SIXTEEN

When Rixavox returned to her and Levrix once he had a break in his duties, they were chatting like girlfriends Cecelia had had in college.

She was surprised how easy it was.  Even though they both came from completely different cultures, completely different planets, for that matter, Levrix was easy to talk to.

Rixavox could only stay for a brief time before he was called away again.  Cecelia’s eyes trailed after him as he left, already missing him.

There was an uncomfortable pause in the room after he left but then eventually, they picked back up again.

Throughout the afternoon, Cecelia learned much about Levrix during their numerous chats.  She learned that she owned a market stall of Luxirian silks and fabrics and furs down at the bazaar, that she’d closed up the stall that day for the specific purpose of staying with her.  She learned that she was highly intelligent, that she’d studied Luxirian ancient history and the Fates extensively, although most of the scholars on Luxiria were primarily males.  She learned that Levrix grew up in the Velraxa outpost, that she’d traveled to the Golden City once and hated it.

“I could imagine being no place else,” she’d said, gazing out the window of Rixavox’s house.  “It is brutal here, yes, but only true Velraxians see the beauty.”

It was beautiful there, no doubt.  Cecelia could understand the appeal.  But she’d really only seen the area around Velraxa, like the mountain range where the Rillirax hid, or the valley below as they traveled.  She wondered if Rixavox would take her to see his outpost, or if she wasn’t allowed because she was an outsider.

“Rixavox seems to like it here,” Cecelia murmured.

Levrix smiled.  “Tev, a true Velraxian even though he was not born in the northern lands.”

Cecelia hesitated, but a strange curiosity won out.  “Have you known him long?”

“Tev, quite long.  We are friends even though we were pleasure partners.”

Jealousy clenched in her gut so hard that her hand trembled, an intense reaction to such innocent words.  Yet, she knew what those words meant.

“Oh,” she said, trying to calm her breath.  The thought of Rixavox with anyone hurt.  She was as envious about those females as she was confused by her body’s reaction.  How was it possible, this intensity?  “I’m sorry,” she forced out.  “It’s none of my business.”

Levrix cocked her head to the side.  “Is it not?”

“No,” Cecelia said, swallowing.  “We’re not…we aren’t together in that way.”

Cecelia might not recognize Luxirian facial expression as well as she could recognize human ones, but the surprise on Levrix’s face was universal.  “That is…strange.”

“Why?” Cecelia questioned, her brows furrowing.

Levrix studied her for a long while, long enough to make Cecelia squirm in her seat.

Finally Levrix shook her head.  “That is for Rixavox to discuss with you, not me.  Are you feeling any hunger?  Do you wish for me to fetch you another meal?  I do not know how often humans are supposed to eat.”

Cecelia let the obvious change in subject slide, but her mind ran wild with what went unsaid.  Did she think it was strange that they weren’t sleeping together because Rixavox had a womanizing reputation?  That was what Kate had implied.

Or…was it something else?  Something that she’d caught only in brief moments?  Something that nagged at the back of her mind even though she didn’t truly know what it meant?

Cecelia shook her head and said quietly, “No, I’m not hungry.  Maybe in a couple hours.”

“Will you explain ‘hours’ to me?” Levrix requested.

Which led them into a discussion about Earth time, about the seasons where she lived in the United States.  Levrix seemed shocked that the seasons changed as rapidly and as drastically as they did in certain places.  In return, she told her that there on Velraxa, there was only a lunar cycle—which Cecelia deduced was about a month—of warmer weather, but it never got as hot as the Golden City on its coldest day.

The afternoon passed in a similar fashion until finally, Levrix told her that she had to take her leave.  She had a shipment of silks being delivered and she had to prepare for the next day at the bazaar.

“Thank you for keeping me company,” Cecelia said, standing and walking with her to the door.  “I enjoyed our talks.”

Levrix turned to her right before she pushed the door open and said, “I cannot come this next span, but perhaps the span after.”

“Oh, you don’t have to,” Cecelia said, biting her lip.  “I don’t want to keep taking you away from your business.”

Levrix waved her hand in the air.  “It is a privilege to sit with you, to learn about you and your kind.  I will return.”

Cecelia inclined her head when Levrix did.  “Thank you.  I look forward to it.”

With one last look, Levrix departed and that harsh bite of wind that had gusted in when Rixavox left returned until the door shut.  On the other side, she listened for the familiar hum of the hovercraft to start up and take flight…and then there was silence.

Curiosity spiked.  Even though it was clear that Rixavox didn’t want others seeing her, which was why she couldn’t go out during the day and explore, why couldn’t she just take a little peek?

She grabbed one of the heavy fur wrappings that Rixavox had taken off her the night before and settled it around her shoulders, bringing it up to cloak her hair and head.  She was completely covered from head-to-toe in fur, except for her silk house slippers that Rixavox had bought for her to wear during the day.

With a tug that strained her muscles, she managed to wrestle open the heavy door and she squeaked as the chill billowed her fur cloak around her body.  She snatched it more tightly around her and with a deep breath that seared her lungs, she stepped out onto Rixavox’s patio, in the middle of the afternoon.

She knew from their nighttime travels that Rixavox’s house was somewhat secluded from the rest of the outpost.  And even though it was at the base of a mountain, it was situated at a higher elevation in the valley.  Even knowing all this, it couldn’t prepare her for the sheer awe she felt when she stepped up to the ledge, allowing her a clear view below.

Velraxa was situated at the base of the mountain range, but its sprawl was impressive.  There were smooth, stone buildings and houses as far as she could see, dotting the valley below the mountain.  To the west, she could see what she assumed was the bazaar, the marketplace, because there were more organized lines of little buildings and when she squinted, she could see a flurry of activity, of Luxirians shopping and walking and socializing.  More north, she could see taller buildings, with what looked like a few football fields of cleared, empty ground right behind them.  A stadium of some sort?  Or were they training grounds?

But above the outpost, the mountains stood tall and imposing.  She craned her neck up but the tops disappeared into the thin cloud covering.  They were frosted in silver and they glittered whenever the suns’ rays broke through.

Beyond the mountains, she could see vast, open land and nothing else.  Hadn’t Rixavox said Velraxa was a hunting outpost?  She wondered how long they had to travel to find game.

It was ridiculously cold.  Her thin slippers weren’t holding up to the ice-packed patio and even through the layer of thick fur, the chill seeped into her.  But she understood what Levrix meant.  As she gazed out over Velraxa, she felt the beauty of it, the calmness of the silver mountains, the quietness of the icy air.  In the distance, she could hear the bustle of activity from below.

Cecelia squinted.  She spotted a hovercraft approaching from the tall buildings she’d seen towards the north.  It was just a speck in the sky, but it grew and grew.  Cecelia smile, her heart beating a little faster, because, instinctively, she knew it was Rixavox.

Even though her fingertips were numb, she stayed and waited on the patio until she had to step away so he could land the hovercraft.

She wondered if he would be angry that she’d come out here, but as he disembarked, it was worry she saw on his face instead.

“What are you doing out here, luxiva?” he asked, approaching quickly, taking her in his arms.  Immediately, she felt some of his warmth transfer into her and she sighed.

“I just wanted to see the outpost during the day,” she said, her breath puffing out in front of her.  His eyes softened as he looked down at her, at the makeshift hood covering her face.  “No one saw me.  I promise.”

He stroked his fingers over her cheek and she held her breath as they glided gently over her lips.

“What do you think of Velraxa?” he rumbled, nudging his head in the direction of the city.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she replied.  “Cold and quiet and beautiful.”  She broke his gaze to point at the taller set of buildings he’d flown from.  “Is that where you work?”

His gaze focused to where she pointed in the distance before he looked back at her.  “Tev.  The Velraxa command center.”

“What’s the empty space behind it?”

“It is used for warrior training.  Velraxa produces a fair amount of warriors.  I oversee the training there.”

“Busy guy,” she commented, smiling.  “Do you have to go back today?”

“Nix,” he said.  “I am yours.”

Those words did things to her, things she didn’t want to explore because she worried what they might mean for her future.

“Come,” he said.  “You need warmth.  I brought you food as well.”

Cecelia let him lead her back into the house.  He closed the door easily and she sighed as she felt her bones begin to thaw.  She’d always liked the cold, but it felt nice to be inside as well.

Rixavox helped her out of the furs and even though she slowly warmed, his touch still made her shiver.

He purred low in his chest but then huffed out a breath, releasing her to retrieve the two platters of food he’d brought with him.

His reaction confused her.  He seemed to do that often.  He would touch her, say things to her that made her tremble with need, but then he’d pull away, as if something was keeping him in check.  She didn’t know if it was a Luxirian thing or not, which frustrated her.  Was she expected to make the first move?  Was that how it worked?

She should’ve asked Levrix, but didn’t know how to bring it up without making it awkward, considering the past relationship she’d had with the alien male in question.

Maybe she would have to make her interest clear to him.

Because dammit, she wanted him.

And if she had to push past her nervousness to get what she wanted…she would.  Absolutely she would, especially since she was determined to make the most of her time there, with him, before her cancer had the opportunity to progress more than it already had.

Tonight, she decided.  Tonight in the Rillirax, when it was just the two of them.

Cecelia didn’t think she could wait much longer.