Walking through it was the most beautiful thing she had ever encountered. The second most beautiful thing was the light shining from his golden brown eyes.
“Ch-Challa?”
She loved his deep voice. It suited him. Compton was not tall, but he had a strong build. His chest and arms spoke of hours in training, making Challa wonder what kind of training he’d faced. There was an air of power about him. Of facing obstacles with his mind and two hands, and defeating whatever threatened him. He would have been a worthy and intimidating Ruinos.
In the sunlight she could see tints of red in his brown hair. Everything about him pleased her and surprised her. But he didn’t touch her. Not yet, but he would. She could sense him wanting to, but he was hesitant. Cautious, but not fearful. Like a Ruinos male, he would never force himself upon her.
Someone passed by them and honked a horn. Compton acknowledged the driver with a shout and a wave. He’s well known here. He has friends…family…and a history here. The knowledge suddenly saddened her. She had no true friends or family left, and certainly no home, unless she wanted to call the carnival her home. She and Amfinn had accidentally parted company years ago. Since then, she had wandered alone, taking odd little jobs to survive, and always praying that some day she would meet up again with one of the other escapees. If nothing more than to have that contact with one of her own kind again. Someone she could be her true self with, and not worry about the consequences.
They walked side-by-side to a grill. His scent was tangy, filling her head with its sweet tartness. She realized now the lemonade smell she’d detected earlier was the scent of him caring about her. His real odor was more orangey. Tangerine.
Once they reached the restaurant and went inside, Compton was again greeted by people he knew. He led her to a little booth in the back, and they sat, facing each other across the table.
Almost immediately his orangey scent was swallowed up by the dull, penetrating smell of frying food. The first twinges of a headache echoed between her eyes. Thankfully a waitress followed them to the table to get their drink order. There seemed to be a communication problem when Compton ordered. Neither did he look happy once the woman left. Something about a wagon…
To redirect his attention, Challa smiled around her growing headache. “You’ve lived here all your life?”
Her plan worked. The frown between his eyebrows disappeared and he smiled back at her. “Yeah. Except for my tours of duty overseas, this has been my only home.”
Before she could answer, he ducked behind his menu.
It took a moment for her to realize she was sitting there, staring at him with her mouth slightly agape. She had read him. She had read him!
Holiest of stars! He hadn’t touched her, but she had read him!
* * * *
“Kreesi, how is it different having a life mate?”
No matter what the topic, no matter what the oldling had to tell them, Vodoro always brought the subject around to life mates at some point during their lessons. Fortunately Kreesi never berated her for her inquisitiveness, and always gave her a straight answer.
“It’s very different. It is nothing like your life is now, changeling.”
Now Challa’s curiosity burned. “How is it different?”
Kreesi crossed her withered legs in front of her and prepared herself for a longer lesson than usual. “For one thing, you will read each other.”
The comment brought about a round of giggles. “That’s silly.” Breftu laughed.
“No, it’s not silly,” Kreesi rebuked the child without hurting her feelings. “You will know how your life mate feels, and maybe you will be able to tell what he is thinking.”
Instead of laughter, there was the sound of everyone, “Oohing,” in awe.
* * * *
For some reason, when Compton mentioned “tours of duty”, Challa saw scenes of carnage float through her mind. Bloody scenes of people
“Ch-Challa?”
She loved his deep voice. It suited him. Compton was not tall, but he had a strong build. His chest and arms spoke of hours in training, making Challa wonder what kind of training he’d faced. There was an air of power about him. Of facing obstacles with his mind and two hands, and defeating whatever threatened him. He would have been a worthy and intimidating Ruinos.
In the sunlight she could see tints of red in his brown hair. Everything about him pleased her and surprised her. But he didn’t touch her. Not yet, but he would. She could sense him wanting to, but he was hesitant. Cautious, but not fearful. Like a Ruinos male, he would never force himself upon her.
Someone passed by them and honked a horn. Compton acknowledged the driver with a shout and a wave. He’s well known here. He has friends…family…and a history here. The knowledge suddenly saddened her. She had no true friends or family left, and certainly no home, unless she wanted to call the carnival her home. She and Amfinn had accidentally parted company years ago. Since then, she had wandered alone, taking odd little jobs to survive, and always praying that some day she would meet up again with one of the other escapees. If nothing more than to have that contact with one of her own kind again. Someone she could be her true self with, and not worry about the consequences.
They walked side-by-side to a grill. His scent was tangy, filling her head with its sweet tartness. She realized now the lemonade smell she’d detected earlier was the scent of him caring about her. His real odor was more orangey. Tangerine.
Once they reached the restaurant and went inside, Compton was again greeted by people he knew. He led her to a little booth in the back, and they sat, facing each other across the table.
Almost immediately his orangey scent was swallowed up by the dull, penetrating smell of frying food. The first twinges of a headache echoed between her eyes. Thankfully a waitress followed them to the table to get their drink order. There seemed to be a communication problem when Compton ordered. Neither did he look happy once the woman left. Something about a wagon…
To redirect his attention, Challa smiled around her growing headache. “You’ve lived here all your life?”
Her plan worked. The frown between his eyebrows disappeared and he smiled back at her. “Yeah. Except for my tours of duty overseas, this has been my only home.”
Before she could answer, he ducked behind his menu.
It took a moment for her to realize she was sitting there, staring at him with her mouth slightly agape. She had read him. She had read him!
Holiest of stars! He hadn’t touched her, but she had read him!
* * * *
“Kreesi, how is it different having a life mate?”
No matter what the topic, no matter what the oldling had to tell them, Vodoro always brought the subject around to life mates at some point during their lessons. Fortunately Kreesi never berated her for her inquisitiveness, and always gave her a straight answer.
“It’s very different. It is nothing like your life is now, changeling.”
Now Challa’s curiosity burned. “How is it different?”
Kreesi crossed her withered legs in front of her and prepared herself for a longer lesson than usual. “For one thing, you will read each other.”
The comment brought about a round of giggles. “That’s silly.” Breftu laughed.
“No, it’s not silly,” Kreesi rebuked the child without hurting her feelings. “You will know how your life mate feels, and maybe you will be able to tell what he is thinking.”
Instead of laughter, there was the sound of everyone, “Oohing,” in awe.
* * * *
For some reason, when Compton mentioned “tours of duty”, Challa saw scenes of carnage float through her mind. Bloody scenes of people
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