by Anna Carven
“Well, that’s reassuring,” Kai said dryly. “Then I have no choice but to wait. Their intentions will become clear with time.”
“You’re awfully calm for someone who possibly has a time-bomb hidden in his body. You should come down to the labs and get a full-body scan.”
Kai shook his head. “I’m not ready to surrender my data to the Federation just yet. I don’t know who’s behind this, but if they wanted me dead, I’d be dead already, so I’ll take my chances.”
Samson gave him a long hard look. “As I said, my worst patient doesn’t listen to sensible advice.”
“I have more pressing issues to deal with right now,” Kai growled. “I’ll send you a comm if I start dying.”
The world was falling to pieces around him, and Kai had a date booked.
This was his last chance to experience the North Ward in all its decadent, crumbling glory, because everything was about to change.
And with what Kai was planning, Darkside would never be the same again.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Let’s walk.” Kai took her down the garden path, which was now illuminated by soft, glowing lights.
The notion of walking somewhere was a novelty to Zyara. Like every modern citizen of the Universe, she was used to taking some form of automated transport.
They walked side-by-side as the path wound deeper into the dense vegetation. Beyond the perimeter of the main buildings, the plants were allowed to grow wild and thick.
Earthly fragrances and the sounds and smells of life surrounded her. It was as if she was walking into a mythtale, one of the impossible stories her father used to tell her when she was a child.
Before she’d been taken away and pledged to House Sirian, Zyara had loved escaping into her imagination, inspired by tales of far-off planets and distant universes.
And now she was as far away from the cold, barren, lifeless plains of Kythia as she could be.
“Are you sure it’s safe for us to go out there like this?” She felt like a girl again, discovering new things for the very first time.
“These are my streets, Zyara. I have people everywhere. There is probably no safer place on Earth for you right now.”
“That wasn’t the case the other night, on the Glory Strip.”
“The Glory Strip isn’t part of my territory. I have no jurisdiction there. But here in the North Ward, I know everything that goes on.”
“I find that a bit hard to believe.”
Kai just offered her an enigmatic smile as they came to a nondescript side-gate. He pressed his palm against a panel and it opened into a small alley. “Come.”
Zyara stepped across the threshold and found herself in a quaint stone-paved street. The sky stretched out above them, the glittering belt of stars the Humans called the Milky Way diluted by the background light of the city.
To one side, a tall, stark building made of metal and glass rose up to meet the sky, abruptly cutting it off.
Some of the windows were illuminated with gentle light, creating a checkered pattern of darkness and light, the only sign of Human habitation in an otherwise deserted space.
In contrast to the crowded chaos of the Glory Strip, it was quiet here.
“Welcome to Darkside, Zyara.” Kai moved closer to her. She could almost feel the heat radiating from him, and her sensitive nose picked up his intoxicating, masculine scent, a combination of woodiness and spice and sensuous musk.
He wore his usual black suit, this time mixing it with a black shirt and tie. His outfit was austere, and yet it somehow gave off an impression of luxury and taste.
“You look good,” she blurted without thinking. This sudden freedom, combined with the fresh night air and Kai’s overwhelming presence, made her feel as if she’d been transported to some surreal alternate reality.
“You look incredible,” Kai murmured appreciatively. His simple compliment stirred a strange emotion in her.
Zyara was more than comfortable in her own skin; she was a soldier, a medic, and a proud Kordolian, but it had been a long time since she’d felt this way.
Here, with Kai, she was free of any responsibilities or constraints.
She was free to be herself.
But this moment hadn’t come without a fight.
Her battle with the three Kordolian warriors to allow her out into Darkside with Kai had been fierce. Zyara had been adamant, her demeanor reverting to that of an imperious Noble daughter.
They hadn’t quite known how to deal with that.
Zyara never, ever asked for anything for herself, but she had finally decided to put her foot down. A long and heated argument had ensued. A discussion of that nature would never have been permitted on Kythia.
It was about more than just the Simavir.
Halfway through the argument, she’d realized there was more at stake. Freedom, autonomy, trust. She didn’t want to be a prisoner on Earth, even though the warriors only meant well.
After what had happened to the General’s wife, the Kordolians had become especially wary of Humans.
To her surprise, it had been the General who had finally acquiesced, over the comm.
“If Zyara trusts this Human, then she must have good reason to. She has seen and experienced the same things as us in the Universe. Let her go. She is not a fool. She knows what is at stake. We did not risk everything to come to Earth just so we could live in a bubble. Life must exist in spite of fear.”
Zyara had been floored by the General’s sentiments.
What was happening here?
Planet Earth did strange things to people.
“You are thoughtful,” Kai remarked, as they rounded a corner and walked down a wide street. He reached out and twined his fingers into hers. His touch was deft, sure, and warm. His hand was scarred and rough, and surprisingly gentle.
Zyara’s first instinct was to pull away. Although she was used to touching others in the examination room, this kind of intimacy was unfamiliar to her.
For once, she wasn’t the one in control.
“I was thinking about life, existence, and freedom,” she replied, a hint of amusement coloring her voice. “I have you to thank for that.”
“Oh? How so? I’m not exactly the philosophical type. I’m more the practical sort. Higher thoughts are better left to higher life-forms like you.”
Zyara laughed. She couldn’t help it. “Don’t believe all the stories you hear about Kordolians.”
Kai shot her a sidelong glance. “Your people possess superior technology, know how to work advanced metals, have colonized a great proportion of the known galaxies, are stronger and faster than Humans, are immune to cold, and see perfectly well in the dark.”
“You seem to know a lot about us, Kainan. We also burn easily in ultraviolet light and have lost our ability to reproduce. We lack creativity, we are unreasonably cruel, and we are dependent on other plants for our resources. Have we really transcended your people?”
Kai grinned, his perfectly white teeth flashing in the darkness. “That’s a difficult question to ask a simple street thug like me.” They reached a section of the street lined with eating places; delicious smells wafted out into the cool night air, and the scent of roasting meat made Zyara’s mouth water.
Lanterns and glowing, colorful lights decorated narrow doorways. Zyara peeked inside one and saw a small, bustling space filled with less than a dozen patrons.
Occasionally, a Human would pass them on the street. Their reactions to Kai and Zyara were mixed and fascinating.
Some would stare openly at her for a moment, but it was Kai who drew the most attention. Some Humans who passed him would smile warmly and offer a respectful nod. Others would avoid his gaze, scurrying past fearfully. Some would go to the extent of crossing the street to avoid him.
And here and there, she would spot his people. They seemed to be in every nook and cranny, their dark suits marking them as members of the ‘organization.’
They did not acknowledge
Kai, and he didn’t pay them any heed.
They walked past a seemingly endless array of hole-in-the-wall eating venues until they reached a low-set building with glittering purple walls. The tiny lights embedded in the walls winked, resembling a constellation of stars. A long line of people snaked out of the entrance of the venue, the queue twisting around a corner and down a narrow alley.
There were aliens amongst the Humans. Winged Avein mingled with the odd Veronian and even a few scaled Ephrenians, the latter easy to spot with their distinctive blue and violet markings. Zyara was surprised to see Ephrenians out in the open. They were a secretive race, with strange technology and even stranger customs. They were one of the few species the Kordolians had never been able to conquer.
“This way.” Kai led her into the alley. Deep, pounding beats reverberated through the walls. Some of the Humans in the line responded by swaying their bodies to the music.
They quickly moved to the side when Kai approached, giving him a wide berth.
Zyara couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “So who exactly are you to these people, Kai?”
Abbey had told her a little about these so-called gangsters. They existed outside the laws of Earth, because the Federation didn’t recognize them as citizens.
Some Humans referred to them as ‘criminals’.
“I’m everything and nothing to these people, Zyara.” He paused in the shadows beside a large black door. The people milling about in the alley had given them plenty of space, and even though the place was crowded, they somehow had privacy. “They’d rather pretend I don’t exist, but when they’re in need, they know where to find me. I’m a necessary evil in this world.”
“Evil?” Zyara inclined her head. “That’s not what I’ve observed, but who am I to judge? I have no idea what Humans consider to be right and wrong. Some of your kind would probably consider me to be the evil one.”
Kai pressed his palm against a hidden door-panel, and the black door slid open. They stepped into a dimly lit passageway. The door closed, leaving them in a dark, narrow space.
Music pulsated through the walls. The beat was powerful and primal, resonating deep into her core. Zyara became aware of Kai’s closeness. He was behind her, brushing against her, sending an electric tingle down her spine.
Suddenly, they were alone together.
“I’m a survivor, Zyara,” Kai murmured, his low voice cutting through the music. “I’ve come from nothing and because of that, I’ve seized every advantage and every opening. I’ve done bad things to bad people, and probably to some good people too. But it is as you said. We Humans define the right and wrong, and in Darkside, nothing is ever as it seems, and the lines become blurred.” He curved an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. “But everything’s about to change, and before that happens, I just wanted to spend a night with the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Zyara spun, grabbing Kai by the shoulders and pushing him back against the wall. He exhaled, and smiled.
Gods, he was something else, with his razor-sharp cheekbones, eyes as black as deep space, and full, sensuous lips. His grin wasn’t that of one who was pinned down. She got the sense he wanted to devour her with more than just his penetrating gaze.
“Just a single night, Kainan? Is that what this was all about?” For some reason, the thought of a one-night stand angered her.
Swift and shallow intimacy was common on Kythia, but Zyara wasn’t interested in that.
Her anger burned deep within her chest and made her breathing swift and shallow. Her grip on his shoulders tightened. She had no idea how strong Kai was; he’d never, ever tried to resist her, but she knew she was stronger than the average Human.
Kai closed his eyes, his expression turning serious. “I would want this to turn into something more.” His voice cracked slightly, filled with deep, aching longing. “I never intended for this to be just a one-night stand.”
His usual hardness was gone, and in its place, a noble kind of vulnerability had emerged.
Zyara stared at him, transfixed. His words resonated with something inside her, drawing forth deeply buried emotions.
Longing. Emptiness. Sadness. Desire. Feelings she kept so tightly suppressed that she never thought they’d see the light of the Sun.
How very un-Kordodlian of her.
“Good,” she whispered. She still didn’t understand this man or the strange underworld he existed in, but that was okay. When she felt like this, everything was okay.
The next thing she knew, he had broken free, and his lips were on hers, his rough, gentle hands cupping her face, threading through her hair, drawing her closer to him.
His mouth was fluid, molten warmth, his lips pressing against hers with raw intensity, his tongue insistent and wanting. He growled in surprise as his tongue found her sharp, slightly elongated canines, which were nowhere near as long as those of a Kordolian male. He grunted in satisfaction when she responded, kissing him back, her hands curling around his bare neck.
He tasted of dark, intoxicating spice.
He pulled her against him, so that she felt the impressive bulge in his pants. The feel of his hardness making her wet.
Then, he pulled back, and she moaned with surprise and desire.
“Not here,” he whispered. “Not yet.”
“You fucking tease,” she growled, as her body came to life. It had been so, so long since she’d felt this way, and she couldn’t ever remember her need for another being this intense.
“All part of getting to know you,” Kai said, his warm breath tickling her ear. “My need for you is killing me right now, but I’m exercising self-control.”
“Why?”
“Because,” he replied, “the show’s about to start.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
He led her down the corridor, passing various Human workers who greeted them with discreet, respectful nods.
They stepped out into a mesmerizing, glittering wonderland.
Zyara’s breath caught in her throat as she took in the scene before her.
The narrow passageway opened up into an electric garden filled with holographic trees, vines, and even a glimmering digital waterfall, which cascaded down a wall and wound its way along the floor. The colors were surreal and brilliant; there were blue leaves and violet stems and strange golden fish-like creatures drifting through the air.
It was a mind-blowing, hyperreal dream.
Humans, Zyara decided, had tremendous capacity for imagination.
The artificial brilliance of Kai’s nocturnal world put Kythia’s dilapidated underground pleasure districts to shame.
“Part of the entertainment,” Kai said dryly, as they passed through a throng of dancing people.
Serving bots whirred through the crowds, and now and then, an android would pass them. The androids were part of the decoration, stunning male and female representations of the Human form with glowing electronic eyes and shimmering, vibrantly hued hair. They glided gracefully around the people like ethereal, godlike beings sent to Earth from the otherworld.
Kai wove through the crowds like a graceful dancer, never once bumping into a single soul, even though the throng of people became more dense as they plunged deeper into the magical garden.
He was a dark arrow shooting through a world of dazzling color, clearing the way for Zyara as she followed closely behind him.
They reached an area filled with discreet booths and tables, where couples sat and shared intimate secrets. An dark-suited attendant appeared out of nowhere, her smile broad and welcoming. “Good evening, Master Kainan,” she said. “Your usual table is ready.”
“Thank you, Miriam. This is my honored guest, Zyara of Kythia.”
“Welcome to Elysium, Zyara. I’m Miriam, your host for tonight.” Miriam bowed. “If there is anything at all you desire, just say my name.”
“Thank you.” Zyara couldn’t remember the last time she’d been treated like royalty. It would have been ba
ck on Kythia, before she’d been cast out of House Sirian. But where Kordolian hospitality was stiff and formal, Miriam’s smile exuded warmth.
The petite woman led them to a secluded booth right at the edge of a darkened stage. Kai waited until Zyara was seated then slid in beside her, his thigh brushing against hers.
“Something to drink?” He gestured towards a holographic menu, which was available in a number of different languages.
“Just coffee. Black,” she said, ignoring the array of strange sounding beverages on the menu. She didn’t want to risk ingesting alcohol again. Zyara shuddered. In this place, with Kai by her side, she couldn’t risk becoming intoxicated. She would lose every last vestige of her self-control.
She’d already surrendered to his kiss. How much more would he take from her? How much more would she give him?
In the corridor back there, she’d almost lost it.
“I’ll have the same.” Kai added. Miriam nodded and disappeared with a cheeky twist of her crimson-stained lips.
“This place,” Zyara remarked, staring in fascination as a female android walked past, hand-in-hand with a dark-winged, bare-chested Avein male. “It is yours?”
“It belongs to the clan,” he replied, a hint of pride in his voice. “My group manages it, along with all the other clubs in the North Ward. The Glory Strip might be the busiest entertainment district in terms of Human traffic, but Elysium is by far the most profitable club in Darkside. We aim to offer an experience that can’t be had anywhere else.”
“And do you bring many dates to this club, Kai?” Zyara arched an eyebrow. He had the entire establishment eating out of the palm of his hand. She imagined there’d be no shortage of females willing to spend the night with him.
He returned her curiosity with a wry smile. “It’s not what you’d imagine. Most nights, I’m here on business.” Again, there was that wistfulness in his voice, almost as if he was… lonely.
“You’re a workaholic,” Zyara stated bluntly, recognizing something of herself in him.
