“Does it go either way?” Tori asked. “The thirty-day thing?”
“What do you mean?” Re-lee asked.
“Thirty days. Is it just for me? Or can either of us reject the match?”
“It is for either of you,” Re-lee said. “Though very few ever actually use the clause. We shall make those decisions when the time comes. Then either of you can decide what is the best course of action for your lives.”
Tori nodded. There was something to be said for being this far away from Stefan, though. Going back would put her right back in Stefan’s line of sight. And he always seemed to come back, no matter how many times they broke up. She used to tell herself that was because he couldn't live without her.
She was somewhat right. He couldn't live without her.
But he couldn't live without her because she did a lot for him. He may have bought her stuff--fake stuff, but stuff--she was always there for him.
Of course, she always let him back in.
So that shit was on her, she supposed.
Re-lee’s gaze landed on Jana before including the others. “You do not have to stay here while you have your trial period, but you do have to stay with your mate.”
“Like stay here, in this place?” Jana asked, her gaze landing on Phares again.
“In the same residence,” Re-lee said.
Tori rubbed her ear. Because surely she didn’t hear that right. She was going to have to live with tall, red and horny?
Well, this was getting worse by the minute.
Worse, but with a view, anyway.
Regardless of her tangled emotions, which she was still trying to figure out, Tori was impressed with the place. It was a cross between every sci-fi movie she'd ever seen, and a fancy airport with a busy hotel attached.
Where she led them first, it seemed to get nicer the further they traveled away from the location. Unlike the level they'd found Jana on, the number of others here was very few.
It was also very streamlined, yet everything carried an overlay of opulence. Smooth clean lines, but the lines were rimmed with gold and silver and other ores. The apartment door they arrived at was equally as nice, the entrance from the hallway.
These were not cheap apartments. If the ship was like any place on Earth, a room with a view would cost extra.
This place had to cost a lot extra. They walked along a hallway that showed off the outside and sections of the station. It seemed surreal to see a starship fly by outside.
She had to keep reminding herself that it wasn't a dream or a ride in a theme park.
It was real.
Immediately, Tori was stopped at the entrance to the apartments they were going to be in. Structured like entering a condominium with three doors and a large front patio. The foyer area looked out windows showing the stars beyond the ship. Furniture was arranged for enjoying the view. Traffic from starships flew by, and Tori approached the window. Part of her wanted to touch it, but she didn’t dare.
“No glass,” she whispered and took a step back. It was like there was nothing between her and the stars.
"It's beautiful," she said. "And terrifying."
"Yes," Olmed said.
Tori glanced at him.
He wasn't looking out the window. Instead, he was staring at her with an intensity that she could feel.
She gulped and turned away.
“This is your residence,” Re-lee said, gesturing to the first door on the left. “Phares and Jana, you will stay here.”
