Page 39 of Tempting Fate

Fenn gave me a lopsided smile. “I guess it isn’t.” They flicked their fingers in the water, creating hundreds of tiny ripples, all catching the bright sun until a cloud scudded across the sky.

I wiggled my toes in the water. “Well, then. You better tell me how it goes.”

Fenn could be the horny romantic. So what if the sexy guy hand job was a one-off? I could live vicariously through my friends.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Ripples

Airida

I DROPPED MY datapad on the bed, wrinkling the sheets. Though today’s trading data wasn’t taxing, it was vast, and after a whole hour, my brain waded through fog, and the various goods worth bothering with left me cold.

I put the kettle on as a knock sounded at my door. “Come in.”

Daiytak’s shadow entered before she did. “We haven’t heard from Orukem. We should assume she will not be back this evening.”

“I see.” My concern for Orukem wrestled with hope.

“You won’t accept Grilahki, I assume.”

I poured hot water into my mug and set the kettle down. “I will not have that female touch me.”

Daiytak took a long, slow round of breath before replying. “It would only be one time.”

One time too many. Even the thought of it set my skin to crawling, and the urge to fight sang in my blood. “Let me ask Imani.”

A growl rumbled deep in her throat. “I thought you’d say that. Just because she helped you once, she is under no obligation. I do not wish you to pressure her.”

“I would never! I am sure you think me a spoiled noble, but I am kri’ith. My integrity is my honour, as any Orithian knows. As you should know.”

The muscles in Daiytak’s face tightened, her headspines twitching. “There is no honour on Orith, Airida. Not while the colonies exist.”

I paced to the window, tasting her bitter truth. Our whole society had been built on the four backbones, of which integrity was the most cited, the one I held most dear. The revelations about the colonies made a mockery of all of them. “I apologise. It was thoughtless of me.”

The mantras my sister had taught me flowed through my mind, alternatives to the riot of thoughts. My calm is the strength that brings victory.

Daiytak’s was not the only truth. No, integrity was honour—and a person could embody it, even when placed next to a garish contradiction. “I swear it on my bones, I would sooner die than disgrace myself with Imani. Let me speak with her. Please.”

From Kri’s shrine, the chiyi cooed. She spread her elytra, fluttered her wings, and took off, landing in my headspines.

Daiytak sighed, a wry quirk to her lips. “Very well. I shall find her.”

As soon as she’d left, my energy drained away, the conversation sapping my strength as surely as kalidi. I sank to the chair. Wrapping both hands around my mug, I let its solid heat ground me.

Imani didn’t come.

Blessed gods, but she’d smelled so good when I’d crushed her to me. I probably shouldn’t have held her so tight or pulled her off her seat, but once I’d had her small warmth in my arms, instinct had taken over, as unstoppable as kalidi itself.

She’d enjoyed it too, I’d thought, softening in my embrace, her cheek pressed against my bare chest. I’d wanted to hold that moment forever.

I returned my empty mug to the kitchenette and crawled into bed.

After too much time with my own thoughts, another knock sounded at the door, a soft one that brought a spark of hope.

Aimanei.

She entered, pausing just inside the room. “Daiytak said you wanted to speak with me.”