Page 4 of The Thren's Fated

“I have it on good authority that some of them enjoy humans.”

Adrax grumbled, shaking his head with vehemence.

“A perversion is not the same as respecting another species.”

The thought of a perversion for humans seemed so farfetched, but she knew that some people felt the same way about aliens, desperate to sleep with one just so they could check it off their list.

“Well, perhaps an agreement with the Alliance will help them learn about respecting others,” Ochin said.

Adrax huffed, taking a long sip of his drink before speaking.

“I doubt it.”

Ochin chuckled, leaning in close to Lena, her blank eyes mesmerizing.

“You’ll get to know all kinds of people and species now that you’re here. The Threns really aren’t so bad, just a little grumpy sometimes.”

“Oh, yes,” Adrax agreed, patting her on the back. “Don’t worry about them. You’ll do great.”

Lena swallowed the knot in her throat, trying not to cry and make a fool of herself. Was it blind optimism? Or sarcasm? Adrax seemed friendly enough, and didn’t look like he was trying to make a joke.

Either way, she tried to control her emotions, to remember that everyone was just being nice because she was new. They didn’t want to scare her away before she’d even started her job.

The conversation turned to Adrax’s recent trip to Aronde 5 and Lena listened eagerly, enamored by his descriptions of the alien planet. He asked her about Earth as well, and seemed interested in her answers, though she couldn’t think of anything duller than talking about her boring life.

Her boring life, which might not be so boring anymore.

It was nice to sit and chat, Ochin chiming in here and there when she wasn’t serving customers, Honur smiling and nodding like she was following along with the conversation. The bar had gotten busier as the night had progressed, the patrons ordering all sorts of interesting cocktails that Lena was eager to learn how to make.

An enormous fuzzy blue alien had stalked by, introducing himself as Zegrox and grunting a hello to Lena before finding a spot in the corner. Ochin had explained that he was their main security and that she could rely on him if there were any issues, a fact which made her feel much safer. So unlike the bar back home, where Greg never took her complaints about handsy patrons seriously.

It was a lovely evening, and as Lena headed back to her quarters, she tried to ignore the voice in her mind, the one that always seemed to crop up whether she was in a good head space or not.

They’re just being polite. They don’t really like you. They’re so desperate for workers here, they’d take anyone.

Even if it were true, it didn’t mean she couldn’t try to enjoy her time on Henios. Worst case, she could go back to Earth once she’d made enough money for another ticket. But really, being lonely here wouldn’t be any different from being lonely back home, would it?

CHAPTER 3

Three Months Later

It was Lena’s first night off in over two weeks, and she wanted to take full advantage of it.

After fifteen days of double shifts, she’d finally worked up the courage to ask Ochin for a break. It was all hands on deck—even with her arrival they were still short-staffed—but she desperately needed some time to herself. Her stomach had twisted in knots as she had asked, but all her worries had been for naught.

“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry! You should have said something sooner. You deserve some time to explore all that Henios has to offer.”

It had sounded like one of the advertisements that had lured her to the station, but Ochin had been genuine. Her boss hadn’t even let her finish her shift, shooing her from the bar with well wishes.

Lena had gone back to her quarters and taken a hot, steamy shower before lying on her bed and trying to decide what to do. Ochin’s was her safe space for an after-work drink, but she’d been on Henios for over three months now. Maybe it was time to try something new?

She felt herself settling in, and even though she had enough money for a ticket to Earth, she had no intention of leaving. At least, not yet. She’d barely had time to see anything beyond the bar, but tonight was the perfect excuse to splurge.

Before she could convince herself that staying in was a wiser decision, she got up and put on her best outfit, a slinky black dress that clung to her curves. It was something she’d been dying to wear for years, though there had never been the proper occasion on Earth.

But now she knew the perfect spot.

She brushed her hair, leaving it loose as usual, then gave herself a once-over in the mirror before heading out.