Before we could say anything further, a soft thunk across the room announced someone unbarring the door. We all stood, facing the door warily.Like deer with a bear circling them.Thinking of myself as prey instead of the top of the food chain was humbling. And terrifying.
The door slid to the side and a beautiful female vorpyr stepped inside. She had a small smile on her face and was dressed flamboyantly in colorful, flowing pants and a long tunic top with cuts up the sides to her waist, giving glimpses of her softly curved silver abdomen. Her hair was a deep brown and flowed down her back.
“That’s Thyra.” Jaron murmured to us.
She was truly lovely. I knew I was fairly plain and that hadn’t ever bothered me. Compared to her I wasn’t plain, I was hideous.Thatbothered me. Of course the Vorazyrwould have a wife as beautiful as this. It only made sense. No matter what species, wealth and power always bred with beauty.
“Hello.” she greeted in nearly perfect intergalactic speech. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to invite you all to dinner this evening.”
When she stopped talking both Jaron and Tatiana shifted their gazes from her to me. “She wants to invite us to dinner.”
“Tobedinner, or to be chained up as entertainment, or to actually sit and eat with them?” My brother, the realist.
“Jaron!” Tatiana scolded.
Thyra watched all this with a serene expression, though curiosity shone in her intelligent eyes.
“We, uh, are honored by the invitation,” I began. “Can I ask what the occasion is?”
She smiled. “There isn’t any special occasion, I’m afraid. I simply wanted a chance to converse with you all in a pleasant environment. Plus, our chefs are the best, and I’m sure you could use some culinary elevation.” She winked.
As much as I wanted to like her, I was suspicious. I told the other two what she’d said.
“Tell her yes,” Tatiana encouraged.
“I have reservations, but it’s not like we can say no,” Jaron agreed.
I relayed our acceptance and thanks for the invitation. “When should we be ready?” She gave me the time and left.
“We should dress up.” Tatiana said.
“I only have these clothes.” I reminded her. How she’d gotten other outfits, I didn’t know. At least we had an instant clean machine built into the wall of each bathroom. Hang your clothes in it and only five minutes later they were thoroughly cleaned and dry.
“Someone brought a couple of changes for you today. They put them in your chest.”
At her words I went to investigate and did indeed find a dress, a night shift, and a top and pants folded neatly in the chest. I was flabbergasted. Why were they treating us so kindly? I was anxious, like the other shoe was about to drop.
“They don’t believe in underwear, I guess,” Tatiana said as she came into the room we shared.
“There are worse things not to believe in. I don’t particularly miss bras.” Though I became self-conscious whenever a cool wind made my nipples pebble. But the female vorpyr I’d seen, including the teacher, had prominent nipples under their soft garments. It was just a part of life. The culture I’d grown up in had been influenced by many systems of beliefs and ultimately, women had been taught for hundreds of years to hide natural parts of themselves and think it’s normal. Why? Culture and belief systems. I hoped someday that archaic way of thinking vanished into history.
“Sometimes it’s embarrassing, like when…” she bit her lip and stopped. “Do you think I should wear the dress?”
I straightened from where I was bending over the chest and took a good look at her. Her cheeks flushed a bright pink, and she looked away.
“You’ve been treated respectfully by that Kyvar you’ve been around, right?” Worry gnawed at me. If he wanted to hurt her, ifanyof them wanted to hurt us, there was little we could do. They were powerful, too strong to fight off, and there likely weren’t rules against harming prisoners. Though it seemed that the females of this society were treated well and protected by whatever laws they had.
“Oh yes, he’s very nice. Sometimes he looks at me though, and when my body responds…” now her entire chest flushed along with her face.
“I see.” She found him attractive? To each their own. “Just let me know if he does anything he shouldn’t. I’ll do whatever I can to make sure you stay safe.”
She finally looked at me, a soft smile lighting up her face. “You realize you don’t have to take care of everything and everyone, right? As much as I might feel like your and Jaron’s baby sister,I am an adult with almost a PhD,” her smile turned wistful at that, “and Ichoseto come on the mission and be here. You’re not responsible for what happens to me. I’m just so grateful you came back for me that day at the shrines when you could have gotten away.”
I shook my head. I was responsible and nothing she could say would change that.
Chapter 12
“You’d better be right about this.” I growled.
