Chapter Twenty-Four

Don’t think about the hot alien guy, don’t think about the hot alien guy, I repeated to myself as I walked away from Rel’s cafe. Aldiner and Ciheri had done a pretty decent job of distracting Rel from whatever thoughts had been going through his tipsy head, but that hadn’t stopped him in the slightest from giving me incredibly intense, inviting, hot…mildly enthralling…glances while we finished dinner. Then there was the whole, ‘glowing various shades of reddish pink’ thing. I had a pretty decent idea of what that meant now, though I wasn’t sure about the blue halo. Or how pink even cast blue aura to begin with.

I paused briefly as I stepped into the main market street. Right… need to pick up some things and grab my ludrán.

After double-checking how much time I had, I spent the next while getting everything Zafir wanted. Then, I made my way to Ceyoh to pick up my candy. Hmm, Rel had candy on hand before. If he likes it, I wonder if…

I hurriedly squashed that train of thought. There were places my brain wanted to go with it, and it involved a lot of tongue.

“Hey there, you look rough. Feeling okay?” Ceyoh arched an eyebrow as she examined me. “Need to eat or drink?”

“I’m good, just had dinner. Uh…why? That’s the second time today I’ve been asked if I need to eat.” I placed a hand on one hip as I watched her start boxing jars of candy.

“Hmm? Do humans care that little about each other, that they don’t ask each other if they’re alright or checking in on more detailed things? She frowned at me. “Oh! Is that why humans are so grumpy?”

“I…don’t think so?” I tilted my head, realizing I couldn’t say for sure. Sighing, I gave her a small smile. “Well, it’s not that way in the military at least, to my experience. Maybe it’s different for civilians. I wouldn’t know.”

“Ah, did you grow up in the military?” Ceyoh shot me an inquisitive look.

Really? I thought half the sector would know by now. I shook my head. “No. I just don’t remember anything from before the Incident. That’s all.”

“‘That’s all’ she says!” Ceyoh exclaimed in disbelief, promptly walking up to me and crossing her arms. “Doesn’t it bother you sometimes?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s pointless to worry about something I can’t change—and before you say that my memories could come back: no, they can’t.” I gave her a firm look when she opened her mouth to protest. “Anyway, self-rediscovery and all that. Figuring out what food I like, clothes, music, even smells… It’s interesting and overwhelming, sure, but I can’t not do it. And I don’t think I’d want to go back now.”

Ceyoh blinked at me, before slumping slightly and uncrossing her arms. “Well, if you ever need to hear more about the Syldrari Sector or have other questions—I’m your Sora’iri! I’ll happily help you get your bearings any time you need.”

“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,” I murmured as I handed her the cash for the candy.

“Come on, say it you like you mean it!” Ceyoh demanded, leaning forward. “I’m being serious. There are things people like my mother and Rel wouldn’t dream of telling you! They’re too old and stuck in their ways—”

“Too old?” I raised an eyebrow at her, then shook my head. “Never mind that for now, actually. I have to get back to HQ. I can have you explain that some other time.”

“Right.” Ceyoh smiled at me, then offered me a small slip of paper. “Here, my number. Shoot me a message when you’re free.”

“Sure, thanks.” I collected the box with my ludrán in it, then wandered off with that and Zafir’s goodies.

I hesitated as I walked down the main thoroughfare and toward the sector’s border. An alluring scent filled my head, making my thoughts hazy for a brief moment. The next thing I knew, a cloaked Jysel was beside me, hand on my shoulder.

Jysel gave me a brief sideways glance. “Keep walking. This doesn’t concern you.”

“I wouldn’t have stopped in the first place if you hadn’t—” I started, but Jysel took another step closer and leaned down enough that I could fully see his eyes within his cloak.

“And later tonight?” He asked pointedly, and I broke his gaze with a small sigh.

People were starting to notice our presence, and especially with how empty the street had become I couldn’t just answer him outright. After a moment, I had an idea and responded, taking a step toward him and leaning in suggestively, “Yes, I’m afraid I have plans tonight. Maybe some other time?”

Jysel looked ever-so-briefly taken aback, then recovered, his gaze flicking from side-to-side as he registered how…exposed, he was. His jaw clenched and unclenched a few times before he spoke quietly, “Then be prepared for a fight. I can’t realistically let you walk away if our paths cross again tonight.”

“Oh, I’m always prepared for a fight,” I answered, giving him a sweet smile and stepping a little closer. “I’d have started one with you already for stopping me on my way back to base…but I need to get these medicines to my boss.”

Jysel didn’t take kindly to my reaction, promptly reaching out and gripping me by the jaw. Or at least, that was the impression I got. He narrowed his eyes as he studied me, and I glared back my challenge.

“I could kill you right now,” Jysel spoke, his tone shifting to something oddly…accepting, cold, inhuman. Almost as if he’d rationalized that doing so would be best—for us both.

“Yet you’re not going to.” I reached up with my free hand and wrapped my hand around his wrist. His eyes, now dead, met mine again.

“Don’t touch me,” Jysel spoke quietly.

I exerted pressure on his wrist and narrowed my eyes at him. “Maybe you should consider that sentence again before putting your hands on someone else.”

The feral stirred within my chest as we glared at each other, but I stuffed it down. The last thing anyone needed was for me to start a brawl in the middle of the Syldrari Sector with this bastard

“How charming,” Jysel scoffed, exuding a brief wave I could only describe as ‘pressure.’ His lips shifted into a faint frown. “You felt that.”

“Of course I—” I started to snap, then sighed irritably. “Yet you’re saying I shouldn’t have been able to. Blah blah blah ‘reasons you won’t expose because you’re a secretive bitch like everyone else.’ Can I go now, Your Majesty ?”

“ Sir ,” I heard Casair call from the mouth of an adjacent alleyway. “Can you please refrain from antagonizing Elara for one damned day?”

I glanced over to see Casair and several more of Jysel’s men tucked into the alley, weapons in hand.

One beside Casair laughed and remarked, “Can’t decide if the boss wants to kill her or fuck her.”

Jysel twitched, his glow turned a deep red-pink for a split second before returning to cyan—though his face stayed slightly flushed.

“Maybe both?” I shot Casair and the sidelong glance. “Even the people who like me aren’t near as forward.”

“Did you just compare me to Xil—”

“Hardly. She deserves her own bracket,” I stated flatly. When he still didn’t let go, I sighed and took a step closer to him, a little surprised he didn’t simply stop me by his grip on my jaw. “Listen. Can you hurry up and decide if you’re going to kill me, capture me, fuck me, use me for leverage, tie me up and drop me off somewhere, or let me go? I have work to do and I’m expected to be places soon. The longer you delay me, the more suspicious my superiors will get—and they’re already problematic.

“I really don’t give a shit why you’re in the sector right now, so long as you don’t intend to hurt the Syldrari here. So, make up your damn mind before—”

“Can you not embellish my thoughts?” Jysel twitched.

“Real convincing there.” Casair walked over and nudged Jysel. “Sir, you keep challenging her . What do you expect? For her to just cower or ‘offer services’ like a human would? She’s a soldier. One that wants to test herself. Stop making yourself a target, and she’ll ignore your presence like you want.”

Jysel hesitated, his gaze flickering with uncertainty, before he carefully let go of my jaw and returned his hand to his side. “I don’t…”

“We have a schedule to keep to. Sorry about this one, Elara,” Casair offered, turning to me and nudging Jysel out of the way as if it’d distract me from his murmuring. “Where are you gonna have to work?”

“…around,” I remarked, glancing toward a nearby sign that indicated the nearest border. “All around.”

“Hmm. May cross paths then…” Casair glanced over at the now mildly-distressed Jysel. I raised an eyebrow as I watched Casair frown at him. Then Casair led me a way down the street, to what I assumed was ‘out of earshot’ for the quiet tone he continued in, “Can you pretend that exchange never happened? Women, Jysel… It’s complicated, especially with parents like his.”

“I can, but can you get him to stop attacking me as his first response?” I countered dryly.

“Can try…it’s just…” Casair glanced back to make sure his boss was still distracted. “His biggest fears are being ignored, forgotten, or abandoned. You have a certain… draw because you’re unusually similar to Syldrari, but your behavior isn’t colored by our social culture—or by the interference of queens. I don’t know if he can come to terms with his attraction to that, or if he realizes it doesn’t have to mean…”

Casair trailed off and glanced to the side as Jysel shambled dejectedly into the alley to wait with the others, seeming a little lost.

“I think I get it, in theory.” I tapped Casair’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I won’t be around forever, I’m sure he’ll be back to normal soon enough. Now, I need to go before my boss calls in an extraction team due to the delays .”

“Elara, what—” Casair seemed taken aback as I turned away and started walking.

I ignored his protest and kept going. A short walk later, I was perched in my waiting transport and my communicator of all things began to ring. Raising an eyebrow, I turned it on and brought it to me ear, “Yes?”

“…I’m afraid there’s going to be a little detour,” Zafir spoke hesitantly. “Are you…never mind. Something happened. I need you to pick up our dinner on you way home.”

Something about the way he said ‘never mind’ made me feel guilty and my heart clench. If Ceyoh was right in what she’d told me…

“Yes, Zafir, I’m fine. Just a small hiccup we can discuss later,” I answered after a moment, hesitating before adding, “What about you? Did you remember to take a break?”

“Ah… There wasn’t a chance to. I’ll brief you when you arrive.” Zafir’s flustered tone made me raise an eyebrow at the empty wall across from me. “I-I’ll wait for you at the front desk. You should be arriving at the restaurant now—I already paid. See you when you get home.”

There was some hurried fumbling then a click, and the connection ended. I lowered my phone and gave it an incredulous look. Are all men so weird? Is it just a Syldrari thing? Furthermore…why can’t I just have a normal conversation with someone?!

Sighing heavily, I disembarked to fetch their food. ‘Just because I’m a woman,’ my ass. Syldrari society wouldn’t function if everyone with a dick acts like that. Do they really think they can hide that there’s more to it like this?

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