Chapter 6

SIX

T iffany had to stop herself from staring.

Zakhar – the mystery shifter had a name now – inclined his head in greeting. "It's a pleasure to meet you both officially. I hope you're enjoying your stay on Nova Aurora so far."

His gaze lingered on Tiffany as he added, "Though I do hope you don't plan on talking to the cutlery the way you did the flowers. They might be less forgiving of any accidental insults."

Tiffany felt her face flame as Sia turned to her with wide eyes. "Wait, what? When did you meet him? And what's this about insulting flowers?"

"I, uh..." Tiffany stammered, not sure how to explain.

Zakhar's deep chuckle saved her from having to answer. "Miss Whitlock and I had a brief encounter in the gardens earlier. She was having a delightful conversation with some very flattered Sweet Bells."

"Oh my god," Tiffany groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "I'm never going to live this down, am I?"

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Sia grinned, looping her arm through Tiffany's. "Now come on, Tiff. You can tell me all about your budding romance with the local plant life over dinner."

As they took their seats at the table, Tiffany found herself directly across from Zakhar. His presence was magnetic, drawing her attention even as she tried to focus on the conversation around her. Every time their eyes met, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her.

"So you and Zak met already, huh?" Bella asked, a wide grin on her face.

"Zak?" Sia asked.

"I'm an earthling," Bella laughed. "I had to give him a nickname. What do you think, Tiffany?"

"Zak?" Tiffany mulled it over and then grinned at Bella. "I like it. Strong and powerful. Seems to fit him."

"See," Bella glanced at Zak. "Told you."

"You like it, Tiffany?" he asked, his voice deep and rumbly.

Tiffany took a swig of her wine and tried to ignore the way he said her name so low and sexy. "I do."

"Then you must call me Zak. Ever since Bella gave me the nickname, it has stuck even at home."

Sia squeezed her thigh next to her in excitement.

"Oh, well…okay, Zak."

The way Zak looked at her made Tiffany's throat dry, and she took another gulp of her wine. The deep amber liquid sparkled in the crystal glass, reminding her of Zak's eyes. She set the glass down, only to find those eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"So, Tiffany," Zak said, his deep voice carrying easily across the table, "I hear you're a history teacher. Tell me, what's your favorite historical period to teach?"

Tiffany opened her mouth to answer, but Sia beat her to it. "Oh god, don't get her started on the Renaissance. She'll talk your ear off about Leonardo da Vinci and his flying machines for hours."

"Sia!" Tiffany protested, feeling her cheeks warm.

The meal itself was a feast for the senses, each dish more extraordinary than the last. A soup that changed color with each spoonful, its flavor morphing from savory to sweet and back again. Delicate pastries filled with what looked like starlight, bursting on the tongue with a fizzy, ethereal taste. Meat so tender, it practically melted, seasoned with spices that danced on the palate like a perfectly choreographed ballet.

As Tiffany sampled a particularly intriguing blue vegetable, her eyes widened in surprise. "This tastes like... a summer afternoon at the beach. How is that even possible?"

Zak leaned in, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Ah, you've discovered the Emoberries. They have a unique ability to evoke emotional memories through taste. I'm curious, what specific memory did it bring up for you?"

Tiffany found herself drawn into his golden gaze, the rest of the table fading away. "I was eight," she said softly. "My grandmother took me to the beach. We built sandcastles and collected seashells. It was... perfect."

Something flickered in Zak's eyes – understanding, perhaps, or a shared sense of nostalgia. "It sounds lovely," he murmured. "I'm glad our humble Emoberry could bring back such a cherished memory."

Their moment was interrupted by Sia's dramatic gasp. "Oh my god, this dessert just made me relive my first kiss! It was... wait, no, I don't want to relive that. Ugh, Brandon Miller, you need kissing lessons."

The table erupted in laughter, and Tiffany found herself relaxing in the warm, humorous atmosphere. She discovered that Zak possessed a dry wit that played beautifully off her own sarcastic humor. His subtle jokes and clever observations had her in stitches more than once.

"I must say," Zak commented after a particularly spirited debate about the merits of various Earth historical figures, "your knowledge of history is quite impressive. Though I'm not entirely convinced this Napoleon wasn't just overcompensating for something with all those conquests."

Tiffany grinned, leaning in slightly. "Oh? And what would you say he was compensating for, Zak?"

Zak's eyes glinted with mischief. "Well, I've heard he was rather... short. Unlike some of us."

"Modest too, I see," Tiffany shot back, earning a deep, rumbling laugh from Zak that sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

"So, how is Alyx king of the planet and you are king of Larkana? I'm confused," Sia asked Bella.

"Well, it's a little tricky. We have several royal families on the planet. But each one oversees their own kingdom or territory. However, Alyx's family has always been the one who helps govern the planet by communicating between the families and by addressing any concerns they might have with each other."

"Sort of like a president?" Sia asked.

"Yes!" Bella exclaimed. "Exactly. So even though Alyx and Zak are both royals with the same nobility and one is not more powerful than the other, Alyx has the added role of ‘Nova Aurora President/Planet King.'"

"Wow. Sounds like a lot of work."

Bella nodded. "It's okay. Alyx is good at being king and one of his strongest traits is dealing with different kingdoms, tribes, and communities. If ever there was a man perfect for that job, it's him."

"It's true," Zak nodded. "Alyx keeps all the royals communicating and the planet running smoothly. We all owe him for taking a task none of us would want."

As the evening wore on, Tiffany found the attraction she'd felt in the garden only growing stronger. Zak's intelligence, his humor, the way his eyes seemed to soften when they met hers – it all combined into an irresistible package that left her both exhilarated and slightly terrified.

By the time dessert was served – a confection that looked like spun moonlight and tasted like pure joy – Tiffany was thoroughly charmed. She barely noticed when Bella announced their travel arrangements for the next day, too caught up in another witty exchange with Zak.

As the dinner wound down, Bella announced that they would be leaving for the Larkana Forest Kingdom in the morning. "Zak has offered to escort you personally," she added with a knowing smile in Tiffany's direction.

"I thought perhaps you might like to ride in my shuttle," Zak said to Tiffany, his voice low and rumbling. "I could give you a more... personal tour of the kingdom."

Oh, hell. Her and him alone? How was she going to keep her hands to herself? Tiffany's heart raced at the prospect of spending more time with him. "I'd like that," she managed to say, proud of how steady her voice sounded.

Zak's eyes seemed to glow with satisfaction at her response. "Excellent. I look forward to showing you the wonders of my kingdom."

She glanced at Sia next to her and caught her waggling her eyebrows suggestively. Tiffany fought the urge to kick her under the table.

"Well," Gerri interjected with a knowing smile, "it seems our travel arrangements are settled. Sia and I will take the second shuttle. I'm sure we can find plenty to chat about on the journey."

As the dinner party began to disperse, Tiffany found herself lingering, reluctant to end her time with Zak. He seemed to share the sentiment, his steps slowing as they walked to the main hall.

"I hope you'll find the Larkana Forest Kingdom to your liking," he said, his deep voice sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. "It's quite different from King Alyx's domain."

Tiffany smiled up at him, feeling a surge of anticipation. "I'm sure it's beautiful. I can't wait to see it."

"And I can't wait to show it to you," Zak replied, his gaze intense. For a moment, Tiffany felt as if the rest of the world had faded away, leaving just the two of them.

The spell was broken by Sia's voice calling from down the hall. "Tiff! Come on, we need to pack."

Tiffany blinked, coming back to reality with a start. "I should go," she said reluctantly. "Early start tomorrow and all that."

Zak nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Of course. Sleep well, Tiffany. I'll see you in the morning."

As Tiffany turned to leave, she felt Zak's hand briefly touch the small of her back – a gesture so quick and light she almost thought she'd imagined it. But the warmth that spread through her body at the contact was undeniably real.

Back in her room, Tiffany found Sia already there, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Okay, spill," Sia demanded as soon as the door closed behind them. "What's the deal with you and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Panther-y? There were some serious sparks flying across that dinner table."

Tiffany couldn't help but blush. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled unconvincingly.

Sia snorted. "Please. I haven't seen you look at a guy like that since... well, ever. And don't think I didn't notice him offering you a private ride in his shuttle." She waggled her eyebrows again. "He wants you to ride his shuttle," she giggled. "Bow chicka wow wow."

"Sia!" Tiffany exclaimed, throwing a pillow at her cousin's head. "I don't even know if it's like that. He's just being... hospitable."

"Uh-huh. And I'm totally not looking for a big hunky shifter to tie to my bed." Sia dodged the pillow with a laugh. "Come on, Tiff. You've got to admit, he's pretty damn gorgeous. Those eyes? That body? And the way he looks at you... girl, if you don't go for it, I might have to."

Tiffany felt a surprising surge of possessiveness at Sia's words. "Don't you dare," she said more sharply than she intended.

Sia's eyes widened in delight. "Ooh, someone's feeling territorial already! Don't worry, honey. I wouldn't dream of stepping on your toes. Besides," she added with a grin, "I'm just waiting to see what surprises I find when we get to Zak's kingdom. Did you see his arms? I bet he could bench-press a car. If I could find one as big as him with that same I'm gonna eat you up look, I'm staying here for life."

As Sia continued to chatter about the various attractive men they'd encountered, Tiffany's mind wandered back to Zak. There was no denying the attraction she felt toward him. It wasn't just his physical appearance, impressive as that was. There was something about his presence, the quiet strength and intelligence in his eyes, that drew her in.

But was she ready for this? She'd come to Nova Aurora for a break, yes, but she hadn't expected to feel such an immediate connection with anyone, let alone the king of an alien forest kingdom.

As she packed her bags for the journey to Larkana, Tiffany's thoughts were a whirlwind of excitement and apprehension.

With a mix of nervous energy and anticipation thrumming through her veins, Tiffany finally crawled into bed. As she drifted off to sleep, her dreams were filled with golden eyes, lush forests, and the promise of adventure.