(Amaia)

Arriving outside the bazaar I know it is the same one we had passed when Alnilam brought me to Orion. Sentinels are posted throughout the open market, guarding against potential attacks. I see the boundary crystals in place creating a protective barrier around the market.

"I won," Mintaka shouts from up ahead in the stands where we are parking the bike and hanging our helmets on them. He raises both his arms, showing us his pumped biceps.

The sight is indeed mouthwatering and I want to lick the smooth skin.

"Smug asshole," Alnitak shouts back at him, showing him the middle finger in return.

Rahria and I end up laughing seeing their interactions.

"Whatever, you are paying for everyone’s shopping. Let’s go buy some fancy shit." Mintaka places his arm around Kacir, leading him forward. Rahria remains behind them while Alnitak propels me ahead with him.

We leave the parking space and head inside the open market. The two sentinels remain just behind us. But another sentinel is waiting for us.

Extremely tall with a powerful build that promises unwavering protection. Jet-black hair frames a strikingly handsome face, with sharp angles. He is a perfect amalgamation of muscle and silent strength.

His razor-shaped icy gaze finds me for a second before drifting away. He gives us a tiny nod and Alnitak returns it before leading me forward. He joins the other sentinel.

The lanterns, torches and a few rechargeable bulbs, which I guess operate from solar panels, light up the place.

Small stalls, baskets and carts are lined neatly on both sides of the passageway. The lane we have entered has miscellaneous stalls of eatables from noodles in soup to delicacies from other continents.

"SWEETS!" Alnitak spots a stall selling different kinds of sweets and chocolates and he just rushes towards it with me holding onto him.

He loves chocolates, candies and toffees, always carrying one or the other with him.

The young girl who owns the stall blushes seeing Alnitak’s cheerful smile, although it’s because of the sweets.

"Hi!" She shyly says and he offers her his goofy smile. I shouldn’t be jealous and yet something pricks my heart.

"Hey! Hey!

"So many treats to choose from? The hard sweet ones or gooey ones filled with chocolate? Decisions, decisions." He rubs his hands together. His eyes shine like those of a child who gets lost in a world of candies.

It’s a treat to watch him, getting all excited over candies.

"Can I have a bag?" He asks the girl, and she hands him a brown hand-woven bag.

"Which ones do you want?" He turns towards me and asks, holding the bag ready to fill it up.

"Jellies." I point towards the basket filled with different coloured jellies. Alnitak scoops some up using the wooden spatula and begins to fill the bag and keeps filling it.

"That’s enough," I say seeing he is not stopping any time soon.

He scoops a few more before stopping. Gathering some lollipops, he stuffs them in the bag too before going for chocolate-filled candies. I have begun to think these are his favourites.

Once he has filled the bag to his heart’s desire, he finally stops and hands over the bag to the girl. She shyly takes it from him, and a flirtatious smile graces her lips.

"How much do I owe you?" Alnitak asks.

"What’s your name sire?" she asks in return, pressing her lower lip with her teeth and blinking with her long lashes.

"His name is ’Taken’," I blurt out loud and clear before I can even stop myself.

Alnitak snorts at my answer, doubling down from the laughter while the girl appears to be mortified as her stunned gaze finds me.

I offer her the fakest smile I can muster. She has been ignoring my existence so far, it was time I reminded her.

"My apologies." She quickly weighs the candies on the scale and says, "That will be two gold coins and 5 bronze ones."

She extends the bag towards us and I fish out the coins from my pocket pouch. But Alnitak’s sentinel is quicker, he hands her the coins while Alnitak takes the bag from her.

"Thanks!" He says and takes my arm, leading me away from the stall.

"You should have let me pay," I say.

"Not a chance. Remember I am paying today and always when you are with me."

We move ahead and he turns around to hand the bag to the sentinel behind us.

"Saiph, hold this."

This sentinel is new, I have never seen him before in the academy. He is even taller than Alnitak and has the darkest shade of black hair I have seen. His sharp gaze finds me for the slightest of seconds again, before he looks away. Even his uniform is different from the usual sentinels. It’s black and blue, instead of the usual gold and blue.

"I was afraid you might punch her. Damn! Amaia you were so jealous," Alnitak teases, his words playful.

"I wasn’t jealous but her flirting was painful to watch," I lie, I was so jealous of her.

Alnitak chuckles, his hand reaches over my head and he ruffles my hair.

"You are lying." He leans closer and whispers in my ear. "She seemed new. Usually, I buy from an older lady, but she wasn’t here today."

I nod at my mate and glance around the market to take in miscellaneous aromas wafting from the different food stalls. My mouth waters.

Some people recognise Alnitak and come forward to shake hands with him with broad smiles. Like the sweetheart he is. He pauses and greets everyone, graciously accepting small treats from people who offer him. Sentinel Saiph pays generously on his behalf. He has to be their personal guard who accompanies them whenever they go out.

"Here, try this. It’s delishhh." Alnitak kisses his fingers and sends them my way while handing me what appeared to be a cone-shaped ice cream on a stick. It has a creamy colour.

"It’s called kulfi, you will love it." I take a small bite of this frozen delight and the creaminess just melts into my mouth with the taste of almond and thickened milk.

So different and refreshing, that’s definitely something I have never eaten before. The taste is so different and yet so good.

"Wow! It’s yummmy. Thanks." I take another bite and Alnitak beams at me.

Another stall owner diverts Alnitak’s attention towards him while I enjoy this frozen dessert. Due to the heat, some of it melts and drops in front of my shirt.

"Ohh!" I say staring down at the drops. I am about to flick them off with the back of my fingers when a deep voice rumbles from behind me, startling me.

"Here, use this."