To do that would break the one rule punishable by death.
But having lived as a banished for ten years, the idea of death no longer scares me.
I glance at my hands. My markings are dark.
I have time. And when I don’t?
I fist my hand. Once again, I want to know more than my own touch.
4
Mia
From behind the tree, I can see both the aliens as they talk. I am so tempted to run. I wish I was brave like Ruby, that I knew how to fight and take care of myself like her.
Or that I was sure of what I wanted, like Sabine. She isn’t afraid, or if she is, she doesn’t show it. She is curious and took the chance to change her fate.
I’ve never thought about changing mine. It was changed for me. I lean against the tree and as my teeth work over my lower lip. I am not made for this kind of adventure. I am a scientist. I study fungi. I like my lab and the routine of the colony, and before that the security of the ship.
For the first time in my life, I can’t find the good side of this situation.
No, that’s not quite true.
It could be worse. I could be alone. At least I have Bridget and Sabine. And I can understand the aliens. And as much as they want to mate with us, their rules will not let them.
They are all good things.
While I’d rather not be experiencing any of them, things could definitely be much more unpleasant.
“Mia? Are you lost?” Sunif’s voice is gruff. He knows I haven’t run away because he can sense me.
I sigh. I can’t stay here all night. I want to be near the warmth of the fire, and I need to take off my boots and lie down. “No.”
I expect him to come after me, but his footsteps don’t make that much noise. It’s Bridget who joins me in the shadows. The men sent her. Smart.
“Are you sure you are all right?” She whispers.
“Yeah. Tired.” I keep my voice soft. It feels as though I have traipsed halfway across the continent. “You?”
“We talked. He told me about his family and what it was like to leave, to be banished.”
“Same.” I don’t want to be banished. But I am. “Are you going to choose him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want them fighting over us.”
If they fight, they might die…and even if they die, I can’t go home. And if they are dead, they can’t stop the animals from eating us. “You can’t choose the first alien you meet.”
Sabine did and I have no idea what she saw in Edilk that made her decide that she’d rather a man whose people are sword wielding barbarians, than the man the colony had selected.
Yeah, Richard could be a pain, but at least he was human. And after a few dates—that involved sleeping with him—she had decided she hated him.
I never managed to draw up the courage to approach the man I’ve been matched with and he had never approached me either. It’s not like we needed to date for me to have his children.
“I may not. I’m not sure. But we are expected to choose.”
“We don’t have to. We can wait. They all come from different tribes, so we’ll be separated if we choose now.” That will be unbearable. I don’t want to be the only human among aliens.
She shrugs. “I’m still thinking. It’s all too new. Come on. If we are by the fire, Orik will catch us dinner.”
