“What will happen if you are called away?” she muttered, drawing her gaze away from the window and looking over her shoulder at me. “Where will I go?”
“Given the galaxy’s current state, I may be required to present myself as some sort of ambassador, especially if any more escape pods crash nearby.” In frustration, I clicked the top of my beak and fluttered my wings. “If my brother is unable to handle the humans who have already been discovered at the sanctuary he oversees, I may need to travel there to assist him.”
“Is your brother in charge of the sanctuary where everyone is sending my ex-crewmates?”
“Unfortunately,” I grumbled. “My family has a strong political line and is distantly related to the flockmaster’s royal family of the Western Wind Clan. It’s only natural for him to hold a position of power within the government, whether it’s Ekoiskra or the IPA.”
“Are you a prince?” she exclaimed, her gaze darting around my villa, taking it all in. “Is that how you’re able to afford everything?”
“No.” I shook my head, trying to think of the best way to explain it to her. “My ancestors have no claim to the royal throne. My councilor job pays well, but I don’t have a mate or flock to spend it on. Instead, I’ve invested a portion of my funds in this villa and saved the rest for the future—and whatever my family may require.”
“Are you single?” She took a step back, glancing down at her robe, and then scanned my body, her intense gaze burning my feathers. “How is that possible? You’re appealing to a… avian monster… alien—”
“Ekoiskra.”
“I can’t say that word either.” She tapped her mouth quickly with her hand. “I don’t have a beak like you do. In fact, I’m not sure how I’m going to say your name correctly without offending you with my mangled attempts.”
“Ixik’tryl is a powerful name passed down from my ancestors.” I clicked the top of my beak, trying to think of another way for her to say it. “I won’t be offended if you don’t say it correctly. To be honest, I’m having the same issues with your name.”
“How about we agree to use nicknames for each other to make communication easier?” she suggested, placing her hand on her chest, beneath her neck. “Like, if you don’t mind, I can call you Axel, which is easy for me to pronounce, and you can call me something simpler for you to say with your beak.”
“Ami,” I said quietly, enjoying the way it felt on my beak. “You can call me Axel if you prefer… But is it okay if I call you Ami?”
“What a lovely nickname.” She looked away with a bright grin, as if she was suddenly shy. “Ami and Axel. I still don’t understand how you’re single.”
“Most females do not want politicians as mates, especially if they will be forced to spend the majority of their time away from planetside and outside Ekoiskra borders.” I joined her in watching the moon reflect off the waves against the calm sky. “Those who do so are only interested in advancing their own position… forming a power mating designed to advance both members’ careers… which usually results in them being in a loveless relationship with no hope of expanding their flock.”
“And I take it that’s not what you’re looking for?”
“I’d rather be alone than in a mating centered on advancing my career,” I replied, feeling as if a large boulder had landed on top of my two hearts, putting abnormal pressure on them. “Once it’s time to retire, I would have nothing but credits and a loveless mating. What’s the point of living like that?”
“I saw many people in those types of relationships on a daily basis at my old job,” she said quietly, her voice suddenly melancholy. “I never understood people who lived in the moment rather than planning for the future, living on the high of instant gratification.”
We stood there in silence, side by side, as the weight of the conversation fell on us.
I couldn’t believe how much understanding and worldly knowledge Ami possessed, and I kept wondering why the Four Winds had placed her in my life and allowed our flight paths to cross at this time.
7
Naomi - Ami
As I slowly untied the satin-like thick tie from my hair, the bright sun burned in the morning sky. It wasn’t the sleep caps I was used to wearing, but I was fortunate to find something among the clothing he’d given me to protect my braids while I slept.
If what he said was true, I’d like to have something more dependable made… along with other necessities.
My golden gown had a built-in bra, so unfortunately, I didn’t have anything to hold the girls up beneath all these robes. I could try to tie my breasts up with some of Alex’s robe belts in a shibari-style design, but it would only be a temporary solution.
It was in my best interests to get used to going completely commando underneath the robes until I was given more appropriate clothing for the occasion.
I had no right to complain about what I had been given, especially after learning how Soraya had been taken to live in a tree. A tree!
I couldn’t believe Axel let some alien Tarzan kidnap her just because he was friends with him. The fact that he hadn’t called us last night, leaving us to go to bed without saying anything, was concerning, but Axel was unbothered.
I would be worried about Soraya until I spoke with her.
Flipping my braids behind my shoulder, I checked myself in the bathroom’s floor-to-ceiling mirror and spun around to ensure the robe was securely tied in place. Even though Alex was freely walking around the villa naked, I didn’t want to flash him.
I wasn’t a prude… I just couldn’t trust myself around him.
