Page 110 of Stars in Nova

Black walnut counters throughout the store were fitted with embedded touchscreens. Enabling shoppers to browse the latest collections and get a good idea of what was on offer before trying them on for size.

A young man rushed in from the dark recesses of the shop to greet them.

‘Welcome,’ he said with a generous smile accentuating his stunning ebony-skinned and jeweled Ccyth features. ‘What a lovely pair you make! Purchasing a gift for an event or a special occasion?’

Samira sliced her eyes coyly at Kisan, who grinned back. ‘Just window shopping.’

The Iccythrian bowed in reverent respect. ‘Enjoy your browsing and warm felicitations on the upcoming nuptials.’

Samira simpered, and Kisan growled into her neck.

They were, for all with eyes, deep in love.

Samira jolted at how much she liked the process as Kisan made fake plays to get her to try different rings. His keen eyes scoured the shop for evidence of cameras and security tech.

After some time, he inclined his head to the shopkeeper. ‘We shall return. My woman has found significant pleasure in many of your amazing designs.’

They exited and strolled along, turning a corner where they encountered Sax leaning against a wall. One foot propped behind him and a cheroot in his mouth, sucking on it as he studied the street.

‘Subtle,’ Sax muttered, his lips curling into a smirk.

‘What?’

‘Your love necking. Damn, I believed it.’

Kisan arched his brow. ‘That’s because it is sofokkin’ real.’

Sax waggled his brows in response. ‘Invite to a wedding soon, ay?’

‘Let’s stay focused, gents,’ Samira whispered. ‘The studio’s in the back?’

Sax nodded, his gaze fixed on the narrow alley that snaked to the side of the building. ‘Checked it out already. See it out for yourselves.’

They followed the path, weaving past stacks of delivery crates and the hum of generators until they reached the workshop entrance.

Through a gap in the reinforced shutters, they glimpsed into the atelier’s work studio, where five other Ccyth men were huddled over their magnifiers and polishing lathes.

Their dark jewel-embedded, iridescent skin caught the light as they worked. Their arms were a blur of movement as they shaped metals and stones with a skill that bordered on the supernatural.

‘Armed,’ Sax said, nodding toward the jewelers’ bulging jackets. ‘Doubt they’re here just to make pretty necklaces. Rumor has it some of these ateliers are some of the biggest money racketeering fronts in Pegasi.’

Samira frowned. ‘How do we get past them?’

Sax grinned. ‘I’ve got a trick I use often. Quick, clean, and no mess—unless they wake up early.’

‘Let’s get to it.’

They strolled out of the alley and back to their flyer as Trivina’s late afternoon sun bathed them in golden glory.

Nightfall blanketed Trivina, the soft glow of the city’s bioluminescent streetlights casting long shadows over the canals.

Sax and Kisan crept toward the studio’s side entrance.

A slight night wind rustled through the narrow alleyway.

A fresh pair of menacing Ccyth sentinels were on patrol out the front.

A pair of drones patrolled the back and side entrances.

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