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Drova gave her a quizzical look as if she didn't know what Arezoo was talking about, but then nodded. "I'll be back in a minute."

As the Kra-ell walked away, Arezoo released a breath and sank into her chair. What had possessed her to say that she was trying to lose weight? Of course, the warrior girl wouldn't understand why someone would struggle with maintaining a slim figure. Not just because the Kra-ell were almost comically thin, but because the immortals they lived among were all perfect.

That could be her after the transition. She would never have to worry about a few extra pounds or annoying pimples that popped up whenever she was stressed or got her period.

Drova returned with a strange-looking juice box and settled across from her. Arezoo tried not to stare as Drova punctured it with the straw and took a sip of the dark red liquid inside. It looked like tomato juice, but the picture on the front was of a red flower.

"Does it gross you out?" Drova asked.

"No, why?"

Drova shrugged. "Humans and immortals get grossed out by us drinking blood. This is artificial, and someone in the clan came up with the brilliant idea of preserving it in what looked like juice boxes and serving it in the café."

Arezoo swallowed.

Of course, it was blood. What else would a pureblooded Kra-ell drink?

"It's a good idea. Makes it more discreet."

Drova nodded, and an awkward silence stretched between them.

"I wanted to thank you for rescuing us," Arezoo said. "I remember that you were injured."

"Yes." Drova touched her shoulder. "I wasn't at my finest on that mission. I lost my voice amplifier and then got myself shot. My shoulder is almost back to normal, but it's still not perfect. Kra-ell don't heal as fast as immortals."

Another awkward silence fell between them, and Arezoo searched desperately for something to say, some common ground to establish. What could possibly bridge the gap between a sheltered human girl and a Kra-ell warrior?

She remembered her mother's advice about getting people to talk about themselves. "My aunt mentioned that you are training for the Guardian Force. What's that like?"

Drova grinned. "I love it. It's intense. Combat drills, weapons training, strategy sessions, you know, the standard stuff."

Arezoo had no clue. "That sounds challenging."

"Not really. It's what I was born to do." Drova shrugged. "The Kra-ell are warriors by nature."

"What about school? Did you graduate early?"

She could have finished all the requirements at seventeen. It wasn't that hard.

Drova shifted in her seat, her posture stiffening. "I was given a pass. I'm not good at studying. Physical activity comes more naturally to me than the academic stuff."

"I see." Arezoo didn't want to say anything that would sound offensive. "Not everyone likes studying."

"It's not that I don't like it," Drova admitted after a moment. "I just can't focus. My mind drifts, and I get restless. Reading makes my head hurt. I learn better by doing than by reading about doing."

Something clicked in Arezoo's mind—the same pattern she'd observed in students with learning difficulties during her volunteer work at the literacy center in her former high school. "Have you always had trouble focusing on written material?"

Drova frowned. "I suppose. Schooling in the compound was limited to the very basics. My mother taught us mostly by telling us stories, but the majority of time and effort was spent on combat training."

Arezoo frowned. "What compound?"

Drova trained those strange, large eyes on her. "You are not the only one who was rescued and freed. My people were also enslaved, and the enslaver was my father." She grimaced. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Arezoo briefly closed her eyes, then opened them and sighed. "My father is not a nice man either, and I perfectly understand why you prefer not to talk about yours."

Drova snorted. "Mine was a monster, but let's not get into my-daddy-is-worse-than-yours."

"Agreed." Arezoo laughed, suddenly feeling much more kinship with this alien girl than she'd thought possible only minutes ago. "But back to your learning difficulties, it sounds like something I might be able to help you with if you are interested. I wanted to become a special education teacher, so I know a thing or two about learning disabilities."