I liked that. So much had been taken from us. Now this silly lie had become something we all could hold onto.
We moved past the shop, following the group. We all stayed pretty close together, though everyone was shopping on Caleb, Teddy, and Seth’s dime. When we agreed to become citizens, we would get a stipend to live on until we could find work or we mated someone who could afford to care for us. From what Caleb and Seth had hinted, it was pretty much expected everyone would touch the Crystal and find their soulmate.
Teddy had point blank refused. He didn’t love the soul type testing, because he thought it was stupid, but he utterly refused to touch the Crystal. He didn’t want to chance Mindy not being his soulmate. He also didn’t want the genetic link and the mind-to-mind talking.
Caleb laughed loudly, his deep voice booming above the crowd. I glanced at him to make sure everything was fine, then paused. Don was sitting at a restaurant. Alone. His eyes were closed, but his tail wiggled and moved incessantly. I bit my lip. He was working, but I would rather hang out with him than wander the station. It felt safer. Besides, it would be fun to see everything through his eyes.
Mindy was supposed to get Teddy at some point anyway, then everyone was going to go back to the ship. But I imagined Caleb would drag Fyn along in exploring the station, and Fyn would invite the rest of the humans because Caleb would want him to. Seth would probably chill in his room, recovering. That was what he used to do, anyway.
“Hey, do you mind if I leave?” I asked.
“Are you going back to the ship? We can all go. We probably shouldn’t wander alone.”
“No.” I gestured to Don.
“Sure. Here.” He took the instrument. “I’ll see you later.”
I gave everyone a quick goodbye before winding through the crowd. I kept Don in my sight at all times. He had to know I was coming, but he didn’t help me, because I didn’t need it. The closer I got, the more his tail moved. It was like a barometer to what he was feeling. A very cute barometer. I had the utmost urge to kiss and stroke it, but I wouldn’t, because Don didn’t want me to. Yet. Soon. When we fucked, maybe.
I slid onto the stool next to him. His tail wrapped around my ankle, and I smiled. I didn’t say anything to greet him, as he was probably shuffling through the crowd's thoughts. I had no idea what he was looking for, but it had to be important.
A server who was bright orange and fuzzy like moss wandered over. They had four stocky legs that sort of jabbed out of their bullet-shaped body and four pitch-black eyes. They were odd, but perfectly understandable thanks to my touchstone as they asked for my order.
What they served was a mystery, and Don was busy. I didn’t really want to eat, but I needed to. I had to gain weight. I asked for whatever they recommended for drakcol, because I could eat pretty much the same things they did. If it would kill me, I assumed Don would stop me from eating it.
His tail squeezed my ankle, and I took that as an affirmative.
The orange alien returned with a plate of noodles smothered in yellow sauce with a large slab of black meat on top. The noodles had the same texture as pasta, and the sauce was surprisingly sweet with a citrus undertone. The meat was gamy, but not bad or underseasoned. I silently ate as I watched the crowd and tried to keep my thoughts as calm as possible to not distract Don.
When I finished, I put my hand on his thick thigh. I didn’t want to bother him, but I, for some reason, needed physical reassurance beyond his tail that he was beside me, that I wassafe with him, that Don wasn’t going to vanish. He didn’t react. I had no idea how much time passed with us being quiet and sitting together, but it was pleasant and calming to my tense nerves.
The server didn’t bother us more than to bring me red juice with bright green leaves—it was sweet with a minty flavor—and to refill the metal cup when it was empty.
Eventually, I rested my head against Don’s arm and breathed in his scent with a low groan. I was happy. It was odd. I hadn’t felt this way in so long, and here I was so content sitting with him. We weren’t doing anything, and we didn’t need to. When I had been on Earth, if I wasn’t at work, I was socializing. I went from party to party, event to event. It was a rare night where I sat and did nothing or chilled.
Now I relaxed with Don nightly before he helped me sleep. I loved it. The slow pace. The unhurried need to do anything. I didn’t love my lack of willingness to move when I was alone, but that would pass. I was sure of it. I needed time.
If I was going to stay here, I’d have to find an occupation or the nothingness would drive me up the wall, but maybe I didn’t need to be as busy as before. I would rather chill with Don. We worked well together like that. He could sing or play something for me, and I would listen and read. I did love to read, even though I’d yet to pick up a book since I’d been here.
We could just be, couldn’t we?
How much had I changed in the time I’d been gone? Yeah, a lot had happened, but still… I was me, but I was different too. Who would I have been if I’d never been taken? I couldn’t hazard a guess, nor did I even want to try.
Right here, right now, I was safe, happy, and content.
Chapter 20
Is this a date?
The thoughts around me buzzed like a cloud of insects. I was searching for certain images in the minds of those who wandered by, as I didn’t speak all of the languages. Most people thought in a mix of emotion, word, and image, which helped. I paid attention for any chance of humans being sold on this station. If there was, I would find and rescue them.
The Cohort had ordered every Drakcon ship to be on the lookout for humans and to bring them to Tamkolvanloknol if found, at any cost. The Coalition had issued a warning about the trafficking of humans; it was highly illegal. Different species within the Coalition would be keeping an eye out, but illegalsellers would always slip through the nets in place, hence the idea to give bounties for every human returned.
Kalvoxrencol had already repurposed one of the moons around Tamkolvanloknol to be changed into a safe haven for the humans who wanted to stay.
None of the wandering thoughts of the shoppers in the market were as loud as Vince. He was attempting so hard not to distract me, and I loved his hand on my thigh. It was grounding. My mentor had warned me about taking in too much. Other people’s thoughts, trauma, and personalities could become my own if I wasn’t careful. He’d taught me well about guarding my sanity, but Vince’s touch acted as a failsafe, reminding me of who I was.
Vince rested his head against my arm, releasing a long breath, and I struggled to keep my thoughts on the crowd. Waves of happiness and peace rolled off him as he nuzzled me. I caught an errant thought that made me pause and tore my focus to shreds.
