At dawn, Tessi quietly warns me that Onidus is asleep on the sofa. She gets ready in the bathroom, walks Radar in the dog park, and kisses him goodbye for the day. Rorsar and Onidus, our night security crew, switch out with Davarok, Kren, and Esrynne. Marne and Ignus have been working with ABR on Myndrous portal detection systems and explaining Luna Pack behavior, so they know not to expect help from them, should the time come.
Tessi doesn’t speak at breakfast. She keeps one hand wrapped around mine and avoids even bumping into anyone in line. She gives me small, shy smiles but otherwise appears to just be taking in the world and our time together.
The knowledge game is the morning activity. They’ve pitted females against males, and we dominate. But it doesn’t seem fair because we live among the stars and most of the females at the race have never even left Earth.
Still, to my surprise, Tessi answers a few of the questions correctly, earning her some interest from other species. The Lunas scowl at her, when they would normally want a blue for her tenderness and mothering qualities. I answer a few questions too, but nothing special. It isn’t until the game is over and the prizes for difficult or special deal questions have been doled out, that I’m able to be with Tessi again.
She doesn’t hesitate to find me and draw my hand into hers.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
She hums a quiet yes.
“Tessi.”
She looks up at me. “I’ve just been thinking about what you said. I couldn’t fight to stay in college or save my mother orCaden. I never knew my father. So I’ve never really been able to fight to keep the things I wanted. Then I saw a scavenger poster with a bounty for a lost item. It took me a few months to get serious about it. But when I lost my scholarship and no one would hire me because I didn’t have experience, I found a way to fight to keep what I wanted.
“Males and females must separate to prep for the next race. The grenade maze,” an ABR staff member calls out from the crowd.
Tessi squeezes my hand and lets go. “But I’m going to try to do what you said. I’ll be out in a bit.”
She backs up, turns, and walks into the females’ changing hut.
The male’s hut is filled with cookies and snacks. I snatch up a few and bump into Carnas.
“Hey,” he says, handing me a rifle and a set of armor with extra magazines and grenades. “How’s your girl?”
I take the items, thank him, and get dressed. “It’s rough, but she’s open to my proposal.”
“Nice.” He offers me a fist-bump, which I take.
“You?”
“Wasn’t quite a bond. So she’s off with someone else.”
“I’m sure there’s a female out there for you,” I reply.
Carnas shrugs and nods. “So some strange rumors going around here after the Myndrous showed. Any more information?”
I give him a brief rundown of our situation.
“Well, count me in,” Carnas replies. “I have nothing to lose now. I’ve sniffed every butt in this place, even a few dudes, just to make sure I wasn’t losing my edge. Still straight as an arrow. There’s just not a compatible female for me here. If you don’t mind me tagging along…that is.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “You and Davarok are going to get along well, I think.”
Spike leans around a tower of chocolate covered fruit with a disgusted look on his face. “I do not understand humans’ fascination with chocolate. It gives me a stomach ache.”
“Where’s your female?” Carnas asks. “I did not see her with you at breakfast.”
“A Derorsin snagged her. Turns out she’s into knobs, not knots.”
“Fuck. Not you, too,” Carnas remarks. “Well, Zorin’s female is half Isonian and being hunted by Nebs. You in?”
Spike’s eyes dart from him to me. “Nebs?”
“She’s an Aural Transfer. Nebs think she’s got the power to change the war. So we can’t mate.”
Carnas looks back at me. “No. Really? But you’re scent-bonded. I know it just watching you two.”
