“The problem with the Alcari,” Jenu said thoughtfully, her gaze tracking one of the brightly colored reptilians in question as he stomped past the entry of The Starway, a dingy tavern tucked away in a corner far off the main concourse of Castille Station, “is that they look like the result of a peacock fucking a dinosaur.”
I choked on the coffee I was drinking, spewing it out across the faux-wooden table I had just finished cleaning “Dammit, Jen. Now I’m going to have to start over.”
Luckily, the bar was empty.
It would fill up later that night—inasmuch as “night” was really even a thing on a space station—but for now, we were in prep mode. So at least my coffee-spitting hadn’t been on full public view.
“Have you heard the latest gossip about the Alcari?” Jenu asked. Oddly enough, the question sent a shiver down my arms, raising goose bumps along the inked lines of my full-sleeve tattoos.
“Are they really as mysterious as everyone says?” I rewiped the table and moved to lean against the counter, where I twirled an errant strand of my wild, curly hair around my finger, willing myself to ignore my physical reaction.
It’s nothing, I told myself. Just a chill.
But the station’s temperature was perfectly stable.
There was nothing to cause the chill.
Suddenly, I found myself desperate for something to do. I turned to the control center, my fingers dancing over the buttons, bringing the dim lighting up as Jenu finished stocking the bar with a variety of exotic liquors from across the galaxy.
“Hard to say.” Jenu wiped down the main bar with a practiced hand. “I mean, they’re still relatively unknown in this quadrant. And dear gods, they’re huge. I guess people can’t help but be nervous around them.”
I tapped my fingers on the countertop, my blue eyes scanning the empty room before us. Soon, it would be filled with patrons from all corners of the galaxy, each with their own stories to tell. Yet I found the thought of the Alcari arriving at our door both thrilling and unnerving.
“Can’t say I blame people,” I admitted, folding my arms across my chest. “There’s something unsettling about giants that are part human, part stegosaurus, and so damn…shiny.” The images of their iridescent scales and jewel-bright eyes were enough to make me weak in the knees—though I would never say so aloud.
“Maybe we’ll finally get some in here tonight. Then you can be as…unsettled…as you like.” Jenu raised her eyebrows suggestively. I laughed, shaking my head at her playful tone. I tossed my bar towel at her head, but she snatched it out of the air.
Still shaking my head, I turned my attention back to the preparations for the evening. But as I adjusted the settings on the music player, I wondered what it would be like to meet one of the beasts.
The clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation filled The Starway as I slid a frothy drink down the counter to a grinning Riki, who caught the glass with its furry tail. Soon, the tavern was packed with people from every corner of the galaxy, their laughter mingling with the thrum of upbeat music.
“Hey, Lilah!” Jenu called, nodding toward a particularly rowdy group in the corner. “You mind taking care of that?”
“Of course,” I replied, rolling my shoulders back and striding over to the drunk customers. As I approached, I noticed one of the males, a blue-feathered Aerzon, attempting to balance a shot glass on his head without using his wings for balance while his comrades hooted with laughter.
“Okay, folks,” I said firmly, plucking the glass from the Aerzon’s head, “I think it’s time for you to call it a night.”
“Aw, c’mon,” he slurred, swaying slightly, his wings fluttering as he righted himself—and then overcorrected and swayed the other way. “We’re just having some fun!”
“Fun is one thing,” I retorted, “but causing a scene is another. Now, off you go.” With a resigned sigh, the group stumbled out of the tavern, leaving me free to focus on the more amiable patrons.
“Nice job,” Jenu remarked, handing me a fresh drink to serve. “Not sure how you manage to stay so calm around those types.”
“Years of practice,” I replied, winking at her before turning to catch the eye of a flirtatious customer. “And speaking of practice...” I trailed off, sauntering over to the eager patron with a grin.
My encounter was brief but enjoyable enough, and I returned to Jenu with an extra tip tucked into my pocket. “Now that’s what I call a successful transaction.”
I was still mentally counting the credits I’d earned when an Alcari male entered The Starway.
Almost instantly, everyone went silent.
He was that…commanding.
The air around him seeming to crackle with energy, and everywhere I glanced, our patrons were staring at him uneasily.
My heart leaped into my throat as I took in his iridescent scales and emerald-green eyes, and I knew instantly, instinctively, that I needed to step carefully in my dealings with him.
“Can I help you?” I asked, my voice quavering slightly as he approached the bar. He regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, and I could feel my cheeks burning under his gaze.
“I’d like a Solar Flare,” he said in a deep, resonant voice. His tone was confident, his voice hard and deep, and there was an underlying…something…that shot a bolt of heat straight to my stomach.
“Coming right up,” I stammered, doing my best to hide my reaction to him as I mixed the potent drink. My hands shook ever so slightly, and I prayed that he wouldn’t notice.
“Here you are,” I said, sliding the drink across the counter to him. Our fingers brushed as he took it, and a jolt of electricity shot through my body.
“Thank you,” he murmured, his eyes locking onto mine for a heartbeat before he turned away. As he walked to an empty table, I blew out a long breath.
“Seems like you’ve got a fan.” I turned to find Jenu standing behind me, and she nudged me playfully. “You going to tell me what happened?”
“Nothing,” I lied, forcing a smile. “Just another customer.”
And yet, I found myself casting surreptitious glances his way. The burnished glow of the Solar Flare reflected off his iridescent scales, casting a dazzling rainbow of colors across his face. I watched him from the corner of my eye as he lifted the glass to his lips, taking a slow sip.
“Wow,” Jenu whispered. “He’s drinking that like it’s water.”
“Alcari must have different tolerances.” I tried not to make it obvious that my eyes were glued to him.
“You know…” Jenu said, leaning in toward me, “have you ever seen an Alcari female? Or heard anything about them?”
“Can’t say that I have.” I frowned. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know. But don’t you find it strange that we never see their females? Are they kept hidden away on their home planet or something?”
“Maybe they’re just shy?” I ventured, though the idea seemed unlikely. The Alcari males were such bold, imposing figures; it was hard to imagine their counterparts being any different.
“Shy?” Jenu snorted. “From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing timid about the Alcari. They’re all fierce warriors. Can you imagine fucking one of them? They’d probably be...intense.”
I shook my head. “You are obsessed with fucking tonight.”
Jenu snickered, never taking her eyes off our new customer.
“Intense” was certainly one way to describe the sensation I’d felt when my fingers brushed against his. My mind reeled at the thought of being close to him, of feeling the power contained within his muscular, scaled form. It was both thrilling and terrifying, like standing on the edge of a precipice and wondering what it would be like to leap into the void.
“Maybe intense isn’t such a bad thing,” I murmured, my own gaze drifting back to the Alcari male as he finished his drink. The alcohol seemed to have no effect on him at all.
“Is that so?” Jenu asked, a knowing grin sliding across her face. “Well, maybe you should go talk to him some more. See if you can pry any secrets out of him.”
“Maybe I will.” If there was one thing I’d learned in my travels across the galaxy, it was that sometimes the most extraordinary discoveries were hidden just beneath the surface.
And this Alcari warrior, with his jewel-toned eyes and overwhelming presence, felt like an undiscovered world waiting to be explored.
The clatter of glasses and lively chatter filled the air as The Starway grew busier by the minute. I could feel the thrum of energy coursing through the tavern, and it was contagious. Behind the counter, Jenu and I worked in tandem.
“Hey Lilah—deliver these?” Jenu asked, handing me three shot glasses filled with neon-colored liquid.
I slid the shots down the bar to their designated recipients. But even as my hands moved deftly across the counter, my mind kept drifting back to the mysterious Alcari seated in the corner.
“Jenu to Lilah.” Jenu snapped her fingers in front of my face. “We’ve officially lost her, folks,” she announced to the bar, rolling her eyes dramatically.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, shaking my head to clear away thoughts of emerald eyes and powerful muscles. “Just a bit distracted.”
“By Mr. Tall, Scaly, and Terrifying over there?”
“Maybe,” I admitted, my cheeks heating up. “But I’m focused now. Promise.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself as I dove back into the fray of serving drinks and chatting with customers. Despite my best efforts, though, my gaze kept straying to the Alcari’s table, searching for any hint of movement or sign that he might be leaving.
“Table six needs a refill,” Jenu called out, breaking me from my reverie once more. “And try not to let your mind wander this time!”
“Got it,” I muttered, forcing a smile as I grabbed a bottle from the shelf and made my way over to the waiting customers.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I managed to steal a moment to glance back at the Alcari’s table.
But he had vanished, leaving nothing behind but an empty glass.
My heart dropped and I frowned.
Why should I care what the Alcari did?
Jenu followed my gaze to the now-empty table as she moved past me, a tray of drinks balanced on one hand. “You should talk to him if he comes back.”
Jenu moved away, and I was left talking to myself.
Still, I said it aloud, albeit quietly.
“Trust me,” I whispered, “I will.”