I finally noticed a tree in front of me, with black scaly bark and spiky gold leaves. “Thanks.”
“Without question.” His tail tightened around my waist as if he wasn’t going to let me go, but he released me after a breath.
We neared the back wall, covered in vines, but my gaze latched onto an older drakcol, if his rough scales were any indication, tending the plants. He straightened, his oval face serene and his fern-green tail smoothly swishing. “Kalvoxrencol, and I assume your mate.”
“This is my Seth. Seth, this is Pimtimzol, my oravirven.”
“Hello,” I said in a barely audible voice, not catching his name.
“It is a pleasure to meet you.” Kal’s friend deeply inclined his head and showed me his throat.
Sweat began to gather on my forehead and palms. “You too.”
He glanced between the two of us. “I am pleased to see the two of you together.”
Kal’s tail curled about my ankle before letting go. “As am I.”
Unable to speak, I smiled. I hoped by all the couches in the universe, I would not have to talk or say this dude’s name, which might or might not start with Tim.
My smile seemed to be enough. Tim-something gestured to the lush garden. “See the beauty our world has to offer.”
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“You are most welcome, Seth.” Tim-something’s thin lips stretched into a wide smile, revealing his sharp canines, and I shuddered.
Warmth pressed against my side moments before Kal whispered in my ear, “Are you alright? Do you need to go back to our quarters?”
“No.” I shifted away, fighting a sudden rush of electricity from his closeness.
“Shall we stroll?”
When we stepped forward, his tail curled around my ankle, and I allowed it. The strength of his hold was oddly comforting.
Chapter 9
More information is always better, I think?
After a week of leaving my room, things were getting easier for me and Kal. We’d settled into a routine. In the morning we would eat, and then he would leave to see his mentor. I would usually hang out in the apartment with Lucy before he came back to take me out to explore—I hadn’t gone out by myself yet.
Me and NAID would often chat when Kal was gone or in the evening. She did indeed identify as a female, though she hadn’t chosen a name yet.
This afternoon, like many others, I spoke with NAID. “So,” I started, petting Lucy, “they have an emperor and empress, but they also have a parliament? Like England?”
“It’s called the Cohort. A third of the seats are inherited by family lines, the other two-thirds are elected. The Chief of the Cohort has to be elected, regardless of their bloodline,” she explained.
“And this Crystal nominates the next emperor or empress from the royal children?”
“Yes.”
“What is this Crystal?”
“Science has yet to explain it with any clarity, but the spiritual souls have a connection to the Crystal, and they have described it the best they can.”
“Which is?”
“An entity. It was discovered long before drakcol understood science or traversed the universe. A religion grew around the Crystal, which withstood the infighting between the different clans until it nominated one ruler.”
“How?”
