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Darcy shrugged. “I’m not used to asking for things.”
Nazyn’s eyes instantly scanned thehigh-way–a ridiculous name, as it was locked to the ground and at least two opposite directions for vehicles, so neither high, nor one way–looking for a spot to stop so Darcy could get out and undress safely. No taking off the safety belt in a moving vehicle, that was against human laws. And Deruzians took laws very seriously.
As he pondered how in the universe he could right his wrong, silence descended upon them once again.
Kiara broke it with a sigh. “Yeah, it sounds like you two need to get to know each other a bit better. Call me when you get there, okay? We’re all counting on you. Break a leg.”
“Why would she wish injury upon us?” Nazyn asked as the hologram blinked out of view.
“It’s a figure of speech. It means good luck,” Darcy said with a laugh. “That hologram is awesome. Do you have any idea how many tech companies have invested billions of dollars to make theirs look like that? They’d die to get their hands on it.”
They’d probably die if they tried to steal it from Alien Inc., but Nazyn didn’t mention that. Yakirian had told all Deruzians on Earth, in no uncertain terms, to not seem menacing. “I’m glad you appreciate it.”
He was more than glad. Ecstatic. He didn’t know why, though. Darcy was impressed–so were other humans who’d seen the holograms. It shouldn’t feel different this time. But it did.
“Why aren’t you sure about the whole garden idea?” she asked. “I think it’s a promising idea.”
She had noticed. Of course she had, intelligence shined in her gorgeous eyes.
“It would be–if the device worked outside,” he said, clenching his jaw.
Nazyn still hadn’t discoveredwhythe Nines-damned technology refused to work on Earth like it did on Deruzia. He, Rynar, and Deryg had gone to the top of the Annator mountains while Zaryn had accompanied them as a hologram. It made no sense and it pained Nazyn to face that truth, especially with Darcy next to him.
“So it has its limitations.” Darcy shrugged. “Limitations can improve devices. It just means we can make it even better.”
Curious. So she wasn’t disappointed. She saw a challenge in it. Nowthatwas different. Nazyn was so used to the disgruntled looks he’d gotten as a youngling whenever he made the smallest mistake, he always anticipated that reaction.
“I think it’s a problem with the human wireless system,” he said, surprising himself. He hadn’t admitted this to anyone. But he couldn’t find any other issue. “The Deruzian system is very different and adapting to Earth was a struggle. And not a totally successful one.”
“Hmm.” Darcy’s eyes focused on the windshield as she pursed her lips. A crease appeared between her brows; she looked remarkably similar to Rynar’s cat, Zinny. The correct term for it wascu-te, Nazyn knew that. “That is a pickle.”
Pi-cklewas a sour vegetable, yes? Nayzn had eaten it once, quite enjoyable. But why would this situation be api-ckle? Maybe it referred to the marinating process. Humans said ideas needed to marinate.
It made…a weird sort of sense, he supposed.
Fascinating species. And he found himself more and more fascinated by Darcy, who hadn’t said a word as they drove out of the highway and up a street flanked by lush, thorny trees. Nazyn did the same thing when confronted with a problem. His thoughts ran until he found a solution.
There was a strange comfort in this stillness. Nazyn didn’t want to break it, but Darcy had an issue and he could solve it.
He guided the vehicle to the edge of the road, stopping at a bend next to an agitated river with snowy, icy banks.
As the motor stopped rumbling, Darcy snapped back to reality, giving Nazyn a curious look. “Why are we stopping?”
“For your coat,” he said.
The brilliant smile she sent his way sucked all the air from his lungs. Luckily, she didn’t notice, too concerned with unbuckling and stepping out of the car. As the door opened, a gust of cold, moist air filtered in. Nazyn clenched his jaw.
If there was one thing he disliked about Earth, it was the temperature. Why, in all the Nines, was it so cold? They’d told him to visit the Sahara. He had and had frozen his horns off during the night. He hadn’t even sweated during the day. The deserts on Deruzia were a different kind of hot. The warmth that seeped into your bones and snapped them if you weren’t careful.
Darcy didn’t seem to have an issue. She took off the fluffy coat, gaze lost in the forest surrounding them.
As soon as the fabric was off her, the breeze carried her scent inside the vehicle, straight into Nazyn’s brain. One inhalation and his body was flooded with an unrestrained, complete craving.
Nazyn shook his head; maybe that’s why he was so dizzy all of a sudden. Or perhaps he needed sustenance. He was suddenly ravenous.
But the air smelled better than his nostrils had ever had the pleasure of sensing. Sweet and fresh, with a hint of a deep aroma that made his mouth water. And he couldn’t stop looking at Darcy. The way she folded her coat, her gaze unfocused. The small puffs of white air she exhaled in the cold.
Suddenly, she stilled. A wide grin appeared on her face.
