I head back to my workstation and pick up the capacitors and resistors. My king has given me an order, and I will carry it out. I will create the perfect energy storage system so that we can capture the light energy from the solstice.
Still, as I cipher rapidly, working out equations regarding max flux and heat transfer, I’m thinking about Kianna’s smile.
Chapter 2
Kianna
* * *
“What do you think of this one?” In front of me, my friend Mirelle twirls, holding up a gossamer gown that looks like it’s made of spider silk and air.
“I think you and your mates won’t even make it to the Crystal festival.” I raise my eyebrows. “You’ll stay at home all solar cycle long.”
She laughs and turns pink. “Oh, stop.” She places the dress back on the bed, smoothing it with her fingers and arranging the sleeves. “It will be a fun change to wear this instead of my flight suit.”
We both look across the room to where her black trousers and fitted top hang on a rack, along with a state of the art helmet and boots.
“You are such a badass. No wonder everyone loves you.” I can’t imagine what kind of courage it takes to fly out into the void every cycle, relying only on your quick wits to avoid death at every turn. I shudder.
“Everyone loves you too.” She glances at her wrist. “Kee. Look how fast this is healing! See?”
I look at the thin white scar. “Wasn’t that cut open just yesterday?” I take her hand and pull her arm closer; she lets me. I whistle. “Wow, that’s something else.”
She nods. “Yup. It’s the new healing tech from the palace. Plus, you know, I have some Zandian blood in me.”
“From when your mates gave you a transfusion to save your life, right?” I let her arm go. It’s thin but strong, muscled and taut. She really is an extraordinary being. Maybe if I was more like her, tougher, smarter? Maybe then Mykl would—
“Yeah. Dr. Daneth is researching whether we can do something like that for all humans, but it’s still in the beginning stages. So I get to be a superhero for now.” She picks up the dress and slides it back into her clothing area. Looks back at me. “But you are, too.”
“I think you’d be a superhero even if you had sand in your veins. I mean, you’ve been an outlaw pirate fighter since you were born.” I can’t keep a note of jealousy out of my voice. “Whereas I can’t even garner the respect of my stupid master.”
“Mykl.” She comes and sits beside me.
“Yes. Mykl.” Even just saying his name gives me a little thrill, a little pop of adrenaline in my stomach.
“He’s a bit of a challenge.”
“You don’t say.” I narrow my eyes, and we both giggle.
“I think…” She hesitates. “I mean, I see him looking at you, sometimes.” She pauses again. “It’s different from the way he looks at me or Amber.”
“How do you mean?” I’m eager for this. Lap it up like it’s the purest of water, and I’m dying of thirst. “How?”
“Well.” She purses her lips. “Sometimes he looks at you for a long time, a few seconds longer than a being typically examines another. And his eyes are so fierce.”
“That could be because he hates me.”
“I don’t think so.” She shakes her head. “It’s more the kind of look that means he wants to eat you up. Devour you. Kill you, but in a good way.”
“Right.” I wrinkle my mouth. “More like in the traditional way.”
“He gets so irritated at you. It’s like you’re under his skin.”
“No, he’s just sensitive to being teased.”
“But mostly by you.” She raises a brow. “And he stands really close to you when
you two are arguing. Closer than beings do. I think it means something.”