Page 14 of Whispers of the Void (Voidborn Chronicles #1)

CHAPTER 14

NEEV

* * *

C louds once again cover the crimson sky, but the thought of staying inside another day makes me want to peel my skin from my bones. Grabbing one of the shorter cloaks from my armoire, I throw it over my shoulders and head for the balcony with stairs down to the beach. The stone beneath my feet is wet from the rain, but my feet are going to get wet when I wade into the sea anyway.

Who knows when I’ll be able to spend hours a day next to the ocean again. If I end up back on Oculus Nine, it definitely won’t be anytime soon. I step onto the beach and my feet sink into the black sand. This planet is so different from the busy ecumenopolis that is Calindrea.

Frothy, small swells wash ashore beckoning me toward the water’s edge. I dip my toes in cautiously, not knowing how cold the water is. It’s chilly but not as cold as I was expecting so I step out further. Tiny, purple fish swim past my legs when I’m knee deep. I don’t want to risk going out any further when the current pulls the sand from beneath my feet with each wave.

“Watch out, those bite.” Raiz points at the fish still swimming near my legs.

“The purple ones?” I look over my shoulder at him. How he got down here without me hearing him is unsettling. “They’re so small.”

“Their jaws extend?—”

“Ouch,” I cry out before he can even finish his sentence.

“Told you.” He holds a hand out to help me out of the water and crouches down to look at my leg. His hand wraps around my calf as he inspects the bite with a troubled look on his face. “This is bad. They inject a parasite into your veins, and it works its way up to your brain.”

“What do you mean?” Panic surges within me. “Get it out. Can Hyva get it out?”

He runs his thumb over the wound, wiping my blood away. When his eyes meet mine, they sparkle with mischief as he licks my blood off his skin. “Just kidding.”

“Uh! You jerk,” I say as I push his shoulders and knock him over onto the sand.

His chest shakes with laughter, a full, rich sound that makes my stomach flutter. It’s unfair how handsome he is, even rolling around undignified in sand laughing at my expense. The smile that takes residence on his face softens him, making him look younger.

“I wasn’t aware that you had a sense of humor,” I say dryly.

“Stars.” He pulls himself together and stands. “Your face was hilarious.”

“I don’t think it’s that funny. I mean, I don’t know what could kill me on your planet.”

He sobers. “I’d never let you be in danger. I hope you know that.”

“You let me get bitten.” Now that he’s standing again, I have to tilt my head back to look him in the eye.

“You’re right.”

I cry out when he bends and scoops me into his arms. “What are you doing?”

“Taking you inside to clean it.”

“I can walk.” Why does he smell so good? I have the biggest urge to run my nose along his neck and inhale his scent.

“Your short human legs are too slow.”

He is walking faster than I could be able to keep up, so I go completely limp in his arms. Let him carry my dead weight then. One of the corners of his lips lifts in an irritating smirk at my petulance. He carries me up the stone stairs and into the library. Uzold stops in the hall and watches as Raiz walks right past him.

“Is Sister Neev okay?” he calls out once the surprise is gone.

“I’m fine,” I tell him. “Some sort of fish bit me.”

“Syplits,” Raiz calls over his shoulder.

“Is that the name of those fish?”

“Yes.”

“They’re pretty.”

“You should see them fully grown. Gorgeous but deadly. The school you saw had probably just hatched within the past day.”

I lift my leg and look at the bite which is still bleeding at a moderate pace. “A baby did that? How big do they get?”

“Up to twice my size.”

Stars.

“That’s big.”

I swallow nervously as he carries me through his quarters and into the attached bathroom. It’s identical to mine, which I didn’t think about last night when I came to wake him from his nightmare but is strange now that I think about it. Wouldn’t he have bigger rooms than where he has his guests sleep?

He sets me on the counter beside his sink and reaches below for several little pots of salve. I watch as he deftly removes all the caps and then wets a rag with warm water. He wipes the blood away and frowns.

“Do all humans bleed so easily?”

“Yes. Do Zeahirians not?”

“It certainly takes more than a newly hatched Syplits bite to make us bleed.” He applies pressure to rag over the wound and lifts my foot to rest on his hip. “You’re so delicate.”

He absentmindedly caresses my leg with his other hand, causing goosebumps to erupt over my skin at the soft touch. He stops and looks up at me, his green eyes alight with curiosity.

“What are those?”

“Goosebumps.”

“Do they hurt?”

“No. Humans get them for several reasons, it’s basically a reaction to stimuli. Sometimes we get them when we’re cold. Other times they can happen when something feels good,” I answer softly.

“Are you cold?”

“No.”

A wicked expression flashes across his face as he begins to gently circle his fingertips around the back of my calf. “So that means this feels good? You like to be touched like this?” The circles move higher, behind my knee and to the back of my thigh.

Heat pools in my center as I nod. I’m about to let my thighs drop open because it’s been a really long time since my body has responded like this to anyone. I swear I hear a thrumming coming from his chest.

A knock on the door jolts us both out of the haze we’d fallen into.

“Come in.” Raiz’s voice is husky. At least I know it was mutual.

“Uzold told me that Neev got bitten by a syplits. I brought a healing balm that works well on her.” Hyva steps into the bathroom and immediately halts, his gaze on the way we’re positioned. His eyebrows rise when he looks at Raiz. “I’ll take over from here.”

Their eyes lock in a silent battle. It feels like the standoff lasts for hours when I know it’s been less than a minute. Their bodies seem to expand even as they stand facing each other preternaturally still. For the first time since Mydax lunged for me, I feel their predatory nature, and it makes me want to shrink into myself.

“Thank you,” I finally say to cut the tension.

It works, and they both look at me. Raiz gently lowers my leg and steps back, allowing Hyva to come examine the wound. He cleans it quickly and methodically.

“I formulated this in my office on the ship. It’s made with compounds specifically beneficial for healing your fragile human flesh.” He gives me a cheeky wink as he slathers some onto the cut. “It’ll work for contusions, too.”

I roll my eyes and hop off the counter. “I’m not fragile.”

“You are compared to us.”

Stars save me from these males. How they can be overprotective knowing they literally kidnapped me from my own bed in the middle of the night is beyond me.

“I’m going to go back to my room.”

“The reason I went down to the beach to find you is because we’re going to have to go out tonight. I think I found someone to guide us to the temple.”

“Oh, good. The sooner the better.” I don’t really mean that. The sooner I do the translation for them, the sooner I have to go home. I don’t know if I want to do that.

“I wanted to see if you’d like to join us this time. I know you’ve been bored staying alone lately.”

“Yes, I’d love that.” A shiver of excitement courses through me as I leave his quarters.

* * *

I take everything Vynia has told me into account about the fashion culture of Zeahiri when I piece together what I’m going to wear tonight. I’m sure that Raiz doesn’t want me pulling undue attention to myself, although seeing as I’m a human, I’ll stick out like a sore thumb regardless. I settle on an all black ensemble of black pants and a soft top. The outfit manages to completely cover me and yet leaves nothing to the imagination in terms of my shape.

As Raiz steps into my room that last sentiment is confirmed. I feel the intensity of his look from my head to my toes. Including places I have no business feeling him. My body doesn’t catch the hint, though, as my nipples bead under his appraisal.

“Is this okay?” I gesture down my body. “I assumed you would want me inconspicuous.”

“Yes, it’s fine.” His gaze lingers on my body like a phantom touch.

“Should we go then?”

My question breaks his trance. “You’ll need a cloak, too. The village is on the surface.” He walks to the armoire and riffles through the few cloaks, finally pulling one that matches those I’ve seen him wear. “This one will work.”

“Thank you.” Our fingertips brush as I take it from him.

“I’ll need to scent mark you again. My scent will ensure no one pays too close of attention to you.” He watches my face as he tells me, looking for something in my expression.

“Okay.” I take the few steps necessary to put me right in front of him and tilt my head back, giving him access to my neck.

That thrumming noise comes from his chest again as his eyes become those of a predator. Heat floods my body when his large hand cups my cheek, his fingers threading through my hair, and he lowers his body over mine. He envelops me, and my hands find his waist for balance.

Stars, he’s so solid against me.

A shiver rolls through me as his skin brushes mine. This feels different from the first time, I swear I feel the slightest graze of his lips against the column of my neck and it makes me melt against him, to leave my own mark. My fingers dig into him, as my body bows closer to his.

Goosebumps roll across my body when he pushes my hair behind my shoulder. The action opens the other side of my neck to him, causing the thrumming to increase. Without realizing it, my hands have moved around his waist to his back, pulling myself closer.

As he begins to straighten, my eyes find his again. His pupils, normally an elongated oval shape are blown, the black nearly eclipsing the green. As odd as it sounds, I could swear his fangs look a bit longer, poking free from his lips. It should be a terrifying sight. Instead, I’m imagining those sharp points on the soft curves of my body.

“You guys ready?” Hyva’s voice breaks our trance, and we step away from each other.

“Yes,” Raiz answers roughly. He tosses the cloak around my shoulders and pulls the hood up. “You should keep this up tonight. Not just to help hide your identity but also because of possible radiation. All our clothing is repellant but only to a point. The more layers, the safer you are.”

We once again find ourselves trapped in Hyva’s curious gaze. He taps an impatient hand on the door frame. “Let’s go.”

Once we get to the front door, we follow a polished stone stairway up to the ground. I take in the wide expanse around us. The path we travel winds between rocky hills. Everything is a shade of gray or black from the rocky soil to the little bits of vegetation dotting the ground on the sides of some hills. The landscape is severe and violent but in the most beautiful way.

I gasp when we round a corner into a small valley between the hills. Small flowers blanket the ground with black stems and pale pink petals. I bend down and reach out to run my fingers over one. I manage to stop myself first, looking up at Raiz and Hyva.

“Can I touch these?” I remember from my reading that some of the plants on this planet are poisonous.

“Yes,” Hyva answers.

The petals are so soft under my fingers. With each touch a soft fragrance wafts into the air. It’s completely foreign, I can’t even find a comparable scent to describe it. Much like I can’t for Raiz. Both males wait patiently while I take in their home planet. I can hear them murmuring to themselves, a quiet conversation not meant for me.

As soon as I push back to standing, we begin to walk again. They flank me on either side as light from the village shows over the horizon. A field full of strange four-legged creatures grazes beside us, looking up curiously before dismissing us and going back to eating. There are no fences, which strikes me as odd.

The village is surrounded by a low rock wall. Tall torches line the streets, in front of the dwellings and businesses. Set up wise, it doesn’t look too different from ancient human settlements I’ve watched documentaries on. The juxtaposition of the seemingly archaic town and way of living on the planet versus the incredible tech that they have is fascinating.

How did they manage to evolve with these circumstances?

“Stay close to one of us,” Hyva says, stepping closer to me as we walk into the town.

“What was that? I didn’t catch it the first one hundred times you two told me.”

“Human sarcasm is such a joy,” he deadpans.

The cloak was a good call; everyone is wearing one. It adds a spooky ambiance to the village, seeing all these tall beings walking around in black cloaks like wraiths. If I weren’t a solid foot shorter, I would blend in perfectly. It doesn’t help that I’m walking sandwiched between two of the tallest males I’ve ever seen.

The buildings that line the streets are all uniform, only the signage changes. People gesture with a closed fist over their chests as Raiz walks past. All he does in response is incline his head toward those doing it in acknowledgment. I feel their curious looks as they see me. The hood covers enough that it shadows my face entirely. I’m not sure that it’s clear I’m not Zeahirian.

They lead me down several blocks and into a pub. Tables fill the space with a bar along the entire back wall. Sconces burn every few feet along the wall with a large fireplace also helping to light the dim room. Altis and Vynia are waiting for us at a table in the far corner. They look up at the same as we all take a seat.

“Las isn’t here yet,” Altis says.

A female with long silver hair and a dress that leaves little to the imagination walks over to the table. “What can I get for you, Lord Asteran?” Her voice is throaty and smooth as she smirks at him. I don’t have to be Zeahirian to understand the invitation in her eyes.

It makes me irrationally upset.

Instead of paying any attention to how the conversation between them evolves, I turn to Vynia. She’s also wearing a dress. The neckline drops deeply down her chest. The deep blue fabric looks incredible against the pale gray skin of her chest and neck.

“You look beautiful,” I tell her.

“Thank you. Las has a thing for females who show a lot of skin. We thought it might help tempt him into taking on this job if I lean into traditional feminine fashion.”

I look around the room and see that it’s mostly men sitting around the tables but, of the females in the room, many are dressed similarly. And they’re all so gorgeous. Tall and slender, with toned muscles like human ballet dancers.

I rarely feel insecure about the way that I look, it’s honestly not something I grew up being aware of on Oculus Nine. But right now, comparing my shorter, softer body to the Zeahirian females, I feel like an ugly creature. My stomach is rounded and soft, my hips and ass as well. And my breasts, ugh. They’re annoyingly heavy and full. It’s probably a good thing I’m fully covered.

“And what would your pet like?” The purred words from the female taking Raiz’s order draw my attention.

“My guest will have the same thing I’m having.” His answer is clipped and sharp, a verbal rebuke of her rudeness.

I wait until she slinks off to say anything. “Your pet, huh? Should I roll over and let you pet my belly?”

He’s pulled the hood of his cloak back, his silvery white hair gleaming in the light from the sconce behind him. He leans over to say something, devilish intent obvious in his eyes. My heart races in my chest as his gaze zeros in on my lips.

“Just ignore the female, Neev,” Altis says, jarring us out of our standoff. “She’s jealous of you, especially when you’re covered in Raiz’s scent.”

I lower my head and sniff. I smell like him a little, but nothing that I would say was overpowering. Not as strongly as he smells when he marks me.

“Really? I only faintly smell him on myself now.”

“That’s because you’re not Zeahirian. If our relationship with him wasn’t as strong it is, we wouldn’t be able to even look at you for long.” Hyva motions around the pub. “Do you notice how all the males are careful to look away from you? It’s because he’s ‘claimed’ you, and as the dominant male here, no one will challenge him.”

“What if they did?” I ask, fully curious about this aspect of their culture.

“Then I would kill them.” Raiz taps his fingers on the table quietly.

“No, you wouldn’t.” I gape at him. “It’s just pretend.”

“Nothing about my desire to keep you safe is pretend.”

That shouldn’t turn me on. When Torre used to get overprotective of me, I’d get so pissed. Never once did any of her actions make me flush with need. I don’t even know if this is a reciprocated feeling.