Page 55 of The Thren's Fated
“Not long, perhaps an hour. We can rest more if you would like.”
“I think I’m okay,” she said, standing on shaking legs and making her way to the glimmering pool.
Screl followed suit, and they both cleaned themselves in silence before dressing. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but not quite comfortable either. They had just shared something significant, but they still knew so little about each other.
Lena wasn’t sure what it all meant, the light in their chests, the sensation of tingling skin, but she sighed all the same as he pulled her close, nuzzling the top of her head with his cheek. The hug was brief, and when they parted, he kept hold of one of her hands, leading her away from the water.
It took about five minutes to walk to the other side of the isle, the iridescent mist glittering as she took in the views. They were hovering over a large body of water, surrounded by rolling green hills. In the distance, there was a sprawling city, like something out of the Other Worlds documentary she used to watch back on Earth.
Most of the buildings were the same shiny metallic as Screl’s ship, and the architecture was minimalist, like everything the Threns seemed to create, amorphous silvery columns and orbs. There were very few straight edges, mostly undulating curves that reminded Lena of tentacles. A dark gray tower flanked by two large irregular edifices was the most noticeable structure, located in the very center of the city.
“Not too close to the edge,” Screl said, interrupting her thoughts and pulling her back slightly.
She gave a quiet gasp at the view straight down. A very long fall indeed.
“That is Arysetta, our capital.”
Lena had heard that name mentioned often on Henios, by travelers and traders passing through, either coming or going to the city.
“What is that building?” she asked, pointing to the large gray tower that stood out from the rest.
Screl hummed, the noise almost imperceptible over the sounds of the gentle breeze and screeching animals.
“That is my home. I live there with my father and siblings, though I have spent much more time on my ship in the past years.”
“Do you enjoy it there? With your family?”
He pondered his answer, perhaps deciding how much truth she should hear.
“It was… not easy growing up. Training Thren children is always rigorous, but… it was even more so for myself, though I am only the fourth heir to the Sovereignty. The likelihood of me ruling is quite slim, but they trained me for it all the same.” There was definitely a touch of sadness in his deep voice, and something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “Arysetta is a lovely city, though. I hope I have time to show you later.”
They examined the skyline for a long while, lights blinking on and off as shuttles came and went. It was pleasant, his tight grip and substantial presence surrounding her as light glinted off the shiny buildings.
A question gnawed at her, one that she finally built up the courage to ask.
“Yavriel,” she started, cautiously using his personal name. “Did you inject me with a pheromone to make me like you? When we first met.”
He took a deep breath, as if preparing himself for a long answer. Wasn’t it a simple yes or no?
“I did not do anything. Not purposefully.”
“What does that mean?”
The prickle of fear returned, one that had been blissfully absent while they had silently observed the city beyond.
“I do not wish to frighten you.”
Why would he frighten her? If he had injected her with something, surely it was reversible. Or would wear off with time.
“What is it? Tell me!”
Her voice pitched high with anxiety, though she tried to focus, desperate to understand what was going on.
“There are pheromones that exude from my body naturally. This is true of all members of my species.”
“And? Is that why…” she trailed off, unable to finish her question.
Somehow the thought that her attraction to him was false, fabricated in some way made her ill, though it should have brought her comfort to know that there was a logical reason she was falling so quickly for someone whom she barely knew.
