All over.
Kayli drew in several calming breaths, and took another step away from him.
Hoping he hid his annoyance, Mallet raised a brow and waited.
“There is a certain way of doing things here,” she said with tentative care. “Because she is the Arbiter, you can not just storm in on my mother and make demands. She will need to hear an alternate plan, and that will require you to have at least a rudimentary understanding of our surroundings and manners. I beg of you—”
“No, never beg.”
Exasperation took her back another step. “Very well, Michael. I
ask
of you, please, will you eat, don more appropriate attire, and then make use of our media room? In the morning we will speak again and you may tell me of any alternate plan you might conceive. But understand up front, whatever your intentions, I’m for defending our people,
all
of our people. I will back you in any effort to end the sacrifices.”
He supposed her suggestions made sense, but patience now didn’t sit quite right. Rubbing the back of his neck, he nodded. “When do they choose the next poor female to throw to the wolves?”
Her breath shuddered in and out. “Not until tomorrow midday.”
That’d give him a little time to think things through. Already, a plan formed. Harebrained, but hell, it was better than forfeiting someone to an unknown fate.
“All right. I’ll try to slow it down.” He pointed a finger at her. “But no one is getting sacrificed.”
Her smile quivered. “Thank you, sir.”
He threw up his arms in frustration. “I told you, no more ‘sirring’ me, damn it!”
“All right, Michael.”
Her humble response irked, and blunted the edge of his temper. What had she thought—that he’d go along with such a barbaric thing? No way.
Less heated but still grumbling, he said, “For a supposedly civilized colony, I’m not real impressed.”
“Understandable, under the circumstances.”
“Yeah, well . . .” He hated seeing her like this, on pins and needles. “I’m hungry and I guess I could use some clothes that fit a little better.” He flipped one end of the robe over his knee. “At least if I’m covered a bit more, it’ll keep you from ogling me so much.”
And with that, he gestured for Kayli to show him to the kitchen, or the eating place, or whatever she called it.
A little tongue-tied, her cheeks again pink, Kayli darted around him to take the lead down the hall. Mallet didn’t mind. He enjoyed the rear view of her as much as the front. Heck, maybe even more.
So she wanted to defend her people.
He liked that. He liked her. A lot.
The future, and all it held, looked a whole lot brighter than it had yesterday.
KAYLI’S heels echoed on the floor as she approached the pristine food preparation room. As one interconnected unit, it selected, cooked, and served each menu requested.
She stopped inside the door. “How do you like your steak?”
Arms folded over his chest, he propped one boulder-shoulder against the framing of the unit. “Medium well would be great.”
Despite his casual stance, he looked impatient, and Kayli could guess why. He knew only the cooking methods familiar to his time, and was disappointed not to see the meat already seared. She shuddered at the repulsive thought.
“Your potato?”
He eyed her, then shrugged. “What the hell. I’m not in training, so load it up.”
“Load it?”
“Butter, sour cream, bacon bits, cheese—throw it all on there.”
“Of course.” She faced the mainframe—which consisted of one tiny circular microchip—and repeated Michael’s order.
A quiet hum sounded, and seconds later a seamless space stretched opened in the counter. A tray arose filled with the steaming food, a glass of iced juice, condiments, napkins, and utensils.
Seeing Michael go wide-eyed in amazement gave Kayli some satisfaction; he’d certainly taken her by surprise more than once. “Like much of my vessel, the galley is voice-activated.”
Dumbfounded, Michael looked at her, then at the fragrant food with much doubt. “You named the food, and it . . . appeared.”
“Prepared just as you requested,” Hauk said.
“In the future, while on board, you may order up your own food.” Kayli watched as Michael sniffed the food with suspicion. “If you don’t want to come here to do so, you can instruct Hauk and he can have it delivered to you by one of the AMAs.”
“Taste it,” Hauk said. “Go ahead.”
“He’s anxious,” Kayli explained with an indulgent pat to the counter. Hauk was great, very cocky as Michael had claimed, but also determined to please. “He probably sees you as more of an equal, so your opinion matters greatly to him.”
Hauk took exception to what she said. “I can speak for myself, Kayli.”
Still a little shell-shocked, Michael picked up a fork and knife, and cut into his steak. He took one bite, and his eyes closed on a groan. “Oh God, that’s good.”
“I’m not a god,” said Hauk, “but thank you. I would serve you nothing less than perfect food.”
Kayli wished for a way to rein in her domineering computer. “That was just another colloquialism, Hauk. Remember I gave you that history on our guest and his speech mannerisms? If you would only take the time—”
“It took me only minutes to absorb it all, of course.” Hauk sniffed with all the disdain usually reserved for humans. “It was an understandable mistake.”
“It was,” Michael said around a mouthful. “You are a god—of fine cooking.”
“There, you see, Kayli? The big man sees my worth.”
If possible, Hauk would have probably stuck out a tongue. It was fortunate he didn’t have one.
“His name is Michael.”
“I know his name.”
“Call me Mallet,” Michael said. “I’m more used to it.”
“Indeed,” Hauk said. “It suits you, Mallet.”
Annoyed at how they’d excluded her, Kayli picked up the tray and handed it to Michael, put her hand on his forearm, and said, “We’re going to the dining room now, Hauk.”
Hauk sighed, but agreed. “Very well.”
Before she could say another word, they were in the formal dining area.
Michael stiffened in shock to find himself transported yet again. “Did we just—?”
“Yes. Hauk moved us here.”
Annoyance darkened his features. “I don’t like it. I have legs, you know.”
And no doubt he wanted to use them, now that he could again. “I understand. Once we leave the vessel, we’ll rarely transport, so you don’t need to get accustomed to it.”
“Why do we transport here, and not elsewhere?”
His interest pleased her. The more he learned about them and their ways, the more effective he’d be in correcting the wrongs. “Hauk has the ability to do the transports easily, but it uses a lot of his power to access that function when we’re not on board. Most in our colony do not have a computer like Hauk.”
“No one else has a computer like me, thank you very much.”
Kayli considered shutting Hauk down, but knew she wouldn’t. “True. My mother has a powerful unit, but not as powerful as Hauk. A few of the more established families have comparable units. But again, nowhere as powerful as Hauk. As head of our warriors, I have use of him.” She smiled because really, despite his quirks, she was quite fond of Hauk and considered him one of her closest friends. “He and I have been together for a long time.”
“Since she was seventeen,” Hauk said, and he didn’t sound as pleased with that memory as she was. “The point is that Kayli makes more use of my far-reaching ability when she’s on board. Away from me, she conforms to what the average colonist can and cannot do, so that she can better fit in with them.”
“Got it. No reason for them to see her as superior, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Admirable. But no more transporting me unless I request it. Understood?”
Kayli didn’t like it, but she nodded.
Hauk, filled with deference, said, “Of course, Mallet. It will be as you wish.”
Still scowling, Mallet ignored the seats to study the room Hauk had prepared. Great panels were open to reveal the glass dome ceiling. It made him feel like he was surrounded by the blue sky and fluffy clouds. Soft music played from a hidden console, and at the center of the oval stone table, several thick candles flickered.
It hit Kayli that the room was set for romance.
“Hauk,” she warned.
But the cantankerous computer didn’t reply. Later, she’d have to remind him of her duty as a warrior. She had serious responsibilities that prohibited any attempts at pairing her with their guest.
He was not meant for her.
No man was meant for her. She would spend her life alone, first defending her colony, and later, teaching others to defend it.
Michael looked at her. “This is some room.”
Did he realize Hauk’s intent? Hopefully not. “It’s been determined that proper digestion is necessary to a healthy body, so mealtimes are of utmost importance. A soothing ambiance is as crucial as the food consumed.”
“Yeah?” Michael took a step closer. “Seems more seductive than soothing to me.”
“Hauk’s idea,” she blurted, and moved to the head of the table. “I’ll speak to him about it.”
“Don’t bother.” His smile came slow and sexy. “I don’t mind.”
Kayli could have sworn she heard Hauk snicker.
But truly, what did it matter? Tomorrow, Michael would be presented with the available women, all of them very pretty, more than appropriate, and anxious to be chosen by him. Why bother explaining things to him again now, when he’d soon make a choice all on his own that would end his playful flirting?
“Please.” She pulled out a chair. “Sit down and enjoy your meal.”
“Good idea. I don’t want it to get cold.”
“It wouldn’t. The plate is fashioned to keep it at the proper temperature.”
“Great. Now that’s an invention that makes sense.” He gestured for her to be seated. “Ladies first.”
“All right.” As Kayli sat, the chair cuddled her, again giving Michael a start. “Each chair has a microchip to inform it of your size, muscle mass, and body temperature. When you sit down, it will conform to your highest level of comfort—or as closely as it can, given your unusual size.”
With caution, Michael sank into the seat, remaining stiff while it moved around him. Gradually, he relaxed. “Wow. Heavenly.” He patted the arms, shifted a little, and picked up his fork to continue eating. “I could really get used to all this added comfort.”
Kayli’s heart stuttered. “I hope you do.” Now that he was here, she didn’t want him to leave. Ever. She wanted him to be content in her colony, to stay with her . . . or rather, her people.
Other colonies offered great allures, each more unique and appealing than the other, so she’d have to see what she could do about keeping him gratified.
“I can’t wait to try out the beds.” He consumed several more bites, all the while watching her. “Are they the same?”
“Fashioned for your comfort? Yes.” The intensity in his direct blue gaze kept her edgy, and she cleared her throat. “Your pillow will remain cool, and your coverings will determine the proper body temperature to best suit you.”
“Huh.” He finished off his last bite of steak and sat back. “I’ve got a question.”
Never had Kayli seen anyone devour a meal so efficiently. He wasn’t crude in his habits, but the food had disappeared in very short order.
“Dessert?”
His gaze warmed with humor—and something more. “Not unless you’re on the menu.”
Her heart slammed into her chest. Good heavens, the way he spoke, and how he looked at her as he said those outrageous things. . . . No one had ever looked at her like that. Certainly no one had ever dared to speak to her that way. It was rude and invigorating and a little bit thrilling.
She needed to get herself in check. “I am not.” She tried to relax. “You had a question?”
“I do.” One side of his mouth kicked up. “If the bed conforms to a person’s comfort, what happens when two bodies are in the bed?”
Kayli blinked. “Two bodies?”
Losing the relaxed posture, he leaned forward and folded his muscled arms on the tabletop. “You people don’t make love in a bed? Huh.” His eyes glinted. “Kinky. I’m game, but for kicks, why don’t you tell me what the norm is here now? I’m burning with curiosity.”
Her mouth opened. She felt it. But . . . nothing came out.
Hauk came to her rescue. “Mallet, you really must behave before you send her into vapors.” A cool breeze brushed over Kayli, aiding in her recovery.
“Yes.” She found her voice, though it sounded oddly thick and raspy. “Thank you, Hauk.”
Hauk continued without acknowledging her gratitude. “You should understand, Mallet. Kayli is a virgin and destined to remain that way.”
“Hauk!” She jerked so hard and fast, the chair went into spasms beneath her, unsure if it should firm or soften to accommodate her posture.
Michael sat back again, this time both shocked and fascinated. “Seriously? You’ve never . . . not even once?”
Kayli shot out of the traumatized chair. “Shut up, Hauk!”
“Now Kayli, compose yourself. When the man is presented with the horde of anxious virgins tomorrow, he’ll know something is up.”
Michael swiveled his chair around, looking for Hauk. “What the hell are you talking about? What virgins? A horde of them, you said?”
“Shut. Up. Hauk!”
Instead, Hauk tsked at her tone. “Kayli is a warrior, Mallet, and thus forbidden to take union, the reasoning being that a warrior’s life is too fraught with risks and family is far too valued to put to chance. Instead, she is in union with her duty to the colony. A lonely existence, yes, but she convinces herself that she is at peace with her decision.”
Red-faced and teeming with fury, Kayli slapped a hand down on the table. “Shut down, Hauk.”