AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My chest swells with pride, affection, and humility all at once at her words. I loop my arm around her waist and pull her against my shoulder so I can kiss the top of her head. “Thanks, princess. But better you not compliment me too often, or I’m going to get an inflated ego with you around.”
“Don’t worry,” she says as she pokes my bottom lip with her finger. “I won’t let that happen.”
35KALLISTA
Persephone’s Cradle is located in the Andromeda Galaxy and is regarded as one of the largest bastions of progress across the universe. It’s not only a place where you can buy almost anything your heart desires—it’s also home to dozens of alien embassies, hotels, and restaurants. When we fly through the ley gate and enter Andromeda, the very first thing I see is the enormous gray basket hovering in the center of five small planets.
The name was literal. A thousand years ago, the space station was built in the shape of an actual cradle, immediately after Humanity made it into deep space. It’s my people’s creation and biggest accomplishment. I swipe away a tear as we move closer toward it.
“You okay?” Xavian asks, glancing down at me briefly with concern.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just … a little emotional, I guess. This is my first time here,” I choke out as I reach for the tissue box inside the glove compartment. Good thing I’m wearing a Weave, otherwise I’d smudge all my makeup before we even landed.
Xavian’s brows knit together as he passes ships on either side of us. Traffic around here is starting to get hectic. “What? You can’t be serious. The way you talked about it back in the apartment, it sounded like you were a frequent visitor.”
“Nope. Never been. I’ve been too busy since the show, but sometimes my team members bring me back souvenirs when they go on my behalf. That’s how I knew about the music shop.”
The fake gravitational source of the station locks onto our ship and guides us toward the landing hangar. Our jammer lurches once, then Xavian takes his hand off the wheel, allowing the auto pilot to kick in.
“I’m not feeling so bad about bringing you here, then. This is Humanity’s crown jewel in the universe, and you’ve never visited?” He shakes his head slowly and leans back against the seat. “I’ve been here a few times.”
“And? How was it?” I ask, eager to lap up any details about Xavian’s past. Getting to know him has been a lot of fun, but there’s still so much about him I don’t know yet. And unlike all the other guys I’ve dated in the past, where I’d go out with them mainly for the mutual optics, I actuallywantto know everything there is to know about Xavian.
He shrugs. “It was fine. Went with the team on those trips, so it meant bar hopping and brothels.”
I inhale sharply. Okay, I wasn’t expecting that. At all.
He flashes me a grin and laughs. “Relax. I’ve never partaken in brothels. They’re not my style. Aiken loves them, though. But I always end up at the bar talking to the ladies.”
My heart flutters in my chest at the image of him sitting at a bar, simply chatting with the women over drinks. Our ship glides smoothly into a massive open gate on the side of the station. Haunting white lights flicker as we pass them at an uncomfortable speed. My fingernails dig into the armrests of my seat, and Xavian places his hand on top of mine.
His thumb brushes the back of my knuckles in a soothing gesture. “You’re okay. Don’t worry. I’ve done this plenty of times and nothing has ever gone wrong.”
I chuckle nervously. “First time for everything?”
He sighs, still stroking my hand, and says, “We’re already here.”
Our jammer swoops down beside a dozen other ships in a dark room that looks suspiciously like a giant parking lot. When we land, he unbuckles his seatbelt and runs around to my side to help me out. I know it’s his job, but seeing him race around open my door every single time is kind of funny to me. My other bodyguards opened my doors all the time, but for some reason when Xav does it, it hits differently.
Xavian and I don’t linger in the parking lot. We take the elevator straight down into one of the gigantic wings of the Cradle. When the elevator doors slide open, a burst of fresh air blows into my face. The scent of wildflowers is overwhelming, and when I step out, I’m amazed to see verdant trees and an azure blue sky overhead.
I stare up at the sky, my mouth wide open, completely gob smacked. My hood falls off my head, and Xavian is quick to pull it back up for me.
“I know you’re wearing a Weave, but try to keep this up. Just in case,” he says, winking at me. A bolt of electricity goes straight to my core from the wink, and now all I can think about is taking him to one of the many hotels and blowing him for the next hour and a half.
Fuck. This man has done something to the part of my brain that produces rational, intelligent thoughts.
I simply nod and follow him down the white marble walkway toward a large pool filled with turquoise water.
“This isn’t what I expected,” I say as we stop in front of the water feature. My heart leaps into my throat when I see the mallard ducks wiggling their behinds in the water, and I point to them excitedly. “Ducks? Here? I haven’t seen a real duck in years!”
Xavian throws his head back and laughs. “They’re imported from Terra. Humanity’s greatest achievement isn’t complete without some ducks.” He slides his hands into his pockets and looks up at the sky, then draws in a deep breath. “Climate control. I don’t know how it works, so don’t bother asking me.”
I flash him a smile, and he smiles back. “You know, this would be a nice place for a date,” I say. “If we were to go on a date, that is.”
A beat of silence passes between us, and then he stretches out his arm, offering me his hand.
“Well, we’re already here. We’re breaking so many rules. What’s one more to the list? Would you like to go on a date with me, Emily?”
