Page 38 of Across the Crimson Sands

Something that looked like blue bacon melted on my tongue, savory and smoky. “It’s good,” I mumbled.

Rokan’s lips twitched in what might have been a smile. “See? Not everything alien is terrible.”

I shot him a glare. “Present company excluded?”

He chuckled, a low rumble that sent heat coursing through me. “Your words, not mine.”

I found myself compelled to watch him, the way his lips moved, the flex of his arms as he reached for his drink. My body remembered his touch all too well.

“Stop staring,” he growled.

I felt my cheeks flush. “I wasn’t-”

“You were.” His eyes locked onto mine. “What’s on your mind, little human?”

My throat constricted. “Will Gorin really let me go?”

Rokan’s expression darkened. “He will if he knows what’s good for him.”

“And you?” I whispered. “Do you really want... this?”

The silence stretched out. “Finish your breakfast,” he said finally, pushing back from the table.

I watched him stride across the room, his lean body radiating tension. He tapped at a panel on the wall, ordering something I couldn’t hear.

A few minutes later, a soft chime announced a delivery. Rokan retrieved a small package from a slot in the wall.

“What’s that?” I asked.

He tossed a deck of cards onto the table. They were longer and narrower than Earth cards, with intricate geometric designs on the backs.

“Time for a lesson,” he said, sitting back down. “Every hunter needs to know how to play Bloodhound.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Bloodhound?”

“It’s a game of strategy and deception.” He began shuffling the cards with practiced ease. “Perfect for passing the time during long stakeouts.”

“I’m not really in the mood for games,” I said, pushing my half-eaten breakfast away.

Rokan’s eyes narrowed. “Tough. You need the distraction, and I need you to stop overthinking everything.”

I crossed my arms. “What if I refuse?”

A slow, predatory smile spread across his face. “Then I’ll have to find other ways to occupy that pretty mouth of yours.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “Fine,” I snapped. “Teach me your stupid game.”

He dealt out seven cards each. “The goal is to create sets of three or more cards, either in sequence or of the same rank. But here’s the twist - you can lie about what cards you’re playing.”

I frowned. “How does that work?”

“When you play a card face down, you declare what it is. Your opponent can choose to believe you or challenge you. If they’re right, you take a penalty. If they’re wrong, they do.”

As he explained the intricacies of the game, I found myself drawn in despite my initial reluctance. The cards were beautifully illustrated, each suit representing a different species of sentients.

“So if I play this card,” I said, laying down a Vinduthi Queen, “and say it’s a Human Jack, you’d have to decide whether to trust me or not?”

Rokan nodded. “Exactly. It’s all about reading your opponent, anticipating their moves.”

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