“Tell you what, I’m gonna give you a bit of time to yourself and let you get your stuff set up. I’ll be in the mess hall. You just go right through those doors and ask any of the guards or the women where that is and they’ll show you. Sound good?”
“Sure, I’ll meet you there,” I whisper, staring at my sad new bed.
Opal waddles away quickly, and I snap the closure on my suitcase and fling the lid up.
Inside is something I don’t recognize. A long and narrow rectangular box is nestled on top of what looks like the entirety of my wardrobe from the Duke’s estate–far too much clothing for an overnight stay, just as I predicted.
I pick it up gingerly and remove the lid. Inside, on a beautiful black chain, is one of the most stunning Italian horns I’ve ever seen. Even in the darkness of the cold dorm it glitters, its tiny facets catching even the dimmest of light.
I clutch it to my chest and let the fat tears flow down my cheeks.
My shock at what he plans to do quickly turns to anger.
That fuckingstronzo!1Who does he think he is, just leaving me here? He can’t just sneak into my luggage one of the most beautiful gifts I’ve ever received and have me act like it never happened.
I won’t accept it.
Wiping my the tears from my cheeks, I slide the necklace over my head, and walk toward the swinging doors. I damn near kick them open, even though I have no idea where I’m going, but Opal said everyone would help me find my way.
Of course the hallway is empty, so I go the direction we came in. Rounding a corner, I see a human woman sitting on a bench.
“Hey you!” I holler.
When the girl tilts her head up to me, her russet brown skin is tear streaked, and she clutches her chest mid sob.
Shit.
“Are you okay?” I ask her, really regretting I’ve never been able to mind my own business.
“Do I look okay?” she says dramatically, pulling the corners of her mouth back into a grimace.
“Stupid question, my bad,” I sit next to her on the bench. I should go find Raf’ere to give him a piece of my mind—but I can’t just leave this girl crying alone in the hallway. “Can I help?”
She scoffs and looks toward the ceiling.
“Can you unmate Medic Hi’rey?” she asks, already knowing the answer is obviously no.
“Oh, I’m sorry, was he your boyfriend?”
“Well, no, but that’s beside the point. I know we had something together…” Her voice drifts off, and she gets a starry-eyed look.
“And he’s got a mate now? That’s gotta be hard.” I try to sympathize, but the word mate only makes me think of one person. Raf’ere—and I’m pissed at him.
“She doesn’t even like him, what’s the point?” she asks to the sky, as if the alien goddess is supposed to explain herself.
“I don’t think they have any control over it, maybe your medic is just as surprised as you are. He probably can’t even help how he feels about her,” I tell the girl, but I think I’m really telling myself something I need to hear.
“I know, it’s not his fault—he’s so sweet. He’s the only person I’ve everbeen with,you know?” She takes a deep breath. “But now that he’s got a mate, he’s only going to care about making her happy, regardless of how she feels about him. No one else is ever going to matter to him again, especially not me. Just being apart from your fated mate can cause the fi’len physical pain. How do I compete with that?”
“Oh, it’s that intense to find your mate huh?” Is Raf’ere just trying to make me happy here—will he hurt forever if he leaves me here? Does he care about me so much that he could do that?
“Yeah, it fucking sucks.”
A knot twists in my stomach, and I put my hand over the necklace on my chest.
“I’m Marta, by the way,” I say holding out my other hand.
“Kamari,” she says, weakly grasping my palm.
