Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Arenk

The water was perfect. Arenk gathered the brush, lotion, and the new hair products he’d bought for her, setting them on the counter. The hairstylist had recommended them for curly hair.

Most Tareaians had straight hair, so these products were a bit pricier. He peeked out the door, finding the bed empty. She could win a gold medal in sleeping if it were an Olympic sport.

He called her name, but the room echoed back silence. He checked under the bed, around it, and then the balcony. His heart started to race when he noticed his jacket was missing.

His hands flew to his pants pockets, searching for his key cards. They were gone. He rushed to the door, checking the log system on the scanner.

As he punched in his code, a soft scraping sound from the other side of the room eased his panic. A tiny foot peeked out from under the tablecloth.

Pulling back the cloth, he found her stretched out, cocooned in his jacket. He tickled her exposed foot, and she quickly pulled it back.

“We talked about this,” he reminded her.

“You didn’t say I couldn’t find a new hiding place,” she mumbled, her head resting on his lap, eyes still closed.

“Come on, little one.”

After her bath, she tried to decipher the labels on the bottles. An hour had passed, and their dinner reservation was in two hours.

“Let me help you,” he offered, picking up the bottle she was supposed to use first.

“I can do it,” she insisted, taking the bottle back.

“I know you can, but we don’t want to miss our reservation,” he reasoned.

Raven sighed and handed him the products. The hairstylist had shown him how to apply and style everything. After a while, he finished, and Raven smiled. He secured one of her hairpins in place.

“You mentioned someone was waiting for you. Who?” he asked.

Raven paused for a moment, then continued to pull up her skirt. “Does it really matter?”

“If she’s important to you, then yes,” he replied, buttoning his shirt.

“My sister. I haven’t heard from her in a few years,” she admitted, staring out the window.

“So you left your planet to find her?”

“Yes. No one would give me a straight answer. They thought if they kept sending her stipend, I would stop asking. So I trained to get on the last ship leaving,” she explained, rubbing her eye.

“Space is vast. Please tell me you had a plan,” he said.

He wasn’t prepared for the cold smile she gave him.

“Go to the new base and ask them face-to-face about my sister’s whereabouts.”

He nodded. Arenk was certain that whoever she asked would regret not giving her the answers she wanted.

“So, how important is this mystery woman to you?” she asked.

“We’ve known each other for years. I-I’m quite fond of her,” he admitted.

“Why not just be together?”

“She’s part of the harem. It’s impossible,” he explained.

Raven’s brow furrowed.

“I’m fond of you as well. That’s why I want both of you to meet,” he said.

“Hoping for what?” she asked.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope that we’ll get along.”

Arenk hoped it sounded more convincing to her than it did to himself. Judging by her expression, he knew he’d failed. He could kick himself.

“We’re going to be late,” she said, slipping on her shoes.

***

The ride was quiet, but she seemed to be handling it well, just as he’d hoped. Arenk had managed to snag a reservation at one of the cocktail lounges.

If things went smoothly, they could stay and enjoy the band that played at night. He chose a table inside, tucked away in a quiet corner. After a few drinks, Raven’s playful side resurfaced.

Unfortunately, it was short-lived. When that sweet, spicy scent wafted over, Raven turned, her expression shifting. For a moment, her scent burst forth, overwhelming his senses.

For a second, he was in a field of freshly bloomed flowers. Lyka approached the table, as stunning as ever.

“So, those were your clothes and toys? Pervert,” Lyka said, sizing Raven up.

“Lyka,” Arenk warned, his eyes wide.

She was always polite, even when upset. What had gotten into her?

“Your girlfriend is hot, but she’s a thundercunt,” Raven retorted, sipping her drink.

“A what?” Lyka asked, circling the table.

“But she’s right. Anyone kinkier than you is a pervert. Such a shame she’s so narrow-minded. I could teach her a few new things,” Raven said.

Raven looked past Lyka as if she were insignificant, despite being twice her size and strength. Lyka seethed.

“That’s enough, or I’ll send you both home,” he warned.

“I need to use the restroom,” Raven said, standing.

He stood as she left, then took his seat again. He’d chosen this table because it was near the restrooms, and he could still keep an eye on her. Lyka’s arms were crossed.

“Sit,” he instructed.

She sat, her grace and poise returning.

“What’s going on with you? I’ve been with other women and you at the same time before,” he said, taking her hand.

“You have, but you never forgot about our appointments. Who is she? What is she? I haven’t seen her around,” she asked.

“If you hadn’t been so rude, maybe you could’ve had your questions answered.”

She stared at their intertwined fingers. “I’m sorry. I-I was…”

“Jealous,” he finished, smiling. “If I remember correctly, you said the moons would fall from the sky before you ever got jealous over another woman.”

“I guess we should be careful to avoid the fallout,” she said, returning his smile.

As usual, they were engrossed in their usual banter. The band began to strum their instruments, filling the room with music. Arenk’s gaze drifted to Raven’s empty seat. Her drink was untouched, the ice cubes having long since melted. He let go of Lyka’s hand.

“Did she ever come back?”

Lyka shrugged, finishing off his drink. “I’m not sure. Don’t sweat it, Arenk. Just give her a call later. She probably went back to her room.”

“Go check the restroom. I’ll look around the bar,” Arenk suggested.

The night crowd was starting to trickle in. It was typically a mix of young recruits and a handful of mid-ranks. He scanned every seat, muttering a curse under his breath. The dance floor was already teeming with people.

He started to navigate through the crowd, his eyes scanning for any sign of Raven. Finally, he spotted the familiar curls of her hair. But what he saw next made his blood boil.