Page 33 of A Delicate Conquest

Picking up on her subtle cue, Mavrel held her tighter.

She couldn’t help it—she was a little intimidated.

Looking at them made her feel weird, like a rabbit amongst wolves. They were dressed in fine, sumptuous Kordolian robes. With their partners beside them, they were doing nothing more than standing around and chatting.

But the longer she observed them, the more uneasy she felt.

Maybe it was the way they stood: casually relaxed but radiating tension as if they could explode into violence at any given moment.

Maybe it was the way they moved: effortless, fluid, inhuman.

Her mind ran away. She could imagine them in their technologically advanced alien armor, wielding devastating alien weapons.

She could see them being very scary indeed.

“Bea, are you all right?” It was Mavrel’s turn to ask the question. His voice was a low rumble—for her ears only.

“I’m fine,” she responded, quickly regaining her composure. “Just not used to a crowd of this nature, I suppose. Not that there’s anything wrong. I’m more in awe than anything else.”

“Hm.” He stood with her for a moment, and it felt like he’d carved out a little space for them in the crowd. Mavrel was completely at ease here and indifferent to everyone except her. “What would you like to do? Would you like to visit a simulation of our home planet or taste some of the traditional delicacies of the Lost Tribes? Or perhaps you would like to see the advanced technology exhibition.” His tone brightened at the last suggestion. Bea found it rather cute.

“Honestly, I’ll go with whatever you suggest. Why don’t you surprise me?”

“Actually, there’s something I’d like to show you first.” As Mavrel started to guide her in the other direction, they were met by a couple.

Of course, the guy was Kordolian—lean and inhumanly graceful, his white hair cropped in a military style, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement. His features were sculpturally beautiful—toobeautiful for him to be a deadly warrior, which is what he undoubtedly was.

The statuesque blonde holding his hand was equally striking—and human. She wore a simple aqua sheath dress that showed off her enviably toned arms.

“Oh, hi, Mavrel,” she smiled. “I see you’ve brought a guest.”

She held out her hand, taking Bea’s in a firm handshake. “I’m Arin.” She nodded at her partner. “This is Rykal. Thank you for coming tonight. It’s so nice to see some new faces onboard.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Arin fixed her with a direct but well-meaning stare. “From one human to another, I just wanted to say welcome. I’m sureyou’re quickly finding out that our Kordolian allies here aren’t the demons our Earth’s media sometimes makes them out to be.”

“I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t already formed my own impressions.”

“Right you are.” Arin beamed at her. “We’re happy to have you here. I hope you enjoy the exhibits, the food, and, of course, the company.”

Rykal leaned in, a cocky half-smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. “Open-minded and curious humans get prizes.” He pressed a closed fist against his chest in a kind of salute. “We come in peace and harmony. Which hasn’t been our style in the past, but for our favorite humans…” Affectionately, he slid his arm around Arin’s shoulders. “Even someone likehimcan change for the right person.”

“What are you trying to say?” Mavrel’s left eyebrow twitched. “Speak for yourself.”

“He doesn’t need to change at all,” Bea declared, sensing her partner’s fragile state. With everyone but her, he was irritable. “I’m enjoying his company just fine, thank you.”

Rykal laughed, flashing his gleaming fangs, somehow managing to look both jovial and faintly threatening.

“Excellent,” he declared—as if some grand master plan of his had just fallen into place.

Before Bea could suss him out further, another couple appeared.ThisKordolian male was huge and intimidating, with the most distinctive lavender-hued eyes. She hadn’t seen that before. Kordolian irises were usually yellow, red, or somewhere in between.

His partner was a petite woman with a neat bob of black hair and delicate features. She wore a beautiful red cheongsam embroidered with a golden floral motif.

The contrast between them was so wild that Bea almost did a double-take.

“Hello,” the dark-haired woman said.

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