Skinwalker (Shadowborn Rebellion #3) - Cyndi Friberg Page 0,13
need seemed to intensify each time he looked into her eyes. She had to feel it too.
After a lengthy pause, she asked, “Is your planet anything like Earth?”
“Parts are strikingly similar. Others look nothing alike.”
She glanced at him and their gazes locked, creating a connection even the darkness couldn’t hinder. “What’s it called? Are you actually known as elves or some other name?”
“We are known as the Sarronti because our planet is Sarronti Prime. Elf is a human word. Most Sarronti find it annoying.”
“Thanks for the warning.” She smiled then shifted her gaze toward the darkness. “What’s it like where you live? Is it a city, in the country, by the sea or tucked away in the mountains?”
Was she just passing time, or was she interested in him? It was frustrating that he couldn’t see her well enough to decide. Reading the mannerisms of females was a skill he had carefully honed since adolescence. He had learned early on that females found him attractive. Ironically, many also seemed intimidated by his appearance. Learning how to flirt and tease, to encourage their interest without seeming predatory, had allowed him to overcome their reticence and enjoy their attention. At least that’s how it had begun. Now he just enjoyed the chase.
“I live in Lake Walker Village,” he told her, “but I spend a lot of time in our capital, which is called Riverside.”
“Which do you like better?” Her voice was soft and a touch husky, yet she seemed to be avoiding his gaze.
Hoping to put her at ease, he answered with more detail than before. “Riverside is crowded and caters to the Ayrontu. I much prefer the quieter lifestyle of Lake Walker.”
“Ayrontu? What’s that?”
Her curiosity seemed genuine, so he explained, “Before the rebellion, Sarronti society was divided into ‘designations.’ The lower designations were assigned according to an individual’s function within society, their occupation or domestic role. People could climb from one designation to the next as they gained more skill and accomplishments. However, the Ayrontu, the highest, most elite designation was only attainable through birth.”
“That’s not fair,” she insisted.
“The vast majority of Sarronti agree with you. Decades of mistreatment and injustice are what led to the uprising.”
“Wow. I hope your people can settle this quickly. I’m not a fan of war, and civil wars are the worst. Too many people end up on the opposite side as someone they care about deeply.”
He nodded, but could only think of one Ayrontu he “cared about deeply.” Lady Eza had joined the rebellion despite her ancient blood. She was selfless and unique. Most Ayrontu avoided interacting with the lower designations. They considered anyone who wasn’t elite beneath them.
“Sorry.” Nikki’s soft voice drew him back to the present. “I didn’t mean to derail the conversation. You were telling me about your village.”
Glad to shift his thinking away from the Ayrontu, he digressed. “Lake Walker Village is in the middle of a massive forest. And as the name suggests, it’s surrounded by numerous lakes.” He stopped himself before explaining that all Sarronti settlements were either underground or carefully engineered to accommodate the inhabitants’ extreme sensitivity to ultraviolet light. There was no reason to reveal a vulnerability of his entire species until he figured out what was making her so uncomfortable.
She cleared her throat and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “How many villages are there?”
“There are six on the continent where I live. There are isolated groups in other areas, but the original six are by far the most densely populated.”
“I’d love to see one someday.” Now she sounded dismissive. “Would it be possible for you to send me images of your village?”
The question confused him. She would see it in person as soon as Velmar regained his strength. “Our destination is Sarronti Prime, not Earth. You realize that, don’t you?”
She turned toward him and the light hit her face. Her eyes were wide and gleaming with alarm, and a hint of defiance. “We’re just along for the ride. I understand that, but I need to return to my dimension, to Earth. All three of us do.”
“Creating an interdimensional portal large enough to fly a ship through takes a massive amount of energy, and Velmar is already weak.” Jaron could feel her emotional recoil. He understood why she was unhappy, but he couldn’t accommodate her if he wanted to. Their destination wasn’t his decision. “Velmar will take us to Sarronti Prime, and then I will make arrangements for you and your friends to return