Page 30 of Hunter's Moon
“What do you think you’re doing?” He demanded.
Tharion’s arm tightened around me, but before he could respond, inspiration struck.
I giggled, pressing myself against Tharion’s side. “Oh, honey, I told you we’d get caught!” I slurred my words slightly, playing up the image of an intoxicated couple looking for privacy.
Tharion caught on immediately, his expression shifting to one of sheepish embarrassment. “Sorry, officer. We were just looking for a quiet spot to, uh...”
The guard’s eyes widened in understanding, then narrowed in disgust. “For the dark’s sake, you two. Get a room like normal people.”
I grabbed Tharion’s hand, tugging him away from the hatch. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s go find somewhere more... private.”
As soon as we were out of the guard’s sight, Tharion pulled me into another alcove. “Quick thinking,”
I grinned, feeling a surge of pride. “I learned from the best.”
Our eyes met and Tharion’s gaze dropped to my lips, and I leaned in, drawn to him like a magnet.
A loud crash nearby shattered the moment.
“We need to find another way up,” Tharion growled, frustration evident in his voice.
I nodded, forcing myself to focus on our escape rather than the lingering heat of Tharion’s almost-kiss. “Maybe we can hide in plain sight? Join a group heading to the upper levels?”
Tharion considered this, scanning the crowd. “It could work. But we’d need a convincing reason to be there.”
“There,” I whispered, nodding towards a group of colorfully-dressed beings consulting a holomap. “They look like tourists. We could pretend to be part of their group.”
Tharion’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation. “Good catch. Follow my lead.”
We casually wound our way towards the group, careful not to draw attention. As we drew closer, I caught fragments of their excited chatter.
“I can’t believe we’re finally seeing the Larakis Bazaar!”
“Do you think we’ll find any rare artifacts?”
“Just don’t get scammed like last time, Zyx.”
Tharion smoothly inserted us into the group’s perimeter. I leaned into him, playing the part of an enamored tourist.
“Oh darling, look at those crystal sculptures!” I gushed, pointing at a nearby stall.
Tharion chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my spine. “We can look, but no buying. Remember what happened on Centauri Prime?”
They barely gave us a second glance. We moved with the group through the bazaar, inching closer to the upper levels and the spaceport.
As we ascended, the crowd thinned slightly, and the atmosphere shifted. The air grew cooler, tinged with the scent of metal and sweat. My muscles screamed with each step, expecting to be attacked at any moment.
“Relax,” Tharion murmured, his lips brushing my ear. “You’re too stiff. Act natural.”
I took a deep breath, willing my body to loosen. “Sorry. I’m not used to being a fugitive.”
His low chuckle vibrated through me. “You’re doing remarkably well for a beginner.”
As we rode the lift with the group, I couldn’t help but notice how natural it felt to be pressed against Tharion’s side. I fought the urge to snuggle closer.
Focus, Lina. This isn’t real.
The lift doors opened, revealing the vast expanse of the Larakis spaceport, sleek starships and bustling crowds of every species imaginable.