I pull my credit card out of my purse and pass it over to Shak.
His fingers linger a moment longer than necessary as he takes the card. I let go and snatch my hand back.
It takes him a moment, but he finally swipes the chip and hands the card back to me, along with the single tulip.
“You will come back tomorrow?” he asks, eyes searching mine.
I shrug even though I know I will. I come here every day.
“I hope you do. I promise I will not make you sad tomorrow.”
“I’m not—” I immediately start to deny but then stop myself. I don’t know who this strange, beautiful man is but somehow he’s seen me more clearly than even my closest friends have been able to lately.
I hold the tulip close to my chest. “Tomorrow then.”
Chapter Four
Shak
Juliet is unlike anyone else I have ever met. From my perch on the shop’s roof, I watch her through her window as she moves about her dwelling, first cleaning the kitchen and then tidying the rest of the space.
She moves with an unconscious grace.
And talking with her today downstairs— I have been recalling the conversation over and over in the hours since. Every word, every gesture.
I should not have been so honest with her, speaking of my home like that. But then I was rewarded with her touch. These human skins were created for touch, I think, because a thousand new nerve endings I have never felt before suddenly lit up the second she did. It must be terrible for battle, these fragile skins.
But for other things? It is little wonder this race is so obsessed with copulation when a mere touch can bring so much pleasure.
Acquiring the flower shop was a good idea, even if I had to bow and scrape before First to acquire the currency necessary. He is not happy that I refuse to wear a communication device at all times, but since I am down here and he is orbiting in the ship up there, there is little he can do about it.
I check in twice daily to report my progress and all he can do is accept it if he does not want to lose face before his superiors.
It would be a dangerous game to play were not the stakes so high. But I will either succeed on this mission or fail. The details of how will not matter in the end.
Details like whether or not I impregnate the female that was chosen for me or one that I choose for myself.
My eyes go back to Juliet.
It will take time with her. It is not something that can be rushed. First will not like that.
But this is not something that can be done in a lab. If history has taught us anything, it is this. The scientists could never logically explain why our race became infertile.
So the only logical conclusion is that we must take science out of it. As much as we can beyond the alterations necessary to make us compatible mating partners with the humans, anyway.
We must relearn the ancient dance of courtship, I see that now.
I must prove to Juliet that I am superior to the male who currently eats her food and sleeps on her couch.
Yes, it will take time. But a Draci lifespan is almost a thousand years. We are nothing if not patient.
So I wait and watch, and tomorrow when Juliet returns to the flower shop, I will continue my campaign to show I am the better mate.
Even as I think it, Juliet’s door opens and he enters. My scrawny competition.
He stumbles a little. Is he injured? The blood in my veins fires hot at the thought. He is weak. Easy prey.
Juliet turns and they exchange words. He moves towards her, staggering in an uneven pattern.
My lip curls in disgust. I have seen this before among the weakest of the Draki, who binge on rousi wine. This man is intoxicated.
He tries to put his arms around Juliet but from the way she pulls back, she seems as disgusted by his drunkenness as I.
He approaches her again, and again she backs away.
Good. The more this man makes a fool of himself, the sooner—
He approaches yet again and this time— I leap to my feet when I see his intention in his eyes but I am too late.
He backhands Juliet with such force, she is knocked to the floor.
The blood rage is upon me before she even hits the ground.
This man will die and he will die soon.
Everything inside me wants to leap down from the roof this instance, scale her building, break the glass of her window and go immediately to her side. To tear the man limb from limb and give her the satisfaction of seeing the kill.
But more than any other directive, the first was drilled into us day and night. Secrecy. Above all else, our presence must remain a secret from the humans.