"Then let's get me dressed." The less time she stood up here thinking about what she was about to do the better. Probably best to give her as little time as possible to get cold feet.
Chapter 6
Zahra wouldn't normally classify herself as a nervous person, but as she stood at the edge of the enormous room where she was to marry, it felt like her stomach had twisted itself into several tight knots. The moment she stepped into the busy room, she would meet and marry Khaazai. A man she’d met on the battlefield once. Okay, she supposed she met him on his ship too, but it wasn’t long enough for her to feel certain about this.
Most attendees were Khuu’zeth, their vibrant eyes a contrast against their dark skin, but a few humans dotted the crowd. Cautiously, Zahra stepped forward, her heart thundering inside her chest but hesitated again. Maybe if she was in her military gear she’d feel more comfortable. Instead, she wore a flowing gown that hugged her body in a gentle caress. Dresses weren’t her normal attire, and although beautiful it did throw her off her game.
A couple of aliens glided past her, their every movement fluid as they held their hands to their chests and bowed their heads ever so slightly to her. The gesture made her feel a little calmer, as it made her feel welcome in their society. She returned the head bob but didn't do the hand gesture. She needed to find Holly. After helping Zahra get ready Holly had headed off to find her room and get ready herself.
As she continued further into the room, several more aliens passed and gave the same gestures as the others. Assuming it was their way of greeting, she walked into the room returning the gesture as she bent her hand and pressed her hand to her chest.
"They must bow to you, but you need not bow to them." A deep voice reverberated through the air behind her almost likedistant thunder. The authority of the voice seemed to catch the attention of the soldier’s part of her brain.
Her stomach flopped like a shuttle coming in for a rough landing, caught in atmospheric turbulence as she turned and met glowing blue eyes. Time seemed to freeze around her as those swirling blue eyes drew her in, and her heart thudded inside her chest.
"Khaazai." She greeted. Did her words sound a little on the breathy side? Her soldier’s will power seemed to have left her in his presence. "Should, I, umm, I bow to you?"
"No." His electric blue eyes seemed to penetrate deep into her soul. "We are to be wed. You do not bow to me." He took a step closer. "Should I be flattered you remember me?"
"Huh?" Zahra tilted her head back, trying to maintain eye contact despite his height.
"You humans appear to have some trouble remembering what we look like."
Ah. Zahra’s eyes skimmed over him. "Other than your eyes, there don't appear to be too many differences among your kind." She admitted. There were slight differences. Females were slenderer, males more built.
He made a... laugh-like noise, more of a growl but not as deep as other noises he’d uttered. "You simply don't have the eyesight to see our differences."
"You're saying you can see distinguishable marks on each of your skin?” Zahra wouldn't lie, that information intrigued her.
"We have lines zigzagging across our skin." He explained as he raised a hand to his arm to trace a line that appeared invisible to her own eyes.
"Wow." Zahra found herself leaning in to examine his bare muscled chest. "I can't see a single line."
"I have one right here." A clawed fingertip entered her vision to stroke down his well-formed pectoral.
"If I couldn't hear the sincerity in your voice, I'd think you were pulling my leg." Zahra remarked as she leaned back with a playful smile curling her lips. Her demeanor quickly changed, however, when she noticed other Khuuz’eth and humans staring at them with curiosity brimming in their eyes. She had no idea what must be running through their minds as they watched Khaazai and she interact. Did they look like a couple ready to be married? Comfortable with each other?
She couldn’t claim to be uncomfortable. Khaazai had a calming aura to him that she enjoyed.
"Pull your leg?" He mused as his brow furrowed in confusion.
"It's a phrase.” Zahra explained as she waved a hand in the air. “It means you’re joking or teasing someone. Like a playful trick or tease."
"No." Khaazai held a hand up to his chest. "I will only ever tell you the truth."
That was comforting to know... assuming she could trust his word to start with. She supposed that would come as they got to know each other.
"It is good to see you wearing my colors." Khaazai said, shifting the topic of conversation before they fell into an awkward silence.
"Colors?" Zahra echoed as she glanced down her body in confusion.
“Yes, the blue." One of his claws caught on the delicate fabric of her dress when he reached out to trace a highlight of the electric blue.
"Careful you don't rip it.” Zahra scowled as she watched his sharp claw closely. "I don't particularly like the idea of running around naked for the rest of the evening."
"Humans have trouble with nudity?"
"We do." Zahra then said after a moment, “Well, most of the time we do. Although there are certain people who might be more comfortable than others with nudity.”
