He couldn't help it. Her observations were so correct, but they were things he'd never really thought about, having grown up here.
"You have studied my world."
She nodded. "It is part of the program."
"Yet, I know very little about yours.”
She ran her hand over her brow but stopped and pulled her hand back. "I'm from Trinity Alpha Prime. I spent all my life in the lower levels. It's not like here. There's very little natural beauty left. It's almost entirely technology and cities. Well, mostly just one big city, honestly. It all seems to smash together and make a singular place."
"And you lived in this city?"
She nodded again. "It was all I ever knew.”
"Did you like it?"
She chuckled. "I didn't hate it, but I lived in the streets for a good deal of that time, so anything better than that is a blessing.”
"She was speaking the truth, that other female. That you lived in poverty.” He was not sure what to think of that—that she indeed was a pauper. Was that why she was here?
Though it mattered not.
She was his mate now, and they would find a way to make their arrangement work.
He had to.
It was his way.
And he had to prove that he was right. That mixing the genomes would not damage the pool.
Janae didn't look at him. "I joined the program so I would have a place to live for a few months. I never expected I would get selected. I assumed that I was there to fill in the gaps between the beautiful ones.”
"Why do you feel that?"
She turned to him. In the light of his residence, he could tell she was thin, her clothing was simple, and not the most flattering. However, it was appropriate. Nothing as flashy as some of the others had worn, nor did she look as elaborately made up as some had looked.
It mattered not.
Still, it showed she was different.
He liked different.
"I am not nearly as appealing as the others were.”
"I do not understand why you feel that way, but I am in no way displeased with you--"
"I know. You would not have taken me if you were. I hope I live up to the expectations you have for me.”
"And what are those?"
"If I knew that, it might ease my mind.”
"We are officially in Courtship, so this is the time we take to learn about one another."
"You've learned a great deal about me. What about you? Who are you in your society?"
"I am the son of one of the most revered scientists on Kantenan and the Priestess of Light."
She raised her eyebrow. "That sounds impressive.”
