Astral Read Free Page B

observing his behaviour.
    He inclined his head, the silvery white glow was interspersed with red threads of light and it covered him from head to toe. “If I had spoken to you through my avatar and you were not properly shielded, you would have suffered damage. That was not my intent. This seemed the safer option to have a word with you.”
    She smiled slightly. “I appreciate the effort.”
    Arci bowed.
    “Is Zakkar aware of our conversation?”
    Arci smiled. “No, I am allowing him a night of sleep. He does not need to rest when he is on duty for me.”
    “I see. What did you want to speak to me about? I can only imagine it is pretty serious given the lengths to which you are going.”
    He turned and looked out over the expanse of planets and stars before them. “When Zakkar came to me, his people were flourishing. They were only too happy to have him take the position of stellar avatar and when his immediate family passed, he mourned but accepted it.”
    “It sounds like he is a well-balanced individual.”
    “He was, until his people died, leaving an empty world behind. He was lost. The last of his kind. It is a fate that a few avatars have faced, but Zakkar is mine and I want him happy again.”
    Dina flinched. “What do I have to do with that?”
    Arci gave her a look that made her feel like a petulant toddler, which she supposed she was in comparison to him.
    “Zakkar is lonely. He needs a physical companion, so together, he and I began searching for one.”
    Dina swallowed. She knew what was coming next.
    “We found you. After three centuries of looking through every available operative that the Alliance had on its roster, we found you.”
    “I don’t understand. There are a couple thousand Terrans out and about around the Alliance. Why me?”
    Arci reached out and caressed her face, touched her neck and withdrew his hand. “You are unique. A perfect genetic jewel in the tangle of strands from your world. Your mind is ideally suited to accepting a portion of a star within you and your body will adapt well to the changes that I will need to enact.”
    She sighed. “So, I am very utilitarian.” She had to admit that she was disappointed that it was her adaptive ability that had caught their attention.
    He waved his hand in denial. “No, you are purpose built. Since the moment Zakkar saw you on the roster, he didn’t consider anyone else. He has read everything he could about your race, your family, your friends in an effort to make his conversation more acceptable to you.”
    Even on the psychic plane, her face blushed pink.
    “Well, what can you tell me about him?”
    Arci stared into her eyes. “Everyone he has ever loved is dead. He lives his life full of the energy of a star and if he is not careful, his touch can sear you to ash in a second and he wants you and no other. What more do you need to know?”
    She flinched. “Uh, nothing. That’s fine.”
    Arci noticed her expression. “I said something wrong.”
    Dina debated lying to the star and then shrugged. “Death, loss and an offer of companionship as well as a threat of imminent demise are usually not combined in a single sentence.”
    “Ah, my apologies. It has been a while since I have dealt with any living creatures directly. Zakkar usually does my talking for me.”
    The star’s features twisted until Dina recognized the embarrassment.
    “I am still not sure about this. I am just enjoying my job and my assignment right now. Not to mention, I don’t want to leave Fish.”
    Arci blinked. “Fish?”
    “My pet hologram. I am rather fond of it.”
    “You would reject a mate for a pet hologram?” His astonishment was evident in the flare of light around him.
    “Well, no. But if I can keep Fish, it would make my decision easier.” She crossed her arms and scowled at the physical embodiment of the star.
    He seemed to catch on to what she was doing and he crossed his arms to mirror her. “What else?”
    “A home on an inhabitable