Page 9 of Stealing Samantha

Her feet were already moving before her mind caught on the phrasing Kayla had used.We’re all anxious. That wasn’t what someone said when there were just two people involved, so who else was waiting at their table? Before she could ask, Sam’s breath was stolen by the sight of T’xith—and the man who sat proudly at his side. Those shuddery exhales that drowned out the sounds of their fellow diners couldn’t be coming from her. She couldn’t believe that. She had no reason to feel as if a freight train had taken up residence beneath her skin, thudding across her ribcage as she forced herself to smile, to meet those alien eyes as if there was nothing the matter.

“Sam, get it together. You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay?” Kayla whispered fiercely with a sharp tug on her elbow, urging her to move forward enough to take a seat.

He wasn’t Uvaess, even if his black-green scales were dark enough that they reminded her of him. She didn’t recognize him from the vid-ads throughout the city displaying his pale green wings either, although it was certainly the same man. She couldn’t quite place how she knew him—her time in Xithilene had become dreamlike and blurry with distance, but she knew she’d looked into those eyes before.

“I’m Samantha, Kayla’s sister,” she said, unable to stop staring at the man.

He made a deep sound in his throat that wasn’t quite a rattle as he lowered his forehead in a slight bow. She’d heard enough growly rattles during her time on his planet to recognize their distinctive music, and this man had himself firmly under control. His eyes remained fixed upon her face, and the intensity in that gaze should’ve been just as unnerving as Uvaess’ unflinching regard had been back in Xithilene, but although her skin felt prickly and flushed with anticipation, she didn’t experience the heavy, suffocating anxiety she had then. She might not stink of fear, but Sam wasn’t willing to lie to herself and say that the man didn’t put her on edge.

“Lady Sam,” he said, his voice deeper than she’d expected, deeper than any man’s had the right to be. The sound of it practically melted into her bones, shaking her more thoroughly than that train she’d imagined storming its way over her heart. “I’m Jaess—Jaess of Vastiss, T’xith’s cousin.” He waited a beat, as if he thought that his name would spark some type of reaction, but she couldn’t honestly say it meant anything to her, even if everything else about him was vaguely familiar.

“Have we met?” she asked.

He tilted his head sideways towards his shoulder, his pale green eyes focused on her in a way that made the small hairs raise from her body, as if the simple force of his gaze was sufficient to make electric tension crackle in the air between them. She would’ve sworn she caught the scent of ozone.

“Yes. I carried you down from the Sa’isthess settlement, away from—” He stopped speaking, cutting himself off and swallowing down the icy tone that made his words sound hard and sharp. He smiled slightly before he continued with irritating composure. “I participated in your rescue, Lady Sam, and then I guarded the cabin you shared with your sister until you left Vastiss. I’m a senior hunter of my clan, a protector—”

“A dancer,” she cut in, feeling herself blush as he stopped talking and the feathers lifted out from around his face. “I saw the advertisements all over the city today. Is that why you’re here?”

She watched him swallow, the first sign he’d given that he was at all affected by their conversation. She liked seeing him shaken, even if wanting such a thing made no sense. “One of the reasons,” he replied in that too smooth way he had.

“The other?”

He smiled as his wings shifted softly behind him, the curved talons along the top ridges catching the lights. “A secret, lady.” His grin grew broader as he reached for his glass of water and sipped, holding her gaze before he finally dropped his eyes to his free hand as if the slim rings on his fingers had suddenly become infinitely fascinating.

“Jaess dances tomorrow evening. He’s invited us to the performance,” said T’xith.

Sam smiled tightly. “I’m sure that will be lovely.” She was still holding her flute case in her right hand, and it knocked clumsily against the side of her knee.

“Yes. A room is already prepared for you aboard the ship for tonight. Kayla wishes to spend time with you, and it will be easier for you than traveling home and then back again tomorrow.”

Sam glanced at her sister. “I’m included in the invitation?” she asked.

Kay sighed and shook her head with a grin. “Of course.” She nodded towards Sam’s instrument case. “Why do you have your flute with you?”

Sam bent down to set the case beneath her chair. “Just a couple of auditions earlier today,” she said as she sat back up.

“Oh, Sam,” Kayla said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. “How wonderful.”

“It was only a few auditions, Kay.” Sam gave her a tight-lipped grin. “It’s no use getting excited yet.”

“You play an instrument, lady?”

Sam looked across the table at the sound of Jaess’ voice. “Yes, a flute.”

“I’d like to hear you play,” he said with another solemn dip of his head.

“Maybe sometime,” she replied before she reached for her menu.

Sam wasn’t even quite sure what she ended up ordering, but the rich food was tasteless in her mouth. She couldn’t seem to focus on the people in front of her. There was nothing wrong with Jaess—he was unfailingly polite—but the whole evening just felt off. She’d imagined a comfortable dinner with Kayla, but although the men seemed content to speak amongst themselves, Sam couldn’t ignore them. She was unpleasantly aware of Jaess’ presence without even having to look in his direction.

“What really made you want to come to Earth?” Sam asked as she set down her fork. She felt more than heard her sister shift in the seat beside her. Even T’xith was looking at her strangely, but pretending Jaess wasn’t there certainly wasn’t working.

He wasn’t shy about meeting her eyes. “I’m chasing my fate, lady.”

Her mouth started to turn up at the corners despite herself. She liked that. It was what she’d always been trying to do herself. At least it looked like it was working out better for Jaess. “From the ads I’ve seen, you seem to be the star of the show. Have you always performed for people?”

His low hissing laugh startled her, and T’xith’s feathers rustled as he gave his cousin a stern glance.

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