Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I knew I was fidgeting. His eyes were intense, his body still as he stared at me, and I felt like a bug under a microscope. He studied me like a predator studies prey. I tried to control my breathing so I didn’t hyperventilate under his scrutiny.

I was trying to be a good hostess and not rapid-fire questions at him. Why were the Skeall so secretive? Why did Arella think he was contemplating murder earlier? Was he really just curious about humans?

The constant pull toward him from deep in my belly hadn’t eased in the slightest. It seemed to only be getting more intense the longer I was near him. I had never experienced anything like it. I’d say it was desire, but I desired Garble when I first met him and it never felt like this.

I found myself staring at his chiseled chest and wondering what his skin felt like.

My eyes popped to his when he spoke.

“How did you get so far from home, little one?”

Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I should bristle at being called little, but I couldn’t make myself care when it was said in his deep, gravel ridden voice.

“I signed up for the Ka’atari rhun program as soon as I was eligible.”

His brows slashed down and I pressed hard into the back of the chair. I wouldn’t run, but everything in my lizard brain was screaming I was in serious danger.

“You are a Ka’atari rhun?”

I shook my head and he relaxed, releasing my voice from where it’d been stuck in my throat. “No, I wasn’t a match for the Ka’atari.”

He nodded once. “Good.”

“Why?” Stars above, Danyx, could you be more stupid? Just because that one word sent your nethers tingling like a jellyfish sting doesn’t mean he means it the way you took it.

“Because I don’t relish the thought of warring against the Ka’atari.”

I kept my mouth shut. Barely. Instead of doubling down on my stupidity, I asked a safer question. “Why are the Skeall so private?”

“I can’t answer that to any satisfaction.”

“Can’t, or won’t?”

He smirked. “A bit of both.”

“Fair enough.”

“You still haven’t explained how you came to be on the edge of Denchui space.”

I swallowed and stared into space. “After I didn’t match, they gave me a stipend and the choice of going home or finding my own way. I chose to stay.”

“And?”

I should have known he wouldn’t let it go. “I was recruited by… some people to work for them. They brought me to Eotune. I’ve been around ever since.”

If he asked me a follow up, I’d have to give a non-answer like the one he’d given. I wasn’t about to get into the details.

Thankfully, he didn’t. He just waited patiently. It took a while for me to realize it was my turn.

“What is Skeall culture like?”

He turned to look out the port hole. “We are a proud warrior people with agrarian ancestry.”

“Is that why you carry a sword?”

She waved at my pi?r where it rested within arm’s reach.

He smiled. “In part. We train with pi?r to honor the ancestors, but we carry them because they are effective weapons.”

“I bet. Human history includes a time where swords were used in battle.”

“Why did you seek to leave Earth?”

“I sought to improve my situation.”

“Did you?”

Oof. He wasn’t pulling any punches. I decided to ignore the tricky question. “Why did you take to the stars?”

He chuckled. “I sought to improve my situation.”

I laughed. It was surprisingly easy to talk to him. Not in the effortless way it had been to converse with Xekhil during my tour, but more because I found I wanted to open up to him.

He felt comfortable. Safe.

The thought made me anxious. I shifted in my seat and my stomach growled.

He sat forward. “Are you hungry?”

“A little,” I admitted. I hadn’t eaten since Arella rudely woke me.

“Will you eat with me?”

I laughed. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? You are on my ship, after all.”

“Apologies.” He ducked his head. “I’m not used to others being in command.”

Arella chirped, her version of a snort.

“It’s rude to eavesdrop, you know.”

“It’s not eavesdropping. I hear everything that happens on board, and simultaneously monitor all my systems.”

I sighed. “It would be more correct to say we share command of this vessel, but it’s fine. I’m not yet used to being in command of anything.” Even my own life.

I led the way to the mess hall and retrieved two standard issue meals from the replicator. They were nutritionally solid, if not all that tasty.

Khanet looked at the tray like it would bite him.

“Did you not say you had fresh food on board?”

“Well, yeah, but that’s cargo for selling, not for me to eat.”

He grunted and looked like he might argue, but after a few minutes resigned himself to eating the beige gloop.

“Do you eat fresh food on your ship?”

“Of course.”

“I’m sorry the replicator is all I can offer.”

He poked at the food on his tray with his fork, and I had a vision of him wasting away to nothing because he refused to eat. My face must have given away my horror because he shoveled a heaping amount into his mouth and swallowed with a grimace.

“It’s fine.”

I almost laughed out loud at how not fine it sounded. I smothered the humor with a mouthful of gloop. It was pretty bad, and I always ended up giving Skitter more than half of my portion.

He rolled into the mess hall right on time and I set my tray on the deck for him. Khanet raised an eyebrow and I shrugged.

Xekhil entered on Skitter’s heels, his face lit with excitement. “Arella is quite remarkable.”

“Finally, someone who appreciates me.”

I snorted. “I appreciate you, Arella, just not when you’re waking me up with the klaxon.”

Khanet said something to Xekhil which didn’t translate.

“Why doesn’t my translator work on your language?”

His face shuttered and I knew I would get another non answer.

“Because we don’t want it to.”

***

Our secretive nature never bothered me before. We had historical reasons to hold ourselves apart from the larger Denchui society.

Now, watching her face fall as she found another area of inquiry I couldn’t satisfy, I wanted nothing more than to tell her everything. Were they my secrets alone, I would have. My skin felt tight and itchy. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and one I sought to rid myself of as fast as possible.

“How did you come by this ship?”

She grinned and my skin loosened, the itch fell away, and I felt like I’d gained a victory.

“I won her in a game of vermklack.” She tilted her head and rubbed the end of her braid between her fingers.

I wanted to undo that braid and sift the strands through my palm. Just the thought of it filled my cock. That was becoming a frequent problem in her company. I shifted in my seat.

“I guess I should have been suspicious when the win was so easy.”

“Suspicious?” I leaned forward, but that put more pressure across my hips, so I sat back. I was beginning to fidget, where she had gone still.

“Yeah, Arella isn’t too keen on having a captain, or any crew really.” She looked at the ceiling before adding, “I don’t blame her. The last owner was a real dick. I’d have kicked him out an airlock.”

“Which is precisely why I decided to keep you.” Arella proved once again that she listened to everything.

“I’m honored. She’s the most advanced…,” she paused and cut her eyes to the side, “ship ever created.”

The creature she called Skitter climbed her leg and stretched out on its back in front of her. I had to smile as its paws flexed and stretched when she stroked its belly.

“What about you? Have you always wanted to captain a Skeall warbird?”

My eyes flew to hers, but her attention was still on her pet. “What makes you think she’s a warbird?”

She shrugged. “I figured all the ships patrolling your borders would be. It just makes sense to have offensive capabilities when you defend your border with prejudice. I’m kind of surprised you didn’t shoot us out of the stars right away.”

“Do they say we shoot down interlopers?”

I earned her gaze with that.

“Yes. Well, that’s the assumption, since it’s said that ships who cross your border are never seen again.”

I smiled. “What else do they say?”

She blushed and ducked her head. “I’m sure it’s not true.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“Why?”

“Because it amuses me.”

She snorted. “Well, if you’re amused…” She sighed. “They say you’re barely civilized. More beast than sentient being. That you’re quick to temper and kill those who annoy you. And then eat them, actually.”

I guffawed. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d laughed like that. “They aren’t entirely wrong, you know.”

Her lips wore a small smile when she looked back at me. “Oh? What parts are right?”

“We can be beasts, and some are quick to anger.” I pretended to think. “I suppose we are no stranger to battle and bloodshed either. But as far as I know, we’ve never eaten another sentient being.” He winked.

“What about you?” Her eyes darted away.

“I am a beast, Danyx. I have worn the blood of my enemies and will again to defend my people.”

She nodded without looking at me. “Are you also quick to anger?”

A note of fear crept into her voice.

“No.”

Her exhale shuddered and I added to my vow to kill whoever had hurt her with as much pain as possible.

“My people cherish our females. Anyone found perpetrating violence against a fellow Skeall is dealt with swiftly.”

She nodded but still wouldn’t look at me.

“I am not Skeall.”

Her voice was so low if my hearing was less acute, I would have missed it.

“Danyx, look at me.”

I waited while her eyes slowly traveled from the edge of the table, up the length of my chest, to my eyes.

I drew the pi?r from my side and drew the blade across my palm. Her gasp seemed loud in the bare space of the mess hall. With my clean hand I drew her arm toward me and clasped my bloodied palm tigthly against her hand. I drew our hands to my lips and smeared my blood across my face. She was so small, she was half on the table as she stretched to reach.

“By my blood, I will never hurt you.”

Her eyes were so wide, I could see the white around her amber iris. Her chest heaved and when her tongue darted out to wet her lips my control shredded. I tugged her until she climbed onto the table. I slid her on her knees until we were so close I could feel her breath on my skin.

There was no fear in her. Slow enough she could pull back if she wanted, I pressed my lips to hers. I shook with the effort to keep it gentle. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to crush her against me, to possess her in every way possible.

When she leaned into me, I broke the kiss. I pressed my forehead to hers and tried in vain to catch my breath.

“How have you bewitched me? What sort of magic do you possess that I’m snared so completely?”

My words broke the spell and her hand yanked from mine as she scurried off the table and backed up several paces shaking her head. I wanted to beat my head against the hard surface in front of me, but I settled for gripping the table’s edge as hard as I could.

If I went after her now, what small trust I’d built would evaporate.

“I… I need to check on something.”

She fled, and I felt like I’d lost a limb.

***

What the fuck? I clearly hadn’t learned anything from my five years with Garble. Why did I have to be attracted to the worst possible people? I knew the bargain I’d struck. I knew I’d have sex with Khanet. I just didn’t think my heart would be in jeopardy.

It couldn’t be.

Garble was charming at first, too. He said all the right things, made all the right moves. By the time he revealed his slimy side, it was too late. I was trapped in his web. Even then my heart held out hope, telling itself lies.

He’s truly sorry this time. He really loves me. He won’t make me steal again. He won’t punish me again.

It took years, but I reached the point I couldn’t fool myself anymore.

My heart broke. More years passed as I taped it back together. I had to be vigilant in reminding myself that the good times were lies. The bad times were reality. It wasn’t hard when the bad times began to far outweigh the good.

Yet here I was, falling for the same song and dance all over again.

No. I wouldn’t. I wasn’t that naive girl fresh off Earth anymore. I’d seen things. Done things. Learned how to survive.

I would survive this, and keep my heart in the cage where it belonged.

It was just the newness of him. The butterflies would die off over the next nine days. He probably picked his teeth. Would keep me awake talking about nonsense. Farted without apology.

Something would make him seem less attractive, I was sure of it.

My determination renewed, I made my way to the bridge.

“You are in so much trouble.”

“Shut it, Arella.”

“I’m only trying to warn you. The Skeall are fickle in their love affairs.”

“I am under no illusion there is anything resembling love between us.”

“Your vitals say otherwise. His, too, for that matter.”

“It’s a passing infatuation. We’ll work it out of our systems and go our separate ways. Hopefully with an agreement that allows us to traverse Skeall space.”

“Hmm.”

I ignored her. “Are we still on course?”

She snorted.

“Fine. Is the Skeall warbird still shadowing us?”

“As far as I can tell, no.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means they have cloaking technology.”

I felt lightheaded and rubbed at my temples.

“Are you going to pass out?”

“No.”

“If you pass out, do so to your left. I’d hate for Skitter to be injured by your falling body.”

“I appreciate your concern, Arella.”

“You’re welcome.”

I dropped into the captain’s chair and let my head fall back. “Are there any other bombshells you want to drop on me?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Great. If you don’t need anything else, I’m going to my cabin.” I was halfway off the bridge when she called after me.

“You might want to show the Skeall to their quarters first.”

My headache worsened. “Where’s Xekil?”

“In the engine bay, gawking at my asterism drive.”

I made my way to him first. I refused to acknowledge that I wanted a buffer between me and Khanet. I found him right where Arella said he’d be. He leaned so far over the railing surrounding her engine it seemed like he’d fall in with the slightest breeze.

I didn’t want to clean up Xekil bits, so I cleared my throat from the doorway.

He spun around with a huge grin. “She’s remarkable!”

I groaned. “Her ego needs no help, you know.”

He shook his head and went back to staring at her drive. I cleared my throat again. “I’m going to sleep, but I thought I’d show you to a cabin first?”

“Of course, right.”

He followed me out, but not without looking over his shoulder every few feet until we turned the corner and the engine room was out of sight.

I swung by the mess hall. I didn’t expect Khanet to have stayed, so it surprised me to find him still there.

“I’m going to sleep and thought I’d show you the cabins first?”

He stood with the grace of a large cat. Not a lion, though. Something sleek, like a leopard or a jaguar. In that moment, he felt just as dangerous. Like a coward, I spun and almost sprinted down the hallway.

There weren’t a huge number of cabins, since Arella didn’t need that big of a crew and wasn’t all that big of a ship. Or a big fan of crew, for that matter. The designers allocated a good bit of room for them, so they all were large compared to most starship’s and each had a private bathroom.

The doors of the ten cabins faced a single, short hallway. Located mid-ship, they were far enough from the engine to not be noisy and close enough to the mess hall for midnight snack runs.

Not that anyone was clamoring for a snack of beige goop.

“All but the first on the left are empty, so you can take your pick.”

Xekil took a step back and Khanet strode to the second door on the left. Once he’d chosen, Xekil stepped through the door opposite the hall from Khanet, then popped back out.

“Will it bother you if I explore a bit more?”

I shook my head. “As long as Arella’s okay with it, I don’t mind.”

“You may wander my decks. If you stray too close to a restricted area, I’ll inform you.”

I should be used to her popping into conversations by now, but I wasn’t. I hoped when she said she’d inform him she didn’t mean she’d zap him or slam a door in his face, but that was beyond my control.

I turned toward my cabin and my gaze snagged on Khanet. He leaned against the door jamb looking completely at ease and like a snack far more worthy than anything even a top-of-the-line replicator could produce.

“Goodnight.” I fled as soon as the word squeaked past my lips.