Page 12

NEEV

* * *

Imust have been exhausted because as soon as the commander left, I laid down in the bed,his bed,and fell fast asleep. I had managed to comb my hair into submission right before a knock at the door sounds. It’s kind of him to knock when I’m sure the door is set to automatically allow him entry.

He fills the doorway as the doors slide open. I’ve noticed that none of the other Zeahirians on the ship have eyes like his. The bright green seems to be a unique feature, as does the fact that he’s taller than nearly anyone else on the ship, his second in command being the closest. They aren’t the tallest species I’ve seen, one of my sisters is double my height, but even that doesn’t dull the intimidation they make me feel.

I feel safe with Commander Asterean, even though I shouldn’t. I keep reminding myself he abducted me from my bed. I don’t care if the Order eventually gave in or not. It was unnecessary. I’m not a prisoner in need of a jailbreak.

“Hello Commander.”

“If I’m not to call you Sister, you are going to have to call me Raiz.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Truth be told I’ve only spoken to a handful of males in my life. As a translator I don’t do much speaking within my role. The few times I went to the surface of Calindrea most of the males kept their distance, knowing from my robes that I was from the Order, so they mostly left me alone. It’s not forbidden to speak or even bed them, I just never felt as comfortable as others on Oculus Nine did. It is more than likely due to being raised by all females from infancy.

The crew nods deferentially to Raiz as we pass and then look at me with varying degrees of curiosity and interest. None of them make me feel uncomfortable. His towering presence doesn’t hurt, either.

Loud voices and laughter fill the mess hall as I step inside. It all stops as soon as Raiz enters behind me. Boots shuffle and chairs slide as everyone stands and salutes him. He wraps his hand around my bicep, while the heat from his body seeps into my back. He calls out something that my translator doesn’t catch, almost a growl. I feel the vibration from his chest in my back.

Every pair of eyes in the room lands on me as they fist their right hands and firmly pound them against their chests simultaneously. Curiously, as I look around the room, I don’t notice anyone with green eyes like Raiz. They’re all various shades of gold, silver, or red.

I realize they’re all frozen in that stance, waiting for something. “What should I do?” I whisper over my shoulder to Raiz.

“Whatever feels natural to acknowledge them.”

What the stars, that’s the least helpful thing I’ve ever been told.

I incline my head, giving them all what I’m sure is the most uncomfortable smile in the galaxy. They all sit and go back to what they had been doing before we walked in, although not as boisterously as before. Raiz leads me over to a wall of food synthesizers.

“Please tell me they’re never going to do that again.” My cheeks still burn at the attention.

He does a double take and raises his hand, moving as if his intention is to touch my face. He drops his hand as soon as he sees my eyes widen in surprise.

“Why does your face do that? Are you ill?”

“It’s called blushing.” I focus all my attention on scrolling through the options for dinner. “Haven’t been around many humans?” I ask.

“No. You’re the first I’ve closely interacted with. Why do the blushing?”

“Humans blush for multiple reasons. They might be embarrassed or angry or—” I’m not going to tell him about the more sexual reasons.

“Or?”

“I’m sure there’s other reasons. I was embarrassed, uncomfortable, with the amount of attention. I’m not used to it.”

“Interesting. Can’t say it bothers me.” He opens the door and pulls out a plate full of what looks like fish and some kind of vegetables, as well as a glass of amber liquid.

My synthesizer beeps alerting me to my food being ready. A bowl of steaming chicken and rice soup, a roll of crusty bread, and a glass of cold water sit ready on the tray. My mouth waters at the scent. This ship has some of the best food I’ve had. Definitely beats Oculus Nine. Not that it’s hard to beat, with the bland food they insist on serving us.

“Is that all the food you require?” Raiz frowns down at my bowl when I sit down beside him at a table in front of a window.

“Yes.”

“That’s not what Hyva said. He said human functions and systems were similar to ours. Zeahiri could not survive on that.”

“This isn’t all I eat. Humans usually eat two or three times throughout the day.”