Page 27 of Captured By The Alien (Starbound #2)

They lay tangled in each other’s arms, drifting on the edge of sleep. Too soon, Vahn stirred.

“ Kalehsha, beloved. I must go.”

She hugged herself closer to him, throwing her leg possessively across his thigh. He smiled and kissed her brow.

“I must depart, small human,” he said in a whisper. “I have already been here too long.”

“Just a little longer. You don’t want me to suffer teshekalehsh do you?”

“Hm. You told me you did not experience that.”

“I lied.” She raised her head hopefully. “You should punish me.”

His mouth quirked at the corner.

“As enticing as that sounds, I will leave that for another occasion. But I can give you something to help stave off teshekalehsh . Just in case.”

He got up, ignoring her soft sounds of disappointment, and went to the dressing table. Picking up the nail scissors, he snipped off a length of his hair. Deftly, he twisted the strands into a thin braid and wrapped it round her wrist.

“There. It is only a temporary fix, it will work as long as the oils remain in the hair. But it should last until I can touch you again. And believe me, kalehsha , I will be touching you again soon. All over. Thoroughly.”

The frank desire in his eyes made her shiver.

“What about you?” she asked. “Let me do the same.”

She repeated the procedure with a lock of her own hair, twisting it into a braid which she fastened round Vahn’s broad wrist.

“Better than ripping off a scale from your leg,” she murmured, thinking of Vysh.

“I am sorry?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Listen, thank you. For coming here tonight and for letting my mother come to Vraxos.”

“I’m not sure I could stop her if I tried. She is quite, ah, forceful.”

“Future mother-in-law, don’t forget.”

“I will bear that in mind. And now, beloved, I must go.” He lifted her off her feet and kissed her soundly. “You have kept me here long enough, vixen.”

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” she pointed out.

“On the contrary. It was a pleasure. One I hope to repeat frequently.”

She was about to reply when there was a knock at the bedroom door. They both froze.

“Kara?”

It was Vysh. Silently, Kara gathered up their clothes and gestured to Vahn to follow her into the bathroom. She closed the door and turned on the shower.

“I’m just having a quick wash,” she called out as Vahn put his clothes on. “I won’t be long.”

“It’s okay. I’ll wait.” Vysh’s voice was louder, as if she’d come into the bedroom. Vahn finished dressing and gave Kara a last lingering kiss, before disappearing the way he’d come through the secret passageway.

She took a breath and tried to collect her thoughts.

“Just give me a minute, I’ll be right out,” she said, hoping like hell Vysh didn’t notice how rumpled the bed was.

She stepped into the shower, washing off any giveaway signs that she’d spent the last few hours making out like a rabbit. Freshly scrubbed and wrapped in a dressing gown, she checked herself in the mirror.

Well, there was nothing she could do about the flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes but at least she didn’t smell of sex any more. Wrapping her wet hair in a towel, she went out to see Vysh.

The Vraxian female was sitting on the edge of the bed. Kara took the stool at the dressing table.

“Party over?” she asked.

“Yes. Inyria had too much murlat and threw up in a pot plant. I was trying to direct her towards Layahn’s shoes but she couldn’t quite make it.”

“Sounds like there’ll be a few sore heads tomorrow.”

“Sore heads?” Vysh was puzzled.

“From drinking too much alcohol. You know, a hangover.”

“Is that a human thing? That’s sad.”

“Remind me never to challenge you to a drinking competition.”

Kara unwound the towel from her hair and let it spill out in a damp cloud. She tugged a comb through it and waited for Vysh to explain why she was there.

“Anyway, sorry to disturb your rest, Kara, but I had sort of an idea. About the contest . ” The Vraxian suddenly looked a little embarrassed. “I mean, only if you want to. It’s probably really stupid but…”

“Vysh, spit it out. What’s the idea?”

“Um, well, as you know I was intending to drop out at the combat round because I didn’t want to be a finalist and risk being chosen as the Zhaalini. But now that I know the Zhaal will choose you regardless, I thought… um…”

“You thought it would be safe for you to get all the way to the final three and cultivate even more kudos with your dad. Is that it?”

“Does that sound awful?” Vysh looked dismayed. “I don’t want to sound like a mercenary but if I made it to the last three, it would be a massive boost for my family. We’d be financially secure and my father would be a lot nicer to my kalehshun. But I wouldn’t do it unless you’re okay with it.”

“Of course I’m okay with it. Why the hell wouldn’t I be?”

“Because, um, I had another idea about getting to the final which might be, sort of, a tiny bit, well, cheating.”

Vysh trailed off and Kara looked at her curiously.

“What do you mean, cheating?”

The Vraxian’s scales shaded to light green and Kara realized she was embarrassed.

“First, can I ask, um, are you absolutely one hundred per cent certain that the Zhaal will pick you from the finalists?”

Kara hesitated. Then she pulled back the sleeve of her dressing gown and held out her wrist.

“That’s a braid of his hair. To stop teshekalehsh. He wears one from me.”

Vysh’s eyes widened.

“ Drek! You mean I didn’t have to pull a scale off my leg?”

“Apparently not. But I think your way is more romantic. A bit like having a tattoo of your lover’s name.”

“Hmph. Hair would have been less painful. At any rate it proves you and the Zhaal have bonded.” She hesitated. “So look, do you think… um… I mean, it’s against the rules but… er, could you ask if…”

“Vysh, for goodness sake just tell me!”

“Could you ask the Zhaal to make sure we aren’t pitted against each other in the combat round?” she blurted.

“Oh.” Kara was taken aback. “I guess so. But isn’t it General Solarun who decides who fights who?”

“Yes, but she answers to the Zhaal. Don’t you see? If we get picked to fight each other, I’ll have to throw the competition there and then because I don’t want to stand in the way of your happiness.”

“Vysh, that’s so sweet.”

“But if I’m facing one of the other Potentials, I can let rip. Especially if it’s Layahn.” Her face broke into a wicked grin. “Vannla’s Sword, I really hope it’s Layahn.”

“Get in line. I want a crack at her too.”

“At any rate, I don’t want you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. If you don’t want to ask the Zhaal, I understand.”

“If I make it to the combat round, I’ll ask. And Vysh, if you get through and I don’t, I’ll make sure he doesn’t choose you. Either way, you’ll be free to be with your fated one.”

“What do you mean, if you don’t get through? He’s your kalehshun , isn’t he? That means the stars have spoken. You’re destined to be with him.”

Kara toyed with the braid on her wrist.

“What if destiny can be rewritten?”

“I don’t believe that. Maybe the story can change here and there. But the ending has already been written by the gods.” Vysh stretched. “I can’t wait for you to win s haa’baara. Then everyone will see that humans and Vraxians can be together. Plus, Layahn will be livid.”

“She really will, won’t she?”

“It’ll be worth it just for that.” Vysh stood. “Goodnight, Kara.”

“Night, Pink.”

Kara watched her leave, hoping like hell she was right.

She toweled off her hair before getting into bed. Her body still tingled from Vahn’s love-making and she hoped she would see him again the next night. Not just to repeat what they’d done – though she definitely wanted that to happen – but to get some insights into what the shaa’baara challenges would entail. In the heat of the moment, she’d forgotten to ask.

But either royal business kept him away or he didn’t want to risk it. Whatever the reason, she spent the following day training with the other Potentials and the evening alone.

And then the waiting was over. At the next dawn, shaa’baara began.