Page 58 of Sanctuary and Spices
She nestled closer. “Smooth talker.”
“Only for you.”
The song ended, but neither of us moved to break apart. Around us, the celebration continued - glasses clinking, voices raised in laughter, the constant chime of crystal formations resonating with our bond.
“Want to step outside for a minute?” I asked, noting how the noise had grown.
She nodded, letting me guide her toward the garden entrance. We passed Pix’s impromptu dance lesson:
“No, no - like this!” They demonstrated an elaborate twirl that sent their antennae spinning. “See how the lights follow?”
The children copied the movement, squealing as colors swirled overhead.
“Careful!” Malik called. “Those are delicate-”
A crash from the kitchen cut him off. Jani tensed, but Mai’s voice rang out: “Everything’s fine! Just some overexcited dishware.”
I steered us through the door before Jani could investigate. The night air wrapped around us, cooler and quieter than inside. Festival lights twinkled overhead, casting shifting patterns across the garden.
“Better?” I asked, pulling her close again.
“Mmm.” She tucked herself against my chest. “Though I should probably check on-”
“Let them handle it.” I traced patterns up her spine. “Tonight’s for us.”
She shivered at my touch. “Keep that up and we might scandalize the guests.”
“Would that be so terrible?”
Her fingers found the sensitive spot where my markings curved around my ribs. “Tempting. But I’d rather not give Pix more stories to tell.”
“Fair point.” I caught her hand before she could explore further. “Though you’re not making it easy to behave.”
She grinned wickedly. “Good.”
The bond sparked between us, amplifying every point of contact. My markings blazed brighter as she pressed closer.
“Careful,” I warned. “Or we might not make it back inside.”
“Promise?”
Before I could answer, footsteps approached. We broke apart just as Malik emerged from the shadows.
“Sorry to interrupt.” He held up his datapad. “But there’s something you should see.”
“Can it wait?” I asked, not letting go of Jani.
“I wish it could.” He showed us the screen - waves of energy readings, all out of alignment. “These are from the Ilexis Ring. The patterns are... unusual.”
“Wrong how?”
“It’s subtle, but something seems to be nudging the resonance out of alignment.” He scrolled through more data. “And it’s not just here. Reports are coming in from the outer colonies - similar disruptions, growing stronger.”
Jani studied the readings. “Could it be related to our bond? The way it affected the station’s systems?”
“No.” Malik shook his head. “This is different. Almost like something’s trying to force its way through the established frequencies.” He met my eyes. “This isn’t just a local issue. Something bigger is happening.”
The warrior in me stirred at his words, old instincts rising. But Jani’s warmth against my side grounded me.
