Chapter 29

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Olivia’s anger subsided and her mood improved by the afternoon, thanks in part to a long head-clearing walk to areas she hadn’t yet seen forcing her to shift her attention to her surroundings rather than the gears spinning in her head. By the time she returned to her place, she could even say she was in a good mood, albeit an introspective one.

Arkness messaged her toward the evening inviting her to join him for dinner. Having experienced how well the new filters worked with Rykker, she accepted, interested to get to know him better without her body flying off the handle and into his bed of its own volition.

Much like her dinner with his rival, Olivia’s time with Arkness as they shared a nice meal in a cozy restaurant near his place was enjoyable and informative. His story was similar to Rykker’s, but different, the two men taking different forks in the road at key moments in their lives. But the basic underlying history was the same. Both had been born in this city. Both had a brother. And both decided early on that they would devote themselves to their betterment in hopes of being one of the lucky ones to one day find a mate.

At the end of the meal, it was clear that while Olivia was finally getting to enjoy her companion’s company with a clear head and cooled desire, Arkness was still very much under the power of their pheromonal bond. He professed his love more than once, but when he, as Rykker had done, scanned their Infalas, he was surprised to see they still did not match.

“I just don’t understand,” he said, confused. “My Infala has been stagnant for years, but only since meeting you has it undergone this rapid change.”

“Maybe there’s something else doing it,” she suggested.

“Impossible. The Infala only morphs when its match is found.”

“But you’ve seen the results. We don’t match, Arkness. I’m sorry, but that’s the obvious fact.”

A series of expressions flashed across his face; confusion most prevalent among them. “But the pheromones. They bond us as well. I know you feel it.”

“Oh boy, do I ever,” she said, a little tingle forming between her legs at the memory of the epic pleasures they had shared together even with her new nasal filters in place. “But my people don’t get together based on just that. At least, not so far as they know. I mean, we have them too on my world, but not like you do here.”

“Then you do feel the same.”

“That’s not the point. What I’m saying is I’m glad we had this chance to actually get to know each other more without things getting all out of hand. There has to be more than just physicality, amazing as it may be.”

“So, what are you saying? You wish to discuss our lives further? Perhaps back at my place?”

Even without that knee-jerk reaction she was tempted. “No, I can’t.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

“It doesn’t matter. Look, just respect this boundary, okay? I need to sleep alone tonight. I need some me time.”

Though he looked pained at the declaration, Arkness nevertheless nodded his understanding. “Of course, I will respect your wishes. Just know I am now, and always, at your service.”

At my cervix is more like it , she thought, another flare of arousal spiking hard within her in spite of herself. Okay, I really need to get out of here before I can’t think straight.

Arkness walked her out but not all the way back to her domicile, leaving her a few blocks from home.

“May I call on you tomorrow?”

“We’ll see. I have things I need to deal with. But tentatively, yes.”

“Then I tentatively look forward to it,” he replied with a warm smile, taking her hand in his and pressing it to his lips. “Until our next meeting, then,” he said, then left her to her own devices, as she wished.

She watched him walk away, admiring his delicious form disappearing into the night crowd milling about. As for Olivia, she turned in early, planning on giving herself as much rest and thinking time as she could.

Morning came, and with it an invitation to join Zoldana and Harper for mid-morning tea. Apparently, the woman had taken a liking to their new guest now that her sedation had worn off, and Harper was learning the ways of this world, albeit at a somewhat slower pace than her friend, courtesy of the longer mending time for her leg.

It was a delightful little gathering, and the light and cheerful conversation made for a truly pleasant morning. But as noon approached, Olivia had to steel herself for what was coming. She had promised to speak with Rykker, and while she was still upset with him, the extra time for introspection had helped her calm her ire a bit and see things from his perspective.

She took her leave of the two women and headed home, readying her mind and body for a calm, rational discussion. But when noon came and went, she felt her annoyance flare.

“ He was the one bugging me to talk. And now he doesn’t even show up?”

Olivia stormed out of her place and through the streets, but when she arrived at Rykker’s home she found he was not there.

“You looking for Rykker?” a neighbor asked as he descended from his own nearby unit.

“Yes. We were supposed to meet today.”

“Oh, I see. He isn’t back yet.”

“Back? Where did he go?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Something about you though, I believe. You can try asking Skrizzit Nijello, he was speaking with him before he left.”

Olivia didn’t like the sound of that. Rykker had absolutely no right to talk about her personal matters with the Skrizzit. She hurried to his chambers and rang the chime over and over.

“Yes, yes, I’m here!” the man called out. “Oh, Olivia, it’s you. I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“Well, I’m here. Now what’s this about you talking to Rykker about me? Isn’t that sort of thing confidential?

The man looked confused. “I don’t understand. How is his tracking excursion confidential? Am I missing something?”

Now it was Olivia’s turn to be baffled. “Wait, his what?”

“He visited me late last night. He seemed rather out of sorts, but he wanted to run something by me. It seems he managed to affix a tracking device on some Raxxians he encountered and was thinking of gathering further intelligence on them. He said they might still be holding more people from your world, and it was his duty to find out and, if possible, retrieve them.”

“He did what ?”

“You heard correct. He left late last night. He promised to bring me anyone he managed to recover this morning, but as he hasn’t come to see me, I assume he was unsuccessful in finding any.”

Olivia felt her stomach drop. That was what he’d hurried off to do when they were hiding from the Raxxians. The device he had in his hands was some sort of tracking marker, and he’d managed to get a tracker on one of the brutal alien recapture unit guards. And then, thanks to her little rant about being one of only two humans around, he took it upon himself to try to find her more.

“Fuck.”

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, there’s a problem. I was just at his house. He’s not back yet.”

“He’s a skilled tracker and a fierce warrior, I’m sure he’s fine.” Unfortunately, Nijello’s words said one thing, but his expression said another. The man was not a very good liar. “I’ll tell you what. I have a private comm line for emergency use. I’ll give him a ping just to make sure.”

A small display popped up in the air, generated by the Skrizzit’s personal communications apparatus. Where others were a bit more limited in range and contacts, he was a senior member of the city’s leadership, and as such he had certain advantages over the rest. This was one of them.

“Hmm.”

“What?”

“He is not responding to my hails. Most unusual. But I do see his craft is receiving the calls. If he strayed far from it, the repeater signal may not be reaching his personal unit.”

“But you know where he is?”

“Roughly. But, as I said, I would not worry. He is a very resourceful man. Oh. That’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“Nothing. Just, it seems there has been some unusual activity in the area where he landed. But, again, it is probably nothing.”

She wasn’t buying it. Olivia needed to do something. Rykker was out there all alone, and it was, in some crazy way, partly her fault. Not really, but she’d never forgive herself if something happened to him after driving him away like that.

Olivia turned and hurried for the exit. She would visit Zoldana. She would have some idea of what to do. She hit the street at a fast walk, nearly barreling right into Arkness as he approached from up ahead.

“Olivia, didn’t you see me waving?”

“No, sorry.”

Her tone registered in an instant and his expression changed at once. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his concern flaring.

“Rykker.”

Arkness’s eyes narrowed. “What about him?”

“The damn fool went after the Raxxians himself. Alone . I need to talk to Zoldana. I’ve got to find a way to get to him.”

Arkness’s face was calm, but his mind was racing. Even so, it was a decision he made in an instant. “ I will find him.”

“But you two don’t exactly get along. Why help him?”

“I do this not because I want to, but because you want to. And we may be rivals, but we are still Maldonians. Now, tell me, do you have any idea where he was last seen?”

“Nijello does. He had some sort of link to his ship, but Rykker isn’t responding.”

“Likely too far for the repeater.”

“That’s what Nijello said.”

“He was probably right. I’m messaging him now for the coordinates. I’ll leave at once,” he declared, turning and hurrying away.

Olivia followed close behind. “Not without me. This was partly my doing.”

Arkness shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. I would give my life for you, Olivia, but I will not put you at risk.”

“You said you would do anything for me, remember?”

He nodded, both remembering his words and already knowing she would use them against him to get her way. And, truth be told, he found her inner power incredibly alluring in a way that went far beyond mere pheromonal attraction.

“Very well,” he said, shifting the unintentional bulge that had sprung up in his trousers.

She looked down at the unexpected movement catching her eye. “Not now, Tiger. We’ve got work to do.”