I can hardly believe what I’m hearing. And I’m frozen trying to process this information. Annulled.
Is it really true?
"You’d think she would have forgotten about them. What’s it been—half a year? I didn’t think humans had the ability for long-term memories,” the guest says with mild interest.
Gai looks back at me but answers his guest, “Yes, some humans have the same memory and IQ as Imperials. Eve is one of them.”
His guest laughs. “You’ve been alone with your pets too long, Gai. You’re anthropomorphizing them.”
“Maybe…”
Just then, the doors to the breakfast room burst open with a crash. And I hear Lorian's voice, real and present and here. “Father!”
I can’t believe it’s him.
Have I finally gone insane from heartache and punishments of this place?
I’m worried that the fantasies that I have at night have seeped into my waking hours.
But I watch as Gai talks to the apparition, his face transforming with relief. "Oh, thank the goddesses. I assume you're here for her? Please say you're here for her."
“Commander Gai, I will excuse myself,” his unnamed guest says and leaves.
"We're here for Eve," Rafe confirms, coming in after his brother, passing the guest in the doorway.
Is this really happening?
“Eve,” Rafe says.
Lorian picks me up in his strong arms. It feels and smells like him. But it can’t be. How can they be here now when their marriage was just annulled at dawn? But still, I look up and run my hands over their grey faces.
“You’re real,” I say, surprised.
“Yes, we’ve come here to take you back to the Spire.”
Then it all sinks in and suddenly rage at their marrying another woman consumes me. And I slap them both, as hard as I can. So hard my hand throbs from the pain. “Put me down.”
Lorian sets me on my feet, but I immediately kneel again next to Autumn as a protest.
"The marriage was—" Lorian begins.
"A sham, yes." Gai gestures at the still-playing broadcast. "Non-consummation? Really? Well, I suppose that explains why you're both here looking half-dead with excitement."
"Eve," Rafe kneels in front of me. "Look at me. Please."
"She won't without permission," Autumn says softly, but there's something in her voice—hope? "Commander?—"
"Yes, yes." Gai waves dismissively. "Eve, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. Isn’t this what you wanted? They’ve done all of this for you. They’ve changed galactic laws. The marriage to Zira was a setup from the beginning. Maybe you aren’t as clever as we all thought."
I look at Gai. “You knew this was a setup, and you didn’t tell me?”
“I told you it was a marriage of convenience and for economic purposes only.”
“But you let me believe…”
“No Eve. You let yourself believe the worst because you refused to listen to me. But I know why you couldn’t listen because you love them so deeply your heart wouldn’t allow you to see the truth. You only saw another woman in your place. But listen to what they have to say now. My sons have sacrificed a lot for you. The least you can give them is the benefit of the doubt.”
"Rafe?" My voice cracks, as if the frozen bit of ice that was protecting my heart is now melting and reality is sinking in. "Lorian?"
