They all squeak with surprise. Some of them continue to grumble with anger but they step back too.
A growl rumbles in my chest.
All of them turn their backs on me and walk away.
And then I look toward my chosen female again and this time I see she’s speaking to a costumed demon I recognize.
What is this?
Chapter Four
Naomi
Atall Margol Xylan male wearing green gloves approaches me at the buffet table. He’s dressed in a costume that causes him to look like the most menacing demon I’ve ever met in real life.
I let out a squeak and take a step back.
“Yes, my costume might be intimidating, but we’re not that scary,” he chuckles. “Have you met the Hyrrokin species yet? Those beings are actual fire-breathing demons who live on the planet Tarvos. The great houses of Chronos are truly brutal, but here on Timbur we are mainly Margol Xylan who harvest and tend to the Illibrium crystals. Nothing to be worried about.”
I nod, not really believing.
“Do you want to guess who I am? And then I will try to guess who you are,” he questions.
I exhale and try to join in the game. The only names I’ve learned so far are basically Saxon’s brothers, so I try one out. “Um...are you Bayzon?”
He throws back his head and laughs. “No, but that was a good guess. My turn, are you a human?”
“Yes,” I grin, “I am human,” I admit I feel strangely comfortable around this male, as if we’re already friends. “But that’s only half the battle. You know my species but not my name.”
“Correct, but at least we met and...” Then his tablet flashes and he reads the message. The male glances over his shoulder and then back at me. “I’ve got to go. It was nice talking to you, female. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other better in the future. Welcome to the family.” And then he gives me a wink and he’s gone.
Welcome to the family?
What the heck was that about?
I glance around again, searching for a sighting of the mysterious male in black. The one I said I would not approach. I told myself not to do this anymore. He’s not for me. The last thing I need is a boyfriend who thinks of himself first in all instances, treats me with disrespect and gaslights me into thinking this is normal behavior. But I continue to try to monitor his location.
What is wrong with me?
The tempo of the music changes to a different type—dark music with heavy drumbeats. My foot taps on the floor to the addictive beat. More candelabras are lit and hang from the ceiling. The atmosphere is still spooky, but now it’s been elevated to shadowy elegance. The black, gleaming dance floor clears in the center of the room and my chest warms because I love dancing. My fingers snap to the beat, eager to get moving. This party is finally turning fun.
I grab a plate, trying to find snacks at the buffet appropriate for human tastes so I have plenty of energy for the dancing. Costumed Xylan females talk loudly next to me in line, regalingangsty stories of mating compatibility tests gone wrong. None of them are in masks anymore. I lean in because gossip is always interesting, no matter the species or planet. Also, I think I hear the names of some Xylan I recognize.
“Did you see that they’re all here?” one of them grouses. “All four of the unmated fever brothers are here and they will not dance with any of us in this group. I’ve seen them dance with some other Xylan females but not with us? Why?”
I take a step closer because these females are talking about Saxon’s brothers.
“Those fever brothers are so full of themselves.”
“I can’t believe what Bayzon said to us earlier. The nerve.”
“I’ve asked Bayzon, twice a year, for the last ten years to perform the mating compatibility ceremony with me and he always says no,” a female cries out. “It’s not fair.”
They’re all quiet for a beat and then someone offers, “You know none of those fever brothers clasp hands. They never ever perform the mating ritual and then they always end up with human brides. Only human brides. It’s weird.”
“I think it’s sick. Why would they want to only mate with humans?”
“Yes, it’s gross,” another agrees.
