When I turn back to the screen, Rovos is shaking his head. “Good luck,” he says meaningfully to me. Then the screen goes dark.
I swivel the stool I’m sitting on so I’m facing Igid. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough to know we only need to find two missing humans now.” She shrugs as her eyes drop to my bandaged hand.
“Come to finish the job?” I taunt her.
She presses her lips tightly together, and I watch as a muscle in her jaw starts to jump. For a moment I think she even looks remorseful, but then her haughty mask is back in place.
“I came to apologize, but now I’ve decided I’m not sorry after all.” With that she spins on her heel, but before she can take more than a step away from me, I reach out and grab hold of her tail. “Igid, wait.”
She spins on me and hisses, “Stop grabbing at me!” Her eyes are blazing, her teeth bared.
“Can we start over? I feel like every time I open my mouth around you, I just say the wrong thing. But I don’t know what the right thing is.”
“Finally, something we can agree on.” She tugs on her tail, and I can feel the ripple of muscles just under her soft skin. Instead of releasing her like I should, I tighten my grip.
“If you’d give me a chance, I think you’ll find we can agree on a lot of things.”
Her eyes narrow, and this time when she snaps her tail away from me, I can’t keep hold of it. Instead of running, like I expect her to, she leans in close so our noses are nearly touching.
“I have no intention of ever giving a male a chance, so what makes you think you’d be any different?” her voice is soft and quiet. There is no vehemence or anger, or any of her snark.
How many times in my life did Ma warn me my mouth was going to get me into trouble? Well, just look at me go.
“And how can I prove to you I’m different if you don’t ever give me a chance?”
Her eyes narrow. “Why should I?”
My tongue wets my bottom lip, and her eyes drop, her nostrils flaring as she sucks in a sharp breath.
“I think you want to give me a chance more than you want to let on,” I call her on her actions.
Her full lips curl back into a sneer. “I think you’re delusional.”
“Igid, with all due respect, you are the most stubborn female I have ever met. How can I show you I’m not just some pup who is chasing after you?”
Her pupils flare, eating up the beautiful cascade of blue that takes up her large eyes.
“That’s not for me to have to tell you,” she leans back on her heels and folds her arms across her chest.
I open my mouth but I can’t seem to find the right words to say. Because she’s right. I’m no different than any other male if I need her to tell me what I’m doing wrong.
Finally she takes a step back. Then another.
“Igid, wait.”
She slowly turns her back on me and makes her way down the hall. Too late, her door swishes closed in my face.
“Igid,” I call to her softly, rapping my knuckles against the metal.
“Leave me alone, Brox.” Her voice is muffled and tired-sounding.
“Look, I’m sorry.” Sighing, I press my forehead against her door. I think I hear her snort, but otherwise there is nothing but silence. “If you really don’t want anything to do with me, just tell me, and I’ll leave you alone.”
There is nothing but silence on the other side. A silence that stretches until I realize she’s not going to respond. But still, I stand at her door.
I’m just about to turn away when, so quietly I almost don’t catch it, I hear, “Go away, Brox.”
