Page 54 of Ava Stargazer

Ava wrung her hands, emotions warring in her. The words burst out. “Me too. And I feel ... guilty. Taking over this ship led to me being free. My life would have never changed had you not done that ... but would an entire life wasted because of inaction be any less wrong than—” Her voice became thick with emotion. “I also feel weird because I don’t feel sad enough about it. That they all died. It’s hard to ... it’s very gray.” The thought that scared her from back then, when it first happened, rose up in her mind once more.Some of them deserved it.She held no remorse for the Phor queen. Ava swallowed, briefly closing her eyes.

“Yes. Most things are gray,” Vox agreed.

Ava forced herself to hold his gaze and say the next words, “I feel wrong for feeling happy about how things turned out.”

Vox’s tone was brisk in return. “I felt this way visiting the board; everything is so complex. Overall, I don’t feel wrong for it. We are doing more good with this ship now, with trying to find more Humans.”

Ava nodded, ready for the conversation to change. She looked away and focused under his shoulder at the gray, plain hall on the other side.

Vox reached to stroke her cheek again and breathed deep. “I won’t press you further. I’m glad you are changing the ship in your own way.”

“Hopefully you still will be after you see how it looks painted,” Ava said, meeting his eyes.

“I guess that depends on the color.”

Ava gave a small grin. “Blue?”

Vox snorted as he leaned in further, touching his forehead to hers. “I’ll love it, then.”

They stood a moment, pressed against each other in the hall as the mood began to change between them. He nuzzled in on her and kissed her neck, lingering, then said against her skin, “Iremember the first time I held you against the wall like this. And what I wanted to do, even back then.”

Ava felt her body start to respond to his gentle touch. She leaned into him, arching off the wall, and felt a clenching in her core.I remember too.

He nipped her playfully, his voice pitching low. “Later, okay?”

“Now?”

“If they weren’t waiting for us already . . .”

Ava sighed impatiently, her body flushing with heat as she pressed into him before backing up reluctantly and taking his hand. “There’s only this small group coming; was no one else interested?”

Vox tucked her in against his side, and they resumed walking. “No, lots were. Many. Like Tiral and Zeed. We accepted only them though because of their position training the young, and because Tiral fought next to me and my father, who fell when the Tuxa initially came. If any of the males want to meet the Humans, it should be the proven ones among us first. They deserve that right more than others.”

His eyes shone with sincerity, and it made Ava feel a bit uncomfortable. It was strange to hear that Humans should be valued. “I guess. You make us all sound like such prizes though.”

He leaned into her again, dipping his head. “Females always are.”

At that Ava hit him playfully, grinning, as they walked. When they reached the solarium, Vox stood back to let her go first.

Inside stood six young males, with an older one by their side. “Tiral,” Vox said, indicating with his head. He then nodded to one that was on the other end of the six young Vorbax. “Zeed you’ve met already.”

Tiral was a tad taller than Vox but not as muscular as Rhutg. He had an amused air about him as he gave a smile and gentlewave as they came near, making this first meeting one of the least serious ones Ava had to date.

Zeed kept his distance, only giving a curt nod in their direction. His body was lithe and lean, slender in a way that made it look like he could be faster than the others. He looked Ava over in the same appraising way he had before, his eyes lingering on her.

Why does he stare?His attention made her shift her feet uncomfortably. She changed her thoughts, not wanting that to be picked up, even though none of them were glowing.

Tiral smiled, leaning over. “Hello Ava. Vox already shared earlier how you dislike connecting with the minds of strangers, so we will talk out loud.”

Ava stepped forward and gave the universal sign of deference, relief evident in her face. “Thank you. That makes it easier, especially at a first meeting.”

Tiral looked on, amused, and waved her hands down. “No need for that gesture. Not here. I am happy to be getting back out and taking action again, truthfully.” He stretched and puffed out his chest before crossing his arms. “There aren’t many opportunities for us to go off-world lately now that the war with the Tuxa has died down and we are more established. But even if it’s at a stalemate, we need to keep practicing.”

He gestured to the six young Vorbax next to him, all males. They were all smaller than Lirell was when Ava first met him. “It is good to give them some training. They need it to become strong.”

Ava could pick out some differences in their faces. They all looked at her briefly, and one started to glow. She felt his touch on her mind before Zeed hit the youngster hard on the head, his arms moving inhumanly fast, before saying gruffly, “That’s an ally, and a female, and you just heard Tiral saying not to do that,child.” Zeed then looked at her with heated eyes. “Apologies, Ava.”

Ava quickly waved her hands, squirming under the intensity of his gaze. “It’s alright.”

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