“Why do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“War?” he asked.
She blinked, but she didn’t look at him. For a second, her face shifted, like she was going to say something, that same way she’d smiled at him on the landing pad. An expression that didn’t reach her eyes.
But she stopped.
Sighed.
“I don’t know why. Ego. The need to own. To dominate. To control.”
“But what does that come from?” he asked.
She turned and looked at him. “I think honestly, some humanoids only find value in showing their assets. To be able to say that something is truly theirs. And when others stand up against that claim, it makes them mad.”
“Is that why you war with us?”
“That is probably very close to why the Terran Empire wants this space. Because you claimed it before the emperor could.”
“There was no claim on this system when we came here.”
“I know. I didn’t say it made sense.”
“Emotional things typically don’t make sense.”
“No, they do not.”
* * *
The Craving was still there,but it was different as Harbin continued his tour with Lady Bianca. Though it seemed to not be as much about physical need, it morphed into something else.
Soothing almost, just being in her company.
As a result, when he walked her back to the landing pad to leave, it created sorrow in him.
Or disappointment.
Harbin stared at her. The winds blew all around them. In the background, there were the lights from the ship. In the distance, the soft glow from the active volcanoes lit up the sky as well. Sparks flew in the air.
And as he looked at her, he felt more sparks between them. She looked at him in a way that showed desire.
“I must say, this has been far more enjoyable than I expected,” she said as she stepped toward him.
The wind picked up, ruffling the heavy cloak she wore, and it wound up covering her face.
“This silly thing,” she said and shoved the hood back. As she did, the wind blasted them both, and he immediately braced for it.
She did not.
She stumbled to the side. He caught her before she fell to the ground and braced her against him to help her regain her footing.
Of course, that was the reason.
Not the Craving that wanted to feel her next to him.
“Oh my,” she said. “You certainly are firm.” She patted his chest, and most of her soft form pressed against him.
