Page 10

10

Frolicking

*Ren*

L ater that evening, exhaustion weighed down my limbs as I trekked through the jungle under the light of two enormous crescent moons. When night fell a few hours earlier, I’d marveled at how bright the world still was.

Jalen had warned me we’d need to travel well into the night to make it to the river tomorrow. And I had, without complaint. Still, the long hours of hiking were wearing on me.

Suddenly, a dim chime alerted me to an incoming message. I slapped my neck, activating my comms implant. “What’s up?”

Jalen whipped around, eyeing me before hurrying forward a few steps like he wanted to give me some privacy.

“Hey, it’s Kar. Just letting you know Lux arrived. He’s loading Arda onto the hovercart as we speak.”

“That’s a relief.” When we’d split, Jalen had stopped me from dragging him out of his yard and went back for his supplies while I informed Lux what was happening. It had taken a serious tongue-lashing to keep him from braving the burning sun until night fell. It was good to hear they’d finally reunited.

“So… how’re things with the hot guide?”

“Fine.”

“Just fine?”

I glanced ahead, spotting Jalen grinning ear to ear as he trailed his fingers across a pretty purple flower. “Yeah. Fine.”

I couldn’t blame her for being curious. Jalen had made a big impression on my crewmates. While I’d been talking Lux out of roasting himself to a crisp, Jalen had returned to the backyard with food and drinks and had even stripped the pillows off his own bed to ensure they’d have a comfortable stay in his garden.

A crackle over the comms made me wince. “If that’s all, I better go. Lots of ground to cover tonight, I hear.”

Karsen said, “Okay. Just remember, we’re here if you need anything.”

“Got it.” With that, I silenced the call and sighed.

“Everything all right?” Jalen asked.

“Yep. Kar was letting me know Lux made it to your garden.”

His smile brightened. “That’s great!” He strolled forward, his steps so light they were almost a skip. If he wasn’t so insanely hot, his muscles rippling with every step, his goofy walk would be enough to make me laugh.

It shouldn’t have bothered me. I mean, if the man wanted to bounce through the jungle to his heart’s content, who was I to stop him? But after another endless mile stretched out, I blurted, “Do you have to walk like that?”

His head tilted as he took another jaunty step forward. “Like what?”

“Like you’re… frolicking.”

He chuckled. “Frolicking. That’s a new word for me, but it sounds fun.” He shifted to face me but kept bouncing away while waving at himself. “Is this how you do it?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yep. That’s a grade A frolick you’ve got there.”

He laughed again. “I’m just soaking it all in. The sights. The smells. I don’t see the problem with enjoying myself.”

“The problem is that you’re having entirely too much fun trekking through an insect-riddled jungle—”

“Is the repellent I gave you wearing off?” He started to dig into one of his vest pockets until I shook my head.

“No, I’m fine.” He’d shared some cream with me earlier, and since slathering it on, I hadn’t been bitten once. “The point is, you shouldn’t be frolicking. No one else who got torn out of their house to drag some random girl through the jungle would be happy about it.”

“I like hiking.” He flashed a crooked grin that made my insides all gooey. “And you’re not so bad. Even eased up on the whole not talking thing.”

I bit my lip and fell silent.

That was right. I’d told him to shut it when he’d tried chatting me up when we first hit the trail. So sue me.

Fact was, Jalen turned out to be the complete opposite of what I’d been expecting. I started this trip thinking I’d be saddled with some isolated recluse.

Nope. Karsen might be sunshiny, but this man was what you got when two stars collided. Megawatt positivity blasted out of his pores, yet he maintained this aloof cool that stopped him from coming off as a complete boy scout. No, it drew everyone into his orbit—but I refused to be sucked in.

“Don’t tell me I shocked the words out of you?” Jalen chuckled as his hand slipped into his pants pocket. “If it makes you feel better, I think we’ve made it far enough for one night. You won’t have to watch me frolic while I sleep.”

A flash of metal off the path diverted my attention. “What’s that?” As we walked closer, more of it became visible, glistening in the moonlight where it wasn’t shrouded beneath vines and greenery. It almost looked like a motorcycle, only with no wheels.

“That’s one of the riders the invaders brought with them. There are a few of them scattered around the jungle. Guess they couldn’t be bothered to take their trash with them when we scared them off Dionus.”

Huh… Weird they just left them to rot. If I had a chance to—

A loud flick behind my ear made me jolt. “What the hell?” I spun around, my eyes widening. Jalen dipped his face into his cupped hands as a familiar scent drifted to my nose. “Are you smoking ?”

“How’d you guess?” He grinned, blowing the aromatic smoke into the trees.

Fuck! Normally, I was the first one to perk up at the mention of drinks. And I enjoyed more than my fair share of weed. But didn’t he realize now wasn’t the time to relax?

“You want some?” After blowing out another fragrant cloud of smoke, he offered the joint to me with a smile.

“I’ll pass.” I barely knew this guy. And just because the smoke smelled like heaven didn’t mean it wasn’t laced with something. I wasn’t about to get high with him alone out in the middle of nowhere.

He shrugged. “Okay. No pressure.” He drew in a drag, smiling softly in the moonlight.

“Do you really think you should be smoking right now?”

He laughed, smoke spilling out his mouth and pooling around his sharp canines. “Of course.” He took another long pull off his joint. Then, while holding the smoke in, he said, “Watch this.”

Jalen strolled to a huge orb-shaped bush lining the far side of the path. It was one of the same stupid pricker bushes that attacked my ankle that afternoon. We’d passed dozens of them on our hike, and I’d steered clear each time, not wanting my entire skinsuit torn to shreds.

“What are you—”

The words died in my throat as Jalen bent, blowing smoke straight into the bush. Within a few seconds, the sharp needle-like growths receded, leaving behind a hole wide enough to fit an arm through. Jalen repeated the action several times, puffing on the bush long enough to widen the hole so much that one entire side was free from prickers. It reminded me of an old Earth vid I’d once watched, where beekeepers blew smoke into a hive so they could harvest their honey.

“Come on.” He waved me forward. “It won’t stay like that for long.”

I gaped, first at him and then at the orange innards of the massive plant. “How did you know how to do that?”

Jalen grinned and took another toke. “It’s not my first trek.” He blew smoke out just as the first of the prickers sought to reform, making them retreat again. “Adventurers always sleep within the safety of the lionettle, if they’re smart.”

“So, is that what you are?” With cautious steps, I walked into the lionettle.

“Highly intelligent? Absolutely.”

I scoffed as I settled cross-legged on the pillowy interior, which was surprisingly comfortable. “I meant an adventurer.”

Jalen’s ever-present smile fell. “I used to be.” He sank beside me, taking a final puff before snuffing his joint out on the bottom of his boot and flicking the butt into the jungle.

I wanted to ask him why he stopped. Why someone with such an obvious love of the jungle, and travel, would become a recluse. But at that moment, the prickers started reforming.

“Holy shit. I can barely see!”

“It’s all right,” Jalen replied coolly. A heartbeat later, a light flickered to life beside me. “Hold this, would you?”

I grabbed the lighter, frowning as my fingers rubbed over the smooth white base that was definitely not plastic, or even metal. “What’s this made out of?”

“Bone.”

Revulsion pulsed through me so fast it was lucky I didn’t drop the creepy thing. “Oh my god, are you serious?” I shuddered, praying I wasn’t shacking up with a psycho who had crafty plans for my body parts.

Jalen chuckled as he dug into his pack. “Don’t Terrans use all parts of the animals they eat?”

“These are animal bones?”

“Certainly.” Jalen plucked the lighter deftly from my fingers and used it to light a small candle he’d pulled out of his pack. “Contrary to rumors floating around the universe, we aren’t a bunch of savages defiling the bones of our enemies.”

“You’ve heard about those?” With the candle spreading a soft glow across the small enclosure, my nerves settled slightly. If I squinted, I could almost believe we were in a normal tent.

His green eyes twinkled in the candlelight. “Heard about them? Who do you think spread them?”

“Wasn’t it the aliens who invaded your planet?”

He shook his head. “We spread them ourselves. If the rest of the universe fears us, then they won’t come looting again.” He shrugged. “At least, that was the hope. Hasn’t always worked out too well.”

“Smart.”

“Told you we were highly intelligent.” He winked, then dug into his pack again.

“What are you looking for?”

“Food. I’m starving, aren’t you?”

Yep. That was definitely marijuana. He totally has the munchies.

I chuckled wryly. “Not as hungry as you.” As I watched the candlelight bounce on the flower’s inner walls, a random thought snagged in my brain. “How hard is it to get out of here? What happens if I wake up in the middle of the night and need to pee?”

Jalen tossed a cloth-wrapped bundle into my lap. “Walk slowly and you won’t get caught on anything. The spines won’t stop you from getting out, just getting in.”

Cautiously, I unwrapped the fabric. “It’s that easy?”

Jalen hurriedly tore open his wrapper and crunched into his food before replying. “Yep. But if you do, wake me up so I can let you back in.” He swallowed. “Better yet, hold off until daybreak if you can.”

“Why?” I lifted a brown piece of… something to my nose and sniffed. Is that cinnamon?

“Dangerous when there’s no moon,” he said around bites.

“What’s so dangerous?” I asked.

“The fiercest predators in the jungle are nocturnal. They come out during full dark, so it’s best to seek shelter while they’re active.” He patted the flower beside him. “Don’t worry. We’re safe as long as we stay in the lionettle.”

A shiver chased down my spine. Great. I’m stuck in a flower tent with a stranger, and I can’t even run away without the fear of being eaten.

The thought should’ve made dread pool in my stomach and nausea bite the back of my throat. But for some reason, it didn’t. Maybe it was the goofy smile Jalen sent me as he popped his last bite into his mouth. Something about the guy set my mind at ease—and that was more terrifying than any predator stalking the jungle.

It was bad enough trying to ignore the annoying attraction I just couldn’t shake. I didn’t need to start liking his personality and being comfortable around him too.

Shoving the thought aside, I took my first bite of the mystery snack. The tangy deliciousness exploded on my tongue, and I groaned.

“You gonna finish that?” Jalen asked.

I glared at him. “Get your own,” I hissed, scarfing down half in one bite.

He laughed, the delighted sound echoing within the flower and making my skin prickle. “Here.” Jalen plopped another treat on my lap. “I brought plenty.”