WIP Wednesday - First Mataras: Maryam

Maryam jumped with a little shriek when the door to Briel’s quarters on the station’s guest level suddenly whooshed open and the three huge men burst inside the room, their expressions thunderous.

              Beside her, Briel uttered a startled noise too, but she recovered quickly. “Hello, my clan. You didn’t waste any time getting here.” She smoothed the long skirt of the flowing gown she wore, as if unconcerned now that the surprise was over. Maryam marveled at the acting job—seconds before, Briel had been jittery with nerves, pacing her well-appointed guest room until Maryam insisted she sit down.

              The man in the middle stepped forward, angling his large frame between two luxuriously upholstered bench seats. He regarded Briel, his jaw set. “Of course we hurried to find you! Our pregnant Matara runs away—”

              “I didn’t run away. I’m having a last fling of freedom before the baby arrives. Now lower your voice. Don’t give my friend Maryam the wrong idea about Kalquorians. Earthers thinks we’re awful enough without that.”

              The speaker had to be Dramok Kels, the head of Briel’s clan. Briel had described him to a tee, from the blue-black hair that spread in waves over his wide shoulders, to the ruggedly handsome features that hair framed. He wore what was referred to as a formsuit, a body-hugging one-piece uniform that molded to his chiseled form. A belt wrapped around his waist. He and the man to his left wore percussion blasters.

              Maryam had to remind herself to not look too closely and not because they were armed with weapons. They showed no indication they would threaten her, even while they appeared pretty irritated. No, her traitorous gaze wanted to revel in how well the black clothing hugged the men’s muscled frames, though as an Earther female, she knew the dangers of doing such.

No release date set.