Page 51 of Seer Prophet

Clicking softly, he made a negative motion with one hand, his light exuding regret, but also a kind of intensified politeness. He stepped towards me.

The motion caused me to stiffen, my light to flare.

The seer halted at once. After the faintest pause, he bowed deferentially.

“My profoundest apologies, Esteemed Sister.” He’d gone back to using formal Prexci. “I can see that it is I, indeed, who has been rude. I wish you to know that I serve you, above all. That is my vow. Further, I wish to cause you no concern…”

His eyes flickered towards Revik.

“…Onanyfront, beloved sister. But I cannot accompany you to your ship at this time. I must return to my people, for I, too, am on assignment. Like you, we have strict time parameters, and I have already exceeded those limits.”

Biting my lip at the vagueness, I fought my impulse to try and read him, which reallywouldhave been rude.

“Then what do you want?” I struggled to keep my voice polite. “Now, I mean. Why are we all still standing here?”

The seer straightened from his bow.

Looking at his face, I couldn’t help but notice his features again. He had a high-cheekboned face with dark, almost olive skin. He had other distinctly seer features: sculpted lips and those large, stunning eyes, light green with what looked like a violet ring around the irises. Both colors remained strangely visible even in the dim light of the docks.

He looked like a seer movie star.

Like one of those seers corporations plucked as children and groomed for entertainment.

He had that kind of presence, those type of riveting looks.

That type of voice.

“I wish two things from you right now, Esteemed Sister,” the seer said gravely. “With your permission, I would like to set up a secure means of communication between your people and mine, via Adhipan Balidor, that we might facilitate a more formal meeting at some point in the future…”

When I gestured in agreement to this, a little impatiently, the seer hesitated, looking at Revik directly.

“…I would also request a moment to speak with your husband. In private. If that is acceptable to both of you.”

I felt my jaw clench.

Behind me, I felt Revik tense, too.

Then he blew me a softer pulse of warmth.

It’s okay,he sent.I’ll do it. It’s fine.

I felt reluctance in his light.

That more protective bent in mine flared hotter.

It’s okay, Allie,he repeated.I’m all right with it.

Maybe I’m not,I retorted.

When he didn’t respond, I exhaled, not hiding my annoyance that time, either. I focused back on the green-eyed seer.

“My husband agrees,” I said, short.

“Does that mean you don’t, Esteemed Bridge?” the seer asked politely.

I felt my jaw harden more. I didn’t like the implication that he knew what had passed between me and Revik just then. I felt the seer back off with his light even as I thought it, as if realizing his mistake. Looking away, I struggled to control myself, staring out over the water as I clicked under my breath.

“It doesn’t matter what I think,” I said flatly.

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