“Where am I taking you?” he asked and the thought of separation made his grip tighten on the wheel. He liked her and would enjoy spending more time in her company, but the timing was bad for both of them.
She pulled a small device out of her pocket, and her finger slid over the screen. “The Gyren District,” she said.
Davinth almost slammed on the brakes. The old farmlands turned privately held communes and estates. The Gyren district was south of the city’s main walls, where shining brick turned into the rustic stone slab pathways of their forebears.
It was also his ancestral home.
“Then we’re headed in the same direction.” He didn’t know whether to curse his luck or roll down the window and scream into oncoming traffic. Stephanie had become a bright spot in an otherwise tense journey but her presence was as distracting as it was welcome.
He would be happy to see his kin after months apart, but he was still nervous about what could be greeting him upon his arrival. After the initial fanfare subsided and the last sparks from the welcoming bonfires died down, would he still be accepted with open arms, or would some female be thrust upon him with a decision made in his absence?
He looked over to his traveling partner who had regained some of her energy and was practically bouncing in her seat. His stomach grumbled, and a brilliant idea formed. He may not have figured out what he was going to tell his elders, but he knew of one way to prolong their companionship.
“Have you had Elysian cuisine before?” he asked, fairly certain he knew her answer but not wishing to presume he could whisk her away.
Her lips twisted for a few seconds before she smiled and smoothed her hands over rich deep brown waves. “I haven’t, unfortunately. The cuisine isn’t that popular back home.”
He nodded and steered the hovercar toward the place he had in mind- a favored eatery far removed from prying eyes “It’s probably best that I introduce you to good food before you eat whatever milldust the monks in the Gyren force on you.”
She laughed, and the sound was more beautiful each time he heard it. “You’re really not selling your tourism board here.” She lowered her head and peered at him from over the rim of her glasses. “Isn’t it bad form to disparage your local businesses?”
Davinth huffed and lowered the hovercar into a small paddock next to a simple building surrounded by overflowing garden boxes. “Not when those businesses make most of their profits charging other-worlders sixty credits for cheap Hinga root.”
“It’s cleansing,” Stephanie replied with a feigned gasp as she stepped out of the car.
“It’s a laxative.” Davinth offered his arm and motioned with his other hand in the direction of the restaurant’s door. “That cleansing effect is your body rebelling against the tortures you’ve brought upon it.”
He wished she wouldn’t cover her mouth when she laughed or that he could bottle up her pink flush and spill it across the sky to compliment the morning sunrise. He wasn’t one to discount the traditions of his people, but he viewed Elysia’s tourism with a wary eye. The planet sold enlightenment for a low cost of admission, and while many arrived and were able to come to monumental breakthroughs, many simply cracked. Either lured by the seedier aspects of Elysian spiritual life or strung out on the search for purpose while never really desiring to find it.
Monks who once relied purely on pilgrimage by the locals found they could gain more credits by cooking up strange remedies to sell to heavy-souled travelers. It saddened him to realize that Stephanie was one of these souls.
Her eyes lit up when they were escorted to a small outdoor dining area settled among garden boxes bursting with fruits, herbs, and vegetables native to the region. But her shoulders tensed once they were seated and she began surveying the other diners around them.
“I don’t think I’m really dressed to be out,” she said, tugging at the hem of her sleeve. Granted, she wasn’t dressed like an Elysian, but her clothing was pleasing to the eye and hugged her in all of the places any male would be happy to take notice of.
When she’d first stood in the transport hub, performing a simple stretch lifted her long shirt enough to reveal voluptuous thighs he could easily imagine wrapped around his waist.
His fingers subconsciously tightened around the handle of his spoon and he released it, dropping the offensive limb into his lap where it couldn’t give him away. “I believe the one who should be worried is the chef.”
On a planet so dependent on tourists, disappointing their palates could make or break a business. A wave of relief washed over him when she relaxed a bit in her seat, and he wondered what caused this kind of anxiety. She mentioned familial pressures, but her preoccupation with her attire for something as mundane as a meal was difficult for him to understand.
“Are humans usually preoccupied with what one wears to a meal?” he asked.
She rested her elbow on the top of the table and placed her chin on her fist. “We’re preoccupied with a lot of petty things like that, I guess.”
“On top of securing a wealthy mate,” he finished. That was a similarity he could see between their cultures, but Elysians were not so much concerned with material wealth as social. The number of relatives one had, children and grandchildren. How well known someone was within the community and the example they set for their kin.
Fulfilling these duties contributed to one’s Jirana, the good fortune the gods bestowed upon an Elysian and everyone who knew them. Eligible females came from noble shaman households and were the daughters of priestesses, but to Davinth, it was all a facade. There was no spirit, no connection beyond that which could be gained from being seen.
Silence filled the void where a love for learning and exploration should exist. With Stephanie, there were no awkward silences. Her eager mind devoured whatever tidbits he could divulge about himself and his planet while openly sharing her own insights with sincerity and compassion.
“The way my mother goes on, you would think securing a mate is the most important thing in the universe,” she groused.
He found himself wondering if perhaps their elders had a point. He would never say it, though, not when he couldn’t fully explain why this quiet afternoon between them had been the most pleasant few hours he had spent in ages.
“But there is some merit to having a mate to spend one’s life with,” he said, and judging by how relaxed he was in her presence, he could believe his own words for once. “For example, seeing Pahali Cistern alone is well and good, but it is far better to see with others.” The words rushed out faster than he could stop them.
Her blush returned, and he was beginning to realize it could represent more than just embarrassment. In his own species, her attentiveness and willingness to continue their engagement could be taken as a sign of attraction and, timing be damned, he hoped he wasn’t getting the signals crossed.
* * *
Stephanie
“It sounds like a solid theory.” She couldn’t believe she was doing this. “But I would need to test it out.”
It was a reckless gamble, something she would have done in her twenties when new encounters didn’t always mean new obligations, but she was here for a coupleof weeks. Why not have a handsome local show her around? They were both looking for something to escape into.
His jaw ticked, but she could tell he was considering her offer. This was complicated for both of them, but why not just let the chips fall where they may?
The waiter approached and took their orders, but her unfamiliarity with the cuisine left her seeking Davinth’s recommendations.
“And what is Wasmir exactly?” she asked, taking a sip of water. A slice of fruit floated between the chunks of ice in the glass, and its citrusy flavor instantly refreshed her.
“It’s a meat dish with spices and tubers,” Davinth said, a twinkle in his eye. “You probably won’t get meat where you’re going, either.”
His smile was mesmerizing, even if it did reveal two sharp fangs where a huma
n would have stunted canines. It gave him a wolfish charm, made all the better by the white ink that swirled out from his ear to curl under his right eye.
“Well, it’s good to know I spent a few thousand credits to be starved.”
“And wakened before sunrise, last I heard.” He chuckled and shook his head, “You could have had all of that for free had you just asked.”
His eyes widened, and so did hers. It was an innocent comment made in the middle of casual banter, but the heat building between them laced it with possibility. He coughed and turned to his own water glass for refuge. Stephanie did the same, biting the inside of her cheek to stifle her smile. At least he was just as nervous as she was.
Now her nervousness had nothing to do with her clothes and everything to do with whatever was happening right in front of her. She hadn’t come here seeking romance, and she could already imagine her mother’s bitter sneer. There wasn’t a shred of arrogance to Davinth, the kind of domineering persona her mother took for gravitas. Not to mention his species.
Aliens were good for business, but you didn’t bring one home.
She removed her glasses and wished she didn’t fidget so much, but something about him made her feel giddy and uncertain. It was a feeling she associated with her early days with Jonathan, causing the sweet wine in her mouth to taste like vinegar. She swallowed the mouthful and willed the comparison away. Another reason this was a bad idea. He deserved better than someone who would continuously compare him to her ex.
She waited until their meals were delivered to ask his occupation, after the comfortable silence turned into her missing his wry observations about his homeworld.
“I’m a botanist,” he replied with the kind of pride she rarely saw unless someone was speaking of who they have crushed on their way to the top. “I’m currently doing field research out in the Cryulien Basin.”
“That’s... wow... that’s really fascinating.”
Scientists weren’t common in her circle, but she wondered if that explained his openness. He was inquisitive but more than willing to share information, as well. It’s how you solved problems, after all, and isn’t that what scientists did for a living?
“I’m pleased you think so,” he replied, dabbing at his mouth with a napkin. “There’s a newly discovered species of algae that may be a useful biofuel in the future. I’m hoping my research will help unlock its secrets.”
Stephanie smiled. “So, you’re married to your work.”
Who had time for a mate when such a remarkable discovery was on the line?
His chuckle rolled over her like warm honey. “In a sense.” His face turned somber. “I would very much like to find a mate but…”
“She would have to understand your vision.”
In a way she was envious. He was lucky to have something that brought him so much happiness and that garnered the support of those he loved. Her career in marketing was lucrative, but she enjoyed little about what she did or the lies she sold.
She would love more than anything to speak with enthusiasm the next time someone asked her about her day at the office. She sighed and turned her attention to the plate of food in front of her. Everything about the dish was appetizing, from the rich, brown sauce drizzled over a generous portion of perfectly charred chunks of meat to the roasted vegetables carefully arranged to the side.
The sun was beginning to set, and a cool breeze blew through, bringing with it the sweet scent of blossoms from some far-off orchard. This was almost like a date, although neither of them called it that.
“Now, if I can just get my elders to understand me as easily as you have,” he said.
She smiled weakly in response and took the first bites of her meal. It not only looked delicious, but the gravy was a heady blend of savory and sweet that she’d encountered only a few times back home. She couldn’t help but quietly moan around the next bite.
“Is it that good?” Davinth asked, although he hardly had room to talk. The stuffed fowl on his plate bore its own battle scars. She motioned toward his plate with her fork.
“I could ask the same.”
“Indeed,” he replied. She enjoyed this easy banter between them. “It’s one of my favorite dishes. Though I am one of those troublesome males who compares everyone’s cooking to their mother’s.”
Their conversation continued much the same into the evening, easily flowing between different subjects until the last waiter nervously approached to tell them the restaurant was closing. Stephanie shivered when they stepped out of the establishment’s front doors and rushed to the hovercar, desperate for a snatch of warmth.
“Nights are cold here during the early bloom,” Davinth said, removing his tunic to reveal a simple shirt beneath. She didn’t want to notice the scent of spices and citrus that clung to the heavy fabric as she shrugged it on, but it was so painfully him she couldn’t help it. “I don’t imagine they mention the wild temperature swings in the brochure.”
“It’s going to be terrible sleeping on my mat,” Stephanie said with a sleepy smile. With a stomach full of food, she was swiftly losing the battle against fatigue.
“It’s very bold of you to assume you’ll have a mat.”
She didn’t want him to start the hovercar. The lights in the restaurant began to fade as the greenhouse shields raised to encase the garden beds and protect them from frost.
“I am sure my family knows I am stalling by now,” he said softly, and she did what any friend would do in their situation. His skin was warm against hers when she wrapped a hand around his forearm to give it a soft squeeze.
“Everything will be okay.” It was the best she could think to say besides giving him her temporary address. She hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in days, and there was little more she could do to help him in her current state. The smooth ride was doing one hell of a job putting her under, and she hardly remembered the remainder of her journey before they were pulling in front of large, whitewashed building covered in vines with a single bright lamp above an ornately carved, wooden door.
“It doesn’t look too bad,” Stephanie said with a yawn. She turned to Davinth to find his face bore a look she could only describe as skeptical. He would be terrible at poker. “At least they have heating.”
Would it be wrong to give him a peck on the cheek? She didn’t know the protocol for being dropped off from not-dates, and it was this lack of experience that had her awkwardly standing by while he removed her luggage from the trunk.
After escorting her to the door, he stood in front of her, milky white eyes searching hers before his hand lifted to rest against her elbow. He nodded his head upward, in the direction of a nearby hill heavily shrouded in mist. “My family home is there.”
He was close enough that, if she were so inclined, she could stand on her toes and kiss him. See if his wit tasted as sweet to her lips as it did her ears. But he pressed his hand to the comm panel instead, and Stephanie was on autopilot when she provided her name to be admitted. In all honesty, she hadn’t meant to mumble a hasty thank you, all of the ease between them vanishing with the real world’s intrusion. She also hadn’t meant to watch the hovercar as its taillights became vanishing points in the blurry distance.
But she had meant it when she said she wanted to test his theory, and she wished she’d told him that instead.
3
Davinth
He was a scientist and, as such, he dealt in the world of facts. Fact. He was a male Elysian who was expected to fulfill the duties of his family and obtain a mate to present as a symbolic offering for their continued prosperity. Fact. He was woefully overworked and didn’t have much to offer the kind of females his family would approve of.
Final fact. When with Stephanie Renaut, none of that mattered. She didn’t ask him about his family connections or the number of priestesses his grandmother had taken under her wing. Her focus was entirely on him and, as shameful as it was to admit, he loved it and let that feeling overtake him as he made th
e final leg of his journey.
This was probably why he missed all of the signs of an ambush upon entering his family home. Friendly hands grabbed and pulled him into a brightly lit room filled with both familiar and new faces. A steely grip wrapped in delicate skin turned his chin, and a wrinkled, pale blue face came into view.
“We’ve been waiting for hours.” Her voice reminded him of dried leaves. “Where have you been?”
His hand cupped those holding his face. “My grandmother, I was attending to personal matters.”
“With a human female,” another feminine voice said from behind him, and Davinth turned to scowl at his younger sister, her cheeky grin splitting her face in two. “At least that's what I heard.”
Whispers circled the room, and Davinth raised his hand to calm them. “Be at peace Alaes, My hovercar required a rideshare and I wished to be polite to my traveling companion, nothing more.” Her eyes retained their mischievous twinkle and a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. She wasn’t the least bit convinced and she wanted him to know it.
He inwardly cursed. Taking Stephanie to one of his favorite haunts probably wasn’t the best idea. But if he sounded unsure to his own ears, he could only imagine how transparent he was to the Elysians who had known him all of his life.
“Humans feed their mates in preparation for joining,” a male voice piped in, and Davinth groaned.
“This is not the time.” Fresh from his service in the Elysian guard, Lorion had presented his mate two year prior. Davinth could not deny his jealous twinge when the younger male appeared with a shy but amiable female on his arm. Their family had feasted for days in celebration.
“Merely trying to help a cousin,” Lorion replied as he touched his fist to his chest in greeting.
It wasn’t as if Davinth hadn’t had months of time to prepare for Pahali’s festival, a celebration of the first bloom, and when new wines were opened for all to indulge. It was a festival of revelry and debauchery, when the peaceful calm of the Elysians was replaced with a hedonistic madness that saw lovers rutting openly in the fields after ritual cleansing.
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