Chapter 3
Cat woke up with the dull feeling that something wasn’t right. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. For a split second, she had no idea where she was, and when she remembered, she shot up. Talon wasn’t there! Where was he? He had covered her with a sleeping bag, and his backpack was still in the corner, so clearly he intended to come back. She was probably worried for nothing. He was probably just checking out the building. She forced herself to relax her muscles and rolled her head until her stiff neck felt a little better. There was no reason to worry. Cat ignored the pressure in her bladder and sank back into the bed that her beloved had made. She buried her nose under the blankets and breathed in Talon’s comforting and already familiar scent. Cat could barely remember arriving up here, that’s how exhausted she had been last night. The night at his side had chased away most of her tiredness. Instead, her stomach made itself known with a loud growl.
To distract herself from her hunger, she decided to try to make contact with Shazuul. He had told her that all she needed to do was open her spirit a little and think about him. Then he would hear her. Was he nearby? She closed her eyes and put herself in the state that, over the years, had become as natural to her as breathing: body relaxed, spirit open, but not so open that she lost all connection to her own body. Shazuul, she thought, and then louder, once more: Shazuul.
He was there immediately. Too loud, he complained, and Cat got the impression that he was holding his ears figuratively and shaking himself theatrically.
Sorry, she thought softly. Apparently, she could actually regulate the intensity with which she called the Sethari in her thoughts. That was new to her, but highly interesting. The rusty giggling that she associated with Shazuul sounded in her head, and this time it was clear that he was amused.
Where are you? she asked.
Again, this restrained amusement. Near you, he said and sent her a picture of Talon who was looking out through one of the department store windows. It was an enormous shock to see Talon through Shazuul’s eyes, and she wondered briefly what would happen in her head if she were to see herself through Shazuul’s eyes – not as a memory, but in real time, here and now. That would be enough to make a person go crazy. Cat pulled herself together, and Shazuul, who could surely feel her increasing panic, let the stream of images die out.
So, he was right across from them. That was good. Are you okay? she asked, trying to break the sustained silence, but also, because it didn’t feel quite right that Shazuul was by himself.
No problems, he answered. Talon?
His monosyllabic communication was easier to understand than many a long and spoken sentence. So far, so good. I don’t dare to have a look in his head for fear of being discovered.
Shazuul sent a wave of agreement her way. Careful, Cat, he said. Cat must practice. Sneak into heads. Be quiet, invisible.
Right, Cat replied. And with whom? Nobody else is here but me and Talon.
Surprise Shazuul, the Sethari said, and Cat was sure that she would never be able to sneak into his thoughts, not in a thousand years. She felt like she was back in school.
I show tricks. You go out. Practice, the Sethari prompted her.
I don’t think that’s a good idea, Cat defended herself. And anyway, Talon wouldn’t want me to do that.
You have to, Shazuul insisted. Cat is decoy for king. Cat and Talon are leaving trail. King coming. Shazuul help when king there.
A wave of gratitude flooded Cat, but at the same time, she wondered why the Sethari was doing all of this for her. Was there really no other reason, other than that he had known her mother all those years ago? Then another thought crossed her mind, and it was not a pleasant one. Talon had suggested the very same plan, with different words, and without using the word “decoy”. There was one difference: he had pointed out that the king was very vain and was sure that he would find them. Talon had called her the king’s prey.
Was she nothing more than a pawn in a chess game, one you could push around any way you wanted to? What was keeping her from liquidating the money she had received from the poker company, and getting on the next spaceship?
Cat, Shazuul’s voice chided her. Cat gave Krak promise. Not Talon. Talon loves Cat. Talon stay with Cat.
She lowered her head in shame. He was right. It was her fault that she and her beloved weren’t already on their way to an unknown galaxy. She had given her word and had insisted on keeping it.
Alright, fine, she said grumpily.
Talon coming, Shazuul said. See you later.
Cat was just able to suppress a giggle over the terribly normal sounding farewell, when the door opened, and Talon came in. Now that he was standing in the doorway, she realized just how small this room was. Just big enough to spend the night in. If they were going to be here for a while without tripping all over each other, they would need to find a bigger room.
She stopped herself from asking a nagging: Where were you? The stress of the last few days was also taking its toll on Cat, but instead of whining, she should get to work. Shazuul was right. She needed to leave a discreet, but not too obvious, trail that Ferthoris could follow. Cat realized that Talon seemed very happy. Probably, because he had been up doing things, instead of lying around complaining like she had.
As was the case so often, he knew what she was thinking without her having to say a word. “I have inspected the building,” he said, and Cat had to smile at the almost bureaucratic expression, despite her bad mood. “Nobody else is here. It was a good decision to come here.”
Cat stood up and got dressed. His eyes wandered over her figure, and the more layers she put on, the more regretful his expression became. “You have no idea how much I just want all of this to be over,” he mumbled, brushing a kiss over her lips. Cat returned the kiss without hesitation, and some of her optimism returned. “How much time do we have before your king shows up?” she asked and couldn’t stop her body from taking over. She snuggled up to him, wondering if they could spare half an hour to make love, or if she would regret that someday.
“One week,” Talon responded. His eyes shimmered in the amber hue that showed his increasing arousal. His grip strengthened, but then he grew softer, and his long, slender fingers found their way under her shirt. His fingertips slid down her back, pushed under her panties and cupped her behind. Cat answered him by putting her cold hands on his chest. Talon exhaled audibly, and Cat realized that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. Knowing that in your head was one thing, but smelling it, and feeling how he reacted to her was an entirely different thing. His eyes darkened as he pulled his hands away from her body, putting them around her hands possessively, instead. “Tonight,” he said hoarsely. In those two words lay a promise that made Cat shiver.
She took a step back and tried to think about anything other than the fire racing through her veins. “Fine.” She, too, sounded a little hoarse. “What are we going to do today? How will we set the king on my track?”
He sat down on the ground, crisscross applesauce, and she admired the way he was able to fold his legs underneath him. Every gesture and every move reminded her of what they had done less than 24 hours ago, how his body had moved on top of hers, how he had filled her, and how he had made her come. “I assume I will need to show myself in the city?”
“No,” he said, much to her surprise. “That is too dangerous. You are wanted by the authorities, don’t forget. I want you to stay here.” Cat opened her mouth in protest, but he cut her off with a look that didn’t permit any objections. “I know that you are anxious to do your share to make sure our plan succeeds, but I have thought about it long and hard, and I don’t think it is a good idea for you to show yourself in public.” He hesitated for a second. “I don’t want to lose you, Cat.” He spoke so softly that she almost couldn’t understand him. “I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks. I am going to get going in a second and find one of my old contacts. I will be able to get the necessary information to Ferthoris through him.”
“So once again, you have made a decision… without consulting me.”
If possible, his eyes got even darker. “Yes, I did. Just like you decided to move in right next door to you former colleagues.” He raised an eyebrow, something she would never be able to master. Why were men always able to make a face like that effortlessly, half-sarcastic and half-quizzical, while most women were only able to make a grimace that looked stupid? And why did he always have to be right? It irked her to admit that he was right.
“Fine,” she said. “So it boils down to me trusting you like you trust me.” He nodded, happy with her revelation – or would the word capitulation be more accurate? “Then let’s hope that Ferthoris gets here soon. I really have no desire to waste away in this store.”
“Don’t worry, he will. I know him.”
“What are you going to tell your contact person?”
He frowned. “I won’t know until I have spoken with her. She is a little moody.”
At this point, Cat would have given anything to be able to make her eyebrow shoot up. As it was, she would have to be satisfied with looking at him with squinting eyes. “I see. A woman.”
“Cat,” Talon repeated her name patiently and took her face in his hands. “You know I could never lie to you. The woman means nothing to me. You are my companion. Did you forget that already?”
She choked back everything that was lying on her tongue and counted to ten. To twenty. When thirty had come and gone, her tongue was ready to obey her again. She pulled out of his arms and gave him an encouraging pat. “Then go. The sooner you leave, the sooner you will be back here with me.” She turned around and heard him sigh, and then the door shut behind him and he was gone.
“Be careful,” Cat whispered, even though she knew that he couldn’t hear her.