Galaxy Of Hope

Andrew

I stared at my Telvice one more time. Nothing.

‘Dude, put that thing away. You are missing the show.’

It was my day off and I was sitting underneath a stripper pole, with my best friend next to me already drunk as a skunk and all I kept thinking about was how unattractive every female in this joint was to me.

Jun threw some money at the stripper, almost casually like he did this every Sunday and I glanced at my Telvice again. The sultry music so loud I could barely concentrate on my messages. My thumb hovering over her name on my Telvice. The picture I had put on her profile was Lux at training, water bottle in her hand. Hair in a ponytail and flipping me the bird. Her skin flushed, her two piece red training suit a little sticky. However, she looked so cute whenever she got angry with me.

I needed to know everything was alright. Maybe I should just give her a quick call. That wouldn’t be too bad right?

Jun’s hand reached out to grab my Telvice but I was quicker. Feeling like he had just invaded my privacy as I was staring at her profile picture which was for my eyes only. ‘It’s my job Jun.’ I coldly stated. He did not mistake my tone for anything else. I quickly switched to the Rivelbook app, wanting to know how her night was and if she had posted any stories.

‘You have your one day off… once a month Andy. Just one! Don’t worry about the girl for god sakes. She will not die on your one day off.’ He downed another shot but just the mention of her dying made me a little pissed off. ’It makes me wonder how bad she really is, I’ve seen you shadow and bodyguard gangsters and dirty politicians but a half human- half Rainer twentysomething girl has your panties in a twist bro? I will talk to dad about revoking that golden dragon status of yours, champ.’

He had a point. The only story on the Rivelbook still up was of her and Sky on the couch, presumably taken by Sebastian, while they were throwing popcorn at him and telling him to sit his ass down. It was all good. Knowing her she was probably already out of it and sleeping within the first ten minutes. She always fell asleep whenever she tried to watch anything. I had to repress a laugh. Except when she made me watch that Frozen movie. She just stayed awake to watch my reaction to the scenes with Olaf.

I put my Telvice away and sighed, it had no use thinking about her all night. Besides I would see her tomorrow. I glanced at my watch again. Couple more to go. Maybe I could sneak in tonight and see if she’s asleep or not?

The stripper had now gotten rid of her beaded bikini top and was prancing around the stage, nipples uncomfortably hard. My dick definitely not, I could feel it shrinking in on itself. I turned my head to think about something attractive, a flash of Lux in that black lingerie, the night of Sebastian’s party flashed through my mind briefly. Her body all wet, eyes wide and hair wild. Now that had been a sight for sore eyes. My dick came alive again.

The stripper was focused on Jun though. He would do that to girls all over town. Somehow he possessed this gift of being able to woo any female he came across, if I didn’t know any better he could have been Fae. He was a normal looking dude, nothing too special, but somehow all ladies just fell at his feet. His money didn’t hurt much either. He was the son of the richest Verr Boyas Master, a Dija, on this continent.

I downed a vodka shot myself and flinched. I hated bad booze like that. But I also needed to let go a little. My thoughts wondering back to yesterday when Lux had annoyed me all day with her prying into my day off. Little did she know where I was now. Wonder what she would say about this? She would probably make another very dry dad joke on my expense.

As if a magnet had attached me too her I glanced behind me to the door covered with lacy beads, where she fell through, next to Skylark. Both giggling, clearly drunk.

What. The. fuck.

I clenched my fists. Nostrils flaring. She was in so much trouble.

‘Fucking hell! Now that are some good looking chicks! Wonder if they dance.’ Jun licked his lips and I wasn’t even noticing where he was looking at but he was following my line of sight.

I couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe. I felt the anger coming up so intensely I was afraid of what I was going to do. She was here alone, at The Crossing? Looking like that? She was so incredibly beautiful it hurt my eyes. However, she was in danger here. My hair rose on my arms, my chest expanding. Why was she here. Why was she so goddamn beautiful?

Wait, what?

I could feel all eyes of the men in this debauchery place on her right now and it made me want to kill somebody. Everybody.

The girls hadn’t spotted me yet. Settling in close to the bar. Sky was intensely enjoying seeing all this decadence, Lux was not so sure. Sipping from a Martini glass slowly and almost not daring to make eye contact with anyone in this place. A Telvice number was dropped in her lap in under two minutes after arrival. If my eyes could burn I would be burning a giant whole in that way too cute face of hers.

Wait, what?

Where the fuck was Sebastian anyway?

My knuckles were white, both hands clenched in fists. I slammed my head to the side to tell Jun that we were about to go over there. I was planning on dragging her ass away from here when I noticed Jun was gone.

‘Where the-…?’ he was walking towards them and I sighed really hard, closing my eyes and pinching my brow for a moment to compose myself. He sure as hell knew how to pick the prettiest ones in any room. He was a copy of his father, the Dija of Pillotin, Jun Young Sr. A scary fucker but the best fighter I had ever met.

Jun Junior had been my friend ever since Chao had taken me under his wings, back when I was living a thug life on the streets of Landfall. Chao was Jun Sr.’ number one advisor and so our paths had crossed.

From the very first time we met, we had vibed and stayed friends for over twenty years now.

He went for Lux first and my stomach dropped. He could have anyone but not… her.

Never her.

What was I thinking? My head was all over the place tonight.

I rose, felt my heart almost beating out of my chest. I was angry with her, livid actually. But Jun needed to back off from her now. Best friend or not if he touched her he was done. He was already working his magic since she was smiling coyly, that criminally cute ‘eye smile’ of hers blinking up at him and one of his jokes. He was funny like that.

I stepped behind him like a shadow of death. Her eyes, still crinkled with that coy smile, glanced upwards again and the moment she spotted mine they widened palpably. Her mouth dropped open in a silent gasp. ‘A-Andrew?’ she stuttered in shock.

‘You two know each other?’ Jun had dropped his voice a few octaves. He was liking her. He was planning on taking her home tonight. He always hit the homerun. He was smooth like that.

‘Damn Andrew, why didn’t you tell me about this one. Lux was it?’

Lux had the decency to turn bright red at least. Her eyes dropping low in shame before they flicked up to mine again. Pleading me to go easy on her.

’She’s my subject, Jun.’ I dryly added. Not breaking eye contact with her. She should feel how angry I was. If I needed to handcuff myself to her to keep her from wandering off alone I would.

Wait, why did my dick grow a little bit hard at that thought?

Jun laughed, tipped his head back and hooted loudly. Then he stepped closer and whispered.

’I get it now my brother. I get you now.’ He clapped my back a few times like he approved of something, but I wasn’t smiling back. Eyes still focused on her. Always on her.

‘Sexy…’ he addressed Skylark, thank god. ‘I think these two need a minute.’ He reached for her hand and dragged her away from us. Leaving us in a standstill. My fists clenched at my sides so hard they were white.

She opened her mouth a few times. Blinking up at me with those big green eyes. She was feeling a little embarrassed and was searching for words. Those big eyes almost making me lose my train of thought. Almost. So when she opened her mouth one more time I interrupted her.

’What? Let me guess. You can explain, Lux? You can explain why you are here… alone?’

She snorted, the embarrassment gone now. A mischievous smile playing up her full lips. My eyes snatched on to them like a vice. I flipped my eyes back up to her lively green ones. My throat suddenly dry.

‘I was going to say strip club was not what I had imagined yesterday for your day off.’ She singsonged.