Page 15 of Secret Twins for the Alien Dad

8

ZAIR

“Where’s Skalt?” I ask, looking down the hallway outside my room.

“He disappeared chasing one of the dancers,” says Fin while brushing past me as he enters my room.

“Poor girl,” I mutter as I shut the door.

“So you’re taking her for a meal?” asks Danton, sitting down on my bed.

“He’s getting romantic,” cuts in Fin.

“Nothing wrong with a bit of romance now and then,” I say. “Nothing too fancy, just Granger’s Folly.”

"That’s the one with the hydrogen tanks and all the weird hydro-breathing animals, isn’t it?" Danton says thoughtfully. “That’s a really cool place, but what made you think of it?”

“It’s our jalshagar link,” I say. “I can feel the things she likes. I just thought about her, and it came to me that’s where she’d like to go.”

“Shit, that’s awesome!” he replies. “So what? You’re like telepathic or something?”

“No, not quite,” I say. “But I’m sure I can pick up on her emotions, her likes and dislikes, that kind of thing.”

“So what’s she feeling now?” Danton wants to know.

I try to tune in to her, but I can feel nothing. Maybe there are too many distractions or something. “I don’t know,” I admit.

“Sounds 'telepathetic’ to me,” laughs Fin, always one to bring levity to a situation.

I ignore the quip. “How do I look?” I ask instead.

“Like a fucking god as always,” Fin replies. “I don’t know how you do it.”

I look at myself in the 3D imager. My dark hair is swept back between my horns which are polished to high shine. They are longer than most Kaleidians my age. I admire the jeweled silver caps that sit on the ends of them. I deliberately got the ones with green gems that match the color of my eyes. They cost a bomb, but they look great.

My jacket is cut to accentuate the twin lines of needles that run down my back on either side of my spine. Like my horns, I always keep them well polished, although I very rarely adorn them as some Kaleidians do. My pants match my jacket and my tail curls around my right leg, the teal coloring standing out against the dark green of my outfit.

“She’ll be eating out of your palm before the night is out,” Fin assures me, breaking into my self-inspection.

“Yeah, you’ve got nothing to worry about,” says Danton.

I have to agree with him. I have spent a lot of time nurturing my image and working on my body. I strike a pose, and they both laugh.

Smiling, I flick off the 3D imager, satisfied that I look great. I have an unusual fluttering feeling in my stomach and realize I’m nervous. This date is the most important of my life.

“Okay, have a good evening, you two,” I say, heading for the door before they notice my nervousness. I’m not used to feeling apprehensive before a date. But it’s amazing to have met someone that it’s worth feeling nervous about.

The foyer in the casino is crammed with people of all races. I find a comfortable chair near the entrance and watch them while I wait. There are the usual Vakutan, Odex, and Pi’rell in great profusion.

But my attention is drawn to a strange man. The bony protrusions on his face and shoulders mark him as one of the Reapers. The Reapers are an almost lost race of people, pushed to the brink of extinction after their home planet was destroyed. The horns on his head are decoratively carved into the image of two dragons sitting on either side of his temple. They look amazing, and I absent-mindedly consider getting my horns carved.

His eyes are the color of burning coals as he scans the crowded foyer. A human woman, dressed in the style of the Reapers appears by his side. Tucking herself comfortably under his shoulder, they disappear into the crowd.

I glance at my comm. She’s late. That’s usually my role.

Bored, I scan the crowd again for my next bit of entertainment. But I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. She’s my fated mate. Why wouldn’t she be here?

Time is moving slowly now. The crowd has lost its pull as my anxiety grows. Maybe I should try to find her. Every time I try to tune in to her, all I can feel is a growing sense of dread. But is that my own feelings or hers?

---