Cylo squeezed Ariez’s shoulder.“I leave her in your care.Do not let any harm befall her.”The knot spread from Cylo’s stomach to his chest and wrenched hard.Why did it feel like he was abandoning her?“Trap,” he muttered.“Durok?”he said into his O.D.I.“Guard the females.”
“On my way,” the male gruffed.
Cylo waited with his gaze on Wren.His heart swelled, wishing he could kiss her lips, bury his face in the curve of her neck, and inhale her scent.For now, she was safest within the dome.Durok strode toward him, his greatsword in hand.Behind him, his Dar Eth followed.She clutched a blaster to her chest, her chin raised with determination.
“What’s going on?”she asked, her gaze switching between Ariez, Cylo, and Wren.
“We are boosting across to a Maloidian ship.”Cylo gripped Durok’s shoulder.“Expect the worst.”
“Understood,” he said.
Zive and Yelur waited at the shuttle bay’s door.When they slipped into the bay, Cylo followed.The door sealed as the bay door opened, the shield still in place.They flipped their visors over their faces when the lights flashed to green, indicating a loss of pressure, life support, and gravity.The endlessness of space was between them and the lit square of the other ship.
Zive went first, launching himself out.He would reach there eventually.With a tap of his heels, his boot boosters activated and propelled him faster.Yelur was on his tail.Cylo stepped out and used the side of theKevolto push off.He hit his heels at the same time and shot forward, veering around Yelur to land on what looked like nothing but was firm beneath his feet.The thrill of an impending battle summoned a grin.
“I go first.”He bowed his head at Zive drawing near.“As your guard.”
Zive pursed his lips but gestured to the door where a Maloidian male stood near the edge.Cylo strolled onto the floor, Zive and Yelur trailing him.Heat hit him like a thick blanket.He grimaced and adjusted his suit.Then, flicking the visor back, he bowed his head in greeting.The Maloidian hurried aside, his smile too welcoming.It did nothing to loosen the knot of tension in Cylo’s gut.
“Greetings, Etterians.I am Ambassador Barro.Thank you for coming to my aid.”He clasped his hands in front of him.
“I am Cylo.Data Officers Zive and Yelur.”He fell in behind Zive, his hands at his sides and close to the blaster.
A cursory glance around the ship showed nothing new: the same old design with emphasis on comfort.Instead of a common was a seating area of sorts with soft-looking cushions and discarded beverages littering a too-low circular table.A Maloidian female lounged on one.She ran her gaze over Cylo, her scent intensifying.She liked Etterian males, so it seemed.
“This way.”Barro swept his arm out.“The comm is—”
“I know the way,” Zive said, slipping around the male.“Cylo, wait here.”
Gritting his teeth, he assumed the expected position, focusing on the female.While he appeared obedient, he sharpened his hearing, picking up the gentle footfalls of another female.For an ambassador to travel with so few in his entourage was unusual.
What is out of place?Look for the details.
He started with his senses—that of smell: the sweet muskiness of Maloidians, the tart aroma of jucot wine, and the metallic tang of ozone and steel.He’d already tested his hearing, listening in as Yelur and Zive grumbled to each other while soothing the ambassador’s ego.Which left taste and sight.There was no way he’d lick the bulkhead.He smothered a grin.Wren would find that funny if he did so.
The display vids showed scenes from Argaxx—dark skies with lilac lighting and deep caverns.Something was amiss.It all seemed idyllic like the ambassador was on a cruise with his lovers.
Cylo stiffened.Their bodies were well defined with sculpted muscles and restrained strength.
Serratu Kayarra.Two of them.
He activated his O.D.I.and messaged Fyca.This made no sense.Why would an ambassador feel the need to have assassins guard him?
“Is that jucot wine?”Cylo summoned a smile, crossing to the nearest female.
She unfolded her legs and inched to the edge of the seat.“Yes,” she said, her eyes narrowing in what she must have thought was seductive.She smirked while offering him a glass.
He brushed her fingers when he accepted, then made a show of sipping.Used to giyua, the wine was too sweet around the bitterness of sjari leaves, but he hummed in approval.Smacking his lips for added effect, he kept his gaze on her and his focus on the surroundings.
“Name’s Cylo,” he rasped, dropping into the nearest seat.
“Eysso,” she said, running her hand along her thigh to her knee.Doing so swept aside her garment and exposed her muscled leg, confirming his suspicions.He couldn’t help but compare her to Wren and find the Maloidian lacking.
“Been to Issneen before?”he asked, taking the smallest of sips.
“It is my first time.I heard it is beautiful.”She stretched and, in doing so, closed the distance between them until their thighs almost touched.
He wanted her to make the move.Anything else could be misconstrued.He leaned back, adding an air of nonchalance, despite the odd, muted burn in his chest.
