“Would it be sexual?” I ask, unable to contain my curiosity.
“It would depend on them. It doesn’t have to be, as you just experienced, it’s just the most fun way to feed.”
“Is it sexual with your harem? You have sex with all of them?” I think back to what I saw when I first came into his quarters.
“Yes it is, and yes I do.”
I feel that rage and seething jealousy welling up inside me once more. Fuck, I want to slap myself in the face. Why am I like this? Taking a deep breath, I hold out my hand, and he takes it, absorbing the emotions with another moan. His pupils expand like he’s getting high, and he smiles goofily. If I didn’t know better, I’d think my jealousy was making him happy.
“You are a sensory buffet, Liliana,” he coos, and I yank my hand away from him, my anger changing to fear.
“How did you know that was my name?” I ask, and his goofy smile changes to a frown again.
“I’m sorry, I saw it in your memories. Does it upset you? You knew I was going to shuffle through them to see if I could figure out what was going on with your powers.”
My fear dies away, and I feel a little sheepish. “Yeah, okay, I’m sorry. Today’s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. I’m a little more sensitive than I normally am,” I apologize, and I can see the sympathy in his eyes.
“And I’m not helping, am I? Come on, Lila, go find out your information so that when I see you next time, you’ve wrapped your head around it and you can give me an answer. I will refrain from feeding from my harem until you do. I do have another option that will hopefully indulge me until you make up your mind, one that has no significant connection to me or you. Will that make you happier?”
“Do I know this person? Will they be gloating about it to me?”
Xavier shakes his head. “No, I don’t think you do, but even if you do, they won’t gloat or throw it in your face.”
“Then yes, that is acceptable. I will ask Caspian and Link too, but I should have my answer for you this evening.”
His face lights up. “Would I be able to see you this evening then?”
“I’m having drinks at the club with Link tonight, but you can join us if you want.”
He shakes his head, but his smile doesn’t drop. “No, that’s alright. I wouldn’t want to steal your attention away from the sexy cyborg. He deserves your full attention if this is a first date. I will find you tomorrow and organize my own date.”
He escorts me to his door, and I give him a kiss on the cheek.
“It was a pleasure to see you, Lila. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,” he tells me. “I will message your grandpas and tell them what I found. I also need to message my parents to ask them about something before I can try to fix what I think is blocking your powers.”
“You actually found something?” I ask in surprise.
“Yes I did, and I think it will explain a lot for you, but I do have some questions of my own, so I will get them answered so that everything I tell you will be fact and not guesswork.”
“That sounds reasonable. Okay, well, see you then.” The door slides open, but it’s hard to tear myself away from this man. It’s like there’s a force inside me begging me to stay with him.
“Why don’t you message me when you get home from your date, even if you’ve got someone in your bed, so I can say goodnight to you?” I get the feeling he’s as reluctant to say goodbye as I am. His hands are clenched at his sides like he’s preventing himself from reaching out to me. Desire spreads through my veins at his restraint, and I almost give in, but I need to stick to the plan. Questions then answers, and then I can get my hands on my warlock.
“Okay, I will. Bye, Xavier.”
I watch as the mist that he hides behind covers his body. “Bye,phoeall.”
The doors slide closed, and I don’t waste any time. I hurry to the elevator, using my communicator to locate Magenta. It tells me she’s once again in the rec area where I had seen her during my first tour. I send her a 911 message, and it doesn’t take long for her to respond. She tells me to meet her at the same cafe where we had a drink the first day. Was that just yesterday? It feels like a week ago.
I program in the name of the cafe because I don’t have a clue where I am, let alone where I need to go. Thankfully my communicator works as a GPS, and when I get in the elevator, it tells me exactly what button to push. Before I know it, I’m seating myself at a table and ordering a drink. I know it’s early, but this conversation calls for alcohol, so I pick something new that sounds delicious. They have a scale next to each of the descriptions, ranging from one drink to five. I pick something that has four little glasses next to it, hoping it’s enough to give me a buzz without knocking me on my ass.
It’s just popping up through the middle of the table when Magenta slides into the chair across from me, her breathing ragged and a sheen of sweat on her face.
“I got here as fast as I could. Is everything okay?” she asks, her look of concern making me smile. I’ve known her all of twenty-four hours, yet she was happy to drop what she was doing and come running. With Dylan’s bullshit, I’m still wary of trusting so easily, but apart from the grandpas, Phillip, and Fiona, she’s the only Skarrian I know who isn’t related to me. I guess I could have asked Link. If he doesn’t know something, he has access to information. I bite my lip, unsure now whether to ask her or not.
Her eyes widen, and she shakes her head, waving a dramatic finger. “Oh no you don’t. I saw you second-guess yourself then. That fucking dragon has you questioning your friendships, doesn’t he? Look, just because I’m as promiscuous as he was, that does not mean I see you as competition. There are plenty of men and women in the galaxy to go around, as far as I’m concerned. You’re going to make a great wingwoman in that you’re such a fucking novelty to all these people.”
“What, because I’m the freaky human, supposed Skarrian, who has no powers?” I ask dryly, sipping my drink. My taste buds explode and start weeping as I forcibly swallow and begin coughing at the unexpected kick.
