by Luna Hunter
“Fated?”
“Fated,” he nods.
I know what that means. I didn’t think it was possible for a half-blood like me, though…
“You’re shitting me.”
“No shit,” he says decisively, shaking his head. “No.”
Even with all that’s been going on this seems farfetched. Yet, I feel a powerful tug, deep down in my very core. A connection. His words resonate.
I don’t believe every word that leaves his gorgeous lips, but he’s certainly made me curious. When he’s around, my abilities seem hyper-focused, like he brings out the best in me.
Perhaps he’s the key.
I couldn’t ignore this connection even I wanted to! Plus, he did just save me from being kidnapped by stars-knows-who…
“Let’s say I believe you,” I say. “What then?”
He shakes his silver head. “This alley is not the place for such discussions. Take me to your home, and I will explain.”
“Normally I don’t take guys home on the first date, you know.”
He cocks his head with not even the hint of a smile.
“Today is not the first date — it is the twenty second of Huana,” he says.
I sigh deeply. Tough crowd.
“Forget I said that. Follow me, big guy.”
We take the long train around Corlis Station towards my level. No one pays us any attention, thankfully, as I’m not sure I could handle any more distractions. My stomach is already filled with butterflies as it is.
What if he’s telling the truth?
Could he really be… my one true love?
Chapter Ten
Theros
I’m sure I’ve found my mate.
I can feel it in every fiber of my being. My protective instincts are in overdrive, and I glare at everyone on the commuter train. If anyone even thinks of laying a hand on my human, I’m ready to snap them in half!
I can sense it throws her for a loop. I’m sure it doesn’t happen everyday; a Zoran appearing out of nowhere, who then claims to be your soul mate.
The Zorashi symbols do not lie!
Neither does the dual teleportation experience that has left the human female reeling. It’s clear to me that we have an enhancing effect on each other’s abilities. When Anaya’s close, I feel strong. I feel unstoppable.
I can hear the beat of her part-Zoran heart, like it shares a rhythm with my own.
Anaya chatters nervously, giving me historical bits of information on some of the older modules of Corlis Station as the train passes by them, as if mere silence itself is too much for her at this moment.
I feel the strong urge to take her hand and assure her that everything will be all right, but something tells me it might be too soon to impose such intimacy without invitation, even though our souls are entwined. She was raised away from the Zoran, away from New Exon.
She might not even know the Mating Star Prophecy.
I need to give her time to get her up to speed, to deepen her understanding of our shared heritage.
Many minor prophecies, as foreseen by the Kazimir, have come to pass the past few decades, and their decrees and premonitions are taken extremely serious amongst all of the Zorans. It’s one of the few things the Vinzonians and the Thaboists can agree on.
It is her birthright to understand her heritage.
I intend to reintroduce her to her roots, to fill in the gaps her Zoran parent might have left. The Thaboists would have ostracized him, branded him a Human-Sympathizer.
Which they will do to me if I bring her to New Exon.
I don’t care about that, not anymore. Anaya is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever set eyes on, and I know I’ll never be the same again after having met her. Her humanity charms me as much as her Zoran spirit does.
The pick-up I originally came to Corlis for is long forgotten. The only thing that matters now is the prophecy, the only thing I care about is her.
After a long journey, we arrive at her home.
“I hope you’re not expecting much,” she says apologetically. “I don’t exactly live like royalty.”
“I’m sure it will suffice,” I say.
She opens the door and lets me in. Anaya wasn’t kidding; her accommodations are meager.
“Do all Station dwellers live like this?” I ask, trying to mask the disappointment in my voice. I don’t mean to look down on her, but compared to the vast jungles of New Exon, this cramped space feels like a coffin to me.
“The Tier1 clients sure don’t,” she says with a bitter laugh.
“Tier1?”
“Station speak,” she says. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you’re not from here. Tier1 clients are the big spenders, the rich aliens to whom Corlis Station caters. I spend all day selling them rooms I would never be able to afford myself. Top level, gorgeous views of the nebulas. Meanwhile, us worker drones have to make due with these type of rooms. If you think this is small, you ought to see the AI levels.”
“So that is what you do at your booth,” I muse.
It’s clear to me she works hard to make ends meet. I knew the glitter and glamor of the promenade was a facade, but it’s easy to let the neon signs and flashing lights distract you from the hard workers who make it all possible. All that opulence comes at a cost. Anaya raises her eyebrows and cocks her head.
“Exactly how long have you been following me, mister?”
“Since this morning,” I admit rather sheepishly. “I came to Corlis to trade, but the moment I saw you, I was… taken. And then I saw the men on your trail, and I followed my gut. Parked my vessel and waited for you. And I’m glad I did.”
“I’m not sure whether I should be flattered or creeped out by that,” she says with a smirk.
“Call it what you will,” I answer. “I know it’s fate that brought me here.”
She rolls her eyes and throws her pink hair back. “Are all Zorans as serious as you?”
“No,” I say. “I’m considered one of the more lively ones.”
The human female gives me an incredulous look, and I can’t help but laugh. Even when she’s frowning her face is beyond beautiful.
“I’d love to continue this conversation, but I need to feed my neighbor’s pet first,” she says.
I raise an eyebrow at the very concept of domesticating an animal in these cramped quarters.
“Don’t get me started,” she says, sensing my thoughts. “It wasn’t my choice either. I just feed him. Wait here.”
“No,” I say resolutely.
I’m not letting her out of my sight, not for even one second. “I follow.”
She throws up her hands in frustration. “You’re going to regret that, big guy, but feel free to ignore my advice. Not like I know what I’m talking about, right? I only lived on Corlis my whole my life, and you’re some Zoran warrior who lives in some backwater jungle,” she grumbles.
“I merely want to protect you,” I say. “We are still not safe.”
I reach for her hand, and the moment I touch her the overhead light flickers widely. She pulls back instantly.
“Sorry,” she says, straightening her back with a deep sigh. “You’re right, I suppose. I’m a little grumpy, after the whole being-chased, vortex-travel, fated-mates thing. It’s been a rough day.”
I nod.
“But you haven’t met Cuddles yet. He’s… oh well, I guess I’ll just show you. You can see what Corlis is really all about. Not the glittery lights, the Port Breweries, the Nectar Lounges, and the Synth Shops. Those are tourist traps. No, it doesn’t get more Corlis than illegally raising a Glug in your apartment,” she laughs. “Come.”
We go across the hall, my curiosity piqued. What matter of beast is she describing? I’m not familiar with Glugs.
Moments later I’m standing face-to-face with a fearsome, fluffy hairball awaiting his dinner. This beast is so big, every time it turns it knocks a piece of furniture over. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t this
.
“So this is Cuddles,” Anaya says. “He’s a little hungry, so whatever you do, don’t make any sudden moves.”
Too late.
Chapter Eleven
Anaya
Taking Theros with me to Mrs. Goram’s unit might not be the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but he insisted. And when he spoke of protecting me, well, I can’t lie to myself.
It made me feel pretty good.
I don’t mind having my own Zoran protector. My own alien bodyguard.
However, Cuddles doesn’t exactly agree. The beast’s tongue is hanging out his gaping mouth, his massive eyes loopy. The tranquilizer-pellets I’ve fed him this morning still seem to be effecting him. To my surprise his hackles raise, and Cuddles openly challenges Theros with a low growl. The fluffy Glug never acts like this with me! Then it clicks.
It must be a male, territorial thing!
“Why would you neighbor ask you to tend to a war beast?” Theros asks.
“He’s usually not like this,” I answer. “I think it’s a guy thing?”
The alien warrior shakes his head. “You are not a viable mate for him.”
“Yeah, I don’t think this is about ma—”
“I will accept his challenge.”
Before I can stop him, Theros jumps right on top of the massive animal. My heart is pounding as I watch him wrestle the beast with his bare arms.
“Stop!” I cry. “If you get hurt he’ll—”
There’s no way he can hear me over the Glug’s heavy growling. If Theros gets as much as a scratch, if Cuddles tastes even a drop of blood… there’ll be no holding him. He’d tear the both of us apart, limb from limb. I close my eyes and look away, wincing.
When I open my eyes again, Theros is standing in front of Cuddles, eyes locked, shoulders straight. After a moment, the beast bows his head, deferring under the warrior’s glare.
Very impressive.
“How did you—”
“I will resume caretaking on your behalf. This is no job for you,” Theros states matter-of-factly.
“I beg your pardon?” I say. “I’ve been taking care of this bug lump for over a week now.”
“Yes, but I am here now.”
Figures. Of course the Zoran warrior is as patriarchally boneheaded as most males I’ve come across. Seems the species doesn’t even matter!
Then again, I wouldn’t exactly mind taking a break from Cuddles, as fluffy as he is.
“Fine, you want to do it? This is how it’s done,” I say as I show Theros how to work the food levers. With the pellets distributed, the Glug happily devours his meal, giving us both the chance the slip away and attend to our own meals.
“What’s this?”
The Zoran squints at his food, his silver-flecked eyes filled with confusion.
“A Dithran-Chute Burger.”
He shakes his head firmly.
“Try it. You might like it.”
“I might not.”
“You don’t know if you don’t try it.”
With a shrug, the alien sinks his teeth into the burger. A second later, he winces.
“You consider this food?” he complains. “On New Exon, even the trees would reject this!”
His Zoraness is showing.
“Well, you’re not on your precious planet, are you?” I say, a bit crabby. I’m not the best cook in the world, but I do my best. The least he could do is show a little appreciation. Then again, the Zoran Thaboists aren’t known for their love of anything foreign or exotic… why am I cooking for him again?
“Have you ever visited New Exon?” Theros asks.
I shake my head.
“You must see the Zorashi Gardens the Sacred Mothers maintain,” he says, his voice filled with pride. “The rich selection of fresh fruits will blow you away, I promise.”
The deep affection for New Exon fills his eyes, and I can’t help but be curious. Secretly, I’ve always wondered about my Zoran roots. But, I know that as a partial blood, I wouldn’t really fit in there. It could be different with Theros by my side. I could see the Zorashi Gardens, see the lush jungles of New Exon, experience the Lovespores…
I pull my mind back and focus. I have to keep my distance. I’m still freaked out by the effect he’s having on my abilities, and I’m still not sure what to make of it. And of him.
There’s a… magnetism between us.
And it’s growing in intensity with every passing moment.
However, I don’t know how to process this ‘fated mating’ concept he babbles on about. Ancient souls? Connected, through time and space?
How is that even possible? I’ve never met him before — that’s the one thing I know for sure. This… thing we have, these powers, this attraction — I don’t have a proper name for it. I’m of Zoran blood, but many Zorans do not accept me as their own, so I’m not familiar with any quintessential Zoran prophecies or legends.
My father preferred not to dwell on such things, he wanted me to explore more of the universe than just the inward-turned world of his kind.
Theros throws down his cutlery on his plate, the sharp sound pulling me out of my thoughts.
“This will not do,” he growls. “I will fell us a beast and we will feast, to honor our union!”
I’ve had enough of this nonsense.
“There’s an organic take-out two alleys over if my cooking offends you so. We don’t hunt beasts on Corlis.”
Finally, it seems I’ve gotten through to him. He frowns, searching my face for meaning.
“I did not mean—”
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t want to hear it,” I say, shoving my plate away. “To be perfectly honest, I just grabbed this burger out of the freezer and nuked it, so I’ll admit, this is not the finest food Corlis has to offer.”
“Nuked?”
I shake my head. “Never mind. Let’s get you something that’s a bit more your size. How about some Vechin Ramen?
“What is that?”
“You’ll see.”
We enter the chilled, night air of Corlis, having found a suitable compromise. We hunt for takeout.
“The air is very different here,” he says, sniffing like a wolf.
“Those are the Vechin spices in the air you smell. It’s good stuff. They are tough customers, but they sure know how to cook.”
We wait in line in front of a Vechin truck when Theros suddenly grabs my arm. Every oven in the truck starts beeping as a result, and he quickly pulls his hand away.
“Over there,” he whispers. “Eight o’clock.”
He nods and my eyes follow. Two men, black coats, hoods pulled down low. They look exactly like the men who followed us.
“You think it’s them?” I whisper back.
“Maybe. Let’s see where they’re going.”
“What? Are you crazy?” I whisper angrily. The other patrons in line are now giving us the side-eye, but the two men haven’t seemed to notice.
Theros silver-flecked eyes sparkle. It seems I have my answer. Yes, he is crazy.
“The hunt is on,” he smirks as he turns around and follows them into the night.
Oh stars help me!
Chapter Twelve
Theros
We follow the two thugs. The pleasant smell of the Vechin spices disappear as they lead us away from the stores and shops, and it’s quickly replaced by stale, recycled air. All thoughts of food have left me, as pure focus fills every inch of me. Right now, I’m itching to get a hold of these guys and press them for info.
Anaya is right behind me, whispering loudly about how bad of an idea all of this is.
“What if they see us?!” she says. “We should go back!”
I shake my head and continue. An opportunity like this might not present itself again. We must strike now, hard and fast, while we still have the element of surprise.
“Come on!” Anaya insists. “Let’s go back!”
She reaches out and grabs my arm.
Mistake.
&
nbsp; The lights above us flicker the moment she touches me. It’s enough to draw the attention of our prey, for the two men turn around and spot us out in the open, clear as day. They quickly reach for their hips and pull out shock-batons. I recognize the weapon instantly. One hit to the chest is enough to knock a man out cold.
Zorans don’t use them — Thaboist teaching focuses on hand-to-hand combat, anything else is for cowards — but I know of them. A true warrior needs to be ready for anything.
Anaya starts to apologize, but I cut her off. “Run!” I say. “I will hold them off!”
The two thugs have closed the gap now, their batons held up high, and I adopt my fighting stance. Up close, I can confirm that they’re human males, dressed in nondescript, all-black outfits.
I focus and slip into my combat trance. Time slows down to a crawl as my senses heighten. I hear everything; the clang of their heavy boots on the metal floor, their raspy, heavy breaths, the electric sizzle of their shock batons.
That sound makes the hair on my arms stand up. As part of the Thaboist training, Commander Helios demonstrated the effect of a shock weapon to our regiment — on me. I still remember the smell of my burned skin, the waves of pain trickling down to every neuron in my body. That electric sizzle certainly brings back memories.
And then, just as I’m perfectly focused, completely in my zone, something throws me off my game: Anaya.
“Run away?!” I hear her mutter indignantly under her breath. “Like hell I am!”
The insubordinate human female stands by my side, her tiny fists raised, an angry scowl that could frighten a Yssonian etched onto that beautiful face of hers. “Bring it!” she says.
Feisty.
I wait until the humans have raised their batons up high. Then, with the speed of lightning, I strike. One fist flies straight into the first goon’s stomach, sending him flying, and then I turn and plant the heel of my boot in the second man’s face. He hits the ground with a thud, his nose exploding with blood.