It was…impressive and a lot bigger than she’d thought.There were two distinct areas, one on the lower cliff, that jutted out towards the sea, and a smaller section on the higher cliff.She knew that was where Vikan’s home was…where she would live as well.
On the lower section, there were small homes made out of what looked like beige sandstone with circular windows and pointed roofs that shimmered like mother of pearl.A narrow road, lined with white shells and pebbles, wrapped around the vast amount of homes, weaving in and out like a labyrinth.Different kind of structures, little open stalls with open fronts that Taylor assumed were shops or food vendors, were separated off furthest from the sea and she knew that it was the marketplace.
The area closest to the sea looked like an open recreation area, where she knew the lunar celebrations took place amongst other gatherings.
The upper section of the outpost, accessed by a steep set of stairs carved into the cliff, was where the guards led them.Luxirians stopped and stared as they passed, no doubt wondering why their Ambassador was in chains with a strange looking female, led by armed guards.Taylor wondered if they’d ever seen a human before.
Next to her, Vikan was practically humming with suppressed energy as some of his people called out his name questioningly, to which he made no reply.The guards bit out something in Luxirian whenever someone stepped in their path to confront them, but they didn’t stop and they pressed on.
When they reached the upper level, Taylor’s legs were burning after the amount of stairs they’d had to climb and still they didn’t stop.There were less buildings on the upper level, but what they lacked for in quantity, they made up for in size.A towering building in the very center of the landing was apparently their destination and Taylor had to crane her neck up to see the top clearly as they came to the very base of it.
Vaxa’an, the Prime Leader of Luxiria and the male who had ordered her mate to be put in chains, was waiting for them when the guards led them inside, into a bright, spacious area that reminded Taylor of a throne room.The floors echoed their footsteps in the cavernous space, booming off the walls as the guards inclined their heads in a steep bow to the familiar Luxirian leader.
Vaxa’an was standing over a metal table.Small computer screens, like the ones Taylor had seen on the hovercraft, were laid out before him and he was speaking with another Luxirian who was dressed in white robes.He stopped mid-sentence, however, cutting off whatever the other Luxirian male was saying, when he saw them enter.
Immediately, Vaxa’an’s eyes raked over Taylor, assessing her, as if he truly believed that Vikan was capable of harming her.When his gaze landed on Vikan, her mate’s chest rose slightly, his chin tilting up.Proud male.
Vaxa’an growled and then bit out something in Luxirian.Taylor assumed it meant something like ‘get out’because all the guards and even the male in white robes departed the throne room immediately, leaving only herself, Vikan, and a very pissed off leader.
Vaxa’an switched to English as he addressed her, “Are you hurt, female?”
Taylor frowned.“No.”
“Then why does your skin look blue?Myluxivacalls them bruises,tev?”
Surprised, Taylor looked down at herself just as she perceived Vikan doing the same.He made a distressed sound in the back of his throat just as she too saw that bruises had bloomed over her arms and wrists and she knew that she’d have a mottling of them between her thighs.
She hadn’t even noticed, given what had happened that morning.
But Taylor didn’t care and she was pissed that Vikan had encountered this treatment from someone he considered a good friend.So she raised her chin to Vaxa’an and bit out, “Because that’s what happens when your mate fucks you for hours on end.”
Vikan inhaled a sharp breath, just as Vaxa’an exhaled one.
That was when Vaxa’an turned his cold eyes onto Vikan.“You mated her?”
Vikan didn’t look away from his Prime Leader once.“Tev.”
“When I spoke with you that span, when I last saw you,” Vaxa’an started, his voice quiet, yet booming around the throne room, “I said I wanted you to return toLopixauntil the females were gone.”
“You also gave me that order as my Prime Leader,” Vikan bit out, his chains swinging as he shifted his body closer to Taylor.“As my friend, you left that choice up to me.”
“I didnotmean for you to steal her from the command center,” Vaxa’an rasped, his voice hardening.
“You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not standing right here,” Taylor said.“And he didn’t steal me.I told him I wanted to go with him.”
Vaxa’an looked taken aback, “Rebax?”
“Luxiva,” Vikan bit out.“Nix.Vaxa’an, this was not her doing.The fault is entirely mine.”
“Vikan,” Taylor said, turning to him.“Let me—”
“Tell me what happened,” Vaxa’an growled, cutting her off.
“He did nothing wrong!” Taylor cried, jerking her head back towards Vaxa’an.“Please, this is ridiculous.”
Vikan was silent for a brief moment before he finally said, “After I spoke with you that span, I returned to my dwelling in the Golden City.I lit upyikava, hoping that it would blacken the world until she had already left, until the choice was left to fate.”
Taylor’s breath hitched.
