The Space Spoon novel Chapter 96

Tejeda's lips moved as though they were not his own. “Who’s she?”

Shayla placed a hand on his back, touching for the first time the sludgy skin he had in this form. “Tejeda, stop. He’s dead.”

Tejeda lifted his head to look at the sky. He remained like that for a long while before murmuring, “Why did you kill him?”

"Sorry! Next time," Shayla murmured, sheathing her scimitar, "I'll kill the other guy after he kills you."

“How did you know which one was me?”

“Really? Is there another idiot who would risk dying for a spoon?”

She observed how he flinched but said nothing. There was something wrong with him. Nonetheless, Shayla didn't believe she had the authority to inquire. In any case, she didn't expect a fair answer from him.

"Did you bring any DNA for me?" Tejeda asked without turning around. "As you can see, I’m in bad shape."

Shayla hurled a vial toward him, and he grabbed it with one of his two remaining tentacles.

“This is the last one holding the blood of King Astin. Enjoy!”

Tejeda opened the vial and let the crimson liquid mix with his own. His eyes lingered on Rahul’s body.

"He's in luck. He got to die in his primordial form rather than being trapped in a stranger's body."

Purple goo seeped through Tejeda’s pores, taking over his injured flesh. The shift took less than Shayla expected, maybe because now he wasn’t dead and still had organic material.

Once the purple liquid retracted, Tejeda stood naked in front of Shayla. He tilted his head to the side and raised a shoulder, making his neck creak.

"You're lucky, too. You get to see me without my clothes on. Actually, you got to see a lot of naked guys, all of which are me. Haha!"

“Aaaand you’re back!” Shayla huffed.

“The neck is the most vulnerable part of the human body. Why not make it sturdier?”

She saw his neck becoming thicker. So he could improve his physique while changing. Shayla was captivated by it all.

“What Rahul said at the end… Do you think it was important?” she asked, trying to snap out of it.

“Nah, he was just messing with my head.”

"What was he going on about? Please tell me!"

For a moment, Shayla let her insecurities show. She resembled a stray cat left out in the rain. It was clear from her eyes that she wanted to be let in. But there was also a warning there. If he dared touch her, she would bite.

Shayla kept her eyes locked on Tejeda, waiting for him to break character. She wasn't sure if she was disappointed or relieved when he started dressing.

In total silence, he gathered his boots and what remained of his clothes. Tejeda wore these mostly torn rags around his waist as if he were a barbarian. He smiled at the thought but had to smother it fast since Shayla had already left him behind.

Tejeda snorted a couple of times on the way to the shuttle. When he was alone with his thoughts, these sounds came out frequently. He was preoccupied with Shayla and her remarks.

He wondered why she seemed so upset. Had he done something wrong? Was he such a bad kisser?

If she saw herself as a blade, would that make him her wielder or her training meatball? The fact that now she could actually and irreversibly kill him made her appear even more alluring.

“Why are you smirking and snorting behind my back? Do I have something on my ass?”

"No, no. Some things, my dear Shayla, are best left unsaid."

She frowned, glancing back over her shoulder without halting. “When did that ever stop you from spurting nonsense?”

Tejeda’s smirk widened. “True. Don’t worry. I’ll be back at my almighty spurting nonsense self in no time.”

“Hope so.” Shayla hurried the pace. “The Space Spoon can’t afford to have a serious captain.”

When they reached the shuttle, Shayla walked inside and headed straight to the cockpit. She sat down in the pilot seat, grabbed the controls, and took off.