by Lisa Lace
I moved around the desk and squatted down beside her. She sat in an expensive-looking swivel chair, floating in the air without any visible supports. “Do you still want to get your name in the history books? Come work with me. If we succeed, they’ll write an entire chapter about you.�
A slow smile graced her lips, and I couldn’t stop talking. “If Genetic Futures can’t see the value in who you are, fuck them. An entire race will thank you and sing your praises, every day for the rest of your life.�
She stared into my eyes. I hoped she saw sincerity because I meant every word I said. Every Auxem on the planet would revere her.
“I can’t walk away from my job.�
“Can’t you take a research sabbatical?�
She thought for a moment. “Yes, I could, especially for something like this. Would I be able to write a paper?�
“Of course.� I had no idea what my father would allow. I would have to worry about getting permission later. Right now, I needed to convince Vanessa.
“What about my apartment?�
“Lock it up or sublet it. It doesn’t matter. We’ll pay for everything and double your salary. I have a state of the art laboratory, Vanessa.� I knew that would get her attention.
“So do I. That’s not a major selling point, Avren.�
I shook my head slowly.
“Are you holding out on me?� She looked intrigued.
I began to describe in detail how I had equipped the lab, and Vanessa’s eyes got round at the sound of it. “You’re kidding me.�
“Nope. Nothing but the best for the best.�
She narrowed her eyes at me. “I guess you were pretty confident you could convince me.�
I held my breath. “Was I right?� Vanessa didn’t look entirely sold, but I could tell she was wavering. “I didn’t know if you were going to set a single foot inside. But whoever ends up working there will need the best equipment and staff the galaxy can offer. Credits aren’t going to be a problem.�
“Not for a prince of Auxem. Does your father know about this?�
My eyes slid away from her penetrating gaze.
“I knew it.� She sounded angry, and I didn’t blame her. “Your research project isn’t officially sanctioned.�
I stood and walked to the other side of the room, giving myself some time to collect my thoughts. “My father, the king, doesn’t need to know anything about it, Vanessa. I’m always working on something. He doesn’t look closely at my expenses.�
“Your project is different. It affects your entire species. Don’t you think he needs to know about it?�
“No, I don’t. He would only try to change my mind.�
Vanessa reached out a hand to touch my shoulder, but I shrugged her off. I didn’t want her pity. I knew my father well. If he didn’t think my plan was a good idea for any reason, he would interfere until I couldn’t work on it anymore.
The only thing that could stop me was Vanessa saying no.
“Let me tell you a story, Vanessa.� I was grasping at straws. “Do you remember Allex, my youngest brother?�
“Yes, he came to visit one time, right? When we were still together?�
“He developed an infection in his wing pockets when he was a teenager. He’s recovered now, but ever since his injury, the trauma has been worse for him than normal. You wouldn’t believe it if you saw it. I have to fix it, Vanessa. Not just for Allex, but for all the other men on my world, and for all the babies yet to be born.�
“Wait a minute. What babies?� Vanessa looked taken aback. “I thought all the women on your planet died.�
“Earth saved us. We have an agreement with your planet to provide women to us.�
She interrupted me. “It helps both of our planets, doesn’t it? Our overpopulation problem is something that you want.�
“It’s a win-win situation. Think about the children, Vanessa. Some of them will die as teenagers from suicide.� My voice choked up. My best friend had been one of them.
She looked horrified.
“When our wings emerge, it’s both the best and worst time of our lives. Some of us can’t stand the pain.�
“That’s terrible, Avren.� Vanessa stood and walked to the window, folding her arms over her chest. Today her cute hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She wore an emerald green sweater and jeans.
“Think about something other than your career. You have a chance to help people.�
Vanessa had her back turned to me, but I saw her head dip down.
“I understand.� Vanessa turned to me. I could see the conflict in her face. “I’ll think about it, Madellan.�
At least she hadn’t said no. “It’s a start. How about we discuss it over dinner?�
She looked skeptical.
“Or I can try to seduce you over dinner. That’s what my brothers told me to do.�
Vanessa looked shocked for a moment before laughing. It made me smile to see the joy on her face. “Avren, I know you’re lying to me.� She shook her index finger at me. “None of them would have said anything like that. Ayrie told you to charm me, didn’t he?�
“Ayrie or Anders. I don’t know who it was anymore. They said I shouldn’t tell you the facts and beg you on my hands and knees instead.� The words seemed to have a sexual connotation once they were out of my mouth.
Vanessa shook her head and touched my hand. “You know we can never go back to what we had.�
Her words gutted me, even though I knew she was right. I tried not to show the hurt in my heart.
“Of course not. We’re ancient history.� I waved my hands in the air. “Let’s catch up, we’re at least old friends, aren’t we, Vanessa?�
“Maybe. We’re something.� She didn’t seem convinced.
“Come on. It’s a free meal from the fortune of the house of Madellan. How can you turn me down? I know you don’t have anything planned for dinner other than rooting around in your refrigerator or using the fabricator.�
“You still know me.� It seemed like Vanessa wanted me to convince her.
My communicator buzzed. I checked to see who it was. “Hang on, Vanessa, I should take this. Give me a minute, will you?�
I walked out into the hall. “Hello, Mr. Verrat. How are you doing today?� I flashed a smile at a man who I considered as close as an uncle. My father had left him in charge of Auxem while we were traveling around the galaxy looking for suitable women. Our families had been friendly for as long as I could remember. He had taught my family how to fight using short swords. When my father was too busy running the planet, Mr. Verrat taught us how to fly.
When I was younger, I had watched a video of a man accelerating toward the ground, pulling his wings close to his body and increasing his speed. It was a good thing Mr. Verrat was with me. I couldn’t fully extend my wings once the wind resistance picked up. He had pulled my wings out for me and saved my life.
I owed him more than a phone call.
“I’m doing great, thanks. You look good, Avren.� He peered at the screen. “Are you in a desert?�
I turned and peeked out the window at my back. All I could see was a desert. “I’m on Susohn, visiting an old friend.�
I was hesitant to reveal everything. When Vanessa had broken my heart in the first place, Mr. Verrat was the only person I told about it. I hadn’t confid
ed in my brothers, and I certainly hadn’t told my father.
Mr. Verrat still did the work necessary to stay in my life. He was a good friend and knew me as well as my brothers did. His friendly demeanor vanished when he realized where I was, though.
“Who are you visiting, Avren Madellan?�
I glanced away, feeling sheepish. “No one in particular.�
“I notice you didn’t say her name. And I know it’s a her.� He sounded upset. “You’re not with Vanessa Dwyer right now, are you?�
“As a matter of fact, I am.�
He shook his head. “You’re not making good decisions.�
I moved down the hall to make sure she couldn’t hear my half of the conversation.
“I know it’s not ideal, Mr. Verrat. I need her help with something. It’s for work.�
I was trying to be vague, but he guessed immediately. Mr. Verrat had a sharp mind as well as a big heart. “Why do you need Vanessa involved with your genetic research? Her specialty is pain management, isn’t it?� He didn’t wait for me to answer. “I hope you’re not going to start fooling around with our DNA, Avren.�
Mr. Verrat was making me feel like a child. “No, experimenting on our own genome would be foolhardy.�
“You’ve already started. Tell me the truth, Avren.�
“Yes.� I couldn’t lie to my old friend. “For now, it’s only research. I’m bouncing some ideas off her. They might not go anywhere.�
He shook his head. “You shouldn’t be wasting your time. Nothing can change the way we’re made.�
Mr. Verrat was wrong. I didn’t want to get into a complicated debate for the sake of our friendship, but I knew I could make a difference.
“Avren?� Vanessa’s voice came from up the hall.
I glanced toward her head poking out of her office and nodded, holding up a finger to indicate she should wait a minute.
“I have to go now, Mr. Verrat. I’ll talk to you soon.�
“You still take off running whenever Vanessa calls you.� He shook his head. “Didn’t you learn anything from the last time, Avren? Don’t get involved with her. Come home.�
What a strange command. I tried to laugh it off. He must be kidding. “I’ll talk to you when I return to Auxem, Mr. Verrat. I have to go now.�
I walked back to Vanessa.
“Sorry, I couldn’t ignore him, he’s an old family friend. Now, where were we?� I thought for a second. “Weren’t we talking about dinner? How about I pick you up? We’ll talk science. The meal is on me.�
“When you put it like that, Madellan, it’s an offer I can’t refuse.�
“Great. I’ll see you around six?�
“Sounds good.� Vanessa sat down at her desk and took out some official looking paperwork.
That had been easier than I expected. I just hoped I could charm Vanessa with another offer and convince her to help me. If that was what it would take to make her say yes, then I would be the most charming man she had ever worked with. Facts hadn’t changed her mind, and the enticement of a better laboratory hadn’t been enough, either. I was going to have to win her over with my personality.
She had cared about me once before. If I could get her to remember what good friends we had been, before the problems developed in our relationship, maybe she would help me for old time’s sake.
The corridor I was walking down looked like part of a typical building at the university. It was wide with ugly tiles, and there wasn’t enough light in it. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t look at Vanessa as a friend ever again. She was the hottest woman I had ever seen, and the sight of her in a kimono and underwear had been tormenting me since last night.
I would have to try something else. Maybe I could appeal to Vanessa as a colleague. If her work was everything to her, I would meet her there, as fellow scientists.
But I wasn’t going to complain if she came to the door in her underwear again, colleague or not.
Chapter Three
VANESSA
I slumped back as the office door closed on Avren. The usually pleasant room seemed empty as soon as he left. I was shaking and felt weak. My carefully constructed life was crumbling around me into something unrecognizable. For a long time, work had been something I could count on.
Everything had changed so quickly. Losing the job and Avren presenting me with the Auxem project were messing with my head. I felt like I didn’t know which way was up or where to turn.
I knew one thing — every cell in my body was drawn to Avren despite my better judgment, as though I was a compass and he was true north. My magnetic field wanted to align with his so badly I could taste it.
What was I thinking? I wasn’t going to align anything with Avren. He had hurt me and left me. I wasn’t getting involved with him again, no matter what.
I didn’t care how hot he looked.
But he was right about one thing. If we discovered a solution to the Auxem problem, there was a chance for my name to get into the history books, just like Stephen Hawking, Marsten Davenport, and Killa Glavareen. They dedicated their lives entirely to science, except for Hawking and the sex clubs.
I didn’t want love. It was too bad the Auxem only had sex with women they loved and were going to marry. Otherwise, I’d be up for a booty call from Avren. I tried to shut down all the X-rated thoughts flowing through my mind of Avren and me in compromising positions together. It was like trying to stop a raging river.
I should have just gone home. I didn’t have any classes that day. With tenure and my position at the university, I could do whatever I wanted. Leaving these benefits would be stupid.
But I didn’t have to quit forever. I could follow Avren’s suggestion and take a research sabbatical. It wouldn’t be too hard to convince them. My studies always made the university look good.
I could feel myself begin to consider helping Avren with his project, but I wasn’t sure why.
My head was starting to hurt. I would go home and take a bath, then think things through before Avren came to get me for dinner. I could make a decision by then, maybe even tell him when he came to the door. I wouldn’t have to go out with him if I made up my mind.
A stab of disappointment shot through my heart at the thought of eating alone tonight. I didn’t want to feel that way. I thought of myself as a strong, independent woman who didn’t need a man to take me to dinner.
A little voice popped up in the back of my head, saying I could do all those things and still let Avren take out. I tried not to listen to it. With Avren, I had to protect my heart by any means necessary.
When Avren walked into my apartment hours later, I still couldn’t seem to make myself say no to his face. I had braided my hair and taken an hour to choose my outfit.
One of my local friends had loaned me her wardrobe. My shirt had cut outs on the sides, revealing my bare waist. A slit on the long skirt stretched all the way to the top of my outer thigh. The gap in the material was intentional and allowed Susohnnan women to show off scars they received in a coming-of-age ritual. I didn’t have a scar, but I still thought the slit was sexy.
It shouldn’t have mattered. I wasn’t trying to look sexy for Avren.
Or was I? I didn’t really want to know the answer to that question.
“Are you ready to go? You look fabulous.� I watched Avren push the hair out of his eyes. He looked calm and relaxed, but the mannerism revealed his real state of mind — he always ran a hand through his hair when he was anxious. It seemed like I wasn’t the only one feeling ji
ttery about tonight.
He was wearing fancy looking pants and a button-down shirt which accentuated the gray in his eyes.
“Well, actually Avren…â€� I trailed off when he gazed into my eyes and forgot whatever I was going to say. “Yes. Let’s do it.â€�
“Good.� He smiled at me in a way that was so sexy it should have been against the law. “Let’s get out of here.�
He had selected the restaurant carefully. We had been there before, but it wasn’t full of painful memories. It was nice, but not super expensive. I knew he didn’t want his wealth to make me feel uncomfortable. I could pay for myself if I wanted to.
Black tablecloths covered the tables, which sparkled with platinum silverware. Spherical lamps provided illumination that gave the room a romantic ambiance I tried to ignore. I was here for work, not a date.
Once we were seated with our drinks, and a server had taken our orders, silence fell over the table. It could have been awkward, but it wasn’t. I felt comfortable.
“Avren, I have to tell you something.� I continued before he could say a word. “I didn’t plan on coming here with you at all. I was going to tell you no when we were at home. Even though I didn’t get the job with Genetic Futures, I don’t see how I can accept your offer. It’s a bad idea. There are a lot of ethical issues to sort out.� I wasn’t sure if I should keep talking. Suddenly I didn’t know where I was going.
“Well, you didn’t say no. You’re still here, talking to me.�
I felt a crease appear between my eyebrows as confusion set in. Avren had a point. What was I doing here?
“I think we’re overthinking things.� Avren leaned forward. “We don’t have to fix all our problems in a minute. All we have to do is talk, eat, and enjoy the company. We can worry about everything else later.�
My mouth dropped open. Worrying later wasn’t how I functioned. I worried right now, and I worried about everything. I didn’t make mistakes. I could tell Avren wasn’t comfortable with his new philosophy, either, but he was suggesting it. Maybe we needed to relax and stop thinking the fate of a world was on our shoulders.
