by Jacinta Jade
They had peeked into several small rooms towards the rear of the level with no success when Genlie nudged Siray and pointed. Just up the hallway on their right was a small room, but the opaqueness that could cloud the windows looking out into the hall had been activated.
‘That must be it,’ Siray said.
They snuck up to the room’s door, and while Genlie watched for healers, Siray cracked open the door and peeped in. Then she twisted round to her friend and nodded. They both slipped inside, Genlie handing over an item from her boot before she whirled back to watch the door and hall.
Meanwhile, Siray looked to the person lying on the patient bed.
Mocery lay there, asleep, his head turned away from them, and Siray silently approached his bedside. As she drew closer to his unconscious form, she was able to see more of his face.
And the more she saw, the more she was satisfied that Zale had punished Mocery sufficiently.
The male’s right eye was swollen shut with a small laceration near the eyebrow, his lip had been split and was bruised, and one of his cheeks was red and puffy.
Knowing just how painful facial injuries could be, and how long they took to heal, Siray smiled in satisfaction. The beating Zale had given him would not be forgotten by Mocery.
Now for her plan.
She leaned towards Mocery’s ear.
‘Wake up,’ she whispered sweetly. ‘Come on, wake up.’
Mocery stirred a little.
‘That’s right,’ she purred against his ear, ‘Open your eyes …’
Mocery rolled his chin in Siray’s direction and blinked his one good eye a couple of times. Then his gaze focused on her and he started.
Now that she had Mocery’s attention, Siray promptly lifted herself up to sit on the bed beside him. ‘Now, now, calm down,’ she whispered to him, brushing back a bit of his hair from his forehead so she could more easily admire his injuries. ‘I’ve been thinking about what happened between us yesterday, and last night I realised I just had to come up here and tell you something.’ She ran her fingers down the sheets covering Mocery’s chest, then let her arm drop down to her side, watching Mocery’s uncertain expression.
Then, letting her pleasant smile turn cold, she reached into her boot.
The blade she pulled out was a sleek silver blur as she whipped it up and pressed it against his throat, letting its cold edge tickle his skin.
Mocery froze.
Siray thought he might even be holding his breath. Good.
She kept her whisper low as she leaned forwards again, putting her lips close to Mocery’s ear. ‘If you ever try anything like that again with me, or anyone I know …’ She allowed the tip of the blade slide away from Mocery’s neck and down over his chest, letting it whisper across the sheets that covered him. Down, down she let it drift, past his stomach, tracing its edge still lower, before she made the tip felt near the inner apex of his thighs.
‘I’ll make sure this part of you ends up a lot shorter,’ she finished, applying more pressure to his thigh, enough so that the keen edge of the blade could be felt even through the sheets.
Mocery’s whole body was tensed, and he wasn’t breathing, for fear of moving.
Siray’s next whisper was harsher. ‘Do you understand?’
Mocery gave her a couple of small, fast nods.
Satisfied, Siray expertly spun the blade’s handle in her palm so that the weapon’s honed length could be admired for a moment as she twirled it with a silver flash. Grinning fiendishly down at Mocery, she made the blade disappear as swiftly as it had appeared, hopped off the bed, and said, ‘Rest up, now,’ before making her way over to Genlie and the door.
The conversation between her and Genlie on the way back down to the living and recreation level was relaxed, happy, and filled with a lot of laughs.
As they joined up with the rest of their group in the recreation room, Jorgi asked, ‘How are the hands, Siray?’
Siray shared a secret smile with Genlie. ‘Oh, they’re much better, thanks.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
THAT NIGHT their time spent in the meals hall was short, as they were all keen to get to the recreation room to find out who Deson was battling in his match. His steady progress up the ranks in the Force of Wills game had provided ongoing entertainment for the group and the population of the facility in general. Deson’s success had also provided an easy way for the group to get to know the others living on the level, as they discussed all the latest matches and cheered on their other favourites with the crowd when Deson wasn’t playing.
When they stepped into the recreation room, they found a sizable crowd already mingling, and the group set about finding a decent place to watch the games from, as several matches were scheduled, with Deson to play somewhere in the middle of the evening.
As Deson still hadn’t told them who he was going to be battling for a place in the top five, Tamot dragged Siray with him to check out the board set up near the table. Deson’s match was fourth on the list, and it appeared he would be battling …
‘Melora?’ Siray looked at Tamot, her brows rising. ‘This will be interesting.’
‘Is she any good?’ he asked.
‘I’ve never seen her play, but then, most of the matches consist of people on the lower rungs.’ She twisted to look at the other part of the board. ‘Yep—she’s in the top five. Third, in fact.’
They moved away from the board and headed back to their group, who were keen to hear the news.
Tamot, of course, was eager to share. ‘Deson’s going to battle Melora!’ he told them.
‘Excellent! Crush her, Deson!’ Genlie exclaimed, excitedly whirling to face Deson.
‘Genlie,’ Jorgi said kindly when she met with empty air, ‘Deson’s actually over there.’
Siray pivoted to glance in the direction Jorgi was pointing. As timing would have it, Deson just happened to be talking to a certain curly-haired female.
‘Does he actually enjoy talking to her?’ Genlie asked Siray in disbelief.
Siray shrugged, not knowing what to think. ‘Well, he seems to be able hold a much-longer conversation with her than we’ve ever had, so maybe.’
Genlie turned away, frowning. ‘Well, he better win the match.’
Siray nodded, then spied Zale entering the room and begin heading towards them. She excused herself from Genlie and turned to meet him, but Zale was forced to stop in his tracks when Melora interposed herself between him and his direction of travel.
Siray growled low in her throat, but it must have been louder than she’d thought, as Genlie turned around.
‘What’s the—Oh.’ Genlie had obviously just seen the situation playing out before them.
Siray turned slightly towards her friend, keeping her eyes on Melora and Zale. ‘What’s her deal? First Deson, and now Zale?’
Genlie raised an eyebrow, considering. ‘It is a bit of a pattern.’
Siray observed Zale, who appeared to be frowning at Melora, before switching her gaze to Genlie once more. ‘You don’t think …’
‘That she’s interested in Deson and Zale?’ Genlie frowned as she considered. ‘I don’t know.’
‘I do,’ said a soft voice behind them.
Siray whirled in surprise but relaxed when she saw Kinna standing there, smiling a little uncertainly.
‘Hi, Kinna,’ Siray greeted her, smiling, although she was unsure just how much of the conversation the female had heard. ‘Have you met my friend Genlie? Genlie, this is Kinna.’
Kinna smiled warmly at Genlie. ‘Hi.’
Genlie nodded politely to her, before diving right back into the topic at hand. ‘So, you know what’s going on here then?’ she said, jerking her head in the direction of Melora and Zale.
Kinna nodded, the ends of her short dark hair bouncing. ‘Melora’s been interested in Zale for a long time, but he never really warmed to her. I think it’s because … well, she’s mean.’ Kinna flushed a little. ‘I think she only hangs out
with me because she considers me no competition.’
The timid female looked down for a moment, and Siray glanced at Genlie swiftly before she said, ‘Well, you’re welcome to join us for some company whenever we’re around.’
Genlie voiced her agreement.
Kinna smiled. ‘Thanks. It’s tiring listening to Melora snap and whinge all the time, and then be the person she tells all her little schemes to.’
‘Schemes?’ Siray asked her, narrowing her eyes.
Kinna grimaced in embarrassment, then nodded. ‘Yes. She told me after she met you in the washroom that she had sent you down for your first fitness session early. And then something apparently set her off this morning, as she’s been trying to track down Zale all day for some reason.’
Genlie exchanged a smug look with Siray before explaining, ‘Yeah—I kind of let her have it in the washroom after she insulted us this morning.’
Kinna smiled. ‘Good. You’ve got more strength than I’ve shown, then.’
Siray looked away from them both and back to Melora and Zale.
Melora was now speaking intently to Zale about something and had placed her hand on his arm.
Zale, however, shook his head at whatever she said, brushed away her hand, and swept around her to once more head towards Siray, Genlie and Kinna.
As he strode towards her, Siray saw Melora glare at her over his shoulder before she spun away and strode off through the crowd. Then Zale was there, and Kinna and Genlie had conveniently turned away to join in the conversations being held by the others.
‘How are you?’ he asked gently.
Siray smiled at him. ‘A lot better than this morning. I think I’ve still got a fairly large bump on my head, but it’s not bothering me anymore.’
He sighed with obvious relief. ‘Good. I was wondering how you were doing.’ He peered more closely at her. ‘You’re sure you’re okay?’ His words felt like they had a different meaning now.
A smile with a new edge crossed Siray’s face as she reflected on her visit to the healing facility that afternoon. ‘Absolutely.’
Zale raised an eyebrow at the smile but continued, ‘I heard Nafren still hasn’t released Mocery from the healing level.’
Siray shook her head. ‘Nope. I think he’ll be in there for at least another night. And after that, I doubt he’ll want to come any closer to me than he must.’
Zale appeared intrigued, and his head tilted as he put it all together.
Of course, the grin on her face helped. She couldn’t have hidden it even if she’d wanted to.
‘You went to see him, didn’t you?’ Zale asked incredulously.
She nodded.
‘Siray—was that wise? What if he had done something more to you? How did you even get Nafren to let you see him?’
Zale was gripping her arm in his concern, but it wasn’t a tight grip. It seemed to Siray more that he had to touch her to know that she really was okay. She stepped closer to him and spoke in a lower voice, her smile disappearing as she worked to allay his concern. ‘It’s okay, Zale. Genlie came with me. And … Nafren didn’t know we went to see him.’
Zale’s eyes widened, his concern growing. ‘You snuck into his room?’ Then his face turned eager, but with a colder look in his eyes. ‘How did he look?’
Siray knew why he’d asked. ‘You can rest assured that you sufficiently detailed your anger on his face. I was impressed, actually, enough so that I didn’t feel like I had to do much more. He’s hurt, and his face is showing a lot of pretty colours, but there’s no lasting damage.’
Zale appeared satisfied with that, but he glanced upwards as if he could see through the floors of the facility and grumbled, ‘Too bad I couldn’t break something permanently.’
Siray nudged him to get his attention and explained, ‘I gave him a very delicately worded warning …’ She pretended to bob down to fix her boot and raised the handle of the blade just a little from where it was still hidden so that Zale could see it.
When she saw that he had identified what it was, she pushed the tip of the handle back down into the folds of the boot and stood up again.
An admiring smile crept onto his face, and he took a step closer to her, his voice a whisper. ‘Have I told you how much I admire females who can take care of themselves …?’
Siray smiled up into his eyes. They were more golden and warm than she had seen them yet.
Zale twisted his head away before glancing to her once more, seemingly deciding something. ‘Can you come with me?’ he asked her. ‘Just for a little bit.’
Siray thought for a moment, then peeked over at Genlie.
Genlie must have been covertly watching her and Zale, as when Siray glanced over, the female raised her brows in question while pretending to drink from a cup in her hand.
Siray mouthed, Be right back.
Genlie nodded, and Siray turned to follow Zale.
He led her from the recreation room and into the central hallway, taking her towards the washrooms before he directed her left at the end of the hallway and then left again. Halfway down the outside corridor, on the opposite side of the level from her accommodations, he stopped by a door and activated it, stepping aside and inviting her in ahead of him.
She did so and then looked around. The room was a lot smaller than the space she and her friends shared, but then this room only needed to accommodate one person.
Zale moved past her and then paced a little before her in the middle of the room.
Siray watched him in surprise, not having seen this sort of behaviour from him before.
After traversing the small room a couple of times, he drew himself to a stop a few paces away and spun to face her. ‘I’m going to be honest with you, Siray, and direct, which I hope you can forgive me for.’
He took a slow, steadying breath, then said, ‘I’ve seen the way Deson and Baindan look at you. And I’ve seen the way you tolerate their protectiveness and allow them more friendship than you do the other males. I’m not unintelligent, so I know that there’s a good chance then that they have already asked your permission to pursue your attentions, and that you have agreed.’
He peered at her, and Siray nodded to confirm his theory, words being beyond her.
He took another breath and seemed to be nodding to himself in encouragement to continue. ‘I have a cycle on both of them, and so I’ve seen my share of interesting people. But’—his eyes locked on to hers from across the confined space—‘no female has ever fascinated me the way you have.’
He was completely still now, and Siray felt her chest rising and falling faster.
‘You’re strong. Funny. Fierce. You’re a survivor.’
He took a single step towards her, and Siray felt like her eyes were glued to him as he spoke more softly.
‘You’re beautiful. Intelligent.’ He took another step. ‘And … I wish you were mine.’
He took a final step to close the remaining distance between them and gently took Siray’s hand, running his thumb over her fingers as he clasped them.
‘I know you’re going to get your mission briefing tomorrow. And then you’ll be gone for a while. But when I think of you out there, and everything that’s against us in this war …’ He shook his head, his shoulders tensing. ‘I don’t want to let you go.’ He sighed. ‘I know that, in keeping with tradition, you’re only allowed to accept the formal pursuit of up to two males at any time. But’—he paused to take another breath before rapidly following with—‘I think there is something building between us. And I’m hoping you might grant me the honour of allowing me to be one of those pursuing your attentions.’ His golden eyes burned into hers.
Siray opened her mouth and then shut it again. Then she said slowly, ‘Zale … I do feel something for you. But to grant what you ask …’ She hesitated. ‘I’d have to tell either Deson or Baindan that their intentions were being challenged.’ She paused before saying quietly, ‘And that would mean that, unless their own intentions towards
me have shifted … two of you would have to fight.’ She shook her head, having seen enough blood spilled by her friends. ‘I won’t have that.’ And, she thought to herself, before voicing her next words. ‘I also still feel something them both too.’
Regretfully, she looked down, her red locks tumbling forward over one shoulder. Mother above—this can’t be happening, she thought.
Zale let go of her hand and, reaching out, gently turned her chin back up to look at him. ‘I understand. But if you’ll allow me to, I still intend to ask for a transfer to your unit before you leave on your mission. And at least then I’ll be with you. But I won’t stop asking.’ His voice grew resolute.
‘I’ve known you for just a few turns, yet when I’m with you, I feel that there’s something in me that belongs only to you.’ He nodded, seeming decided. ‘So every two turns, or twenty days, I’ll ask you again.’
His hand, which had been gently holding her chin, let go, and Zale gently traced that hand down Siray’s left cheek, his fingertips caressing her skin with the lightest of touches as he made the formal request.
‘I hope, however, you can forgive me one slight transgression …’ And then he leaned forwards and pressed his lips tentatively against hers.
At the searching touch of his lips, and the scent of his body, a wave of warmth rushed through Siray and her body felt light. She leaned into Zale as she kissed him back, savouring the feel of his mouth on hers, and Zale, in turn, pulled her ever so gently closer, although his movements were always careful and measured.
Inside, Siray felt as if her stomach was settling deep within her, confirming what her mind was telling her—that something about this felt so right. It wasn’t that sparks flew between them, but the kiss with Zale, despite his obvious will to maintain control over his emotions, was deep and lasting, and Siray lost herself in the sensation for a moment.
Eventually, though, Siray managed to find the tattered ends of her own control, and moving slowly even as her heart pounded wildly, she carefully ended the kiss and stepped away.