Better than her previous answers, but still not what he hoped for. When she grabbed a cloth and started drying the dishes she’d just washed, he rushed over to her. “Here, let me do that.”
She smirked, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow at him. “A Defender cleaning up? I don’t think so.”
“Hey, I take my turn at KP duty on every mission.” Gib rolled up the sleeves of his Defender uniform. “This is the only planet where we’re treated like honored guests.”
She snorted. “I’ll bet.”
“Usually we’re trying to help the natives survive.” He tugged on the cloth she held. “Let me help.”
She glanced past him toward the hall. “If the royal family finds you in here, they’ll assume I’m making you do my job. I don’t want to get into trouble. I need this position.”
“If anyone comes in, I’ll set them straight.” He placed a hand on her hip.
Gasping, she dropped the cloth, but he caught it. “I.... You.... Fine, but wouldn’t you rather be drinking with the king?”
“I’m quite content right here.” Before she could argue further, he started to dry the dishes, placing them in the bins containing other clean dinnerware. “I’m Gib, by the way. Of the Mingot.”
“Yeah.” She dipped her hands back in the sink. “I got that.... You know, with the no hair and stuff.” Her entire neck reddened before she turned to face him. “I’m Vilarra of the Hemera.”
He smiled to himself at the beautiful flow of her name, but when her eyes widened and she returned her attention to the soapy water, he frowned. Had she taken offense to his reaction? Or was the ability to smile only granted to royalty on this planet?
“So, um, how long have you had a job here?” He didn’t know if it was even a job, or just her turn for KP duty. He simply grasped at anything to keep their conversation going.
“I’ve been in the palace kitchen for many Galactic years, but I’ve only been head for one.”
Definitely more information than he’d expected. Had he finally chipped away a piece of her barrier? Reaching for a wet plate as she put another in the rack, he ran the tips of his fingers along her knuckles.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, her eyebrows squished together. “So, what’s this all about? Why are you here, Defender?”
“It’s Gib—”
“Yes, of the Mingot. I got that already.”
“Okay.” Her quick temper simply intrigued him more. “And we’re here to ensure the Erebus don’t attack during the Alorama ceremony as they did many years ago.”
“Cosmos, you’re frustrating.” She flicked the water from her hand into the sink then spun to face him, pointing a finger into his chest. “I meant you. What are you doing here? Why are you helping me when you should be off drinking mead with the king?”
“Because you said I didn’t know anything about how the people here live.” He brushed her hand aside, tempted to pull her forward, into his arms. “And I want to know.” About her. Why he couldn’t read her mind, and what every part of her body looked like underneath those rags she wore.
She shook her head. “I’m just one Hemera. There’s a whole village of us commoners, if you want to know more. Why don’t you go there?”
“Because I feel bad for what we said last night, and how you were treated during the banquet. I want to help you.” He shrugged. “And you’ve piqued my interest.”
She released a ferocious laugh, her chest heaving forward with the sound. “If you’re looking to get laid, you picked the wrong girl. There are plenty of others who would gladly bring you to their bed. If you hurry, you can still find a willing partner for the evening.”
Fornax, she really made it hard for him to learn more about her. Though maybe she shielded herself for a reason. Had someone hurt her? Had she experienced a recent loss? All reasons he’d been able to read from others who behaved the same way. “If that’s what I wanted, I wouldn’t have come in here.” He grabbed another dish from the rack. “Just being in your company is good enough for me. Unless you want me to leave.”
She jerked her head in his direction. “No! I mean.... You...You’re welcome to stay.” She cleared her throat. “It’s up to you.”
With a smile, Gib set the plate in the clean bin and went for another. “I think I’ll stay.”
Vilarra didn’t talk much as she finished up the dishes, but her muscles seemed less tense. And when he accidentally—and sometimes on purpose—bumped into her, she simply smiled or gave him a nudge with her hip.
By the time they had completed that task, the banquet hall had cleared. They wiped all the tables with wet cloths before Vilarra snuffed out all the wall sconces, leaving them completely in the dark except for the bright glow of one of the planet’s moons. Gib stuck by her, wanting to ensure she didn’t leave him behind, disappear as she had the night before.
As Vilarra reached for the handle of the kitchen exit, Gib tugged on her sleeve. “May I walk you home?”
She froze, and, for the briefest of moments, he caught a glimpse into her thoughts. Not words but a pulsing flash of red. Danger.
Fornax! He was far from dangerous. Why did she fear him?
“I told you,” she said, not bothering to turn around. “I’m not going to take you to my bed. You missed your opportunity to find a woman for company by spending the evening with me.”
He placed his palm on her shoulder but, when she jumped, he quickly removed it. “And I told you, that’s not what I am looking for. If it was, I had plenty of opportunity to have my way here. I’m not like that.”
“One can never be sure what to believe from the mouth of a stranger.”
“Or even from someone you know.” He pushed open the door, not giving her a choice. He would see her to her door before heading back to the barracks for some rest.
Initially, her steps were short and fast, but as he kept pace with her along the edge of the dark forest, she slowed down, even tugging on his hand to show him the bright pink bishicub flower, spotlighted by the moon’s glow. “It’s the first to bloom every year. We find them only in the evenings just before the Alorama. Older generations believed it to be bad luck if they haven’t bloomed before the ceremony happens. That usually means floods, which is easy to understand since we live on a tiny piece of land on a planet of water. Though, it seems, this year, we will escape that disaster.”
Though beautiful, the flower didn’t compare to the way Vilarra’s eyes sparkled when she spoke, how her cheeks flushed when she smiled. And the energy zinging from her body into his as she continued to hold onto his fingers captivated him more than any thought he could have caught a glimpse of in her mind.
Then she dropped his hand and laughed. “That’s probably not what you want to know. Come. I have something better to show you.” She raced ahead, taunting him to catch up.
He could run. In every training drill, he arrived at the end before any other member of his squad. Even when he started last. Yet, he didn’t want to race Vilarra, only catch up and find out what else she had in store for him.
Lights flickered ahead of them, not from any celestial bodies, but the glow of fire. The heavy beat of music echoed in their direction, along with excited voices singing and laughing. A celebration away from the palace.
Vilarra raced into the lively commoner village where children skipped along in small groups, giggling and playing. Torches lined the streets, and a large bonfire blazed in the middle of the thatch-roofed houses. Far from the humongous and extravagantly-decorated palace of the royal family. Dressed in their dull-colored, thin fabrics, the men and women in this village didn’t seem to notice, gathered in a circle around the fire, dancing and singing as if their lives couldn’t be any better.
Was this the life Vilarra wanted him to see? The sense of community that made life for the commoners bearable? The Defenders shared a similar camaraderie while the Galactic Alliance, mostly made up of Yarwin, controlled their lives.
Glancing around, he searched fo
r Vilarra, but couldn’t see her. She’d disappeared into the crowd, finally finding a way to ditch him. He should have expected that after all the times she’d told him to depart since he’d joined her in the kitchen. In the throng of people, he couldn’t catch a single glimpse of her. She’d given him the slip. And with too many other Hemera around, he couldn’t do a thorough search before his shift began. He turned to leave. If he made it back to the barracks in time, he could catch a quick nap.
“Hey, Defender!”
Gib paused, unsure if he’d heard the voice or just imagined what he’d hoped to hear.
“Are you running off already?”
He spun toward the voice, spotting Vilarra only steps in front of him.
“I thought you wanted to see how the other side lived. Change your mind?”
Her smile shone brighter than the flames licking the sky behind her. And, for a moment, he feared her. No, feared he wasn’t enough for her. She’d worked hard for everything she’d achieved. Not much, but more than him. He enrolled in Defender training so his father could retire. Gib had been his only way to do that. He hadn’t had to prove anything to anyone. Sure, training proved tough, but he guessed growing up on Hemera wasn’t routine either. Yet, he had no desire to walk away from her. Didn’t know if he ever would. “No, not at all. I thought you’d tried to ditch me.”
“Well, I can’t say I didn’t think about that.” She rocked forward on her toes. “But, you’re kinda growing on me.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the gathering. “C’mon. I think you’ll have fun here.”
A burly man stopped them at the edge of the crowd. “Vee, what are you bringing him here for? You said you hated the offworlders.”
“It’s okay, Sam. This one’s different. He wants to know what our life is like.” She shoved past the guy and continued toward the fire.
Gib followed her to an empty log in the center of the crowd. Taking a seat, he expected her to settle beside him, but she remained standing, swaying her hips to the music. Though others danced along with Vilarra, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She mesmerized him with her gyrating hips. Erotic motions that made him yearn to hold her, touch her face, her lips, her long neck, and especially the rest of her body hidden under her plain garments, manipulate her body until she screamed in pleasure. Fornax! He sucked in a deep breath and shifted in his seat. How did she possess so much power over him?
The tune ended, and another began, much faster and livelier. Vilarra grabbed his hand and yanked. “Join me.”
Shaking his head, he remained seated. He didn’t dance. Not here. Not in front of a crowd. “Go ahead. I’ll watch.”
With a whoop, she circled around the fire with the other dancers, marching in and bowing out, linking arms to skip around and around. A much more energetic gathering than the dinner he’d attended. And more intimate, with the commoners mingling with everyone instead of staying in their own spot to socialize with those immediately beside them and drink until they passed out as many of the Defenders had done earlier that night. None of the commoners seemed intoxicated, and he hadn’t seen any mead passed around at this party.
Vilarra slowed down, eventually stopping in front of him, her face now pale. She’d likely started early to prepare the meal he’d enjoyed at the palace. A long day she’d have to repeat again for the Alorama ceremony. Gib stood beside her and cupped her elbow. “You look like you need some sleep. Would you allow me to walk you home?”
She glanced up at him through her long, dark lashes. “That would be nice. But...I still haven’t changed my mind.”
Reaching for her hand, he interlaced his fingers with hers. “And I’m still okay with that. But I’m afraid if I don’t escort you home now, you’ll fall asleep where you’re standing, and I won’t know where to take you.”
She squeezed his fingers. “How very sweet.”
Sweet. Not a word he wanted to be described as, but he’d take it in comparison to what she’d called him the night before.
Once he’d ushered her out of the crowd, she took the lead in guiding him toward her house. Only one lane and two thatch houses away, they arrived too soon. No time to get to know her any better with her guard finally down.
“Well, this is it.” Vilarra clasped her hands behind her back and stared at her feet. “This is my hut.”
“I guess this is good night then.” Gib bowed, unsure of proper etiquette on Hemera to end the evening. “I hope we will find some time together tomorrow.”
She quickly glanced up. “Really? You want to spend more time with me?”
He grinned at her look of surprise. “More than you can imagine.”
“Maybe.... If you still want to, you can come inside for a bit? See what happens?”
“No.” He shook his head, using all his willpower to turn down her offer. “As much as I want to take you up on that invitation, I have my watch shift in a few mins. I have my own duty now.”
Before he could prepare for her movement, she rose on her toes and pressed her body to him. Her lips plied his with sweet fervor. When his mind finally caught up, he held her tight and plundered her mouth. Then he pulled away. Her moan echoed his disappointment. “Tomorrow. I’d like to continue that tomorrow.”
“I’d like that, too.” She ducked into her home before he had the chance to claim another kiss, decide to shirk his duties to find pleasure with Vilarra.
Oh, but it would happen. He’d make sure of it. Though, not soon enough.
Four
Yanking a clean apron from the shelf in her bedroom, Vilarra yawned, and her jaw cracked. Although she’d been tired walking back to her house the night before, sleep hadn’t come after that kiss with Gib. She’d tossed and turned on her lumpy mattress, wondering what it would be like to feel his soft lips on other parts of her body. His lips and his rough, calloused hands. Working hands, like her own.
No. She blinked hard. Today didn’t leave her with any time to think about the Defender. The Defender who would be departing in a day or two, never to set foot on her planet again. Or if he did return for the next Alorama, he likely wouldn’t admit to knowing her. Loneliness had dissolved the walls she’d built around her heart, made her willing to settle for only one night with him. Yet a single night with him would never be enough.
Elynyn leaped from Vilarra’s bed, clinging to her apron with her front claws before climbing up to her shoulder. The tibbar nuzzled into her neck, making a soft chirring noise.
“I know, little one. I’m tired, too.” She cupped her pet in her palm then placed the tibbar on her pillow. “But I can’t stay. I’ve got to work. You stay here and catch up on sleep for both of us.”
Elynyn stood on her hind legs, squeaking as she pressed her front paws together as if begging Vilarra to stay.
“I wish I could.” She scratched behind the tibbar’s ears. “But if I don’t work, I can’t bring home food for you.”
Elynyn returned to all fours and nuzzled into her pillow, exactly as Vilarra would prefer to do. She shook away her fatigue. The upcoming celebration left her no time to even think about sleeping. Grabbing a piece of stale naip from the counter, she headed out the door. She’d eat her breakfast on the go.
The sun peeked above the ropral forest, lighting up the path to the palace enough for her to not need a torch light, though most of the time she didn’t use one anyway, the route ingrained into her memory even in the dark. The fire had been extinguished long ago, yet eye-watering smoke still hung in the air. Tears ran down her cheeks as she hurried beyond the village.
When the palace came into view, she could see some of her friends there already, standing on ladders to hang streamers of flowers over the entrances. The place already had an aura of excitement around it, even this early in the morning. Once she stepped inside, that thrill would disappear, lost in the sweltering heat of the kitchen and the stress of ensuring she prepared all the food on time.
Movement caught her attention to the left of the back entrance. Then
a groan. A figure lay prone next to a tree. A Defender, if the person’s clothing was any indication. And male, according to its size. She dared a step closer, wondering if he’d been hurt somehow. When the Defender sat up, she jumped back. He placed his palms on the side of his head and squeezed his eyes shut, but Vilarra could still identify him. The same one who had been with Gib the first night she’d met him. The one who’d wanted to kill Elynyn.
Backing away, she shook her head. He could suffer on his own. Likely intoxicated from too much mead, he didn’t deserve her assistance.
“Please help.” His request came out as a low groan.
Cosmos! He’d spotted her. Now, she had to offer to aid him if she could. She walked closer but remained out of his reach. “What do you need?”
“A new head, to start.” He massaged his temples then squinted up at her. “Hey, I know you.”
“Yes, how can I help you?” She didn’t have time to play games with the Defender.
“Gib. Call Gib. I need him to get me back to the barracks.” The Defender turned his head to the side and vomited.
The stench turned her stomach, yet the small piece of naip she’d consumed remained inside. “I...I don’t know how to contact him.”
The Defender wiped his arm across his mouth then held out the other arm. “My wrist com. You can contact him through that.”
Pursing her lips, Vilarra stared at him. “And why can’t you contact him?”
When the Defender vomited again, she turned away. Okay, that was why.
She waited until the Defender paused from losing the contents of his stomach before she dashed forward and unstrapped the communications unit from his wrist. Never having used any form of technology before, she stared at the device, unsure what to do with it. It wasn’t as if she saw a button with Gib’s name. That would be too easy. “What do I do?”
“Name.” That’s all she got before the Defender retched again.
Vilarra stepped away, focusing on the wrist com. Was she supposed to say her name, or the person she wanted to call. “Gib,” she said into the unit, deciding that made more sense.