Chapter 19
If their presence had been unwelcome when they departed the hub, their reception now was downright hostile. X held her hand tightly as they pushed through the crowds.
Zantharians were shouting, "Lock the Earthling up!"
"Feed her to the gnarsharks!"
"Zanthar for Zantharians!"
Sylvie kept her head down and tried to ignore the insults, but they hurt nevertheless.
The regent grabbed the arm of a passing military officer. "I want an escort to my chambers. Now!”
The officer scowled, but motioned to his partner and the pair began clearing a path. By the time they made it to X's quarters, Sylvie was exhausted.
The regent held up his hand, pointing his finger at the officer. "You two stay here. No one gets in without an energy exchange with both of you. Understood?"
The guards took up their stations on either side of the door as X led her into his chambers. Without sparing a glance for her, he headed to the console and pulled up the display. "I want to see you in twenty minutes. My chambers."
Whoever was on the other end of the call must have raised a fuss because X's face tightened. "Get over here. I was almost replaced by a Hareema mimic less than an hour ago."
The regent waved away the display and finally turned his attention to her.
"You must be tired." His gaze ran up and down her body. “Let me draw you a bath.”
Being filthy and emotionally spent, she was in no mood to argue. He led her into an extravagant bathroom with a tub that looked like it could fit five grown Zantharian men, or women, seeing that they were just as large.
She leaned against the doorframe and closed her eyes, X’s voice bringing her from her restful state.
“Come get in and relax, Sylvie.”
"I need to disrobe." She moved toward him, half expecting him to leave the room.
"Okay," he replied. "Do so."
Sylvie frowned. "Not in front of you."
X snorted. "You're not leaving my sight for a second, and I'm not leaving yours. You see now how easy it would be to replace one of us with an enemy agent."
"Not that easy," she said, indicating the black soot covering her body.
He laughed. It was a pleasant sound. "Your prowess notwithstanding, I'm not leaving."
"Then turn your back at least. I don't think an agent can replace me before you can turn around."
A corner of his mouth lifted. The regent turned around and Sylvie wasted no time. She ripped off her clothing and got into the tub, letting out a long sigh as the hot water lapped at her legs.
X turned back around a bit too quickly.
Sylvie let out a soft yelp and pulled her knees up to her chest to keep her dignity intact. "How am I supposed to wash myself if you're watching my every move?"
The regent shrugged. "Your washing doesn't bother me."
Sylvie exhaled, lifting a curl of hair that had fallen over her face. "Your watching bothersme."
X once again turned his back, and Sylvie scouted around the tub for something resembling soap. She came upon what resembled a plush sea anemone. When she pressed into it, it excreted a sweet-smelling substance. Satisfied that it would do the job, she began rubbing it into her skin.
It was time to have a frank discussion with the regent. Time to explain that she couldn't stay here, especially in such close proximity to him.
