhood dream of mine. I tried to court men on my own planet, and it never amounted to anything. Eventually, I wanted someone to love and be loved in return. So I sought the Crystal, and it gave me you,” he said, smiling softly as his tail curled around my wrist.

“Oh.”

Kal”s expression darkened, and his tail tightened. “Did I take you from someone?”

His scales were so warm, much warmer than my normal temperature. Pulling my focus from his tail, I said, “I haven’t been with anyone in a while.”

“I’m glad.”

“Yeah, that would’ve made you abducting me even more awkward,” I said sarcastically.

He released me. “I am sorry this is how it had to be.”

I literally felt the people-pleaser side of me rising, wanting to absolve him of guilt, but I viciously squashed it. Kal had taken me, and he deserved to feel bad about it.

“Can I ask another question?”

“Of course, my Seth.”

“NAID mentioned there were things about your species you didn’t understand, but then she got squirrelly.”

His eyebrows drew together. “I don’t know what that word means.”

“Squirrelly?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Evasive?” I offered.

“I don’t know what it was referring to.”

“She,” I corrected.

“Excuse me?”

“NAID is a she, not an it.” I swallowed, unable to keep from tensing.

“NAID is not a she. It”s an it. A computer program.”

I crossed my arms to conceal my shaking. “NAID told me she likes to be referred to as a she, so she is a she.”

His mouth curled into a frown, and my breathing turned shallow as I scooted away from him, but Kal did nothing. After a moment, he asked, “NAID told you this directly?”

“Yes.”

Kal’s head tilted to the side, making his long earrings kiss his neck. “Interesting.” Before I could say anything, he continued, “You are correct. If NAID identifies as a female, then she is indeed a she.”

I sagged against the arm of the couch from his easy response. I had not made him angry. This time.

“As to the other matter, I don’t know what she was referring to.”

“NAID?” I asked. “What were you talking about?”

This time, she took the appearance I was used to. “Yes, Seth?”

“What were you talking about earlier?”

“Copulation habits?”

Heat shot to my face.

Kal whipped toward me. “Copulation?”

“The other thing,” I said, trying to change the subject before Kal could read into it.

“His inner fire.”

“Oh, that. I would like to visit the other topic.” His tail flicked wildly.

“I don’t. Explain the inner fire thing.”

NAID smirked, and the monitor went blank. If she had a physical body, I would’ve contemplated strangling her for her obvious amusement.

“We’ll talk about copulation another time,” he said.

Or never.

“Let me show you my inner fire.” Kal stood. His visible scales and the different colored crescent shapes began to glow brighter and brighter. Something started to slide out from his back, straining his shirt for the barest moment. Two massive, steel-blue wings with thick black talons extended out. Kal grinned, finally revealing his sharp canines. “We can do things with our inner fire. Bend nature to our will. It is different for everyone.”

I moved to his side, hand hovering near one of his wings.

“You can touch me,” he said, his voice deepening.

My fingers skimmed over the leathery wing, tracing the membrane. A black talon rested near the middle, the tip sharp against the pad of my finger. I asked, “Did your inner fire conjure your wings?”

“No, I simply let them spread.”

“Do all your people have wings?”

“Yes.”

“Can you fly?”

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“What can you do with your inner fire?”

“It depends on the person.”

“And you?”

“I exude light and life. It is said my inner fire is from the Crystal itself.”

Before I could ask for a demonstration, he began to glow impossibly bright as the temperature in the room swelled, making me sweat. I shielded my eyes, and he let the light dim.

“That’s impressive. You have magic.”

“No, not magic. We used to believe that, but it”s part of our brain chemistry. Power and ability depend on genetics.”

“Awesome.” My gaze returned to his wings, which were more impressive. When my eyes met his, he enclosed me in his wings, tail wrapping about my ankle and traveling up my calf.

“I’m glad you think so.” His wings completely surrounded me and something cracked in my brain, not in a good way.

My breath turned to shallow gasps while the sensation of being trapped swept through me. I pushed on his chest as sweat dripped down my back. He moved away instantly, freeing me.

“Seth?” he asked, but I couldn’t even pay attention.

I stumbled back. Everything was too much. I couldn’t breathe. I was trapped. I was stuck. I was in space. There was nowhere to go.

I grabbed the front of my hoodie, choking. When the black spots floated across my vision and white noise filled my ears, I sank to the ground, lungs screaming in need. The walls were closing in and my thoughts clung to one thing: I was stuck in a spaceship, hurtling to a foreign planet.

What would happen when I got there?

Every worst-case scenario from dissection to simply being abandoned and having to fend for myself barrelled through my thoughts and stoked my panic into a raging inferno.

Blazing hot hands seized my cheeks, and I barely saw Kal above me. His mouth moved, but I didn’t hear the words.

The world swirled, but his burning touch breached the chaos. I managed to take a tiny breath and smelled cinnamon mixed with nutmeg, soothingly familiar. Kal’s deep voice broke through the white noise, and so did Lucy’s purrs from where she was pressed against my thigh.

“I’m here, my Seth. It’s alright,” he repeated over and over again, voice even and calm without even a hint of annoyance. Worry was written all over his alien face. I dropped my head against his knee, and he stroked my back, much like he would pet Lucy.

“What can I do?”

“Don’t move.”

“I can do that.”