Theirs to Share

Kriss started to unfasten his shirt. “Realignment is successfully accomplished,” he said.

She smiled. They were very much in tune—all three of them.

Chapter Seventeen

They wouldn’t reveal their destination. It both infuriated her and made her excited. The boat, a passenger cruiser, sped across the smooth waters of the vast lake, a different body of water to the one that lapped against their window. They’d traveled to the other side of the city, and there stretching out as far as the eye could see was another lake, but bigger. It reminded Shayla of the Great Lakes.

They’d acquired a new dress for her. The pinkish fabric shimmered under the rays of sunlight that slipped through the clouds. She’d worked out the clothing was made for the Gotti women—there was a slit at the back for the tail. Somebody had made adjustments, and overall the style suited Shayla.

The other passengers, mostly Hezara, kept staring at her. She remained seated throughout the journey between Jago and Kriss. Their proximity and guardianship comforted her. This was the first major trip since the arena.

The pair were dressed smartly, in their uniforms of office. Being the queen’s guard gave them special privileges. The other soldiers saluted them when they’d boarded, making space for them on a row of seating in the aft of the boat.

Out of the window, she caught a glimpse of something glinting on the horizon. It grew, forming shapes that reflected both the sun and the water—the buildings of another city.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Just a neighboring city. But we think you’ll like this option better.” Jago grinned.

The secrecy was killing her. The Hunger was tomorrow, but after the Tina incident the previous day, they’d taken the time to make this trip to reassure her. Tina had been taken away early in the morning, collected by a droid, and the lifeless pair had walked away in silence. Shayla was surprised how awkward she felt about the departure. It should please her, but it didn’t. In some respects, it was like booting out the cheating ex-girlfriend, except the droid had done nothing wrong. Her programming kept her warm and placid. She smiled at the nestors. Very awkward.

They disembarked on a quay, the length of which accommodated many vessels, including fishing boats. Unlike the shallow lake by their house, this one had a greater capacity for exotic fishes.

The city was of the same design as theirs, with the bowl-shaped landscape surrounded by skyscrapers. The citizens included the Gotti, and a few other alien-looking humanoids, but mostly the males of Hezara, who continued to stare at her. She looped her arm through Jago’s and stayed glued to his side. Kriss led the way, ensuring nobody came too close to her.

The destination was an eatery; the sign hung outside the doorway had a picture of a fish on it. She hid her disappointment. The last visit hadn’t exactly gone well. She wasn’t really in the mood for their idea of ‘good food’ and ‘exciting’ ambiance. However, she wasn’t going to ruin it for them, not when they’d put so much effort into the adventure.

Walking into the dining room, the first thing that struck her was the music. The gentle melody drifted over the heads of the diners. A soothing sound and familiar in its composition. The tables were laid out not in neat rows like the last eatery, but spread randomly with potted shrubs interspersed. She halted, gaping at the walls, which were covered in colorful murals of landscapes she recognized.

“That’s Earth. It’s the Grand Canyon, I’m sure of it. And that over there,” she pointed to the opposing wall, “is just like Africa.” The mural showed a savanna with a giant tusked elephant walking across the plains.

A Gotti showed them to a table. There was a napkin, glasses, and cutlery laid out for three diners. The fork had two prongs, the knife a short blade, and the glasses were fluted. Jago picked up the fork and examined it.

“Interesting device,” he said.

“It’s a fork.” She offered him the English word and he repeated it.

“Fork.”

She nodded. “Why is this place so different?”

“We heard about it from somebody who visited and we thought you might like to come, too. It’s unusual. We had to twist a few arms to get a reservation.” He lay the fork down and poked the rolled napkin. “What do we do with this?”

She picked up the cloth napkin, flicked it up, and laid it on her lap. “It catches the crumbs and when you’ve finished eating, it’s polite to dab your mouth.”

Kriss shook his napkin out and laid it on his lap. The squa

re cloth barely covered his muscular thighs. A menu was propped against a small centerpiece vase. She opened it. It described fish dishes and sweet desserts. She licked her lips and her stomach rumbled.

“Looks nice,” she said politely.

“Welcome,” a voice said from behind her.

Shayla turned. The tall woman had rings of black curls arranged around her chocolate face. Her eyes were as dark as a Hezara, but Shayla knew she was human. There were a few wrinkles by her lips and under her eyes; she was probably twice Shayla’s age.

“Hello,” Shayla said.

“You must be Shayla,” the woman said, stepping closer to the table. “I’m Nieve. I was told you were visiting today.” She held out her hand and Shayla shook it. Nieve’s hand was warm, the shake firm but brief.