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“Void, yeah.” I poke her shoulder. “And no running off. We still have to get new clothes.”
Horrow House is the glitziest casino on Mookon 5. There’s even a dress code—one that won’t be satisfied by the uniforms we brought on this seven-year mission. Which means it’s time for a shopping trip.
I grin like a giddy first year. Zenth is gonna hate this. “I’m gonna grab the boss man and be back in five. Wait here.”
I’m already walking away when I hear Ada say to Galen in her cheekiest tone, “Whatever will we do with ourselves?”
Yeah, I’m more than a little jealous. Finding a man isn’t something that’s going to happen while I’m stuck on The Rose. The crew is small and half of them are women—which is great, but not really my thing.
I find Zenth buried under a Lander. Only his feet stick out, but I’d know those long legs anywhere. We’ve been best friends since my family moved in next-door to his, before we could even form full sentences.
“Yo, boss man.” I kick his shoe. “Get out of there. It’s time to have some fun.”
“I’m not going.” He sounds even grumpier than usual.
“Yes, you are.”
Sliding out from under the ship, he gives me his most surly look. “You know I hate places like this.”
Streaks of oil cover his smooth, hairless blue skin, and I want to laugh at how very Zenth it is. The only time he’s not covered in oil and grease from an engineering project is when he’s got his nose in a book reading about an engineering project.
We built our first space craft together when we were thirteen. But just because I love taking apart an engine, doesn’t mean I don’t also love dressing up and going out on the town. I’ve always been a bit of agirly-girl, as my dad used to say. And I’m not letting Zenth ruin my night because I’m worried about him being stuck back here all alone.
“You’re the Engineering Officer and it’s team building time. Everyone else is going. You have to come, boss man.”
He glares, but I know I’ve hooked him, so I grab his hands and pull him up. I wouldn’t be able to budge him on my own, but he helps, lifting to his feet. The combined effort of my force and his lift sends him stumbling right into me. I laugh, and Zenth retreats backwards. His skin turns a slightly darker shade of blue.
We’ve known each other forever, had sleepovers at each other’s houses, roomed together at Uni, there’s not much of me he hasn’t seen or bumped into, but he still blushes. He’s like that with everyone—never a big fan of physical touch. Usually I’m the exception, since he knows how touchy feely I am with people I care about.
But ever since The Rose launched, he’s been awkward and prone to blushing even with me. He’s also been going on an uncharacteristic number of dates. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was in heat. But, Tamzell don’t go into heat like Mahara do.
I don’t like how things have been between us lately or how many women he’s been seeing. Not that he’s not allowed to go out—I have no right to monopolize his time—but it’s been weird. I miss him and I’ve been surprisingly frustrated by how much attention he’s showing the other women on the ship. It’s not that I want him for myself. I’ve always expected him to find someone, but he’s never been all that interested in other women before. I’ve gotten used to him being mine.
I pick a rag up off the floor and hold it out. Normally, I’d wipe the grease off myself, but with how awkward he’s being, I figure I’ll let him do it. He scrubs it over his hairless head, across his sharp jaw, and down his long neck.
“Where are you dragging me to?”
I loop my arm with his and smile, playfully batting my eyes like a glitzy model. “If I tell you, you won’t come.”
His shoulder nudges mine. “You know me too damn well.”
I skip a little and plant a kiss on his cheek. “Yep. You’re like the back of my hand, boss man.”
Zenth
Ihateplanetslikethis. As the farthest planet out in the fifth solar system, Mookon 5 is a place where anything can happen. And, as they say,what happens on Mookon 5 is lost to the void. What is that even supposed to mean? It’s not like people forget everything they did the moment they leave the notorious City of a Thousand Sins. It’s just an excuse to make poor decisions.
That’s the real reason I said yes to Vera. Someone’s got to watch her back. It would be just like her to show up married and hung over tomorrow. Or drugged and crying.
I won’t let that happen. I’d never let anything happen to her. Vera means more to me than anything or anyone in the five solar systems.
So here I am. Following my twelve member team, plus a few of their significant others, as they weave through the crowd on the main drag. They’re all excitedly taking in the sights while I try not to cringe.
Everything is too loud and too bright. Music pours out of clubs. Neon signs flash. Fountains of light shoot into the sky. Half the people on the street are holding drinks. Everything is covered in sparkling jewels and precious metal. It’s obvious I don’t belong here. I’m worse than a square peg in a round hole. I’m like a spark plug in water.
Not only that, but I’m walking directly behind the most obnoxiously physical couple on the ship. Galen and Ada don’t even try to be discreet. They’re glued together, each with a hand on the other one’s ass.
If I wasn’t so nauseatingly jealous, I might think it was cute. Instead, it’s just a constant reminder of what I want and don’t have. My True Mate.
