Page 46 of Victoria's Discovery

Eyes falling to focus on her chin and voice painfully formal, he continued, “My apologies for causing this misunderstanding. I have asarasha.”

“Queen,” her new translator supplied.

“I am not available for your circle.”

Letting her hand fall to her side, she winced, “I think we’re having a cultural misunderstanding here.” He didn’t look convinced, remaining tense and not meeting her eyes, so she explained, “Where I come from, you shake hands with someone when meeting them for the first time. A long time ago, it was a way to show that person you weren’t carrying a weapon, I think. Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to imply… whatever I implied. I just got here so I’m still adjusting, but congratulations on having a queen! That’s exciting!”

He raised his gaze cautiously and searched her face for a moment. He must’ve decided she was being genuine, because the stiffness left his shoulders and he smiled a little sheepishly.

“My appreciation for the well wishes, and I offer new apologies for assuming your intention. I am Rellik. That ill-tempered male is Thrasin.”

“Nice to meet you, and don’t worry about it. I’m just glad I learned not to do that from you instead of someone else. What if a handshake is like challenging someone to a duel? Could you imagine?” She chuckled, waving to herself and shaking her head. “I’d be slaughtered for sure!”

Instead of being amused at the idea of her fighting in a duel, he looked perplexed. “Why would you be slaughtered? You are… small, but are you not of Aria’s people? She is only slightly taller than you, and I have yet to see a being stand against her, regardless of size or skill.”

Victoria snorted self-deprecatingly. “Yeah, I’m human. But I’m definitely not badass like her. She’s special.”

His gaze went distant as his expression turned to something both worshipful and covetous. “Mmm, indeed,” he hummed.

“Is she your, uh, queen?” She’d gotten the impression queen meant wife or mate, but Aria hadn’t named him as one of her mates in the lobby and there was a wistful, almost melancholy look in his eyes.

Focusing back on her, he hesitated. “Yes. And no.”

Peering over at Growly when he grumbled something under his breath, she saw the same wistful melancholy on his face.

“Ah.” She nodded in understanding and offered both of them a commiserating grimace of a smile. “I’ve been there.”

The two males exchanged a glance before Growly pushed off the bed and stalked over to stand by Horny, both pinning her with matching, speculative looks.

“Have you, now?” Rellik damn near purred.

“Uhh, yes?”

“How fortuitous. Tell me, what are your courtship customs?”

Catching on, Victoria grinned conspiratorially only to yelp and damn near jump out of her skin when a low growl sounded from the still-open doorway behind her.

Chapter 25

Whipping around, Victoria saw Vi’kail standing just outside the room. Blowing out a breath, she pressed a hand to her chest.

“Oh my gosh, Vi’kail, you scared the hell out of me! Whoa, what happened to your face?”

He stopped giving Rellik and Thrasin the murder-stare long enough to glance at her guiltily. She could see the wheels turning behind his purple eyes and knew even before he spoke that he was coming up with a fib.

“I… tripped.”

Victoria cocked a brow, not believing that for a second. “Mmhm. Tripped, huh? What an oddly fist-shaped object you must’ve fallen into.”

He snorted, eyes widening in surprise, and cracked a smile, but when one of the men shifted behind her, it quickly dissolved back into a narrow-eyed look of ire.

“And you? Alone for less than tenpesh—‘minutes’—and already beset by ravenous males lookin’ for a mate.”

Caught off guard, Victoria barked a laugh. “Ha! Not freakin’ likely. This is Rellik and Thrasin, Aria’s, uh, suitors,” she introduced, waving at each. Still smirking up at him, she spoke to the men behind her. “This is Vi’kail. He was in the cage across from mine on the spaceship. He’s my—” she faltered on what to call him but settled on “—friend.”

She felt her cheeks heat at the inscrutable look Vi’kail gave her, getting the odd and disconcerting feeling she’d just unintentionally issued a challenge.

“Ah, yes, I can feel the…friendlinessfrom here,” Rellik drawled, pulling Vi’kail’s attention back to him.

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