I stroke her head. “He’s just getting some measurements, that’s all.”
She nods and lets Gra’eth continue with the scan, trusting me.
“Any favorite colors?” he jokes.
Opal opens her mouth to respond, but I answer for her. “Green.”
Gra’eth narrows his eyes. “Green? You sure about that Ke’ain?”
“Do I need to make that an order?”
“Got it, green.” He types into his data pad. “If we’re going green, I could talk to the queen at the very least…”
“I’ll handle it, just make sure the gown is perfect, Gra’eth,” I bark.
“Sure, great, no pressure.”
He gets away with the attitude because we’re friends, but my patience wears thin. He’s frantically typing into his data pad as he leaves my royal apartments. I give the Deenz one more kick before signaling to the guards to remove them. I keep Opal close to me until the guards and attendants clear the room. Wrapping both my arms around her small form and pull our bodies to face each other.
“I guess green’s alright, but for future reference, I can speak for myself.”
I stifle my laugh at her defiance but nod all the same. “Any color would suit you, my Opal.”
She shifts nervously at the compliment but smiles.
“Thank you for staying with me. I-I don’t want those assholes to take me again.” Her jaw sets and anger simmers behind her brown eyes.
“Take you again?” The confusion spreads across my face. “But you applied to come here. The process is supposed to be grueling.”
She blanches. “You think I wanted to be…” her face turns from white to red, shifting quickly like a cor’sopol’s camouflage, “abducted?”
“I didn’t know,” I say. “I didn’t know you were taken. I’m so sorry Opal.”
I pull her into a tight hug. The Deenz hurtmyhuman. I will make it my mission to murder every single one of those hive-minded bastards.
“Can’t…breathe…” Opal wheezes as I release her.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “They’ve got us fooled. They make it seem like human women are begging to come, to tour the galaxy.”
Opal cackles sardonically. “That I wanted to leave my home? I’ve got news for you, big boy.” She pokes her stern little finger into my chest. “Humans don’t know any of this even exists!” Opal gestures broadly to me.
“How can I fix it?” I cup her head in my hands, and I pull in her scent. It is better than any ambrosia.
“Can you take me home?” she pleads, her high cheekbones wet with tears.
“Your home is off limits,” I tell her gently as I can. “I have no idea how the Deenz got past the border police around your planet. It’s tightly controlled.”
“Oh.” Her face is crestfallen.
“Even though it would destroy me to let you go, I promise if I could take you home, I would.” She gives me a half smile. “I’m sure your family misses you.”
“I don’t really have a family anymore.” Opal’s face drops. “My parents died a few years back.”
“I keep digging this hole deeper, Opal. I don’t like to see you hurt.”
“Hurting is what I’m best at though, darlin’.” She laughs, but I still see the pain she tries to hide.
“Not anymore,” I say. “If I can’t take you home, you can make your home here.”
