Page 39 of Alien's Heart
He tilted his head, no doubt taken aback by the change in subject. “Tal names are more…more fluid than human ones.”
So that wasn’t an answer.
She sat back down, wrapping a sheet around her. Being naked in front of a man whose name she didn’t know suddenly seemed ill-advised. “I’m serious.”
“Yes. My name is Nox.”
“Just Nox. No family name.”
“Just Nox.” He sat opposite her. His tail lashed back and forth. “What brought this on?”
“I found an identity band for Gallant Kennet.”
“Ah. That one.” He fell silent, not even having the decency to protest that it was a misunderstanding or grow upset that she invaded his privacy. “How long have you been holding onto that?”
“From the start,” she said. When his look darkened, she added, “I wasn’t prying. It was in your coat pocket and fell out when I washed your things. Serene called you something else when she recognized you. Scourge.”
Nox’s tail stilled. “Ashen’s Scourge. That is one of my names.”
“Who’s Ashen?”
“It does not matter.”
“Bullshit. If it didn’t matter, you’d tell me. Instead, you’re being all mysterious and I’m tired of it. Who are you? Really.”
A frustrated growl rumbled in his throat. Ruth wasn’t going to lie. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. It wasn’t a friendly sound. It was a warning to back off.
She couldn’t.
“You know who I am,” he said.
“Do I?”
“Are we resuming our previous argument?”
“I’m asking you a simple question. If you think that’s arguing, then that’s on you.”
He tilted his head. His eyes gleamed in the dim room, catching the last of the light from the dying embers in the fireplace.
“Why are you on Corra?” he asked, delivering the question as a challenge.
“The job opportunity—”
“No,” he said. “Were there no opportunities on Earth? The journey to Corra is too great for a mere job. You came here for a specific reason: because your research is illegal.”
Nox
“My research is not illegal.” Her posture stiffened. His question cut too close to the bone, he noted, pleased at his improvement in reading human body language.
“On Corra. On Earth, very much so,” he said.
“How—”
“I do listen when you speak. I’m more than hired muscle and ahot package,” he said, tossing back the words he overheard her speak in the general store.
Ruth had the decency to flush with embarrassment. If she were Tal, he’d expect her tail to slink behind her and her ears to turn down. Turning red in the face and casting her eyes down would suffice. “I’m sorry you heard that,” she said.
“Incorrect. You should apologize for making such a statement. Not for being overheard.”
