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"Qhix, I'm not ashamed of you." I close my eyes, relieved by her answer. "Please calm down. No need to hulk out on me. If it means so much to you, we can stop at the Gilded Orb."
My beast calms at her command, and I open my eyes to see concern reflected in hers. It's clear she has feelings for me, even if her words and actions have me confused, and I still have a chance to win her over. I reach out, gently caressing her cheek with the back of my hand.
A small smile tugs at the corners of her lips as she leans into my touch. "You're right. One stop along the way will be fun."
"You're sure?"
"I'm sure. It's just, the Universe is a dangerous place for a human, or that's what everyone keeps telling me."
"The space port is visited by all manner of species, but I would never put you in danger," I say, brushing my thumb down her cheek to savor the silkiness of her human flesh. "I brought with me the Thrushian hologuise I always wear as a disguise. It works the same as the holoscape that camouflages my beach house. The hologuise will project any species we program to cover our faces. Plus, I will be there to protect you if anything were to go awry, though I don't expect it will."
"You've talked me into it." Tasha's widening smile is a balm to the pang behind my sternum. "Tell me more about the Gilded Orb."
A surge of relief washes over me as she settles in her seat next to mine. She isn't ashamed of me, it's fear of the unknown that made her hesitate. But I will prove to her she is safe with me. The sole purpose of my sivot is to shield her from harm.
"The Gilded Orb is an exclusive, discreet, upscale space port that caters to those wealthiest enough to obtain a membership," I begin, my voice filled with enthusiasm as I start the launch sequence. "It used to be part of a massive space station, the pride of the Zylon race, a symbol of their advanced technology.
"When war broke out between them and the Skalax, it was destroyed in a catastrophic explosion, all except for a large piece that drifted through space until it became stuck in orbit around the planet, Drus in the Wjyt Galaxy. The Drus laid claim to it since it's inside their air space and turned it into what it is today."
"Oh, wow!" Tasha sits as far forward in her seat as the straps will allow as I lift us off the ground. "A chunk of a space station orbiting a planet. That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. What started the war?"
"A dispute over a trade agreement for a precious metalliod called lyt." Tasha giggles as I exaggerate the rolling of my eyes. "It's only found on the asteroid belt circling an uninhabitable solar system called Netu. I heard negotiations broke down and accusations of unfair tactics were what started the battle. The Skalax fired first, taking out the Zylon's space station. A metalliod not worth fighting over, if you ask me."
"So, tell me more about this space station chunk. Why is it called the Gilded Orb?"
We break through Pryt's foggy atmosphere, and I set a course for the Wjyt Galaxy. "The surviving chunk is actually a self-contained sphere with its own power source and life-support systems. Originally, it was designed as an enormous escape vessel large enough to hold everyone on the space station in the event something went wrong.
"Anyway, the Drus, being the ingenious beings that they are, saw an opportunity to turn this hunk of wreckage into lodgings. There's an exotic trading port on one level, gourmet restaurants featuring cuisine from all over the Universe dotted throughout, oh, and did I mention the entertainment venues?"
Tasha absently shakes her head, thoroughly engrossed in my description of the Orb.
"All manner of species and creatures, the likes of which you can only dream of, perform on the many stages throughout the Orb," I continue, my voice filled with excitement. "There are acrobats from the planet Xerion, known for their breathtaking aerial displays, dancers who defy gravity, and illusionists who claim to distort reality itself."
Tasha's eyes sparkle with anticipation as I navigate my Thrushian Star Chaser out of the solar system and into the vast expanse of space. "It sounds incredible, Qhix. I can't wait to see it for myself."
Warmth fills me and I find myself smiling at her infectious enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're excited. I promise, you'll have so much to tell your friends when we reach Crao. The two of us. With me as your mate," I hint, desperate for her to acknowledge our bond and declare me as hers.
Tasha's eyes widen, her mouth forming a perfect "O" of surprise. She looks at me, her gaze flickering with affection and apprehension.
"Mate?" she repeats softly, as if testing the word on her tongue. "Qhix, I... I know what we did last night was intimate," she stammers, her fingers nervously plucking at her seat straps. "And I do care about you, more than I thought possible in such a short time. I mean, you did save my life, and how can a girl discount that?"
I watch as she struggles to find the right words, my heart thudding in my chest.
"But... I'm not sure I'm ready for something as serious as being your mate," she finally admits, her voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, we barely know each other. And I'm human, Qhix. I don't even know if this... this bond you speak of is possible between our species."
I don't say anything. I have no words for the cutting ache in my chest, sure as if she ran me through with my favorite sword. Every breath is a struggle. The pain is almost tangible, searing through me with each beat of my cracking heart.
"Qhix... I?—"
"It's fine," I cut her off. I want to say I understand, but I don't. "Once we reach Crao, I'll remain on the command deck, and you can drive the hauler out."
"You're not staying on Crao with me?"
"The Ziarians will attack me the moment I step foot off the ship. My sivot won't allow harm to come to me."
I glance over as her eyes search my face. "You'll hulk out and kill everybody?"
"If my sivot views them as a threat to me or you," I explain gravely. "It's a biological response now that you've awakened my beast."
