Kate was a little disappointed by that and her shoulders dropped.But she understood.Keriva didn’t get many female clients anymore and she’d once told Kate how much she missed crafting their traditional dresses.This job meant a lot to her.
“But do not distract me…” Keriva said, swinging accusative eyes on her.“You are with child and you did not tell me!”
“I—I know, I’m sorry,” Kate said, fumbling with the edges of her dress.“But we wanted to keep it quiet for a while.Vaxa’s been dealing with some problems with the council, so we thought it best…”
“The uprisings?”
“Well…” Kate felt her face burn.“Yes, although he doesn’t know that I know.”
“Ah, I do love secrets,” Keriva said, a small smile on her features.“I suppose I can forgive you.”
Truth be told, Kate hadn’t told her right before she left for the outpost because she didn’t know how her friend would react.How would Kate feel ifshewas left infertile and some strange alien came to her planet and stole their king and was shortly impregnated by him?Kate didn’t know.It was a tricky subject, so she’d taken the coward’s way out and simply left the topic for another time.
“Come help me pick out some colors,” Keriva said, ushering her over to the stall, pushing through the crowd with confidence and ease.A tiny part of Kate thought that Keriva was so much better suited to take on the responsibilities as Vaxa’s mate.A tiny part of her wondered that if there had been no virus attack, if she could give him heirs…would Vaxa have chosen Keriva?
Kate shook her head, feeling an ugly burn of jealousy in the pit of her stomach.They reached the stall and the vendor eyed her with excitement.Then he said something in Luxirian, the only word she recognized of which waslavrix’an.
Keriva mumbled, almost unconsciously, as she looked through the silks piled high on the stall, “He says he is most honored that you are visiting him and that you may choose any material.A gift from him.”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that,” Kate murmured, smiling up at the man.
“You will insult him if you do not,” Keriva said, frowning at her.“Besides, I can finally craft you a formal dress for the Lunar Celebration.Here.This one isperfect.”
Keriva reached past her to snag a beautiful midnight blue cloth.Kate reached out to touch it.It was silky and cool under her fingertips.
Keriva said something in Luxirian and the man nodded, eagerly thrusting a large swath of the material at Kate.
“Krixtava,” Kate said, a grateful, somewhat shy, smile crossing over her features.The word meant ‘thank you’ in Luxirian, but she was sure she butchered the pronunciation.Turning to Keriva, she said, “Please tell him that it’s beautiful and that I will wear it gladly.”
Keriva translated her words and the man seemed pleased enough.Her friend finished purchasing her materials and soon they left the stall with armfuls and bundles of cloths, trying to push back towards the stall that Vaxa had ventured to.
Kate had just caught sight of her mate when her arm was grabbed, hard enough for her to gasp in alarm.Her eyes swung to a Luxirian male who towered over her.He had a warrior’s build, strong and broad, but his lips were twisted into a scowl and his eyes bled an emotion that Kate could only describe as disgust.
“Human whore,” he spat quietly, in English, pinching and twisting the flesh around her wrist.And then he released her before her mind even had time to understand what was happening, before the sharp, burning pain even registered.
After one last sneer, the man quickly fled, disappearing into the crowd so fast that Kate wondered for a brief moment if she’d imagined it.
But the flesh near her wrist was red and it ached where he’d cruelly twisted.She was suddenly dizzy and the market seemed to slow around her.Kate’s breaths shallowed, her eyes swinging around, wondering if anyone had seen.Unbelievably, it seemed no one had.Keriva’s back was to her, trying to make a path through the swarms of people.And it was so crowded that no one would’ve thought the man’s proximity was suspicious.
Immediately, she looked for Vaxa but saw that he was exchanging money with the food vendor.He hadn’t seen.
“Kat,” Keriva called over her shoulder when she saw her lagging behind.When her friend saw her face, she stopped and immediately made her way back.“You look ill,” Keriva murmured, touching her arm.“Are you sick?Is it the child?”
“I—I…” Kate choked out, shaking her head, trying to swallow the lump in her throat.The encounter had shaken her.Her eyes looked out into the crowd once more, searching for the man, but she couldn’t find him.She looked at Keriva.“I just got a little lightheaded.The heat and all the people, I think.”
Keriva’s pretty face pulled into an expression of concern.“Come.Vaxa will take you back to your dwelling.”
Kate allowed Keriva to act as her guide, her mind reeling.
Human whore.Human whore.Human whore.
The male had known English.He’d said those words with such hate that she felt it in her very bones.
Suddenly, she stumbled against her friend, who held her up.Vaxa spotted them and he abandoned the stall immediately, leaving the food behind, and pushed towards them.
“Kat,” he said, reaching out to take her cheeks.“What happened?” he snapped at Keriva.
“She said she does not feel well.”
