by Kali Argent
“Hello,” the one on the left greeted. “You must be one of Jael’s brothers.”
He nodded in confirmation but barely glanced at her. The strange magic had led him there still called to him, waiting just out of sight.
“I’m Anise Vargas, and this is my sister, Sage,” the female continued.
Xi grunted and took another step toward the room. Jael would kill him for being rude to her patients, but he didn’t have time for distractions.
Possibly realizing his disinterest, the second female huffed and angled herself so that she could stare into the room as well. “Hey,” she barked. “Let’s go.”
“Sorry. Coming!” Without warning, the tiniest female he’d ever seen—even smaller than Jael—darted through the doorway with a harried expression and barreled right into him.
Xi reached out for her when she stumbled backwards, but his reaction was slow, his movement sluggish, and he gripped only air as the beauty tumbled to the floor.
“Oh,” she breathed, staring up at him with big, gorgeous blue eyes that rendered him utterly speechless. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.”
Finding some semblance of control, Xi bent at the waist and offered her a hand, frowning when she flinched away. “I won’t hurt you,” he promised in a soft, coaxing voice he’d used with his siblings when they’d been young. “I would never hurt you.”
A sweet blush stained her cheeks, but she smiled up at him as she reached for his hand. “Thank you.”
The moment their fingers touched, a sharp, stabbing pain punched him right in the back of the skull. Not wanting to frighten her further, he gritted his teeth against the onslaught and focused on keeping his grip gentle and nonthreatening.
“I am Xithendeal Moonmist.” Once she was on her feet, he pulled her closer, cradling her small hand in both of his own. “You may call me, Xi.”
“I…I…”
May the ancestors have mercy on him. Even swathed in that shapeless, ugly dress, the female was the most stunning creature in all the universe. A waterfall of ebony hair fell over one shoulder in a tumble of shiny curls that only highlighted the perfection of her fair skin. She was a petite thing with dainty, delicate features and rosy lips that practically begged to be kissed, but he didn’t dare. Not until whatever darkness raged within him had passed.
“Can you tell me your name, fayah?”
“My name?” Her brow furrowed, creating a shallow crease over the bridge of her nose. “I…it’s…”
Maybe she’d hit her head when she’d fallen. Jael had warned him that humans were exceedingly fragile, and this female appeared even less resilient than others he’d met. He should get Luke to examine her. Yes, that was what he’d do. Luke would make sure she was okay, then Xi would do whatever was necessary to ensure nothing ever harmed her again.
The one who had introduced herself as Anise gave an impatient huff from beside him. “Come on,” she snapped. “I’m ready to go home.” She grabbed Xi’s mate by her free wrist and jerked, making her stagger several steps before she could regain her balance. “Let’s. Go.”
Xi growled, condemning words on the tip of his tongue, but before he could utter them, another stab of pain dropped him to one knee on the cold tiles. His grip faltered, and his mate’s arm slid through his fingers as she was pulled away from him. The female didn’t struggle as she was rushed out of the lab, but she did look over her shoulder, holding Xi’s gaze until she disappeared from sight.
Stars, he didn’t even know her name.
“Xi!” Crouching in front of him on the floor, Jael cradled his face in both hands as she looked him over with a discerning eye. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m okay.” He held his right hand up and stared down at the length of silver chain that had slipped from his mate’s wrist when she’d been dragged away from him. “Who was that?”
“The Vargas twins?”
Xi shook his head. “The other one. The beautiful one.”
“I’m not sure. They called her Cynda, but I don’t know who she is.” Jael’s lips turned down at the corners, and she shook her head. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did something happen with her?”
His head spun, and his vision dimmed, but he offered her a thin, reassuring smile. “Fate happened, sister.”
The words came out sluggish and slurred, then without warning, he toppled onto his side and fell into darkness.
CHAPTER TWO
Cynda stared through the window over the sink, lost in a daydream as she dragged a soapy sponge around the dinner plate in her hand. Of course, the kitchen had every amenity her family could ever want, including the latest model dishwasher.
However, according to her mother, the machine always left spots on the wine glasses, and the low hum it made when it was running gave her headaches.
The appliance worked just fine in Cynda’s opinion, and her mother’s rejuvenation pod made a hell of a lot more noise, but she didn’t argue. She never argued. Just like she hadn’t protested when her sisters had dragged her out of the lab at Commander Brighton’s house.
She should have said something. She should have stood up to them. Only, she didn’t understand why she’d wanted to stay so badly. It had just been a feeling of familiarity, a niggling voice in the back of her head, and it had all started when Xi Moonmist had held her hand.
Stars, she’d acted like such a fool, unable to form thoughts, let alone complete sentences. He had been polite, but she’d seen the way he had looked at her, like she was one nacelle short of a jump drive.
Yet, that didn’t stop her lips from curving into a grin when she thought about him. His skin had been so warm, so soft, and when he’d spoken, she’d felt completely at ease. For the first time since her fathers had died, she felt wanted. She’d felt…safe.
Oh, and he’d been every bit as lovely as the details in the archives had described. His complexion had held a hint of sun, and she’d loved the way his dark hair had brushed against the tops of his shoulders in messy waves. It was his eyes that captivated her, though, those deep pools of pale gray that seemed to stare directly into her soul.
There had been kindness in his tone, tenderness, and maybe just a trace of longing. Although, the last was most likely wishful thinking on her part. After all, what could he possibly see in her, especially when compared to her sisters? It was more likely that he’d simply felt sorry for her.
Maybe all the Xenon were that kind. His sister, Jael, had been exceptionally welcoming. Not once had she treated Cynda as if her very presence was something shameful that needed to be locked away and hidden.
Xi had called her fayah. She’d scoured the language database for any mention of the word, but she still didn’t know what it meant. The way it had wrapped around her like a caress had made it sound like an endearment. Then again, every word he’d uttered had felt like that. For all she knew, he could have been calling her a slug.
It was just a dream, a stupid fantasy. She didn’t belong anywhere, and certainly not with someone like Xi. What did she even have to offer him? He was a warrior, and all she knew how to do was cook and clean. According to her mother, she didn’t even do that well.
Besides, it wasn’t as if she’d ever see him again.
The doorbell rang.
Drying her hands, she moved cautiously to the entryway, pausing near the wall that divided the kitchen from the family room. While she waited for her mother to open the door, she reached for the bracelet on her left wrist, then pursed her lips when her fingertips encountered only damp skin. She still couldn’t believe she’d lost the trinket, and worse, she didn’t even know where to start looking for it.
The front door swung inward without a sound, and all thoughts of her missing bracelet vanished. Clapping a hand over her mouth to stifle her gasp, she took a hurried step back, retreating deeper into the kitchen.
The male framed by the doorway was definitely Xi, but…not. She’d recognize those bright gray eyes anywhere, but he was nearly
twice the size of the male she’d met the day before. Sweet cosmos, even his muscles had muscles, and he had to tower over her diminutive five-three frame by more than foot now.
Marilyn Vargas-Hale looked a little dazed as she waved a hand to invite him into their home. Cynda couldn’t drag her eyes away, and she had the insane urge to giggle at the look of determined concentration on Xi’s face. He didn’t stumble as he stepped across the threshold. His legs weren’t wobbly. Still, he gave the distinct impression that he wasn’t fully comfortable with his new bulk just yet.
“I am Xi Moonmist,” he said, his voice booming through the house.
It didn’t escape her notice that he hadn’t used his full name. She wondered if there was some significance to that, but her thoughts were immediately interrupted by the shrill shrieks of her sister.
Rushing into the room, Anise nearly tripped over herself to be the first to get close to him. Still squealing, she wrapped herself around his arm, clinging to the appendage as if she was drowning at sea, and he was her only lifeline. As the more reserved of the two, Sage entered the room without a sound, her hands clasped together behind her back.
“Xi,” Anise cooed. “I’m so glad you came. I was hoping to see you again.”
“You look different,” Sage interjected, looking him over like a prized work of art she was interested in acquiring. “It suits you.”
It did indeed. Cynda had thought him gorgeous before, but now… Stars, there were no words.
Their mother cleared her throat and pasted on her most winsome smile. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve been introduced.” She proffered her hand with a feminine giggle. “I’m Marilyn Vargas-Hale. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Xi stared at her hand for a long moment, but he didn’t take it. Extracting his arm from Anise’s grip, he moved deeper into the house, his gaze darting around the open space.
After a moment of awkwardness, Marilyn dropped her hand and hitched her smile a little brighter. “Please, come in and have a seat. Can I offer you something—”
“No.” Xi moved again, his footsteps bringing him closer to the kitchen. “Where is Cynda?”
She couldn’t muffle her gasp this time, and the sound, though quiet, drew his attention. For the first time since entering their home, his handsome face broke into a grin, and his eyes softened when their gazes met.
“Cynda.”
He breathed her name like a prayer as he crossed the family room. Stopping several feet away on the other side of the entryway, he rounded his shoulders and ducked his head, as if trying to make himself appear smaller and less intimidating. She hated to break it to him, but it wasn’t working.
“Don’t be afraid. I would never—”
“Hurt me,” Cynda interrupted with a smile of her own. “You would never hurt me.”
Appearing pleased by her response, he shuffled a little closer. “You remember.” He bobbed his head. “Good.” With slow, deliberate movements, he reached into the pocket of his leathers and extracted a length of silver chain. “You left this in the lab yesterday.”
“My bracelet.” She beamed up at him. “I thought I’d never see it again.” She started to reach for it, but Anise’s piercing scream stopped her instantly.
“You little thief!” Stomping over to them, she stabbed her finger at the chain and sneered. “That’s mine. You stole it out of my room, didn’t you?”
Xi closed his fingers over the bracelet, concealing all but the clasp on the end from view. Cynda sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and lowered her gaze, trying to stem the anger that bubbled up inside her.
“Thank you for returning my bracelet.” Anise held her wrist out and batted her long, thick lashes. “Could you?”
“Tell me,” Xi said mildly, “about the charms on it.”
The smile slid from her lips, and she tilted her head in obvious confusion. “The charms?”
Xi continued to stare at her expectantly.
Anise’s brow furrowed. “Well, they’re silver, of course.” She huffed impatiently. “What does it matter?”
He turned to Cynda and arched a dark eyebrow.
“Um, well,” she started hesitantly. She couldn’t look at her sister as she spoke. “There are three of them.”
“Is this really necessary?” Marilyn demanded. “Clearly, she—”
Xi held his hand up for silence, but his gaze never left her face. “Go on, fayah.”
Encouraged, she took a deep breath and nodded. “There’s the Alliance emblem from my first trip to the Capital. A seashell my father, Charles, gave me.” She smiled with fondness at the memory. “He was trying to teach me to fish, but I spent all afternoon collecting these little shells along the shoreline.”
Her eyes stung with unshed tears, and her voice quavered as she continued. “The last one is a heart. My dad, Ray, gave it to me right before he died. He said it was to remind me that kindness is strength, not weakness.”
Xi opened his palm, revealing all three of the small, silver charms, and smiled.
“Oh, it’s that bracelet,” Anise babbled with a nervous chuckle. “I didn’t realize. I thought it was a different one.”
“Apologize,” Xi snarled. “Now.”
Rage burned in her eyes, but she mumbled an apology before slinking back over to their mother.
Xi smiled as if the altercation hadn’t taken place, then dropped his gaze to Cynda’s wrist. “May I?”
In a daze, she lifted her left hand and slowly held it out to him. His long, thick fingers were more agile than she’d expected, and within seconds, he had the bracelet fastened around her wrist, but he didn’t retreat. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips and whispered a soft kiss over the knuckles.
“There,” he said. “Perfect.”
“Thank you.” She could feel the heat rising in her neck and cheeks, and she damned her pale skin when he smirked.
“It was my pleasure, fayah.” He caught a lock of hair between his fingers and tucked it behind her ear.
She was almost afraid to ask, but her curiosity was too powerful to resist. “What does that word mean? Fayah,” she specified. “I don’t seem to have a translation for it.”
His smile gentled as he traced the curve of her jaw with his fingertips. “It is a leftover relic from the old language of my people, and it doesn’t have a precise meaning. It’s more of a…feeling. The closest translation in your language would be something like ‘radiant.’”
She tried to match his solemn expression, the reverence in his tone, but a giggle burst through her lips. “Are you saying I make you feel shiny?”
To her relief, Xi laughed along with her. “I guess I am, but it’s just a loose interpretation. It is a feeling of incandescence, like sunshine in my soul after a lifetime of unending darkness.”
Her amusement faded, and the tears returned to prickle the corners of her eyes. She knew almost nothing about him. They were virtual strangers. Yet, his words accurately described the warm glow she felt every time she’d thought of him since they had first met. It was familiar, a spark of recognition that wasn’t rational. It wasn’t something she could explain, but at the same time, it just made sense.
“Does this have something to do with…” She trailed off, afraid to speak the word for fear she was wrong.
“Yes?” Xi gave her a reassuring smile. “What is it, fayah?”
Cynda took a deep breath and leapt. “Is this…are we…soulmates?”
“We are.” His expression morphed into one of pure rapture as he took both of her hands and held them close to his heart. “I know you don’t feel it as I do, but—”
“I feel it.” Stars, it was intense. Consuming. It was like stumbling around blind, then suddenly being able to see the world in vivid color. “I do. I feel it, Xi.”
A snort of protest drew her attention, reminding her they weren’t alone. Leaning to the side to see around Xi, she wasn’t surprised to find her mother and sisters standing just behind him, all th
ree of them glaring at her. Anise’s bottom lip stuck out petulantly. Sage’s expression was calculating.
Their mother looked absolutely livid.
“Cynda,” Marilyn said with false sweetness, “you haven’t offered our guest anything to drink.”
With another one of those low growls, Xi straightened to his full height, but before he could say anything, Cynda stepped around him and bowed her head. “You’re right, mother. I’m sorry.” Turning back to her…mate…she stared up at him pleadingly. “Make yourself comfortable, and I’ll bring you something right away.”
Xi frowned, and his lips parted as if he would protest, but Cynda grabbed his hand and squeezed it urgently. His expression didn’t clear, but after a significant pause, he dipped his head once.
“Yes, I’d like that.” He eyed her mother distrustfully, then bent to press a kiss to the top of Cynda’s head. “Thank you, fayah.”
“Bring wine,” Marilyn ordered in a frosty voice before adopting a more neutral tone to address Xi. “You seem to know my daughter well.”
Xi’s head snapped up, and his eyes narrowed. “Daughter?”
Ignoring his question, Marilyn waved a hand toward the sitting area with its overstuffed chairs and extra-wide sofa. “Let’s sit, and you can tell me how the two of you met.”
“Mother,” Anise whined. “Nobody cares about that.” Grabbing Xi’s arm again, she began pulling him over to the sofa. “Tell us about your home world. What’s Xenthian like?”
Cynda waited until the four of them had settled into seats in the family room, their mother in one of the armchairs while the twins bracketed Xi on the sofa. Just as she started to retreat into the kitchen to prepare the drinks, he looked up and met her gaze, his eyes full of questions. She gave him a little nod before backing away.
She was being a coward, and she knew it, but whatever connection existed between them, she didn’t trust it. Not yet. She couldn’t afford to let herself believe in fairy tales and happily-ever-afters. Until she had something more tangible than vague promises and confusing feelings, she had to protect herself.
