Page 58 of Wayfinder
A grumble of disdain hit my ears, and I pulled away, my gaze catching the disapproving glare of a Romvesian couple. I’d wanted to keep our mating from the Baron, but it was too late now. Rumors flew quickly around the space station. I could only hope that we’d made our escape before word of it reached his ears.
Pearl thankfully seemed oblivious to the disapproval and pouted adorably as I broke our embrace and led her onto the crowded street.
Insulated by the crowd, I hailed my sister from my comm bracelet.
“Jutuk?” Her voice held a touch of surprise.
“Jala, we have an… issue,” I said, hoping it would be enough. Most of the passersby seemed too involved in their own lives to pay attention to my conversation. But I trusted no one on the station save my sister, her family, and my mate.
“Where are you?”
“Level four.”
“Can you get to the engineering level?”
Just as I hoped, Jala recognized the danger without my putting it into words.
“Yes.” Just as I recognized her strategic mind. The engineering level was off-limits to all but station personnel. I could hide Pearl amidst the machinery and capture our would-be ambushers without commotion.
“Be careful,” the worry in my sister’s voice trickled through the comm before going silent.
“The engineering level?” Pearl asked as I turned us down a side street. My senses suggested another service tunnel lay in the alley next to a popular tavern.
“Easier to hide and ambush our ambushers,” I teased.
The throng of people grew denser in this area, with businesses and restaurants vying for every inch of available space. The smell of grilled meats and savory spices filled the air, along with shouts and laughter as crowds flocked to partake in the lively atmosphere. Street performers dazzled with their variety of talents, adding to the vibrant ambiance. Pearl watched our surroundings with utter delight. I wished we had more time to explore. I loved seeing her this happy.
My eyes swept over the bustling crowd, constantly scanning for any sign of danger. The amalgamation of different species made it difficult to distinguish one scent from another. But then, amidst the sea of faces, I spied the unmistakable snow-white hair of a single Aljani. They had obviously split up to search for us.
Good.
“Trust me?” I grinned at my mate.
“I thought we’d already settled that,” she shot back with a saucy smile.
I grasped Pearl’s hand firmly in mine, our fingers intertwining as we strode forward with purpose. We moved closer and closer until I could count the beads of sweat forming on the Aljani’s brow as he searched the crowd. His piercing blue eyes widened in surprise as we approached, causing himto fumble for the blade hanging at his side. The glint of metal caught my eye, and a surge of adrenaline coursed through me.
I jerked Pearl off her feet, holding her against my side as I sprinted towards a nearby tavern, ducking into the narrow alleyway beside the building. His heavy footsteps thudded close behind us, along with the sound of his voice shouting into a communication device, alerting his comrades of our location. Aljani might be practically worthless in combat, but they were fast.
Once ensconced in the alley's darkness, I tucked Pearl into a hiding spot against the grimy metal wall behind a stack of discarded crates. Turning to face the enemy, my entire body tensed in anticipation. It had been a long time since I faced true battle, the struzzi, and ajkula notwithstanding. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that some part of me relished the promise of a fight. The shadows seemed to thicken and swirl as the Aljani moved toward me, a sneer twisting his lips.
With a swift and practiced, although unskilled motion, the Aljani unsheathed his blade, the steel glinting in the dim light. I wasted no time in drawing my own long knife, its sharp edge easily deflecting his attempts at attack. We moved about each other, parrying and attacking in a dance that was as beautiful as it was bloody. My opponent was entirely unmatched by my skill, yet his bravery and determination earned my respect, which in turn saved his life.
The locator beacon on his comm unit beeped urgently, reminding me that time was of the essence. I swiftly dispatched the Aljani with a precise cut to his lower leg, severing his muscle. It wasn’t a fatal injury, but he would not be able to continue the chase. He screamed, blood gushing from his wound, droplets coating me in a warm and sticky spray like a sudden summer rain.
Unease settled in my stomach as I turned to face Pearl, unsure of what her reaction would be. She had witnessed me taking the lives of animals during the contest, but this was different. The Aljani was a sentient being. Would she see my actions as cruel?
“Jutuk!”
With a wild cry, she threw herself into my arms. The smell of iron and fear lingered in the air as she pressed herself against me.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
Tears streamed down her beautiful face, glistening like jewels. Her hands, delicate and trembling, ran over my body as she anxiously searched for any sign of harm.
“I am well, my heart.” I gruffed and answered her worry in the best way I knew how, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss.
While a dark alley with an injured male moaning nearby might not be the most romantic of situations, she clung to me desperately, our lips meeting in a wild and passionate embrace. I felt her fear and worry echoing in my own heartbeat. I lifted her, not willing to let her out of my arms as we moved toward the service tunnel, our lips never straying far apart.
