She was surprised how easy it was.Even though they both came from completely different cultures, completely differentplanets, for that matter, Levrix was easy to talk to.
Rixavox could only stay for a brief time before he was called away again.Cecelia’s eyes trailed after him as he left, already missing him.
There was an uncomfortable pause in the room after he left but then eventually, they picked back up again.
Throughout the afternoon, Cecelia learned much about Levrix during their numerous chats.She learned that she owned a market stall of Luxirian silks and fabrics and furs down at the bazaar, that she’d closed up the stall that day for the specific purpose of staying with her.She learned that she was highly intelligent, that she’d studied Luxirian ancient history and the Fates extensively, although most of the scholars on Luxiria were primarily males.She learned that Levrix grew up in theVelraxaoutpost, that she’d traveled to the Golden City once and hated it.
“I could imagine being no place else,” she’d said, gazing out the window of Rixavox’s house.“It is brutal here, yes, but only trueVelraxianssee the beauty.”
Itwasbeautiful there, no doubt.Cecelia could understand the appeal.But she’d really only seen the area aroundVelraxa, like the mountain range where theRilliraxhid, or the valley below as they traveled.She wondered if Rixavox would take her to see his outpost, or if she wasn’t allowed because she was an outsider.
“Rixavox seems to like it here,” Cecelia murmured.
Levrix smiled.“Tev, a trueVelraxianeven though he was not born in the northern lands.”
Cecelia hesitated, but a strange curiosity won out.“Have you known him long?”
“Tev, quite long.We are friends even though we were pleasure partners.”
Jealousy clenched in her gut so hard that her hand trembled, an intense reaction to such innocent words.Yet, she knew what those words meant.
“Oh,” she said, trying to calm her breath.The thought of Rixavox with anyone hurt.She was as envious about those females as she was confused by her body’s reaction.How was it possible, this intensity?“I’m sorry,” she forced out.“It’s none of my business.”
Levrix cocked her head to the side.“Is it not?”
“No,” Cecelia said, swallowing.“We’re not…we aren’t together in that way.”
Cecelia might not recognize Luxirian facial expression as well as she could recognize human ones, but the surprise on Levrix’s face was universal.“That is…strange.”
“Why?” Cecelia questioned, her brows furrowing.
Levrix studied her for a long while, long enough to make Cecelia squirm in her seat.
Finally Levrix shook her head.“That is for Rixavox to discuss with you, not me.Are you feeling any hunger?Do you wish for me to fetch you another meal?I do not know how often humans are supposed to eat.”
Cecelia let the obvious change in subject slide, but her mind ran wild with what went unsaid.Did she think it was strange that they weren’t sleeping together because Rixavox had a womanizing reputation?That was what Kate had implied.
Or…was it something else?Something that she’d caught only in brief moments?Something that nagged at the back of her mind even though she didn’t truly know what it meant?
Cecelia shook her head and said quietly, “No, I’m not hungry.Maybe in a couple hours.”
“Will you explain ‘hours’ to me?” Levrix requested.
Which led them into a discussion about Earth time, about the seasons where she lived in the United States.Levrix seemed shocked that the seasons changed as rapidly and as drastically as they did in certain places.In return, she told her that there onVelraxa, there was only a lunar cycle—which Cecelia deduced was about a month—of warmer weather, but it never got as hot as the Golden City on its coldest day.
The afternoon passed in a similar fashion until finally, Levrix told her that she had to take her leave.She had a shipment of silks being delivered and she had to prepare for the next day at the bazaar.
“Thank you for keeping me company,” Cecelia said, standing and walking with her to the door.“I enjoyed our talks.”
Levrix turned to her right before she pushed the door open and said, “I cannot come this next span, but perhaps the span after.”
“Oh, you don’t have to,” Cecelia said, biting her lip.“I don’t want to keep taking you away from your business.”
Levrix waved her hand in the air.“It is a privilege to sit with you, to learn about you and your kind.I will return.”
Cecelia inclined her head when Levrix did.“Thank you.I look forward to it.”
With one last look, Levrix departed and that harsh bite of wind that had gusted in when Rixavox left returned until the door shut.On the other side, she listened for the familiar hum of the hovercraft to start up and take flight…and then there was silence.
