Her shoulders slump. “I don’t know. It used to be, you know… You and me and Amara. But now she has Roth’kar. And you have those jokers.” She turns her head away, and I know it’s the zik working that she’s even telling me this at all. “Heh. Maybe I should apply for an alien husband, too.”
I shrug. “Why not? You might get lucky.”
She scoffs. “And be forced to choose, like you? No thanks.”
It hits me in the gut. I have been diligent about not thinking too hard about what comes at the end.
Marguerite sees the look on my face, and her expression softens. “I’m sorry.”
“No, you’re right.” I swallow hard, trying not to head down a bad road while on drugs at a rave. “I will have to choose.”
“But not tonight, right?” She pats me on the shoulder apologetically. “Go have fun. Enjoy your time with them. Make it count.”
I nod and force a smile. But she’s right.
This will all come to an end, probably sooner than I think.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Shathar
While Fiona talks with her friend Marguerite some feet away, I dance. And dance. It takes over me, this need to move, to feel, to dream. I am liquid, one with this wild, frenetic music, and I hope it never ends.
Karakka. This is good stuff that Fiona gave us.
Khesan stands beside me, also enjoying himself without speaking. He whirls, twists, and turns in a way that’s joyous and without a care. His youth shines through in moments like these. He is free, and I remember how that feels, to be free. His more muscular body is visible with his short shirt, each muscle flexing as he moves. It was like this last night, as well, when I watched him behind Fiona, his abdomen rippling with each thrust of his hips.
I could even feel him inside her, and I didn’t mind. It is a strange thing that we have both mate bonded with the same woman. It seems to have eroded many walls between us.
I wish Fiona would return, as all I want is to throw my arms around her and hug her. I want to hug her, and then kiss her, and then drink some more water, I think. But my eyes are fixated on Khesan’s body now, how easily he moves it, and I lick my lips.
I wonder what Khesan would taste like.
“Yes, Shathar?” he calls over the music, smirking. “You have been in one place for some time.”
“Sorry.” I tear my eyes away and start dancing again.
Khesan just laughs. “It is making me feel strange, too, don’t worry.”
“Good strange?”
He nods. “Good strange. And you?”
“Good strange.”
This time, his smile is genuine, and the same hands that wanted to touch Fiona all over are now, quite suddenly, seeking him out. I brush a palm over his exposed belly, and Khesan’s yellow eyes fly to mine.
Quickly, I retract my hand and step away, not sure what came over me. Fiona has moved even farther off as she talks to Marguerite, but the scent of mate is still strong in my nose. It’s so strong, in fact, that I start to get hard.
Khesan cocks his head as he comes to a stop. “What are you doing?”
“I don’t know.” I swallow, putting distance between us. “I need water.”
He studies me for a moment longer, but doesn’t press the issue of my touching him. “Then let’s get water.”
We wander off together toward the bar. Fiona gave us each a few dollars in Earth money so we could buy things for ourselves tonight, and I use a lot of it on a single cup. But the cool liquid feels incredible going down my throat, and Khesan and I both chug ours at record speed.
Then we navigate back to the music hall to find Fiona again. We manage to locate Roth’kar, as he is tall and his purple-blue antennae are easy to spot.
