Saving Verakko: The Clecanian Series Book 3 Victoria Aveline (best book club books .TXT) 📖

something he referred to as an off-worlder health clearance. She’d learned she had an allergy to something called Ripsli and that besides being understandably underweight, she was perfectly healthy.

After many reassurances, annoyed arguing, and a failed sway, which she’d promptly scolded him for, Desy had convinced her to get back into the glass tube. Once in, he’d given her the elixir. Lily’s heart had clenched, recalling Verakko’s story of his father and how he’d refused the treatment.

Whatever it was, the elixir had certainly worked to revitalize her. For a moment, she’d felt like she was at her physical peak. Toned, tight skin, clear mind, and not an ache or pain to be found. The immediate urge to tell Verakko about her renewed vitality had hit her, then her mood had darkened once again.

A scan meant to identify her taste and scent preferences had been next, but every time an image or scent flashed through the large helmet, Desy would grunt and remind her to keep her thoughts clear and neutral.

Image of a pink fruit. Verakko. Smell of cooking meat. Hougap with Verakko. Bright, minty scent. Lying near a campfire wrapped in Verakko’s arms. An unfamiliar image of a group of orbs that could’ve been made of some type of jelly hadn’t even distracted her. Though she’d never seen or tasted the food before, her mind immediately wondered if Verakko enjoyed them.

“I’m sorry,” she said, handing the helmet to Desy and peering at the floor gloomily.

“We can try again another time,” he said, giving her a rare sympathetic look. “For the time being, you’ll just have to taste it all and find out what you like in a more natural, time-consuming way.”

“Will do, doc. Now tell me more about Ziritha.”

Desy groaned and replaced the helmet in a hidden compartment positioned low on the far wall. “I’ve told you, it’s not my place.”

Lily clenched her jaw. Finally she had someone else to get her information from, yet he refused to answer her questions. His eyes kept darting whenever she asked anything, making her believe he was choosing to withhold information for some reason. “Then tell me about how someone gets out of a contract.”

“They don’t,” he said flatly. His brows drew together. “Unless…”

Lily held her breath.

“They don’t,” he repeated more firmly.

“Unless what?” she wanted to shout, but kept her tone even.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to take that antiquated device out?” Desy asked while pretending to straighten an impeccably organized cart.

“For the last time, no,” Lily snapped. Ever since noticing her IUD during a scan, he’d been urging her to let him remove it. But when she’d asked about what replacement would work with human anatomy and what the side effects of their birth control might be, he couldn’t give her an answer. Just because everyone else on this planet wanted to get pregnant didn’t mean she wanted to.

He grunted and mumbled to himself about how it was unfair the Tremantians were keeping the humans to themselves and how he wasn’t able to properly do his job without adequate data.

The door suddenly whizzed open, and Lily had to quell the warmth that spread through her chest at the sight of Verakko. She forced herself to remember their argument, and the answering spike of hollow pain in her gut helped to keep her emotions in check.

In. Out.

His bright-green gaze remained glued to hers. “I’m sorry it took so long,” he said, ignoring Desy completely. He held up a long bag, then draped it over a chair.

Lily bit her lip, her body and mind in a sort of heightened emotional stasis, like a shaken bottle of soda waiting to explode. Everything she’d been feeling from before being stung was still there. Her shoulders seemed permanently tensed. Her breaths wouldn’t remain even without constant focus, and the urge to either smack Verakko or kiss him still itched.

“Leave, Desy,” Verakko hissed, still not looking in the doctor’s direction.

Annoyance flaring, Lily planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at Verakko. “Both of you leave.” She shot an apologetic glance at Desy. “Please. I’m capable of changing by myself.” She lowered her voice and addressed Verakko in an admonishing tone. “Are you always so rude to people who help you?”

“Yes,” Desy grumbled as he left the room.

A muscle twitched in Verakko’s jaw.

“Not here,” Lily said quietly when it looked like he’d argue. She didn’t want to fight here. She wanted to get to a quiet private area and then…she didn’t know.

A clear look of hurt and frustration flashed over his features, but he nodded and retreated through the door yet again.

Chapter 19

Lily opened the oddly warm garment bag and let out an annoyed sigh at the gorgeous frock Verakko had picked for her. Of course he has great taste. Why am I not surprised?

Bright orange fabric the color of a sunset and rich maroon fabric slid through her hands. Lily studied it, enchanted and perplexed. The style of the beautiful garment was so odd that she couldn’t figure out how exactly she was supposed to wear it.

After a few minutes of studying and toying with the golden clasps placed randomly throughout the garment, Lily attempted to slide into what she now believed to be a jumpsuit. The whole outfit began on her upper arms, baring her shoulders. The orange fabric shimmered and bunched behind her back, forming a sort of cape, while the maroon portions dipped low between her breasts and cinched at her waist. Beautiful curling patterns, the same color as the orange of her odd cape, twisted along the bodice.

Slits ran all the way from the hem of the pants to the cinch at her waist, revealing a good deal of leg and hip and leaving her feeling exposed. If it wasn’t for the thin gold chains holding the slits