10
Adan
—
“The human is right,” says a female, nodding. “We must trust in our Konai. He knows what’s best for us and we should support his decisions and not distract him with pointless bickering.”
General sounds of agreement passes through the crowd and the people disperse. I draw closer to Xia, impressed by her frankness.
“Sorry for sticking my nose in where it wasn’t needed,” she says.
Seeing her again makes me feel like a thirsting being who has encountered water but is told they cannot drink.
“No apologies necessary. You did well. You succeeded where I failed in calming my people.”
“Because they’re family.” She shrugs. “Sometimes hearing good advice from someone you know just doesn’t stick as well as hearing the exact same advice from a stranger.”
“This is so true,” says kaha, coming forward. She eyes Xia curiously, pressing her hand to her chest. “I am Jetta. Adan’s mother. Adan told me of your unfortunate circumstance for visiting Seca. Is your friend well?”
“She is alive thanks to A—the Konai. The medic has done a lot of work keeping her alive too. She woke up today which is why I’m here. I wanted to let Medic Olhun know.”
“That is good to hear, Xia.”
My mother’s sharp, discerning gaze darts between the two of us before she smiles. Then her gaze falls on Zavi who is peering at the bodies of the dead drakila and her smile disappears behind a frown.
“Zavi! Why aren’t you with your tutor…again?”
Zavi jumps, a startled look on his face as if he, too, has just realized his error. I manage to give Zavi a consolatory rub on his head as kaha drags him away in a steel grip on his arm. Lim follows them.
After notifying Medic Olhun of Tess’s consciousness, I am left alone with Xia. The temptation to take her is stronger than ever. But now is not the time or place. The bodies of the recent deaths lay a short distance away and Xia’s attention is focused on them.
She draws closer to them and I follow.
“They’re so young,” she says softly. “Who could do this?”
“The medic reports that their blood is being sucked from them through their nostrils and mouth.” I say. “So I no longer believe it is a who but a what. Some evil creature not of this planet lurking in Vyaka.”
I am not so easily swayed by superstition and belief in curses, but I won’t deny that the Secan male’s accusation gives me pause. What if this is Kahafura’s way of saying I am unfit for the role of Konai? But to dwell any longer on these thoughts is to invite them to stay and to poison me so I shun them.
“There are stories from Earth about mythical bloodsucking creatures,” Xia says. “They’re called vampires.” The word she speaks is strange and not in Rur language. “They bite your neck and drink your blood through the bite.”
I’m tempted to comment that this sounds similar to the claiming bite one gives to one’s asafura but I hold my tongue.
“And how were these monsters defeated in the stories?”
“My dad said there were many different ways to kill them. The most popular was exposing them to sunlight where they’d burn and become ash.”
“Your father sounds like a knowledgeable male.”
“He was. He’s dead.” She fixes her gaze on me. “Burned alive by a rur draki.”
Ah, finally the reason for her initial hostility toward me. I search for an appropriate response, conscious that her admission is a sensitive subject. Saying the wrong thing can damage the tentative bridge we’ve built with each other.
“Xia—”
“Zavi was taking me to the top of Vyaka,” she says abruptly. “Guess that’s out of the question now.” The corners of her mouth dart up in a nervous smile. “Any chance you can direct me to a cafeteria so I can grab something for Tess?”
“No need. I will have your meals sent to you.”
“Thank you. I’ll also need a guide back. Don’t want to find myself in some dark and lonely tunnel crying for help.” She bites her lips together. “But you’re probably busy. If you give me the directions—”
Drawing closer, I slide my hand down her arm to clasp her hand in mine. She releases a soft gasp from my touch. Knowing this simple contact affects her pleases me.
I guide her out of the infirmary, taking the longer routes so that I can extend our time together.
“Tess kissed me.” She says suddenly. A trait of hers I’ve learnt already is she has the tendency to blurt out her thoughts. As if she’s thinking at such a rapid pace that she becomes overwhelmed and anxious to get the words out.
I frown. “In gratitude?”
She shakes her head. “She sort of confessed she’s liked me. It’s so strange. I’ve known her for years and I’ve never once suspected it. And now things are awkward between us. All I want to do is avoid it all.” She lets out an exhale. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you any of this.”
Jealousy thickens in my chest and my frown deepens.
“Do you feel the same way for her?”
“No, I only see her as a friend.”
“Then you must tell her that. Do not avoid her. Express yourself honestly. For example...”
I reach for her, coiling my arms around her and pressing her body against the wall. She makes a startled sound before I claim her mouth in a kiss.
Her lips are as delicious as the first time I tasted them. More so as I’ve wanted her since then and have been denied a chance. She pushes against my chest but her fight is short. Soon her fingers dig into my clothing and she pulls me in, opening her mouth to deepen our kiss.
I’m as hard as the stone against her back and when I press my front to hers so she could feel me, she moans into my mouth. I had this enticing female once before and it is this reason why it’s so hard to resist her. Why my thoughts are constantly consumed by her.
I want to take her right here against this wall. But any moment now, someone can encounter us. While I’m not ashamed to be seen intimately with Xia, my people are still reeling from the murders. It will not inspire confidence in my abilities if I’m seen like this in a flagrant display of lack of self-control.
So reluctantly, I pull away from Xia. She breathes quickly, her eyes dazed.
“And that’s an example of what feeling?”
“That I am a jealous male.” My lips graze hers as I speak. “I don’t like others trying to take what is mine.”
“I’m not yours, Adan. I’m just some random human you saved from the snow.” She presses her palms against my chest and I release her. “It could have been Tess you found that night and me lying in the den with cuts all over my body from a cuhi attack.”
“But it was not Tess I found in the snow, Xia,” I say softly. “It was you.”