“I’ll take you to the palace in the morning,” I manage to say numbly.
“Raf’ere,” Marta whispers, reaching her hand out to me as I pass by her. For a split second, I think that maybe she’ll beg me to stay. “How long arewestaying?”
“A night or two, I’ll have Jens’i pack a bag for you,” I lie, knowing that it’s best for me to leave her there with her kind. To let her live a life without someone as damaged as I am.
I know I might never feel joy again, not after knowing my mate and letting her go…but it’s the only fair and honest thing I can do now.
I love Marta.
CHAPTER34
?EARTH 2, ELECTRIC BOOGALOO?
?MARTA
I cradle the suitcase Jens’i provided me with against my chest. I shift a bit uncomfortably in my seat. The pack is bigger than I expected, but who knows what kind of wardrobe you need to at an honest-to-god palace?
Raf’ere sits across from me in the cruiser, staring out the window with a forlorn face. When we came out of hyperspeed the buildings and people seemed to appear out of nowhere. I should be amazed at the city I catch glimpses of through my peripheral vision, but I can’t keep my eyes off the duke.
Am I yours?His words from last night haunt me almost as much as my answer.
I know that I love the way the duke makes me feel, that he’s saved my life twice over, and that he’s trying his best to make sure I’m happy.
So why can’t I just say yes?
The cruiser rocks violently and begins to descend. I grip the armrests and finally look out the window. A palace, situated on land and not even that close to the water. It’s much grander than the duke’s estate, I realize as it looms into view.
Everything here is so different from the Liin’gan Reefs. There’s so much traffic and aliens of all kinds crowd the roadways. The palace sprawls over what seems like could be ten or fifteen city blocks.
“It’s alright, just a little turbulence as we get into position for the landing,” Raf’ere tells me. Obviously he’s much more seasoned in all the forms of space travel than I am.
We move laterally until we’re directly over what looks like a courtyard. There’s a quick buzz and a purple force field becomes visible all around the building.
“Hmm, that’s new.” Raf’ere cranes his neck to get a better look at the laser-like lines.
“This is Reefs One, requesting landing access to The Palace, over.” the captain’s voice buzzes over the intercom.
“Landing permission granted, begin descent at will, over,” someone with a very obvious midwestern accent says over the feed. As soon as she clips out, a hole fizzles in the purple rays of light that guard the palace.
“A human?” I ask, getting excited for the first time since we’ve left.
“Certainly not a fi’len—they’re doing their best to get all the women jobs. Air traffic control must be on the list.” He smiles at my excitement.
We lower smoothly and quickly into the courtyard. As soon as the cruiser hits the pavement, a flock of women crowd around the vehicle, like they’ve been waiting for us to arrive.
“There’s so many of us here,” I whisper, surprised at the sheer number and different types of women I see flooding out from the building.
“And more arriving every day,” he says as he looks at me.
“Guess so.” I try to keep my voice steady, but even my own ears can hear as it cracks.
I stand as the dust from the boosters settles, clutching my suitcase to my chest. Raf’ere takes my arm, tucking it under his.
“Ready?” He asks me forcing, a smile.
“Ready,” I tell him.
Walking over to the bay doors, I hold my breath when they drop open. My eyes squint as the sunlight streams in, my vision acclimating to the soft lighting of the estate and the dim glow of the caverns.
