“I don’t believe you,” he said.
Seth’s perfect warrior soul was yet another thing I tried not to think about.
“Pest.”
I ignored his soft tone. “I should go.”
“Talk to your mate, and let us in,” Zoltilvoxfyn said before ending the session.
I needed to talk to Seth, but I didn’t have to talk about my past right now. What I needed was to sort through the fight because I would never be calm until he was in my embrace again.
“NAID, where is Seth?”
NAID materialized. “Seth is not on the ship.”
My soul froze. “What?”
“Seth Harris is not on the ship.”
“Where is he?” I demanded, tail whipping.
“Seth departed with the most recent shuttle to the planet’s surface,” she said in a calm voice.
“When did he leave?”
“Over two hours ago.”
I rushed to the door, shouting into my touchstone, “Talvax.”
“Yes, Prince.”
“My Seth is on the planet. Alone. Scan for him.”
A few moments passed. “A storm is making it difficult for our sensors, but he is in the general area of the port.”
“Transport him to the ship,” I ordered.
“I can’t, Prince. The storm makes it unsafe to do so, especially because Peveiti technology is not compatible with ours.”
“I need a shuttle. Now.”
Captain Talvax hesitated, then replied, “I will have one prepped. I assume you are going?”
“Yes.” Seth needed me, and I would not let anything happen to him ever again.
A tinge of fear twisted under my skin. I could do this. I was not weak, and I did not need protection.
I had no idea where to find the alien who’d helped me. While I hadn’t been truthful with NAID when I spoke of my reasons to go to the planet, I might as well thank the alien since I was here.
Approaching the closest vendor, I asked, “Do you know where I can find…” I paused, wracking my brain for the alien’s name. “Gaptu?”
She gestured down the lane. “She owns a shop that sells jewelry.”
“Thanks.” So Gaptu was her name. Thank God.
Head down, I tried to ignore the swelling crowd and loud voices. In my distraction, I almost went past Gaptu’s shop, but a flash of pink glowing tentacles caught my attention. I stepped into the shop right next to the water. The trunk of a tree speared the center of the round building, and jewelry of all kinds lay on tables and hung from the walls.
“Hello,” I said, head ducking. “Thank you for helping me.”
