Page 63 of Golden Darkness
Kethen chuckled and passed the box to Yavor.
Yavor took it, and then he looked at it. “Well, Iris, this is for you.”
She stared at it and glanced at Janessa. “What is it?”
Iris held out her hands, and Yavor put the box in it. “Thank you.”
When she opened the box and saw the long data crystal inside, Janessa said, “It is the Terran archive. Every book, movie, show, and music that could be saved is on that crystal.”
Iris’s hands shook. “You are kidding.”
“Nope. Insert the crystal into that slot for portable music or other audio. Once you are at your home with your system, you can upload it all, but when you travel, you can keep it with you.” Janessa grinned. “I dance around all the time while Kethen tries to figure out the lyrics.”
Iris smiled as she stared at the small unit. “Which he couldn’t because he doesn’t speak English.”
Yavor looked at Janessa. “You dance to this?”
“Not all of it but a lot. Iris and I sang and danced to this when we were waiting for medical clearance.”
Yavor blinked. “You did thispole dancing?”
“Not for a living but for a hobby. But females of our species from all around the globe often dance together just to enjoy moving. We cheer each other on with motion and expression.”
Iris smiled. “We aren’t dancing to seduce; we are dancing because, for that one moment, we are safe.”
Janessa smiled. “That’s it.”
Yavor nodded.
Iris asked, “Janessa, can I see your marks?”
Janessa blinked. “You are serious?”
“Yeah, it has been on my mind... for reasons.”
“Oh, my pregnancy marks. Sure.”
Iris blinked. “What did you think I meant?”
Janessa got to her feet, and she winked. Kethen chuckled.
“No, Jan. Seriously.”
“Kethen drinks from me. It leaves a mark.” She opened her leather coat and unbuttoned a tight leather vest from the bottom up.
Iris stared with her mouth open. Janessa knew what she was seeing. The marks were all over the torso, to her elbows, and just touching her collarbone. “How far along are you?”
“Six months. Only five more to go. It takes a while to grow a Hmrain.” She yelped as she was pulled onto Kethen’s lap, and his huge hand covered her belly. He sighed happily.
“Janessa, I have another question for you, if I may?” Iris said quietly.
Bots came in at that moment and delivered their meals.
Once they were alone again, Janessa said, “Sure.”
“How are you with Kethen and so obviously strong? You weren’t a companion class when I met you.”
Janessa paused with what looked like a chicken wing halfway to her mouth. “Oh, that. I was put in a tank and tortured for two months. So, my emotional receptors were turned up high. Then, I was hauled into some super heavy cells and tossed to Kethen as food.”