Glaring at Wyn, Urgg waved in the general direction in front of us.
We wound through the crowds until we reached a tree that seemed to scrape the sky. Its craggy bark was deep brown, and its leaves were a deep green. But none of that held my attention. I focused on the door carved into the front of the trunk, at least twenty feet tall. We stepped inside, and I gaped at the spiral staircase going up the center. Landings of all different shapeshugged the walls. The banisters were covered in vines and flowers, framing the staircase and many levels, and vines draped from the walls.
“Thiswholething is one tavern?”
“Yep,” Urgg said, resting a muscular arm over my shoulders. “Largest one I’ve ever seen. People travel from all over the universe to drink here. There are exclusive alcohols that they don’t allow to be sold off the planet.”
I shook my head in amazement.
Wyn tugged on my wrist. “Come on.”
We searched for a less busy area, but we didn’t find one. Finally, we settled on the fifth floor near the railing so I could watch the comings and goings. Urgg ordered a variety of drinks, causing Wyn to protest.
“Afraid that Commander Monqilcolnen will have to lug you to your quarters again?” they asked, grinning and revealing their stubby teeth.
“No. Why would I?”
“We’ll get food too,” I commented. When the server came back, I ordered whatever food pairings they suggested.
When the food was delivered, our table practically groaned under the weight. Wasting no time, we dug into the fruit, bread, stews, meat, cheeses, and roasted and mashed vegetables. Nothing was bland or lacked seasonings. Everything was delicious, and the courses matched the drink pairings perfectly.
Musicians sat in the corner of our landing, playing on stringed instruments resembling harps—the song light and haunting. Conversation echoed around the tree.
It felt so alive.
I had never thought about what other lifeforms might live outside of my own planet, but here were people of the like I could’ve never imagined.
“So you and Kalvoxrencol are staying overnight?” Urgg asked, mouth full of food, sending chunks falling to the table.
“Yep.” I took a long drink of a bright green alcohol with a fruity tang.
“That will be fun.” They grinned, revealing half of their dinner.
“I suppose.”
A jeer dragged my attention to the people next to us, who were playing some sort of game with dice and chips. One lost, and a towering person with four arms and curled horns sputtered and coughed as they shouted.
A massive hand covered mine, and I looked at Urgg, whose eyebrows were furrowed and a frown tugged the corners of their mouth. “Do you not want to? Is he pressuring you? Prince or no prince, I will beat him to a mangled pulp until he can’t even cry for his parents.”
Wyn gave a choked squeak.
“I asked him to come. I want to… spend the night with him, but I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough. Drakcol want to talk too much. My Talvax wanted to discuss everything before she would come into my cave. It was so tiresome that I almost conked her over the head and kidnapped her. That seemed much easier.”
Wyn’s mouth fell open. “Talking is a necessary step.”
“Boring you mean.”
The two of them fell into a good-natured fight about permissions, and I ignored them, watching the world around me.
By the time we finished everything, I was practically bursting and I was slightly tipsy. Wyn was completely wasted; he swayed, giggling randomly. Urgg helped him to his feet, and I followed them. Together, we headed back to the port where they would return to the ship and I would meet Kal.
My stomach knotted in nerves as well as anticipation. I wanted Kal more than I’d ever wanted anyone else. Desire thrummed in my body, and I hurried to where Kal waited.
Seth was late. He’d probably gotten distracted with Urgg and Wyn, but I wanted to search for him to make sure he was alright. Rain fell from the sky in soft drops, and the ground squished with each step as I paced.
As the afternoon began to lengthen and the shuttle powered up its engines, I caught sight of a familiar face.Seth. My soul leaped at the sight of him. I started forward, and Seth grinned.
