Page 65 of Taken to Voraxia
“No, don’t be sorry, I’m just…” Holding the charger by its rubber insulators, I take it from her and set it down amidst the rubble, as she so lovingly called it. I rub my eyes and look at her without speaking. I just look at her. Her heart-shaped face. Her smooth, slightly rounded cheeks. She holds a yellow glow, like a candle, that’s rare among the humans who tend to shine red beneath their dark brown skin, like Kiki.
Her soft hair — blonde at the hairline, dark underneath — shimmers in the tendrils that escape from their covering. Her face betrays a dewiness that I don’t feel. I’ll miss her when she goes back to Qath and back to the human colony, where I can’t follow.No, not can’t. Where Iwon’tfollow. Because I know for certain that my place is here.
I breathe, “I’ve missed you. I know we’ve seen each other and have been meeting a lot these past solars but I just…it’s not like it was before.”
She smiles. “I know what you mean. I missed you too.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to move to the capital? Closer to us? You don’t have to stay with Krisxox and I’d love to have you nearby,” I say hopefully.
Svera bites her bottom lip and tilts her head from side to side. “I know. I thought about it for a long time, and actually the first time we talked, I was convinced I’d want to move here to be more central and of course, closer to you.” She glances around and covers up her giggles with her hand. “Though I don’t think I’d exactly fit in with all your things.”
“We’d make space. I’ll move into Tri'Herion’s lab…” I start, but she waves me off.
“Don’t be silly. What I was going to say is that after some time, I realized I just can’t get enough of Qath. You have to come and see it. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It’s so feral and wild. Terrifying, for sure, but Krisxox is a good protector, even if he is good for little else.
“The vines, the trees, the city they’ve built among them, the animals, no matter how large or small, even the desert surrounding the oasis and the mountainous horizon — it’s all enchanting. The place is truly incandescent,” she says, and her face lights with wonderful expressions as she speaks.
I can’t help but smile back, even if it is like the rest of me — shaky. “And you aren’t finding yourself getting closer to anyone else over there?” I tease, but the look she gives me of blank confusion makes me laugh realizing just how far off the mark I am.
“I meant with Krisxox. Don’t you think it was weird how he wanted to keep you close? I could have sworn there was something up between the two of you.”
Svera’s eyes bug out of her head and her face flushes bright pink. “Oh…stars…I…cannot…Miari!”
I grin again. “Sorry for insinuating it.”
“No, I mean. I was taken aback myself. He doesn’t like meat all, so I thought he’d try to get rid of me at any chance he could. Extending himself like he has is trulygraciousof him…”
“Oh Svera, don’t lie. You aren’t happy about it.”
She huffs and the frown lines that form on the lower half of her face don’t suit its beauty at all. “No, I can’t say that I am. If my mother knew that I was staying with an unmarried man she’d jump from the roof and if my father or brother knew…” she shudders, “…they would throw Krisxox from the roof. Or try to anyways.
“I really don’t like lying to them. And I really don’t like how Krisxox treats me. Did you not notice that he seemed to understand everything we were saying in there? Normally, he just shrugs me off or ignores me completely unless I speak to him in Voraxian — and even then he only responds to me half the time.”
“What an ass.”
“An ass indeed.”
“Wow, Svera! That’s the harshest thing I’ve ever heard you say about anyone.”
She rolls her eyes but her blush holds strong. “He’s very frustrating. I just don’t get why he doesn’t want me to go with Tur’Roth. He has enough women to keep himself plenty busy.”
“Oh gross.”
Svera just shrugs and flashes a smile that shows all her teeth. “I really don’t mind. Some of the women are sweet. I ate with one of them the other day. She offered to take me to the market and I think we’ll go next lunar cycle. Once everything with the humans is more settled. I just feel uncomfortable, is all. I’m sure he’s looking for his Xiveri mate in one of the women and I mean…I’m notclosedto the idea of finding one either.”
“Really?”
She blinks at me in that surprised way, long, pale lashes fluttering. “Of course. Anyone with eyes can see how in love you and Raku are. Who wouldn’t want that for themselves? I know I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it.
“I just don’t think either Krisxox or I will have much luck if we’re unwillingly hitched to one another. And I don’t like lying to my parents. And did I mention, my father will throw me off the roof if he finds out?”
“I believe you said it was Krisxox that would fly.” I smile, but it feels forced. Thinking of Xoran, memories of his weight held on top of mine, his hand in my hand, his lips on my lips, his eyes blinking in the same way mine do as he watches me and I watch him, and time ceases to exist.
Right now, time is all I can feel and its weight sits on my shoulders, pressing down on me like a gravitational pull, threatening to drag me into its core.It’s been too long. Far too long.I glance again at the door.
“No, I’m much more interested in Tur’Roth.” Svera says quickly, ensnaring my attention once again. I let her.And am grateful.
“Oh yeah? I saw the way he stepped in to protect you the other day at the ceremony. With Rhor…with the Niahhorru…” My voice fails me.
