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Over the next hour, the space station comes into view. Half of the docks are occupied, all by identical ships to the one we’re on. The planet beneath is completely dark, not a single light shines. It’s the complete opposite of Calindrea, which looks like a veritable jewel box from space with all its lights. I wouldn’t even believe this planet to be inhabited if it weren’t for the fact that I’m on their ship.

I find myself drawn to Vynia, asking her questions as she flies the ship toward the station. She answers everything, explaining the controls and what they’re for. The female is quickly becoming one of my favorite people on the ship. I hope once we’re down on the surface, she’ll still be around.

“We’ll stay back and make sure everything is handled for docking,” Altis says to Raiz. “I’m sure you want to get Neev settled in and go see Kodia.”

Kodia? Is that his mate?

I’m not sure why it didn’t occur to me that he may have a mate. He’s clearly an important and powerful male. Why wouldn’t he have someone waiting for him at home? An unpleasant sensation roils through me at the way his eyes light up hearing the name.

Not that I mistook his kindness for anything other than feeling responsible for my wellbeing. It’s the least he could do honestly, after the violent way he procured my assistance to begin with. In fact, I should take care to remember that regardless of how much he appears to care for my wellbeing, it’s really just self serving on his part. He needs me to translate this ancient text. I’m nothing more than a means to an end for him.

Once the ship has docked, Raiz leads me through the ship to a long tube-shaped structure, just tall enough for the Zeahirians and wide enough for passage single file in either direction. The crew moves out of his way as I trail behind him. We step out of the tube and onto a large metal platform that connects this level of the station all along the perimeter.

Our booted feet clang against the stairs as we descend to a floor full of transports with Zeahirians moving in all directions. Most of them ignore my presence, only nodding in greeting to Raiz. We cross to an open transport, and Raiz takes a seat behind the controls. I sit on the bench seat behind him and watch as he fires up the small craft.

It’s not even been two minutes when Hyva boards and closes the door behind him. “All good to go,” he says as he sits down on the bench across from me and stretches his long legs out. “I’m ready for my own bed.”

Raiz grunts in agreement as the transport lifts off the ground. “The cloak worked.”

Hyva looks at me with a sparkle in his eyes. “I can see that.”

“What cloak?” I ask.

“The one that’s making you look like a Zeahirian female. Cuna and I worked on it as soon as you were brought on board.”

“What do you mean?” I look down, seeing my own hands and body.

“May I?” Hyva points behind me.

“Yes?” I turn to see what he’s pointing at.

He reaches to the small of my back and plucks off a small pin. I watch in stunned silence as he attaches the pin to his uniform and suddenly looks like a Zeahirian female.

“It doesn’t mask your scent, so it’ll only work for short periods like moving from the ship to the transport.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I look at the back of Raiz’s head.

“We wanted you relaxed and acting natural.” Hyva leans back. “Mainly so your scent wouldn’t arouse any unwanted attention.”

I think back to the meeting and my fear triggering Mydax’s primal response. I suppose from a logical standpoint it makes sense. I still don’t like being tricked or misled.

“Is my scent really that potent?” I ask.

“Yes.” Both males say in unison.

I look out the window, once again noting how dark the planet is below us. “How long is a day on Zeahiri?”

“Technically, there are no days or nights. Zeahiri is tidally locked, one side faces the star at all times and is incredibly hot. The other side is dark and cold. We live in the terminus, a ring around the planet that is suitable for life.”

“We do abide by the galactic standard of a twenty-five-hour cycle. It makes a standard rotation around the star one hundred and sixteen days.”

Good to know the Zeahiri have the same clock as Oculus Nine. I won’t have to change my habits much, if at all depending on how long it takes me to translate the text.

Turning my attention from the two males back out the window I can begin to see the slightest ring of light over the horizon. As we move lower and lower into the atmosphere a rocky shoreline emerges through the mist.

I lean closer, my heart lurching at the first sight of open water I’ve ever had. White tipped waves create gorgeous patterns in the sea below us. Is it an ocean? A large lake? Probably an ocean, I assume, knowing they evolved from the water.

The transport loses altitude until it’s just barely skimming above the waves. Raiz navigates through towering rock spires jutting from the water not too far from the rocky cliffs to the right of us. I hope I can walk along the water, dipping my toes in and feeling the land beneath my feet.