“What animal is this?”
“Animal?”
“Yes… it’s fur.”
“We do not harm creatures of the land on Devor. These fibers are all synthetic and are recycled into solar energy after use. So don’t you worry about the animals, sweetling.”
The attendants smiled at each other. They found me strange. Ignorant, even. But they were at least kind. I’d heard from Kronos that they’d encountered only one human being before, and that she’d changed their people, made them gentler to outsiders than they’d ever been.
I hung to Kronos’ side as we walked through the lines of soldiers, following his siblings, Morpheus and Thalassa. He hadn’t yet told Thalassa of my promise to follow them to the front. Morpheus flashed me a smile when he caught my eyes. Perhaps I had their approval. I don’t even know why I wanted it. I wanted to belong here more than I wanted to belong anywhere else.
We stepped out off the ship and the air was heavy. I don’t know why I expected it to be… normal. It was salty, like we were near the ocean, but all I saw was a wide open tundra, flat and flanked by trees over a hundred feet tall, taller than skyscrapers. I could see a city in the distance, glittering with crystal onion domes and turrets.
“It’s beautiful…”
“That dome is where we’re headed. It’s the estate.”
“That’s your estate?!”
“Would you prefer to walk around the city first? We’ve been warned by the Prince that it may be overwhelming for you.”
“We can save it for later then. I want to see your home.”
>
I appreciated the correction. Morpheus and Thalassa turned around to take notice of us. Something I’d said or done had attracted their attention. For the first time, A Devoran other than Kronos spoke to me telepathically.
>
> Kronos replied.
Morpheus bowed his head, allowing me to step on the teleportation pad first. I got a bit nervous as we all piled on. Kronos reached for my hand and squeezed it.
>
It was cold. So cold. Despite my furs, the moment the teleport was finished, all I could think about was the cold. The sky was a deep blue color and on the outskirts of the estate, we noticed many blue-skinned workers rushing back and forth, preparing for their Lord’s arrival. My skin wasn’t visible, but Kronos explained that they could sense my difference, and I couldn’t help but attract a few curious glances as we ascended the long staircase made of crystal bricks. My boots were the only thing that kept me from slipping, that and hooking my arm on Kronos’.
Attendants held the doors open and we entered the Crystal Estate of Devor II, home of Lord Kronos and his siblings, Lady Thalassa and Lord Morpheus. They were announced, and then they got to my name.
“Our Lord Kronos has taken a new mate, a wife from the distant planet Terra, henceforth known as Lady Jessica of the Crystal Estate on Devor II.”
I tugged on Kronos’ fur coat and whispered, “A wife? What do they mean by a wife? Are they talking about me?”
He pressed his finger to his lips, but I needed more explanation than that. I didn’t remember getting married toKronos, or even having him mention it. What had I gotten myself into?
TEN
KRONOS
She paced backand forth across our chambers, ignoring the beauty of the spiraling four poster bed, the diamond handles on the cupboards, and the views of the ice plains outside. Devor II was less harsh than Devor I. Despite the constant snow and the vast ocean that occupied most of the planet, the single continent I called home had its share of natural beauty. And unlike on Devor I, it was safe to go out at night.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. We simply do not place huge significance on the moment of marriage.”
“You don’t value it? Then why did you fail to tell me that when we mated, this bond would be for life!”
“Not everyone gets married. It isn’t for everyone in our culture. The bond can be intense and all consuming. Plus, some bonds are different from ours as there can be no reproduction. We do not exalt one telepathic connection to another.”
“But we’re still bonded for life. This still means… I’m your wife.”
