Page 35 of A Delicate Conquest

Just as she was about to make an excuse and drag Mavrel away to a quiet corner, he rescued her. “We’ll move on,” he said softly, offering both Jia and Arin a polite nod before giving Kalan and Rykal a pointed look.

Some silent communication passed between the Kordolians, and for a moment, Bea wondered if they were telepaths.

She hadn’t heard of anything like that, though.

Beneath Mavrel’s slowly dancing, devious fingers, her body was heating up—again.

Sneaky devil.

Were they even going to make it to the exhibits and presentations?

“Lovely to meet you all,” she managed to blurt as he swept her away.

“See you in a bit. Have fun,” Jia called after them, and Bea couldn’t help but wonder if they knew…

Exactly whatthisfelt like.

“I know what I’m going to show you first,” Mavrel whispered in her ear as they broke through the crowd and crossed the floor, entering a space where the lights were dimmer, and the ceiling was a little lower—a more intimate space.

They’d reached the wall at the other side of the vast chamber. The place washuge,but it didn’t feel like they’d walked that far. Or maybe she just hadn’t noticed the distance because she was withhim.

“This exhibit isn’t open to everyone, but for you and me, it’s a good place to start.”

“Exhibit?” Bea didn’t see anything except for the dark wall.

“It’s intentionally private. Only for those who are ready.” He disentangled from her and turned to face her, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the soft light.

Stars,he was gorgeous.

She was supposed to be careful here, but she didn’t want to.

“Do you trust me enough to come with me?”

“We’ve already come this far, haven’t we?”

“I wouldn’t do anything untoward.”

“You really don’t have to say that. I already know that.”

“Then come with me.” He took her hand and led her through a doorway that suddenly appeared in the wall from out of nowhere.

There was a secret door.

Ofcoursethere was.

She was beginning to feel a bit like Alice, except the creatures in this world were very lucid indeed.

They went through. The doors fused behind them, a whole bunch of tiny, threadlike fibers merging together to form the solid wall once again.

“Whatisthat thing?”

“Qualum,” Mavrel answered simply as if it were the most normal thing in the Universe.

They were in a circular room. In the middle of the ceiling, a pale blue dome emitted a faint glow. There was a couch on one side, curved to fit the shape of the room.

“What is this place?”

“It holds the anatomy and physiology presentation.”

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