CHAPTER THREE
Liora pulled back into the shadow of the balcony doors as a figure emerged from the jungle. Her heart hammered so hard she could feel it in her throat.
A person. An actual person.
“Ari, are you seeing this?” she whispered.
“I am monitoring the situation.” The AI’s voice was calm, unhurried. “The intruder has been identified as a Vultor male based on his physical characteristics and equipment.”
“A Vultor?” The word tasted strange on her tongue. She’d read about them in the library’s records—a lupine species known for their strength and... other things. The entries hadn’t been flattering, but since they were the other race colonizing Cresca, that wasn’t entirely unexpected.
“Correct. Vultor are known for their aggressive tendencies and predatory instincts. I recommend you remain inside and avoid contact.”
She barely heard the warning. She was too busy staring at the stranger below, cataloging every detail her eyes could capture. He was tall with broad shoulders and dark hair pulled back from a hard, scarred face. Even from this distance, she could see he moved with a controlled grace that reminded her of the jungle cats she sometimes glimpsed from the upper windows.
He was prowling the edge of the clearing, staying close to the tree line. Assessing. Calculating. The careful evaluation of an unfamiliar territory before committing to entry.
“He’s analyzing the tower,” she breathed.
“Indeed. His scanner is detecting the facility’s power signatures. I have activated additional security protocols.”
“What kind of protocols?”
“Defensive measures designed to discourage unauthorized entry.”
She frowned. In all her years in the tower, ARIS had never mentioned defensive measures. Then again, she’d never needed them. No one had ever come here before.
The stranger approached the main doors, and she crept further out on the balcony to keep watch. He pressed his hands against the wood, clearly searching for something—a way in. When the doors remained closed, he moved to the outbuilding, the small structure where the supply drones landed twice a year. He put his shoulder against the metal door, and even from here she could see the strain in his muscles.
“The doors are holding,” ARIS reported. “I recommend continued observation only. Do not reveal yourself.”
Too late.
The stranger stepped back from the door, his head tilting as if he’d caught a scent on the wind. Then his gaze traveled upward, climbing the tower’s face until it found her balcony.
Found her.
Her breath caught as their eyes met. For a suspended moment, they simply stared at each other. She could see his expression clearly now, the hard lines of his features softening.
“Don’t be afraid.” His voice carried up to her, deep and resonant. “I mean you no harm.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. What was she supposed to say?Hello, stranger who appeared from the jungle, I’ve never spoken to a male in my entire life and I have absolutely no idea what to do right now?
Her cheeks flushed with heat. She should say something. Anything. But her tongue felt thick and clumsy, her mind blank.
“My name is Baylin.” He spread his hands, showing empty palms. “I’ve traveled a long way to find this place. I only want to talk to you.”
Baylin. A name. He had a name. She turned the syllables over in her mind, tasting them silently.
“You should not engage with the intruder,” ARIS intoned. “Vultor are unpredictable and potentially violent.”
“He doesn’t look violent,” she whispered, though her heart was still racing. He looked dangerous, certainly. There was an intensity to him, a coiled readiness that suggested he could spring into action at any moment. But violent?
“Appearances can be deceiving. I strongly advise you to retreat from the balcony and wait for him to leave.”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” the stranger called up again. His voice had gentled as well, as if he were trying to soothe a frightened animal.
Something about that rankled. She wasn’t a frightened animal. She was just... overwhelmed. Completely and utterly overwhelmed.
