Bioluminescent (The Mimics Book 1) by Auryn Hadley

Author:Auryn Hadley [Hadley, Auryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Spotted Horse Productions
Published: 2020-05-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

Tsij leaned against a tree, his legs kicked out before him and his arms crossed over his chest. A brisk breeze was blowing, but no one would be able to see his coat flapping in the shadows of the forest. Not unless he repigmented. He had no intention of doing that until he was sure this wasn't a trap.

Waiting, he pressed his barbs tighter against his chest. It was cold, but he was starting to get used to Earth weather. It might even be nice in the summer on this planet. Tolerable was probably a better word. At any rate, he wasn't as miserable as he'd been that first day.

Being outside so much was making him acclimate. It was amazing what the Gahnek body could adjust to, and this planetary climate seemed to be no different. Ironically, the one thing he just couldn't get used to was the stars. Even after traveling through them, the strange constellations were jarring every time he looked up.

The scuff of a boot on the trail made his head snap over. There, in the darkness, a silhouette approached. The woman moved slowly but steadily up the path, looking around as she walked. He smiled. If she expected him to be alone, she was a fool. Then again, he probably was too for agreeing to meet with a reporter.

Melissa Arrington pulled out her phone and swiped at the screen, the digital illumination making Tsij glance away. He could hear the sound it made as she activated icons, a soft clicking almost, then the woman sighed and shoved it back into her coat. She rubbed at her eyes, then moved toward the heavy wood railing that lined the overlook. From down the trail, a lija bird trilled.

The woman didn't react to the noise at all, but since there were no lija birds on this planet, Tsij knew Mixac had found no hidden visitors accompanying her. Pushing himself away from his uncomfortable perch, he quietly crossed the distance between them, letting his skin repigment before forcing it into the human coloration. By the time he stood beside her, he looked like any other man hiking at midnight.

"Not a lot of people out here at this time," he said kindly.

She looked at him, then glanced over her shoulder. "I kinda expected to be alone. If you'd excuse me."

She turned to walk farther up the trail, but he stopped her with a chuckle. "Melissa?"

"How do you know my name?"

He turned to rest his hip on the railing. "Thomas told me. Thank you for coming alone." He held out his hand in the human custom. "Tsij. We spoke on the phone."

She looked at him for a long moment, then placed her hand in his. "I'm afraid I don't recognize the nationality of your name."

"Sehly," he answered. "The species is Gahnek, the planet is Chajek. No, I'm not human."

She nodded slowly, her eyes scanning him in the darkness. "That's a lot of make-up."

"It's not. Would you feel better if I looked less human?"

"Yeah.

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