Page 56 of Wayfinder
“You can’t have a birthday party without cake.” The happiness in her gaze flickered, replaced by curiosity. “Don’t tell me you’ve never had cake before.?”
“I have,” I assured her. “Orzon, the chef on the Bardaga, makes an excellent cake from behia blood and grains.”
A flash of revulsion crossed her face, and she shuddered. “You’re in for a treat, then.”
“Speaking of treat,” I murmured, glimpsing a booth a few feet away. Wrapping her small hand with mind, I led her forward.
“What’s this?” Pearl surveyed the small booth, which was decked out in a rainbow of colors, and featured an Ardeesian female behind the counter.
“Ardeesian ices. They are very good.”
I ordered two and handed Pearl the creamy dark red treat, which was sitting in the center of a deep-fried pandor crust.
Like everything, she tasted it without fear, her eyes going wide as her tongue made contact with the ice.
“It’s like tomato sherbert sitting in the middle of a sweet fried tortilla. Yum!”
I had no idea what half the words she just said meant, but the joy flickering across her face as she ate made my heart dance.Pearl felt it, too, one hand going to the spot between her breasts as she smiled up at me.
“Hey.” Her voice was soft. “I just realized... this is our first actual date.”
“You mentioned this dating before… as a prelude to kissing,” I recalled.
Pearl’s giggle told me I was on the right track.
“And as a prelude to marriage… or mating.” She grinned. “People who are thinking about mating. They go on dates to see if they are compatible before deciding whether they want to be mated.”
My snort was harsher than I intended. “Sounds like it takes a long time.”
“It can,” she agreed.
“I knew the minute you threw the knife at my head that you were mine.”
“You know I missed on purpose,” Pearl said with a teasing glint to her eye. Pearl’s gaze found mine, the affection I saw shining in the blue depths both exciting and humbling. “I did, too, if I’m being honest. On Earth, we call something like that love at first sight.”
“I like that,” I murmured, my arm curving around her waist.
“Me too,” she sighed.
I tucked Pearl securely against my side, our bodies moving in sync as we made our way toward the next booth. The vibrant colors and enticing smells of the marketplace surrounded us, distracting Pearl as she got lost in the array of wares. I watched her, enjoying her exploration, until a prickle of awareness shot up my spine. We, Vaktaire, considered it a warrior’s sense, the recognition of the shift in the air that meant danger lurked nearby.
Pearl informed the Baron earlier that she would visit the market and that I would accompany her as protection. He hadn’t seemed to care, especially after she promised to concoct the grandest feast in the universe. I doubt he was having her watched, which made me perhaps more affectionate than I should be, especially since we wanted to keep our mating a secret from the Baron. But I just didn’t seem to be able to keep my hands off her. It was a rather wonderful affliction to suffer.
I kept a hand on Pearl’s arm, maneuvering so I could assess the crowd without appearing obvious. I noted every noise and movement. My senses were on high alert for any sign of danger.
It didn’t take me long to spot them.
Kerzak.
Three massive beings, their muscular frames and intimidating presence, caused a stir among the smaller creatures nearby. Four Aljani guards flanked them, weapons at the ready. At first glance, they seemed to do nothing more than peruse the wares like other shoppers. Closer scrutiny revealed their strategic positioning. Two of the Kerzak had moved into a flanking formation, while the Aljani advanced ahead in a squad ambush configuration. While I could easily dispatch the Aljani, known for their lackluster combat skills, taking on the ruthless Kerzak would prove a bloody and dangerous battle. The thought of Pearl being caught in the crossfire sent a shiver down my spine. The only option to ensure her safety was to make a quick escape.
I stilled, centering myself and drawing on the internal compass innate within all Wayfinders. As familiar as I was with the Ardeese Valout space station, I would leave nothing to chance when it came to protecting my mate. With a jolt of surprise, I realized there were not one but two-directional cores within me. One was the familiar pull of the suns of Farlac, themagnetic center of the universe that all Wayfinders relied on. But the other was something new and electrifying... the woman at my side, my mate. Her energy burned like a blazing star. Always my true, most precious direction. My home.
I needed to protect her, and while it shamed my warrior’s heart to run... that was the best course of action to ensure Pearl’s safety.
My arms enveloped Pearl, wrapping securely around her as we stood close together. I kept my voice low and intimate, as if I whispered secrets into her ear. Kerzak were known to have as keen a sense of hearing as the Vaktaire, so I kept my tone hushed.
“My heart. You must not look or act afraid, but we are being set up for ambush,” I whispered, nuzzling her ear.
