Page 71 of Meteor Storm

And I was taken by her.

The door to my small quarters was open. There was no need to close a door when nothing I had was mine. It was just an empty room with a couple casual uniforms on a shelf, a bed, a table, and one holopad with directories, updates on galactic events, and reports, many of them from Ursa. I had revisited the reports many times, finding it hard to believe I was involved in such a meaningful battle. I found it harder to believe I was the only one to come out of it.

It was a success, for the most part. Though thousands of monrians perished, the slave operation, according to the records, had been dissolving since the confrontation.

Although, it still felt unfinished.

I sighed, continuing to sift through records and information in a poor attempt to force my mind away from thoughts of Penny.

21: Penny

“He hates me,” I muttered.

Sunhai’s head snapped up to look at me before she swung her gaze about the room in search of the culprit.

“Who?”

“Thilar.” I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “I kissed him yesterday, in the training room.”

“Kiss?” She thought about it, racking her brain for the meaning of the word. When it clicked, her face scrunched up, revolted. “Oh, the thing you humans do with mouths? Why?”

“Shhh.”

“What does it matter? None of these monrians know your language.”

Right.

“I think I offended him.”

“Of course, you did. You put your mouth bacteria on him.”

“Look, he said monrians kiss, too.”

“Do they?”

“My point is, I don’t think he enjoyed it. And before you say ‘of course, he didn’t,’ I don’t think that’s why. I think… he’s trying to avoid me.”

“I see that. And after all the work I put into making Yuros appoint him to your care.”

“You did that?”

“Not that you are bad company. I just like to make trouble. And the way Thilar acts around you,” she smirked. “Is definitely trouble.”

“What does that mean?”

“He very protective. Like a man would be for mate.”

“Why does everyone keep using that word?”

“Because it is correct word,” she shrugged.

I buried my face in my hands, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed at the same time. Sunhai wasn’t the best girl to have girl talk with. Either she just didn’t understand it, or she just didn’t like it. Either way, she wasn’t helping me clear my head.

“I know you’re going to say something in your own, special, Sunhai way, but I’ll take the risk. What should I do?” I asked.

“What should you do?” She raised a brow like the answer was simple and I was stupid for not knowing. “Yuros put him in charge of you. So go be with him.”

I frowned, not surprised that her answer was so straight forward.