Not knowing how to respond, I chose silence as the wisest course.
“Here we are.” Calia stopped in front of a side door that appeared no different than the rest that lined the hall. “You may cleanse and change here, Captain Jane.” She pointed to another door next to the first. “And you here, Commander Torian.”
“Please, call me Jane,” I said automatically as she used my title for a second time. Then, the other part of her sentence hit me. “Cleanse and change how?”
Calia laughed, a tinkling sound like rain on tin. “Your bodies and clothes, of course. You cannot undergo the trials in that.” She pointed to my clothes first, then Tor’s. Her round eyes narrowed, looking like squished melons. “And no weapons. They are strictly forbidden in the sanctum.”
I shot Tor a look that he’d understand without words. He shook his head side-to-side slowly, just enough for me to notice. “We will do all that is required, my friends.” Tor shirked off his vest and handed it to Lorn. “All of my weapons reside in there.”
Calia waited, staring expectantly at me.
I sighed. Removing the dagger and its sheath Tor had given me from my pants, I handed it to her. “Please don’t lose it.” I cast a glance at my alien warrior. “It’s special to me.”
“Your things will all be safe. I can assure you.” She took it from my hand, holding it in hers like it was a sacred treasure. Her care made me feel a fraction better about turning over the dagger. “Now, please head into your cleansing and changing areas. The units will refresh your bodies and clothes have already been prepared for you.”
“That’s,” Tor scrunched his face as if he wanted to argue, but he straightened it quickly as he said, “kind of you.”
“It is no trouble at all.” Lorn folded the vest carefully over his arm. “When you’ve finished, the interior door will lead you to our dining hall. We’ve had a meal prepared for you as well, so you may nourish yourselves before your trials begin.”
“That is truly kind of you,” I said, meaning the words. We may not know what laid in store for us with these tests, but I couldn’t fault the Kinsians on their hospitality.
“We love having seekers.” Mirth danced in Calia’s round eyes. “It invigorates our spirits and renews our souls. Does it not, my Lorn?”
“It does, indeed.” The Kinsian couple locked eyes, and it was clear that love flowed between them. Love and…a lot more.
“Well,” I cleared my throat, hoping to break up the eye-fucking between the alien pair, “Tor and I will just get ourselves settled, then come and meet you.”
The Kinsians didn’t acknowledge us, or even blink as their weird staring contest continued.
Tor bent to speak in my ear. “I think we’d better just go and let them,” he raised one brow as the couple began to emit odd squeals, “do whatever their doing.”
“Good idea.” I headed quickly for my door while Tor claimed his. “Meet you on the other side.”
He paused and leaned toward me once more. His lips brushed my mouth in a soft kiss. “Be safe, Jane.” His growl rolled along my insides, setting them aflame. “I don’t like leaving you.”
“I’ll be fine.” I tweaked his nose. “Go freshen up, bossy alien.”
He bit my finger gently. “Behave, little captain, or you will be punished.”
My eyes widened. Before I could respond with an appropriate comeback, he disappeared behind his door.
“Cocky, arrogant, son of a viper!” I shrieked after his retreating form.
He didn’t respond, but his bark of laughter stayed behind.
