The Melier: Home World (Women of Dor Nye Book 2) (10 page)

She would not be left alone from that point on. He, Val’Ja, or Gi’Ren would be with her at all times, but she could not know why. She had already been through too much and had willingly come to a planet full of prejudice. To know her life hung in the balance would only scare her unnecessarily.

He then understood how Val’Ja had felt for months.

The threat of something they could not
see
getting ever nearer to
her
; it was maddening, and the call for peace had never been more appealing to Val’Zun’s mind.

Once again he found his knuckles brushing against her delicate skin, the color reminding him of the warm brown sands of the Woh’Xar region. It was cooler there, compared to Xula, and he thought she might find it more agreeable.

The family had a smaller holding in that region, and every fiber in his being was telling him to urge Val’Ja to take her there, hide her away from the hate of their people, and keep her safe. He knew he could not do that, as much as he wanted to. It would defeat the purpose of why they brought her there.

“Would you like to explore outside of the palace today, Loo-Sha?” He enjoyed saying her name now that he finally allowed himself to do it.

The outing would give Gi’Ren time to figure out who put the beetle in their suite, and Lucia would have a chance to see some of their world. It might give the residents of Xula an opportunity to see Lucia was harmless, sentient, and not a lesser creature.

Maybe not harmless.

Lucia’s eyes lit up and that made him grin.

“Really? Where will you take me?”

“We will go to the city, and wherever that may lead us.”

Again, her eyes lit up but then they dimmed as she nibbled on her bottom lip. Val’Zun’s gaze immediately dropped to her mouth, the strange urge to feel her lips with his own almost overpowering his good sense.

He had an idea of what was troubling her.

The city had people, and the people hated her.

His tail came up to gently glide along her jaw.

“You will not be harmed, Loo-Sha,” he whispered.

****

In the next hour, Lucia was walking the populated streets of the city with Soren, Val’Zun, and unfortunately Val’Koy who decided to tag along. She was convinced he only did so to watch as the people around them stared and grimaced at her
offensive
existence. For some reason he enjoyed her discomfort.

Gi’Ren wasn’t there, surprisingly. Anywhere Lenny went, he normally followed, but he opted to continue sparring.

She tried not to let the stares get to her. Is that how Soren felt back on Dor Nye? Surely not. Most people had been curious and wary of him because he was
imposing
. They didn’t instantly hate him just because he was
Melier
.

She swiped a hand over her brow to wipe away the beads of sweat. Zun had said it was an
‘abnormally cool’
day, but it was still fucking hot. She wasn’t sure she would be able to live on Melierun, even if she
wanted
to stay. She would be stuck inside all the time, and that just sounded awful.

On top of that, she couldn’t imagine ever wanting to have another youngling in that type of atmosphere. She would
literally
turn into a puddle during one of her hot flashes. Not that she wanted to go through that entire process again. Did she?

Her attention was pulled in another direction when delicious scents wafted her way. Like a Ro’Catta, she veered course, letting her nose lead her. Vaguely, she heard herself
‘mmm’
at one point the closer she got to the smell. She wound through the patterned stone streets; the prince’s allowing her to go wherever she wanted.

At first she thought it was strange that no palace guards flanked them, but after she gave it some thought… who would want to brawl with Soren, Zun,
and
Val’Koy? They were imposing while they were happy. When they were
mad
, just the atmosphere around them made you want to run in the other damn direction.

That made Lu bubble laughter as she continued to follow her nose.

The street opened up onto a waterfront, the turquoise water nearly crystal clear, and it pulled her attention for a moment. She stopped abruptly to place her hands along the intricate white stone railing and peer over.

The water swam with colorful, fat fish that seemed to
see
her. When one breeched the water’s surface and squirted her, she jumped back and squawked before giggling and wiping her face. Her reaction made the prince’s chuckle.

“
Lolo
fish,” Soren said as he held Lenny. “They are playful creatures.”

Lucia hesitantly peered over again, dodging another stream of water, and laughed some more. It was the first time she actually felt
happy
since landing on Melierun. The fact that a playful fish was the cause only made her laugh more at the absurdity before she skirted another arc of water. On and on she played with the fish, dancing, dodging, and enjoying herself.

****

Soren stood back with his brothers as they watched Lucia play with the lolo, taking pleasure in the musical sound of her laughter. He didn’t think he’d heard her
really
laugh since Dor Nye.

The weeks since their arrival had slowly taken their toll on her. It was unnerving, since the true Lucia was anything but sullen. He knew she missed home and that it was hard for her to be surrounded by an oppressive atmosphere of hatred, but both their peoples needed
her,
and every time he wanted to take her back to Dor Nye, she would remind him of exactly that.

Melierun was part of him, and their future, and while Dor Nye had accepted him, he needed his people to accept her. If they only saw her as he did, saw her people as he did, they would understand.

Humans are equals.

Melier younglings stared curiously at the
human
with interest and a sense of kindred playfulness. Lucia’s difference in species didn’t truly bother them. They might think her form strange, but you could see in their eyes they simply wanted to join her, and play with the lolo.

Adult Melier watched on too, curious stares more judging and discriminatory. Lucia didn’t see them and if she did, she never let on. Her curls bounced and blew in the breeze and with her movements as she danced around, avoiding streams of water coming from the lolo.

Soren shared a glance with Val’Zun, and they both grinned. Even the threat of someone trying to harm Lucia couldn’t dampen the delight they found in her laughter at that moment.

****

When Lucia had finally satisfied her urge to dance and play with a bunch of
fish
, she turned and continued to follow her nose. Her fingers curled in a small wave at the younglings she noticed had been watching her, and even when their parents ushered them away from the
creature
it couldn’t rain on her mood.

Who knew fish could be so therapeutic?

On she glided along the waterfront. Shops of white and gray stone in various sizes littered the waterfront and the pale blue carved statues placed around kept catching her attention, reminding her of the museum she stumbled upon in the palace.

Every time she found one, she had to stop and circle about it, taking in every detail, and ask
who
it was. Each time one of the brothers gave her a name and small story on the Melier the statue was made in honor of. Most were merchants, exceptional nobles, and scholars, but each one had done something memorable for Melier society.

On she went, exploring, watching, and following her nose. Small potted trees provided shade and hosted yellow flowers that were almost choking the air with their sweet perfume, but Lucia reveled in it, even picking one to put behind her ear.

The billowy fabric of her dress that faded from cream to peach flowed around her with each movement and brush of the hot breeze. The colors of the fabric were specifically meant to make her skin glow, thanks to Nova’s taste in fashion. Her mood was much lighter, and she was at ease. She felt freer somehow. No palace was trapping her at that moment and she couldn’t be happier.

Soon, the smell got overwhelmingly strong and she finally
found
the source.

They traveled a short street that had been overhanging with lattice holding up a canopy of a vining plant with clusters of tiny pink and white flowers. She was still brushing off the small petals when the street opened up into a rounded pavilion.

On the far side, a street chef stood behind a cart cooking on glowing blue solar heaters, and Lucia had no idea what it was, but she
needed
it. Instantly, her feet carried her on.

“Is that what all this traipsing about has been for?” Zun asked Soren, who grunted. “She has the nose of a
Nubo
.”

There they were talking
about
her again, but Lucia was too interested in the vendor. Closer she got, weaving her way through the crowd, some of them enjoying whatever the vendor was selling.

When she came upon the cart, the green skinned proprietor stared at her curiously, but not with malice like most Melier had. It was such a relief really, and she tentatively smiled at him. “What is it that smells so delicious?” she
‘mmm’d’
.

The vendor continued to cook while he observed her with red eyes. That was the only part of him that creeped her out.

“It is
roosca
,” he replied.

Lucia threw a questioning glance over her shoulder when she heard Zun choke, and then clear his throat.

****

“Do not say anything,” Val’Zun said lowly to both his brothers on either side of him so Lucia couldn’t hear.

“Evil,” Val’Ja replied, but played along nonetheless while mischief danced in his eyes.

“This should be entertaining,” Val’Koy grinned.

****

Once Zun paid the vendor, they found seating, and she dug in. It was a type of soup. The yellow broth was rich, and the thick, long noodles were
delicious
. She used small tongs to lift the noodles into her mouth. The flavor was savory and heavy on her tongue and she
‘mmm’d’
so many times she was sure she was making a spectacle of herself.

Soren, Zun, and Val’Koy watched her with an almost sick interest.

“Why didn’t you get any?” she asked around a mouthful. “It tastes
amazing
.”

“We are not hungry,” Val’Koy replied and tilted his head while he continued to watch Lucia stuff her face. She scowled but continued to eat.

Picking up the bowl she took a couple gulps of the liquid, and swayed from side to side with pleasure which only made Zun bark a laugh, and scrub a hand over his face while he continued to watch her.

They were acting very strange.

Lucia finished the last bit of noodle with a
slurp,
and then chewed, savoring it. Once she sipped the remainder of the broth, she set her bowl on the table and sighed happily. “I might have to come back for another bowl of those noodles tomorrow.”

Zun and Val’Koy snorted once, and then again, and then they were falling all over themselves laughing, and leaning up against each other so they didn’t spill out of their chairs and onto the ground. Even Soren had a shit eating grin lighting up his face. Other Melier were beginning to look their way, and she couldn’t understand what was so funny.

“Those were not
noodles
,” Zun choked out and a new round of laughter had him and his brother in its clutches.

Lucia’s stomach gave a nervous lurch.

“What were they then…?”

“Roosca is a parasitic worm found in the belly of large beasts,” Soren supplied, still grinning, and chuckling.

“
What
?” Lucia shrilled and shot to her feet.

Zun and Val’Koy
did
fall to the ground at that point, guffawing and struggling for breath, and soon they were laughing so hard she could only hear the wheezing of air coming from them.

She clamped both of her hands over her mouth and bounced on the balls of her feet as she began to freak out.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god,” she chanted behind her hands, eyes rounding with panic. “Am I going to
die
? Are their
eggs
inside my stomach
right now
?” Her voice rose higher and higher as her panic climbed and she was on the verge of jumping up and down with fright. Her toes wriggled and she continued to bounce in alarm.

“I cannot
breathe
,” Zun choked out in between gasps.

“No. Even if the worms were carrying eggs, they were cooked and you will be fine,” Soren assured her while Zun and Val’Koy continued to be roaring twits.