Page 37 of When the Universe Sings

Zoleka swung it away from him. “Maker,what has gotten into you all of a sudden? You’ve gone from either ignoring orneedling Juniper to shadowing her every move and hovering over her like a motherakdoura.”

I had to admit she was right. From the flush of his skin and the black scars across his face and throat, he did greatly resemble the large, furry creature from her home planet. Before I could grab the package, Asher was there, staring down at the pearlescent box as if he could see through it.

Given his helmet, he probably could.

After another second he passed it to me, not even looking in my direction. I made my way to one of the tables in the corner, setting it down before tugging off the lid. Kal was already beside me, peering over my shoulder and taking the top before I could figure out where to put it.

“Maker’s tits,” he cursed. “That’s a lot ofozindanu.”

I didn’t argue with him. The box appeared to be full of the glittering dark stones. I grabbed one at random, but when I pulled it closer, the rest of the stones followed. It appeared to be a shawl of sorts—I’d grabbed it from what looked to be the neckline. When worn, it would spill across my throat and shoulders as if I’d just emerged from a night-black sea. Carefully, I placed it to the side on the table and picked up the silken black dress beneath.

“Gorgeous,” Zoleka breathed. The stones were similar to the dress of hers I’d worn to meet Lesephous. “Oh, Juniper, you’ll look incredible in this. Who sent it?”

I rolled my lips together and eyed the small holographic card clinging to one of the sides of the box.

Dearest,

You didn’t think I’d let you go to this gala not dressed your best, did you? You know I will always take care of everything you need.

The message bore no signature, but Lunastra didn’t need one. And the subtle reminder was clear:remember who you belong to.

Kal read over my shoulder and cursed quietly while Zoleka looked between us curiously. But I didn’t answer her question, only slipped the card back in the box and tried to distract myself with its contents.

Beneath the extravagant gown were a few other outfits: a slightly more casual gown I assumed was for Lesephous’ event tomorrow night, along with what looked to be a travel outfit, and a few frothy scraps that I’d seen other yeskas wear within the pleasure dens.

Lingerie.

I shoved those back in the box, biting the inside of my cheek and hoping the heat creeping across my cheekbones and bridge of my nose wasn’t visible. But Kal was inspecting the stone top while Zoleka ran her fingers over the black gown, none the wiser as to what I’d grabbed.

Asher, however, had turned toward me, and I swore I felt his gaze fall from me to the box and back again. In another moment, he strode halfway across the room and to the door. “We leave tomorrow morning. I expect you to be packed and ready.”

The hiss of the door closing behind him, though soft, felt more like a slam. The three of us stared at each other. Zoleka’s mouth twisted into a grin. Kal only rolled his eyes before taking the dress from her, folding it neater than I would have and placing it back in the box, followed by the stones.

“I see you and the captain are getting along,” Zoleka murmured, handing him the lid of the box. “The gala will either be a bloodbath or an awakening.”

“Or both,” Kal added with a huff.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

I groaned at the “travel outfit”Lunastra had packed for me.

For all intents and purposes, itwascomfortable for hours of sitting strapped into the cockpit of a cruiser. But the black dress had a high thigh slit, and though it was long-sleeved, the neckline plunged well below my sternum. The hood, however, was large enough to cover my eyes and opaque on the inside so as to not obstruct my vision. Whoever looked at me would be unable to see the top half of my face, as if I was the inverse of Asher with his respirator.

I’d kept my hair free, allowing it to tumble over my shoulders and breasts, the red it in shining against the black. With it down I felt a little less naked, even if my upper thigh and hip flashed with every step I took down the corridor to the hangar.

Zoleka had shown up early to help me. Though I hadn’t needed any help, for some reason I hadn’t had the heart to turn her away. So I’d let her repack the small black case full of clothes now floating behind me while she reminded me of the different social cues I’d need to recognize on Louxuria. She’d even adjusted the hood of the gown until only my lips were exposed and tucked a few cosmetics into the case. My mouth was now a red so deep it was almost black and she had promised it wouldn’t smudge for twelve hours.

When the doors to the hangars opened, I was greeted by the wide stares of Greabes, Hudzon, Rys, and Kal. The last only paused for a second before a loud laugh boomed through thewalls and Kal clapped his hands together. I couldn’t hear exactly what he said, but it sounded something like “so fucked.”

Rhiaon had left a few days prior to assume their position within Phyenix Listra’s household. Without their grounding presence, Rys and Kal had bounced off each other until yesterday Hudzon had placed the former into a headlock, growling threats low in his ear until the male blanched.

I raised my brows at Kal’s laughter. He smoothed a hand over his face and shook his head. Greabes, however, rolled his eyes. “At this rate my hearts will give out before this job is over,” he grunted, tapping his vest until he found what he was searching for.

He met me halfway to the jumper, weighing a short black dagger in his hand. After a moment, I realized it was a quara blade like the one Asher had, only smaller. Straps dangled from either side of the hilt as he handed it to me.

“Here, strap this to your leg.” The tone was gruff but after a quarter cycle I knew him well enough to hear the affection in it.