I thought I did.I swipe a fresh tear off my cheek. “When would we leave?”
“As soon as possible. I don’t think they realize that Far’ep’s keycard still works. There’s no point in risking losing access with it much longer.”
“I have a pet, I can’t leave him,” I say, realizing Nubbins is out with Raf’ere.
“We don’t have time to wait. Every second is of the essence!” She’s growing impatient.
Raf’ere loves the kahne’ah. I know he’ll take care of him.
“Can you give me five minutes? I need to collect myself.”
“Ugh, just hurry. I’m risking a lot to get you out of here, you know?” She grimaces.
Just because she’s got ulterior motives doesn’t mean we can’t work together. If I get out, if I can make it to where the other humans are…she gets what she wants.
I nod and back into the closet. I drop the blanket and quickly throw on the first piece of clothing I was given here, my white uniform. It’s simple and won’t be too heavy to swim in. I grab the makeshift Italian horn necklace from the tabletop and tuck it under the neckline of the dress.
I won’t waste any good luck. I’ll need it for what I’m about to do.
The panic that normally fills my chest with dread is replaced by a heavy heart. If I don’t leave now, I might break. I’m sure everything this woman is telling me isn’t true…but it makes sense he’s ashamed of me.
It makes sense I’m his mate, and he’s bound to me by some biological response he can’t control.
That he would never choose me without the stupid bond—we’re too different.
After I dress, I take a deep breath and push all the shitty feelings down, knowing I’ll never be able to complete the task at hand if I don’t.
I step out of my room with my shoulders pulled back and walk confidently to the writing desk near the curtained sea window.
Grabbing the purple pen, I quickly scrawl a note on the strangely textured paper.
You don’t have to be ashamed anymore, I won’t hold you to something you can’t control and don’t want.
Take care of Nubbins, he loves you.
Marta
I can set us both free.
“I’m ready,” I tell the alien in front of me. “I’m Marta, what’s your name?”
Her mouth twists into a grin.
“My name is Tri'ot.”
CHAPTER31
?A BLAST FROM THE PAST?
?RAF’ERE
“Next timeyou decide to chase a nar’art, I’m letting it eat you,” I grumpily tell the kahne’ah under my arm. I wipe at my chest, in a futile attempt to remove the nar’art’s defensive ink. Without a doubt, this cravat is ruined.
He just stares up at me, his antennae pulsing with light—as if I didn’t just have to chase him a klick down the reef.
“For being such an awkward little thing, you sure are fast,” I say, slightly impressed by Nubbins’s agility. He just stares up at me with those big black eyes, not a thought behind them. I can’t stay mad. And besides, I’m in too good a mood today to be annoyed. Today is the day I tell Marta the truth. I catch myself with a skip in my step, and quickly right the embarrassing display as I slow my pace. I’m anxious to get back to her, to talk about all the things our futures could hold together.
As hard as it’s going to be for me to open up her world, I know now that the risk of losing her is worth the chance of loving her. I want to introduce her to fi’len society with a ball.
