Page 26 of Sanctuary and Spices

“Do they know what’s causing it?”

“Engineering says it’s normal fluctuations. But...” I lowered my voice. “The timing feels wrong.”

She glanced up at me. “You think something else is happening?”

“I think we should focus on supplies for now.” I spotted Mai’s stall ahead. “The Khiul sisters always have the best spices.”

Mai’s feathers rippled in greeting as we approached. “Perfect timing! Just got a new shipment of crystal-enhanced herbs.” She spread an array of samples across her counter. “These reminded me - there’s an old cookbook in the archives, supposedly full of recipes using crystal resonance techniques. Might be useful for your festival menu.”

Jani’s face lit up. “Really? Where exactly?”

“You’d have to ask Malik.” Mai sorted through her herbs. “Though good luck getting anything useful out of that grump. He guards those archives like they’re his cubs.”

I watched Jani’s expression fall slightly and made a decision I’d probably regret. “I know Malik. I could introduce you.”

“You’d do that?” The hope in her voice made my chest tight.

“The archives can be dangerous,” I warned. “Lots of unstable artifacts.”

“But you’ll come with me?” She touched my arm, and my markings flared at the contact.

“Yes.” I couldn’t deny her anything when she looked at me like that.

Mai’s knowing smile made me acutely uncomfortable. “Why don’t you two take the shortcut behind the stalls? Much faster than fighting the crowd.”

The narrow passage forced us close together. Jani’s scent filled my senses. Crystal formations cast shifting shadows across her face as she looked up at me.

I couldn’t resist anymore. I backed her gently against the wall, giving her time to pull away.

She didn’t.

The first kiss was soft, questioning. Her surprised intake of breath made me start to retreat, but then she leaned into me, her hands sliding up my chest.

My markings blazed bright as I deepened the kiss, lost in the taste of her, the way she fit against me.

Finally, reluctantly, I forced myself to pull back. “We should... the archives...”

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright. “Right. Archives.”

Merchant voices approached from both ends of the passage. We separated quickly, but Mai’s knowing look when we emerged told me we hadn’t been as subtle as we’d hoped.

I didn’t care. My skin still tingled where Jani had touched me, and my careful professional distance lay in ruins.

Sometimes the complicated things were worth it.

JANI

Ifollowed Ronhar through hidden passageways between market stalls, past dimly glowing crystal formations. Each step took us deeper into parts of the station I’d never known existed.

“Watch your step here.” His hand settled on my lower back, steadying me as we navigated a narrow bridge. “The maintenance crew hasn’t fixed this section since the last blackout.”

The press of his palm against my spine sent warmth spreading through me. My lips still tingled from our kiss in the market passage. I touched them absently, remembering the taste of him, the way his markings had burned.

“Left here.” He guided me around a sharp corner. “These passages connect the whole station, if you know where to look.”

“How did you find them all?”

“Old habits.” His markings pulsed softly. “Solace training teaches you to always know your escape routes.”

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