He was sure Lorse would catch them eventually, and he’d do something horrible to Amina. Perhaps even sell or gift her to another Talin. He couldn’t risk that happening to her.
To his shock, Amina laughed. Opening his eyes, he found her looking at him with affection. “Like that’s going to happen! We’re in this together. Besides, we’re getting married, remember?”
A surprised rattle came out of him. “I thought that was all pretend.”
“Yes, but I’m not ready to give up on my pretend future husband yet,” she said with a grin.
A chime sounded, making all of them jump.
“That’s the medic,” Gis said, rushing out of the bedroom. Amina scrambled out of his arms, but he managed to rub a little extra oil on her as she moved.
He laid back down, and Amina moved to stand a respectful distance away.
“Pretend to be drugged and sleepy,” she reminded him.
He grunted and closed his eyes as Lorse and the medic came into the room. He played his part by only mumbling if they tried to rouse him. The medic took a scan, which came out as inconclusive because they didn’t have the right program for Talin physiology.
“That’s unacceptable,” Lorse reprimanded. “Send for the correct programs using the comms, now. You’d better pray nothing is truly wrong with my Myrum or I’ll send you to work on the white planet.”
The medic rushed out and several more attendants walked in carrying parts of a bed. Without a word, they started assembling it.
“Don’t worry, Myrum,” Lorse murmured. “I’ll sleep in here tonight so I’ll be here to care for you until you feel better.”
Their ploy seemed to have backfired, and now no one was going to have a comfortable night’s sleep.
Chapter 22
Amina
Sleeping on the thin pad wasn’t the worst part of having Lorse in the room. Having to be so close to Myrum and not getting to touch him was a special kind of torture.
She had to give Myrum credit, he’d been clever enough to push a bunch of pillows and blankets off his bed, mumbling about being hot. They all dropped on her, and she got to use them to make a slightly more comfortable bed.
She was on the opposite side of Myrum’s bed from where Lorse had set up his. Eventually she fell asleep, but it felt like she only got to close her eyes before Lorse’s loud voice ordering Gis around woke her up again.
Amina stumbled to her feet and bumped into Gis. He helped her get her robe on, and both of them rushed around the bed to present themselves to Lorse where he stood on the other side of the bed, leaning over Myrum who was sitting up and acting groggy.
“I have a fresh set of pants in my luggage; please see if you can find them,” Myrum said to Gis. Then he shifted his gaze to Amina. “I’d like you to warm the cleansing unit for me, I’ll be there in a moment.”
“See to your master!” Lorse barked at them as if they weren’t already moving.
Biting her tongue, Amina tried hard to walk quietly into the cleansing unit instead of stomping like she wanted to. Lorse needed to be careful because he was very close to being the recipient of her notorious temper.
No sooner was she in the cleansing room than Gis followed inside to hand her a bundle of clothing.
“I included what looked like the clothes you wear under your robe,” he murmured. “If I ask you to fetch something, then follow the closest Ossiso to the kitchen. They’ll feed you before sending you back. It’s the only way we’re able to eat while in service to a clear.”
She took the clothes from Gis. “I have new respect for how difficult your life is.”
He dipped his head in a little bow and rushed out. The next time the door opened, Myrum stepped in. She didn’t see Lorse in the bedroom behind him, but she remained still until the door shut.
The clothing in her hands went flying when Myrum grabbed her up in his arms and hugged her tight.
“I’m so sorry!” he said, purring loudly.
“Hey, we’re good,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“I don’t think I slept all night,” he said.
