“Sure thing. Do you know what this is about?”
“Only that she and Nijello were conferring and requested your presence. Beyond that, I’m afraid I do not know.”
“Well, that’s good enough for me. Lead the way.”
Of course, she didn’t need him to lead now that she had her own map built into her clothing. It was a pretty remarkable bit of tech, she had to admit. A wearable and personal display that only she would see when she called it up. It certainly beat the stooped-over phone zombies back home, always with their eyes glued to their devices. This allowed one to walk upright, looking ahead and not tweaking their neck or back.
Interestingly, however, it didn’t seem like the people on the street were actively using their devices for the most part. Maybe this world was free of social media. Or perhaps they’d evolved past it. Whatever the case, people made eye contact as they walked, greeting one another and actually taking in their surroundings. It was a little jarring at first, but Olivia quickly became quite fond of the change.
Lithos was walking quickly, his desire to complete his task clear in his hurried steps. Olivia stayed close, her newly rune-enhanced legs actually enjoying the faster pace without any signs of tiring. In no time they were at Zoldana’s chambers. When she entered, however, things were not quite what she’d expected.
Zoldana was there, of course, as was Nijello the Skrizzit. They had a modest spread laid out before them on a force table and were snacking comfortably. That wasn’t the surprising part though. The two men seated with them were.
She smelled them the instant she entered the room, both distinct in their primally powerful pheromones, the mixing ofthe two making her nipples ache and her clit positively throb with want.
Rykker and Arkness sat quietly on either side of Zoldana, each of them summoned as well, now sitting quietly, watching the new arrival with great intensity.
Rykker, for his part, played it cool, not letting on what had gone down between them. Or, more accurately,whohad gone down. Arkness was also controlled, but the want was clear in his eyes. And smelling just how much more powerful his scent was compared to before actually made Olivia’s attentions falter from the man she’d been with just the night prior.
It was all terribly confusing.
Then it hit her.
“My nose,” she said quietly, thinking back to the image her AI had shown her.
“What was that?” Nijello asked, rising to greet her as the other two males had done.
“Nothing. Just that everything smells really good. Better than usual. I guess your work enhanced that, somehow.”
The Skrizzit grinned proudly. “Ah, you are already experiencing enhancements? How marvelous. It was fortunate we were able to properly purge your system before the process. If not, who knows what scents might have been lingering in there, eh? Sometimes the pigments show a reaction to such things, and then you may very well have developed a sensitivity to dirt or weeds,” he said with a chuckle.
“Lingering?”
“Yes. It is rare, but some can be reactive when receiving the runes if not fully purged.”
“Ah, gotcha,” she said calmly, but inside her mind was racing.
She’d been with Arkness just before getting her runes. Rykker too. Could that have triggered whatever was happeningwith her now? It was a revelation, but one that would have to wait.
Zoldana motioned for her to come sit. “Nijello has received the updated scans from your domicile unit and has declared you healed enough to begin.”
“Begin? Begin what?”
“What you had asked for upon arrival, of course,” the woman replied. “What we had discussed just the other day. You are to travel on one of our scouting craft to the region in which you were found. When you arrive, you are to retrieve your friend. And as the two highest ranking companions in all of the city, it is the duty of Arkness and Rykker to be your escorts.”
Olivia swallowed hard, her gaze flashing back and forth between the two stunningly attractive men. She was to be in close quarters with both of them.
At the same time.
Olivia honestly wondered if her poor senses could handle it.
She was suddenly acutely aware of her heart beating harder in her chest.
Oh boy.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
It made sense that the two most competent and highly trained of their kind would be the ones selected for this mission. They were not only smart, strong, athletic, and clever, but also charming and complete gentlemen, as they’d been taught since a young age. They were at the absolute pinnacle of masculine power and class in all the Maldonian realm on this world.
