22. Marina

22

MARINA

M arina cringed at the number of cappuccinos she'd made that had gone down the drain. "I just can't get the hang of it. It looks so simple when you do it."

Wonder put a hand on her shoulder. "You need to develop the touch, which only comes with practice."

Leaning against the counter, Aliya nodded. "It took me days to master this beast and weeks until I could make all those fancy hearts and other designs with the frothed milk."

"Thanks for the pep talk, but I still feel like a failure."

Marina was getting used to the hybrid, who was very different from the other hybrids she knew from Igor's compound. The girl seemed more refined and better educated, but when Marina remarked on that, Aliya burst out laughing.

"I had the bare minimum of education when the clan found me. What you see now is the result of my mate's hard work. Vrog is a teacher and took it upon himself to educate his ignorant mate."

"Are you exclusive with him?" Marina asked hesitantly.

"I am." Aliya sighed. "When I came of age, I entertained following the Kra-ell ways and had several males in my unit, but it just didn't feel right. Vrog didn't want to share, and I didn't want to either. I'm very happy having only one mate." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Frankly, I don't know how the Kra-ell females manage several partners. It must be exhausting."

It had been quite a shock when the humans at Safe Haven had heard about Jade choosing one of the immortals as her exclusive mate, but evidently, she wasn't the only Kra-ell who had gone that way. Aliya and Vrog were also a monogamous couple. Emmett was another hybrid Kra-ell who was in an exclusive relationship with an immortal, but then Emmett was unlike anyone else on this planet.

"Hello, ladies." A tall, striking woman with long, silver-blonde hair approached the counter. "Can I bother you for a cappuccino and a pastry?"

Wonder cast her a warm smile. "Of course, Kaia." She turned to Marina. "Our newest hire will make your cappuccino."

Marina felt her cheeks get warm, and she wasn't quick to blush. "I'm not good enough yet."

"Welcome to the village, Marina." Kaia smiled. "I'll gladly be your first customer."

Marina winced. "Are you sure? Every cup I've made so far has gone down the drain."

Kaia shrugged. "I'm a scientist. I'm used to trying things a thousand different ways until something succeeds." She extended her hand. "I'm honored to try your cappuccino."

That was such a nice thing to say. "I'll do my best."

When the cup was ready, she put it in front of Kaia on the counter. Marina held her breath as the female lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip.

"Excellent." Kaia smacked her lips.

Marina very much doubted it, but she appreciated the white lie.

"Come back in a few days, and I promise it will truly be excellent."

"It already is." Kaia took another sip.

"What kind of scientist are you?" Marina asked.

"I'm a bioinformatician."

Marina had no idea what that meant and was too embarrassed to ask and admit her ignorance.

Kaia must have read her expression because she smiled. "Not many people know what bioinformaticians do. I work with biological data, trying to unravel the secrets of life." She tilted her head. "Who knows? We might discover how to turn ordinary mortals into immortals, no godly genes required."

Marina's heart rate accelerated, and her eyes widened. "Are you serious? Or are you just teasing me? Because if you are teasing, that's just cruel."

Kaia's piercing blue eyes seemed to hold the universe's secrets as she trained them on Marina. "The gods weren't always immortal. They found a way to modify their genes and make their bodies self-repair at such an accelerated rate that they turned immortal. What if we find a way to do the same?"

Marina's mind was reeling as she tried to process the implications of what Kaia was saying. If it were true, if there was a way for humans to become immortal, it would change everything. She could have forever with Peter after all. They could build a life together.

"How close are you to discovering the secret to immortality?" Wonder asked.

Kaia sighed. "Regrettably, I am not as close as I would like to be, but I believe I will be able to crack the code." She finished the last of the cappuccino, wrapped up what was left of her pastry, and put it in the paper bag Wonder handed her.

"Do you want to take another one for William?" Wonder asked.

"He's not here. He's at the keep today."

Wonder nodded. "Right. Anandur is there as well, guarding Kian."

Marina had a feeling that something important was going on in that place they called the keep, but she didn't dare ask what it was.

She was here because of Kian's good will, and if she didn't want to be kicked out, she should keep her nose out of where it didn't belong.