Alianna smiled, her heart racing in her chest. “I might just do that. Thanks, John.”
***************
Hot Guy Max From The Beach
10:22: What is wrong?
Alianna saw the message come up on her phone screen and cringed at the name in her contacts list. She opened her phone, updating the name he was saved under, and typed back to him.
Ali
10:25: nothing, why?
Rionan
10:26am: I felt you. Something changed; you were either excited or worried. Are you alright? Do you need me?
Alianna remembered the intensity difference in their soul-bond and wondered what exactly he had felt when John told her about the exhibition.
Ali
10:28: yes, im ok. have you ever been to the museum?
27
Origins
Rionan came to meet Alianna after work, as he had promised. She had called him on his mobile phone, and the way she could speak to him through it puzzled him, although it was incredibly useful.
Alianna had said she had something important to discuss with him, and to meet her when she finished, at three o’clock this afternoon. He was once again in his human form, not daring to leave his hotel suite in his natural Xanthian state. He was wearing his usual finery, a navy-blue shirt with a black belt and black trousers. He was leaning against a lamp post, waiting for Alianna. Two women walked past, catching his eye and offering him what he assumed were supposed to be seductive smiles, batting their eyelashes in his direction.
Rionan didn’t respond with words or any returned attention. He looked away from them, staring at the door he knew Alianna would appear through shortly. He had no interest in anyone else and had no need to pay them any attention.
“Rude.” Rionan heard one of them mutter, as they sashayed past him.
Rionan stepped away from the lamp post as he saw Alianna exit the café, her eyes scanning the street for him. When they landed on him, she offered him a broad smile, hastening her walking pace as she moved towards where he stood.
“I found something, I think,” Alianna offered, forgoing a hello, “some place where we might get some answers, or new ideas at least.”
Rionan raised an eyebrow as she pulled a leaflet out of her pocket, handing it to him.
“The museum?” he asked her quizzically, taking in the details of the leaflet and the new exhibitions.
“Yes. There is a new exhibition that I have been told about, which is all about Porthan. The exhibition includes items that belonged to Porthan’s founders. They have recently been returned to the museum, so they’re out on display.”
Rionan considered her words. “It is coincidental timing that these artefacts should appear precisely when I did. And as you pointed out, it is possible that my people have been to this area before, given our very similar currencies. It certainly will not hurt to go there and see what we find.”
“It’s open until 5.30pm. We should be able to get there soon, if we head off now.”
Rionan’s heart warmed at the eagerness in her tone and her desire to help him. He also felt a pang of sadness.
This new headway was good. They might be on to something. The sooner they found it, the sooner he could return to Xanthia.
But Alianna was not in Xanthia. Alianna was here.
He decided to shelve those thoughts for now and offered Alianna an appreciative nod. “Let’s go.”
***************
