Page 39 of Defiance
“Standard. But it’s not my specialty, so please direct your questions to the Palace Guard. The gatehouse’s direct contact is included in your files, yes?”
Sath took my hand in both of his and gave it a warm squeeze.
“Charlie, it has been a delight,” he said happily. “I hope you enjoy the riad, and please comm me for any reason at all. You are my sole focus while you are here.”
Wow, did hjarna flirt? Sath certainly knew how to be a gentleman.
“I will. Thank you, Sath.”
“Then I beg your pardon. I must update our schedule, yes? I will comm you with the details for tomorrow.”
Sath bowed his crest at me, its shape blowing a nice little breeze over my face and arms. The glittery powder on his marigold skin smelled like jasmine as it swirled around my shoulders. Then he left, Agent Gaul watching him walk away. The advenan haunted my door as I set down the leftovers and flopped onto the bed. It felt like we’d been walking for hours.
“I amnotused to hard roads anymore,” I groaned, rotating my ankles. The soles of my feet throbbed after so long on the soft, bouncy footpaths of Renata.
“I need to inspect your room,” he said, ears bending as he descended the steps. They bounced back up once he’d cleared the door. I waved at him to do his thing while I massaged my ankles and stared longingly at the small tub. It was a glorified soup pot with a seat, made of uneven grey glass. There was a golden drain in the bottom, but no handles or shower.
“How do I…”
“You sit inside and use your foot or tail to tap the grate. It fills from the floor.”
Gaul withdrew a puck from his thigh and used his long tail to stick it to the center of the domed ceiling high above our heads. It flashed, bending light around the room. A stream of data flew across his holoscreen. Satisfied, he minimized his tab.
“We can talk in here,” he decreed. “That puck will alert me to new devices that enter your space.”
“Craic, thank you.” I stood back up, knowing that if I stayed seated, I wouldn’t want to get back up for a bath. Gaul adjusted his jaw.
“You shouldn’t go to the La?we spawning channels.”
His tail drifted over my bare feet, causing gooseflesh to prickle up across my arms. I curled my toes self-consciously.
“And why exactly should I say no? My work in artificial spawning is the reason I volunteered to be your bait.”
At least he had the decency to twist his ears back.
“It’s unusual. The sort of thing a prospective suitor would offer, not a colleague. If La?we wanted to just show you one, he would take you to HIXBS’s fertility center. Just remember that.”
I picked up the bag of leftovers and walked up to him, holding it out. His ear twitched.
“You have to admit it’s kind of funny,” I said with a quirk in my mouth, wagging the bag. “Wanting to spawn withme?”I looked down at my stomach to drive the point home, trying to lighten the mood. Novak grinned, taking the bag. His claws brushed the back of my hand.
“It’s only amusing if you ignore the fact that he won’t let me within whipping distance of the entrance,” he hissed, cracking his tail across the floor for emphasis. “Despite the mission, I do want you to enjoy yourself for a few days before I allow any nefarious kidnappings.”
A bit of color drained from my cheeks. Now that Sath was gone and Novak was sweeping my room for bugs, the gravity of what we were doing sat more heavily on my shoulders.
“How long does it last?” I heard myself ask, a delicate hitch in my words. I was trying to sound casual but swallowed hard when Novak’s eyes sharpened. He understood what I was asking.
“The scent burn?” He exhaled like a race horse. “Let’s just say you’ll be imprinted on me for a long time.” He curled hisshoulders over me, bending his nose towards my hair. I hadn’t realized how close he was, or maybe he’d leaned closer. He didn’t breathe in, but he when he spoke, his tone was comforting. Resigned. “I’ll know where you are every second of every day, even in my sleep. And that’s not changing anytime soon.”
I sighed a shaky breath. “Just keep smelling, grand. At least I’ve got something going for me.”
He creased his brow and leaned back.“Chemiaisn’t a simple smell. It’s a signature.”
“Well, surely it changes after a week on a space ship,” I groused, backing up over various boxes. I needed distance. Novak was overpowering. Slinky and intense, as cutting as a razor when his attention was solely on me and mine on him. I busied myself with opening my first piece of luggage, set on organizing the foodstuff into the pantry. “There’s no way I smell like the river anymore.”
“The river?” Novak asked, leaning against the wall. At least he was on the other side of all the crates now.
“Imani told me you chose me because I smell like the river.”
