Dash’s chest puffed out with pride, so I guess whatever Vorah just promised was respected amongst the Maji.
I licked my lips. “Then yes, we can see if we’re suitable.”
“Thanas blesses me,” Vorah said and looked at Dash with so much happiness it warmed my heart. “I have possibly found my mate, baja.”
“I am glad for you, my friend. You’re a deserving male.”
Vorah smiled widely and looked back at me.
“It will take four days to reach Ealra, so we can meet daily to talk, walk, and get to know each other if that is okay with you?”
I felt a breath of relief rush from me.
“That sounds wonderful, Vorah.”
We were all smiling then, and it almost made me forget that I needed to apologise to Kol. At the reminder of him, my gut told me that my deal with Vorah wouldn’t be well received, but I blinked the thought away. Surely, Kol would be delighted that I was accepting my situation and practically throwing myself into it … so to speak.
I thought of the intimate moment Kol and I shared, but I reminded myself he only touched me because I challenged him. He said so himself. He wanted me to heel to him like a dog. I had to shake off the stupid butterflies and growing interest I had in him, and I reminded myself that I was reacting to him like a love-struck fool because he was the only single male I had encountered. Besides, he wasn’t just the shipmaster, he was a prince to his people, and there was no way he would slum it with a common human girl like me.
Not that I want him to.
I refocused on the males before me and smiled because Vorah seemed really pleased with my response. Dash appeared happy as well because he kept patting his friend silently on the back.
“Now I really have to speak with the shipmaster before he throws me off the craft,” I added with nervous laughter after a few moments.
“I will escort you to the bridge,” Vorah offered.
I blushed. “Thank you.” I looked at Dash and said, “It was great to meet you.”
“And you, Nova.”
When Vorah and I turned and began to walk away, I glanced back and found Dash watching us like he was a proud father or big brother or something. I shook my head clear and focused on Vorah as we walked.
“So, is this your first time to Earth?” I asked him.
He smiled down at me, and I realised he had dimples. That shocked me. I never imagined aliens could look like humans, so seeing one of them with dimples almost floored me. Vorah was cute, and I couldn’t believe I noticed that about him. I couldn’t believe that his bluish coloured skin went unregistered in my mind until that very moment.
I think I’m getting used to the Maji and their differences.
“Yes,” Vorah answered me, regaining my attention. “This is my first mission, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”
“I bet you are,” I teased. “All the females aboard must be strange to you.”
“Very much so. There are so few of them on my home world, and fewer who are unmated.”
“I’ve never thought of it, but I think it’s like that on Earth, too. I come across more men than women, and when I do, the women are usually owned.”
“Owned?” Vorah repeated.
I looked down as we walked and nodded.
“I am sorry for your people’s suffering, Nova. I want to kill every human male that has brought harm to a female.”
That sounded very violent, but I appreciated the kindness behind it.
I looked up at Vorah. “Thank you.”
He nodded once, and from then on, we walked in a comfortable silence. I lost count of how many hallways we walked down and corners we had turned before we reached the bridge, but when we did, I gave Vorah a hearty laugh.
“Thank you. I’d have never made it here without your help.”
He licked his lips. “You’re welcome.”
He stood waiting for something, and the only thing I could think of was the suitability thing.
“We can have dinner together this evening in the mess hall … if you’d like?”
Vorah’s blue eyes practically popped out of his head. “Yes, please.”
“Great.” I smiled. “You’ll have to check with who oversees the housing because I’m not sure what number my room is.”
I wasn’t even sure how I’d get back to my room.
“I will find that information and seek you out when my shift ends.”
“Great. I’ll see you later.”
Vorah smiled widely then he turned and walked away with a spring in his step. I smiled too, knowing I could very well spend a lot of time with that male in the future. I forgot about Vorah when I turned to face the door before me. Without giving it too much thought, I lifted my hand and knocked. Seconds ticked by before the large door slide opened and revealed … Mikoh.
“You’re everywhere.”
He winked. “Remember that.”
I drew in a breath. “Can I speak to His Highness?”
“Who?”
“Kol.”
“Why didn’t you say so?”
“I did.”
“No, you said His Highness.”
“It was a royal joke.”
“I didn’t laugh.”
“Because you’re incapable of the action, you statue.”
Mikoh’s grin made me laugh.
“You’re insufferable,” I said with a shake of my head.
“So I’ve heard.”
“Why aren’t you with Surkah?”
“She ordered me away.” He shrugged. “She does that a lot, so my friend Nero is guarding her for me.”
I nodded, so he turned to the side and gestured for me to enter the room. I did and came to a stop almost instantly. The room was … huge. Maji males were everywhere, and they all looked like they had important jobs. There was high-tech equipment, consoles, chairs, flashing lights, holographic screens and a huge … viewing pane. It was overlooking the Earth.
I was no longer on Earth; I was looking at it.
“When did we leave?” I asked aloud as I stared at the dying planet that I called home.
“An interval or so ago,” Mikoh replied to me. “No long after the Vina disembarked.”
“I didn’t feel a thing,” I murmured.
“You wouldn’t. The Ebony is virtually silent for take-off, in flight, and landing. It is the perfect craft.”
That was the perfect word to describe the Ebony: perfect. The entire spacecraft was truly something to behold. From an outsider’s view, it was marvellously big, futuristic, and definitely not of Earth. The advancements within the ship were simply incredible. The cleanliness of it caught me off guard when I looked around, but when I looked past that, I saw the technological gems for what they were—simply mesmerising.
Nothing was plain on the bridge of the Ebony. From a couples of metres away, a white wall looked simply like a white wall, but when you got closer, you could see zips of light, the outline of digital handprint panels that were used to open doors and other things, codes to lock and unlock them as well as a written language that I could not decipher. The more I looked, the more I saw; it was like the ship was alive, and it was—it was alive with technology.
I made a mental note to examine the walls of my quarters and those in the hallways to see if I missed the digital delight that was hidden in plain view all around me.