“I am very glad to hear that. As with many technological advances, they do not always react the same with different races. I am pleased you are not an exception.”
“Yeah, it’s been pretty wild. The way my senses are sharpened, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. Is it normal for the pigments to make your body do strange things?”
“Strange things?” the woman replied, a questioning look in her gaze. “What sort of things are you experiencing? It is a bit soon in the process for your body to be displaying changes.”
“Nothing huge. Just weird, is all.”
“Weird how? Everyone experiences the runes and their power differently, you know. Some have enhanced senses, while others develop greater strength. On rare occasion, unexpected abilities have been unlocked, though that is, as I said, an exceedingly rare occurrence. But tell me, what are you experiencing?”
“Well, I can taste a lot more layers in things, for one. Like, as if my tongue had always been kind of numb and had only now been fully woken up.”
“I see. What else?”
“My sense of smell is way sharper. Like, crazy developed. In fact, just earlier I smelled Arkness well before I even saw him coming. How crazy is that?”
Zoldana cocked her head ever so slightly. “You smelled one of our men?”
“Yeah. Crazy, right?”
“Crazy? Not crazy. Interesting, though.”
“How so?”
“That is for later, and we shall see soon enough. But come, let us discuss the reason I have called you here. The pressing matter I know weighs on your shoulders even as you enjoy Mondarian hospitality.”
Olivia knew immediately what she was talking about. The nagging thought in the back of her mind since the moment she’d arrived.
“Harper.”
“Your friend. Yes. You are healing much faster than expected, Olivia. With that, you will be ready to direct the retrieval of your friend quite soon.”
“You had said a few days after I was inked at the minimum.”
“And I am pleased to announce I was mistaken. You are an unusual specimen, and it seems I underestimated your kind’s ability to adapt and heal.”
“So what are you saying?”
“I am saying that you will be leaving much sooner than that. Perhaps in only a day or two. We only need to see how your healing progresses. I have your domicile’s intelligence unit integrating its data with Nijello’s notes. When you are determined ready, your friend’s rescue will commence.”
Olivia felt both elated and a little bit uneasy. Her brief respite in actual comfort had made the degree of mistreatment under Raxxian captivity all the more stark, and the thought of giving up the comfy bed and warm shower nearly caused a momentary panic attack. She reined it in, though, calming herself with a few deep breaths. Harper was out there, and though she had ample food and water, her leg was still broken, and she needed her friend’s help.
The rest of the discussion with Zoldana covered far less serious matters. How she was finding the city, for example, as well as if the males were treating her well. So far, all had been quite delightful. The overseer kept things relatively brief before escorting her guest to the exit and allowing her to enjoy the rest of her day however she saw fit.
“I am glad you are doing well, Olivia. We will talk again soon.”
“Thanks, Zoldana. I really appreciate your hospitality.”
A serious look spread across the woman’s face. “You survived Raxxian captivity. That is no small feat. Whatever hospitality you might enjoy, you have more than earned, my dear.”
It was something Olivia pondered as she walked the streets. Eventually, she found herself unconsciously back at a familiar spot. The meditation pond she’d visited the other day. But while she half expected to see, or smell, Arkness, it was a different, spicy-sweet scent that tickled her nose, making her mouth water and her nipples harden.
Rykker rose from his place, uncrossing his legs and walking directly toward her, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. Olivia couldn’t help but notice that his pupils were quite large when he stopped in front of her wearing a look of either intense alertness, or extreme arousal. She could see the pulse thumping in his neck and the odd new tattoo in the middle of her chest twinged a little as her nipples twinged delightfully, sending tiny jolts of pleasure between her legs.
Her gaze drifted lower to the growing bulge, her mind imagining what it would feel like in her hand…and other places.
Rykker seemed to jerk forward, led by his crotch, as if his body heard her request.
“I’m sorry. I do not mean to offend,” he said, his cheeks darkening with embarrassment. From such a powerful, muscular man, having him in the palm of her hand, even for a moment, was incredibly arousing.
