Page 9 of Kailirex (Brides of the Mylos #6)
CHAPTER 9
KAILIREX
“Kailirex?” the bronze skinned male standing outside the shuttle bay door asked me.
“Yes.”
He grinned. “As you’ve no doubt surmised, I’m Poloris. It is good to meet you.”
I nodded. “It is indeed. I have to confess, this is not the way I saw my day going.”
He laughed, his shoulders relaxed and the sound carefree. “Neither did I. Come, the pilot is waiting for us to strap in. He said something about getting a hot dog from a street vendor.”
I laughed. “Far be it from me to keep a male from his meal.”
I palmed the door open and immediately the air was filled with the cacophony of sound that was uniquely a hangar bay. Techs calling out to each other, the sound of tools being used as maintenance was being performed here and there, all accompanied by the scent of vehicle lubricant. It wasn’t unpleasant, though I somehow doubted that The Yankee Candle Company had it in mind for the next Mylos themed scent they planned to launch.
Our shuttle was located close to the hangar bay doors, about a third of the way into the cavernous space.
“There you are! Congratulations to you both! Now, let’s go get your mates!” The pilot greeted us, hurrying up the ramp.
“See what I mean? I think somebody skipped breakfast,” Polaris whispered and I chuckled, already liking him immensely. Which was a good thing, seeing as we were now not only brothers in arms, but brothers by mating, and we would be sharing living quarters as an extended familial unit.
We followed the pilot up the ramp and quickly chose our seats. The pilot shut the shuttle door, the shadow of the retracting ramp falling over us as we fastened our seat harnesses.
“I don’t know if you remember me, sir,” the pilot said, “but I’ve actually flown you before. You were on your way to visit the Smithsonian.”
I thought back to that trip. I had indeed gone to the Smithsonian, to look at exhibits of iconic children’s TV programming with my team in tow. Now that he mentioned it, he did look familiar, but my mind couldn’t call forth his name. I did remember he’d recommended a Korean street food establishment close to the museum, the Rice Bar Capital Gallery. The food had been as delicious as he claimed. I chuckled, realizing that the male must be a street food aficionado.
“Of course! I remember you now. I have to say, you were spot on with your lunch recommendation that day.”
He beamed as he finished strapping himself in. “That’s me. Whether you need a ride or want to know where to find the best eats, just ask for me! I’ve even made a food guide and Xeranos has put it in the directory. It’s called Tillin’s Terrific Street Treats.” He tapped at his console. “Okay, we’ve been cleared for take off,” he said a moment later and I felt a faint shudder followed by a soft humming vibration as the engines came online and we began to lift.
“Since we’re going to New York, I’m going to check out this stand I saw on YouTube. It’s called Billy’s Hot Dog Cart and it’s at Central Park. It’s got five star reviews to the edge of the galaxy and back, so I simply gotta try it for myself.”
“If our mates are hungry, perhaps we can interest them in trying these hot dogs. I have seen such things depicted in their popular media,” Polaris said.
“I could bring the order with me while you guys take them to pick up some of their stuff to bring back. Even if they thought to bring a suitcase, we could carry more than that in the cargo hold. The Center has its own SUV we can borrow. I can drop you off, go get the dogs, pick you up, bring us back…” he chattered as he deftly maneuvered us out of the shuttle bay and through the maze of ships, taking us on a trajectory toward earth.
“Or you could stay, help carry down a few things, and we all go visit the hot dog stand. We could ask a passerby to take a photo to commemorate our trip. I brought my tablet so I could do that.” He glanced over at me. “I like making a record of significant events, with pictures and vid streams.”
“That is a fantastic idea, I just wish I’d thought of it.” I smiled ruefully. “You’d think with my job, I’d have been all over that.”
He shrugged. “I’m sure you had other things on your mind.”
“I don’t mind you all coming along to get dogs,” the pilot said. “Let’s do it!”
“He makes it sound as if we are adopting a pet,” Piloris whispered conspiratorially.
“Pets! Do you think our mates have any?”
“No idea. I suppose we really should look at their profiles before we get there, huh?”
He took out his tablet and I tapped on my kunnarskyn, each of us settling down to do just that. My breath caught at the sight of my mate. She was lovely, with long, brown hair caught up in a long tail that reached just past her shoulders. Her make up was light and her smile looked nervous. Her eyes were blue, but not cold. They sparkled invitingly, like the warm waters of a lagoon. “Stella,” I murmured, thinking how appropriate her name was. The notation said her name meant ‘star’ and here I was, ready to bring her to the very heavens themselves to shine her light on my life.
I snorted mentally at myself. We hadn’t actually met yet, and here I was, already melting at the thought of her.
“It seems they are quite involved with their family,” Piloris said. “To be expected, I suppose.”
“It certainly explains how close they are and their preference to be housed together.”
He nodded. “Definitely. And just to clear the air, I’d like to state that I am not unhappy with that arrangement. We will each have our private areas for when we wish to have solitude, and as the humans call it, hanging out together while watching vids, preparing and eating meals, and so on within our home sounds fun.”
My smile broadened. “I, too, am not unopposed. I think we shall get along splendidly. I feel we became friends the moment we met.”
“I feel the same,” he admitted.
“That calls for a celebration!” Tillin exclaimed. “The hot dogs are on me!”
The sentiment was appreciated, even if no matter who paid, the funds were actually coming from the Fleet and cost us personally nothing. It was the thought that counted.