When the starting gun goes off, Zorin charges through the crowd with surprising force. Even Rorsar hums a note in shock as Zorin scraps with the other Mindorans, breaks free, and heads for the spire with the fire egg that has risen in the middle of the complex just for the males’ heat. He leaps up, bare-hand climbs the pole like he’s done it before, and captures the fire egg. He tucks it in an arm and slides down the pole.
One of the other Mindorans snarls and snaps at him, trying to take the egg. Zorin drops to all fours, shifting into a full-blown wolf. His silver-tipped dark fur glistens in the bright light. And he’s magnificent.
“Wow,” I mutter.
Rorsar tilts like he’s trying to figure out what I’m looking at.
Ohni zooms down from near the bell, where she’s just congratulated an Amphiran for being the first to the bell. Herpresence encourages the other Mindorans back. Zorin shifts upright again and extends the egg.
“Zorin Aegeris of Mindor, congratulations on capturing the fire egg. Please pick your prize.” Ohni opens a case. On a nearby screen, I watch the cameradrone feed.
He picks a card then says, “Please give this to Tessi of Earth. I already have a ship.”
What did he just say?I gape as Ohni hovers up and comes over to me, the cameradrones following her. She never quite lands, but she extends a glittery chip to me.
“Tessi, your ship will be waiting for you in the women’s hangars. It has already been loaded to your account and is therefore genetically coded to you. Just present your chip to receive your introduction to your new ride.”
I take the ship with shaking hands. “A ship?”
She beams down at me. “You’re going to like it. Promise. It has autopilot, so if you don’t have your license, you can operate it.”
“I do. I got it when I was a teen.”
Ohni gives me a thumbs up and a wink, then races off to reward the male who found the other egg.
Zorin walks to the edge of the race grounds and stops. But when I start toward him, he turns and walks off.
“Zorin…”
“Let him go.” Rorsar stops me with a gentle hand.
I glare at him. “This isn’t fair.”
“I know. The way this all came together is pretty messy.” Rorsar sighs. “Just give him a moment to chill out. Both those Aegeris brothers need extra space when they’re struggling emotionally. Otherwise, they could light off any number of supernatural forces.”
“What are you talking about?”
Rorsar guides me toward the lunch hall, but I’m more concerned with Zorin. I refuse and storm past other racers and into the main hallway.
“What’s the matter?”
“How can I eat when he isn’t?” I ask. “He just gave me a ship! He saved me from Myndrous. And he clearly wants me, but I’m supposed to ignore all of it?”
“Yes.”
I growl. “No. The military might own him. But they cannot tell me what to do.”
Rorsar arches an eyebrow. “They could put you in jail if that’s what it takes to keep you from causing a war.”
“Caring about Zorin is not going to start a war.” But as I say it, I wonder what I’m missing about him. “Is it?”
Rorsar sways nervously between his boots. “Zorin and Azrim are the last two Aegeris. While many of us are descendents of the goddess’ power, loyal to Aegeris, we are not her bloodline. Azrim was the alpha until he lost his mate and turned to Night Stalking. Zorin is now the alpha of the Luna rivals, which means he is to us what a king is to you, except he acts more like an independent undercover operative.
“There are two classes for us. Azrim is a Dire, a lone hunter, great at fighting with no one else on his team to help him or to think about. Zorin is what you would call an altruist to a fault. He will put everyone else before himself, including his brother, who doesn’t always notice. We call Zorin a Navorxis.”
As Rorsar says it, I get the feeling he doesn’t like saying the word, or it brings back bad memories.
“What does that literally translate to?” I ask. I knoworxisissacrificein Mindoran, but that’s the only piece I remember from my brief year of coursework.
