Vaxa’an’s eyes drifted past her to the very curious group of women still standing in a circle and he raised his voice when he said, “The decision is yours. You do not have to move quarters. You may stay here until we locate the crystal or you can move to a dwelling in the Golden City. It is private, but it will afford you a view of Luxiria, fresh air. You may go outside onto the terraces, enjoy our suns, and our moon.”
Longing filled Lainey, her breath hitching.
Moonlight.
Vaxa’an continued softly, “It has recently been brought to my attention by your friend, Taylor, that you are unhappy and restless in these quarters. I thought a dwelling might make you…happier. More pleased.”
Lainey blinked and she turned to look over her shoulder at the other women.
She turned back around and asked, “And what about this Instinct we keep hearing about?”
Vaxa’an made a guttural sound in the back of his throat and said, “It is a risk,tev. But only two of my Ambassadors live on the same terrace where you will be housed and you will have Horex and Vixron,” gesturing to the same guards that had brought in their meals from the beginning, “stationed at your dwelling. No other males will see you.”
Lainey retreated back to the circle.
Moonlight, she couldn’t help but think and she wondered if the longing for it was written all over her features.
“Look, I’ll be honest, I’m willing to risk being some alien’s mate to get some fresh air and a damn window,” she told the small group. “I mean…we have to be vitamin-D deficient by now.”
A whisper of an amused smile crossed Erin’s features, but she turned to look at Crystal and Bianca. The diplomat of their group said softly, “I agree, but it should be a unanimous decision.”
Crystal’s eyes turned to look around the room and she blew out a sharp breath. “I’m from LA, okay? I’d kill for some sun right now. I say we move.”
“Bianca?” Lainey asked, eyeing the brunette, who was still looking down at the floor. “What do you say?”
Bianca shook her head. “This means we give in. No, we need to demand that they send us back homenow. I’msickof waiting!”
“By all means,” Lainey said, stepping aside and gesturing to Vaxa’an, “go for it.”
Erin leveled her another look and then said to Bianca, “You know they have the power in this situation, B. We just have to stick it out. Anything is better than being back in those cages…on that other planet.”
Lainey swallowed hard. Yes,anythingwas better than that.
“We were s-supposed to leave soon,” Bianca said, her voice hitching. “Cecelia said we were leaving soon!”
“Well, we’re not. Obviously,” Lainey said, frustration fraying her nerves. For weeks, Bianca had done this, swinging from one emotional outburst to the other.
And maybe Lainey couldn’t empathize with her. Lainey didn’t have a daughter or a husband…or hell, a family. Maybe Bianca rubbed her the wrong way because Lainey was jealous of her, wanted what she had.
“Shut up, Lainey,” Bianca snapped, her eyes teary but angry. “I’m sick of hearing your sarcastic and bitter and mean remarks. I gave you the benefit of the doubt at first but you’ve shown me that you’reonlypretty on the outside.”
Lainey would never admit to anyone how much that comment stung. Never in a million years.
But she straightened her spine and smiled—though it was more like a baring of her teeth—as she said, “What a coincidence. That’s what my mother always told me too.”
Her mother had often said,“It’s a good thing you’re beautiful, Lainey, because no one else in their right mind would love you otherwise.”
But Nadine had loved her. Nadine, who was the complete opposite of Lainey. Nadine who was sweet and shy andnice, who’d been like a sister to her, the family she’d never had.
Only Nadine had left too. Or at least the cancer in her body had taken her away.
“Okay, stop it,” Erin said, sighing, like they were two petulant children. “Bianca, don’t you think getting out of this room might help take your mind off things?”
“Nothingwill take my mind off getting back to my family,” Bianca said, tears dripping down her cheeks, but determination shining in her eyes. Lainey’s throat felt tight as she looked at the mother.
“Being locked away in here isn’t doing any of us good,” Crystal pointed out.
“And I don’t want one of those aliens stealing me away from my life,” Bianca cried out. “N-no, I’m staying here. Right here.”
