Page 3 of Songbird
I grunted, although not convinced. “At least Siemba has had more success helping the Alliance rescue kidnapped humans.”
“Yes, we have been most successful in that endeavor.”
The pride on my brother’s face told me the answer to my next question, but I asked anyway.
“And the rumor that you have made theArdeese Valouta safe haven for humans?”
“True.” The pride he wore swelled. “While the planet Tau Ceti is still the first choice for resettlement, now that the Alliance has given Earth and its people protectorate status, there are more options. We currently have three rescued human females working with us atSpace Pearlsand Jala is teaching another the operations of the space station.”
I took in the information with the slightest bit of trepidation. Despite all my travels, my experience with humans—especially human females—was slight. I knew them to be beautiful, fragile creatures, but under my ruse as a spoiled playboy, I’d always made myself appear disdainful of the species. More than once, I’d had to turn down the sexual favors of a human female offered by unscrupulous slavers that considered them no more than livestock. Thankfully, my tactic of pretending I thought human beneath my touch helped sell my refusal.
“We are not going to your apartments?” I asked, noticing Praxxan took the exit that would take us to level four.
“I thought you might want to visit the restaurant first,” he grinned. “A concoction called Chili is on the menu tonight and it is most delicious.”
“I could eat,” I admitted.
The restaurant occupied the space on level four where the grand dining room once stood. The monikerSpace Pearlswas ablaze in light and the building’s façade awash with colors of green and blue that reminded me of the images I’d seen of Earth. While I knew the dining space could easily accommodate over two hundred individuals, the line to enter the building stretched down the corridor.
Praxxan and I suffered no issue entering the restaurant. A simple nod from my brother toward the Bojovik guarding the door and we swept inside.
The interior was dimly lit, smoky and filled with scents that made my stomach rumble. I caught another scent… something else… something not food—sweet, spicy, and decidedly feminine. Most likely due to the number of females in the room. Each table sat filled, patrons from all over the universe enjoying themselves as they delved into delicious looking dishes. I caught the notice of a few females as Praxxan and I made our way across the room and returned their sultry gazes with my most charming smile. I did have a reputation to uphold. And that reputation said that Tarrick of House Asad never spent the night alone. Of course, my choice of feminine company tonight would be my sister-in-law Jala and niece Priemba, but no one needed to know that.
“We got here just in time,” Praxxan grinned, laying a hand on my shoulder and steering me toward the bar. “Izzy is about to sing.”
Izzy? I didn’t recognize the name. Probably some Framaddi entertainer as that species was well known to excel in the arts.
Praxxan and I took our seats at the end of the bar, seconds later finding ourselves nursing full glasses of valat thanks to the bartender.
I took a sip, enjoying the spicy, sweet taste of the wine while Praxxan ordered us a couple of bowls of the Chili concoction.
“You’re in for a treat.” My brother’s grin was almost impish as he settled back in his chair nodding toward the far end of the room.
She stood alone on the darkened stage, clad in a red silk gown that clung to her slender curves. Hair, the color of golden sun, flowed over her shoulders like waves in a stream. Her skin was pale, turned into the color of moonlight by stage lights that also added sparkling highlights to her deep brown eyes.
Then she opened her mouth.
And despite being the most beautiful female I had ever laid eyes one, the dulcet sounds coming from her lips were… more. Smooth, velvety tones that wrapped around my heart and tickled across my skin like a caress.
I was transfixed, unable to tear my eyes… and ears away from her. And in that moment, something that had never occurred once in my adult life... something I never expected to occur happened.
My tail tingled.
Fuck!
Chapter 3 - Izzy
“Nice songing tonight.”
I smiled at Aqsa’s comment as I settled at the small dressing table. Her grasp of English was rough at best. She was trying, though. I had to give her that.
“Thank you, Aqsa. That’s sweet.” I said the words slowly and hoped they were some already covered in her English lessons. Her black button nose scrunched in pleasure before she nodded, the quills on her head that stood in for hair making a sound like rustling grass.
I turned back to the mirror, instinctively running a finger down my throat, still expecting to find the swelling that evidenced my destroyed vocal cords. Thankfully, there was only smooth skin in answer to my touch. I swallowed, and the movement came easy without a hint of discomfort—without even the slightest bit of strain and stiffness that I used to suffer after giving a concert.
It still seemed unbelievable at times. I’d been near death with vocal cords so damaged my voice was barely more than a raspy squeak. Dr. Agnes and her mate Hakkar fixed me, although the tradeoff for my life and voice was that I could never return to Earth.
I felt oddly okay with that, especially since ending up here.
