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“Only what I looked up to treat her. Our bodies have similar functions and processes. They’re not nearly as physically strong as us. No psionic abilities.”He sprinkles mending powder into the wound after cleaning it.“Mydax got you deep here,” he says aloud. “No sparring for a few days.”

“Got it.” I stand and pull my pants back up, looking over at Neev as I do. “You can turn around now.”

She turns back toward us, and I’m disappointed to see her skin is back to its normal color. Her eyes don’t meet mine. Fine by me, it allows me to drink in the sight of her. There’s something about her, something intangible, that draws my attention to her anytime we’re in the same room.

It’s probably because she’s so small, so different. My protective instincts are triggered just by being near her.

She clears her throat, her eyes darting to me and then back away. “Should I go back to my quarters?”

“If you wish.” I fall in step beside her after she says goodbye to Hyva. “I’ll escort you.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t let fear overwhelm you. Or anger.”

She stiffens beside me but doesn’t speak.

“We are predators at heart. We may have built a society, but we still scent your emotions. Younger Zeahirians have less control.”

“How old are you?” she asks, looking up at me.

“One hundred and twenty-two universal rotations.”

Those violet eyes of hers widen. “What’s your lifespan?”

“Depends on many factors. What bloodline one is from. How powerful one is. The oldest among us live upwards of eight hundred.”

“I’m only twenty-two.”

“I know.” She stops at the entrance to my quarters. “Do you mind if I come in to grab a change of uniform?”

“Of course.” She steps inside and then makes room for me.

I expect her to stay outside of the bedroom, but she follows me in and watches as I open the closet my uniforms hang in. After pulling them off the hanger and dropping them on the bed, she’s still looking curiously at me.

“I guess that explains all the locked doors in here.”

I incline my head. “Just a closet here.” I walk over and open a cabinet built into the wall. “This is for my weapons.” Knives, a sword, and a scythe all lay together alongside my array of photon guns for space.

“Swords?” Her eyebrows scrunch together. “Are you a collector of antiquities?”

“No. It’s all we can use on Zeahiri. Our sun is a red dwarf and the radiation it throws makes using most technology finicky at best. There are very few places with even basic electricity.”

“Oh.” She blinks several times.

“Don’t worry too much about that. I think you’ll find my home comfortable regardless.”

“Your home?”

“Where you’ll be staying as my guest.”

Her heart beats quickens, the thumping in my ears mixing with the slightest tang of fear. Not enough to send one of us into a frenzy but still enough to detect. I find myself dragging the scent deep into my lungs, savoring it. It doesn’t drive me to hunt, it drives me to protect.

“I hope I don’t put you out,” she says.

My lips tilt upwards in a rare and genuine smile. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll come get you for dinner. It’ll be better for everyone if the crew becomes used to seeing you around.” I close the doors and pick up my uniform to take to Altis’s quarters.

CHAPTER5