Page 25 of Ruin

But the true centerpieces were the creatures.

Inside cages and behind energy fields, various animals native to far-flung worlds milled about, drawing curious crowds.

One pen held a group of sinuous beings almost as big as Ruin, with long, graceful necks and shimmering grey scales that seemed to flicker and blend with their surroundings. It made them hard to look at, her eyes trying to find their outlines, only for those outlines to disappear. They wound themselves together in a languid tangle, liquid black eyes regarding the onlookers predatorily.

Lira shivered, though not from fear. She'd never seen anything so otherworldly, yet so alluring.

“What are those?” she breathed.

“Lyrins,” Ruin rumbled, voice a low rasp against her ear.

Her breath caught at his proximity, the warmth of his body against her back a delicious temptation. Seeking more, she pressed closer, reveling in the reassuring solidity of him.

“They're beautiful.”

His deep chuckle stirred the fine hairs at her nape. “An’ equally deadly. Many consider ‘em the galaxy's most perfect predators.”

A frisson of arousal danced up her spine.

She craned her head back to peer up at him. “Do you?”

His nostrils flared, and he gave her a glimpse of those double fangs. “What d’you think?”

Her stomach swooped at that look, thighs clenching reflexively.

As if he could sense the effect he had on her—which he probably could—one side of his harsh mouth quirked up. “C'mon. Let's keep movin’.”

The rest of the market proved no less mesmerizing than that first enclosure. Hovering spheres bobbed by, containing strange gelatinous creatures that fizzed and sparked as though electricity coursed through them.

Wingedreptavianswith jewel-toned feathers made trilling calls, paying their admirers no mind as they inspected and groomed their own and each other’s plumage.

She’d been on Skeldra for almost a year, but it felt like she’d entered an entirely new world.

Vargot hadn’t frequented the upper levels, or if he had, he hadn’t taken her with him. Mogovians were a nocturnal people and, as far as she knew, he preferred the lower levels that didn’t warrant simulated sunlight.

For every new sight, Lira had a hundred questions. Ruin answered each one in that same deep rumble that sent little shivers racing down her spine. Instead of getting irritated with her, he seemed pleased by her curiosity, those golden eyes warmwith indulgence. He even walked slowly for her, lingering at each display without once hurrying her along or sighing with impatience.

About halfway down, one stall in particular caught her eye.

Where the other enclosures had been clean and well put together, with room for the various creatures they held to move about, this one was small and utilitarian.

Inside the cramped cage were half a dozen spacerats, eyes dull and flat.

The sight of them, trapped and hopeless, made her chest feel tight. She recognized that expression, had seen it in her own eyes not too long ago.

Grip tight around Ruin’s waist, she approached the stall, the heaviness in her chest getting worse the closer they got.

“Happy greet’s!” the vendor, aNa’armale, called. “Gotta fine selection’a catchers here ta choose from. Best you’ll find on Skeldra! Ther’ fully trained, disease free, and enhanced. They can hunt and kill prey up’ta five times ther’ size.”

She nodded absently, not really listening, gaze still locked on those dull little eyes peering up at her apathetically.

“Lira?” Ruin rumbled softly.

She glanced up to find him staring down at her, head tilted, brow furrowed with concern. He searched her face, then flicked a glance at the cage before looking back at her. After no more than a second, his brow smoothed, and he nodded once.

To the vendor, he asked, “How much for the lot?”

“Oh ho! Well, fur the lot, I could do seventy-fivevars.”

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