“Ouch!” the injection gun at her neck burned when it hit.
“Apologies. The vaccines can cause discomfort.”
She inhaled a breath, and she swore she could feel the stuff swimming through her system before the sensation died away.
“Now we need to--”
“Adryel!”
She turned and looked. There, standing before her was Janae, looking perfect.
“I didn't see you! Are you okay? Did you get hurt?” It was a big weight and worry that had been on her shoulders finally eased seeing her friend. One she didn’t realize she was carrying.
“I didn't know where you were, and I didn't know how to find you!” Janae said.
Janae started to step forward but was stopped by the medical droid. From behind her, she could see the Kantenan that had claimed Janae coming up, as well as the grumpy one who'd kept her from getting hurt in the explosion.
“Excuse me. But she has more wounds I need to tend to,” the medical robot said.
Adryel pushed the droid back. “I'm fine. Go deal with someone else.”
Mr. Grumpy seemed amused by her.
She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him, because who knew if it would be mistaken for a mating ritual or something.
“Is this your friend?” the one that followed Janae asked.
Adryel interjected. “I am her friend. And you must be her new husband.”
“Mate.”
“Whatever.” She couldn’t help grinning at Janae. After all the time she’d been sure she wasn’t pretty enough to get a Kantenan, and boom, out of the wormhole, she’s the first one picked.
She smacked Janae on her arm. “I told you!”
The Kantenan males looked unsure about it, at least until Janae grinned and blushed a bit.
“Knock it off, Adryel,” she said. “I know. But I didn't believe it then, and I'm not sure I believe it now.”
Adryel rolled her eyes, and figured now was as good a time as any to get past the formal stuff. “And since she has no manners, I'm Adryel. Terran, and I grew up on Trinity Alpha Prime. Joined the program to get away from the family and find my place in the world. Thought meeting some new species of humanoids would be an adventure, but this wasn't what I had in mind.”
“No one had this in mind,” her mate said. “I am Khalzin, Gol-Vett of the Coalition, and this is my friend, Stron, also a Gol-Vett of the Coalition.”
Adryel leaned over to Janae. “What's a Gol-Vett?”
“Like a prince. I think.”
She’d heard that before, she thought, anyway. Around Stron, but she couldn’t be sure.
“We are not princes,” Stron said. “We are children of the Coalition members. It makes us a higher status than other Kantenans.”
“So, princes,” Adryel said. “They weren't kidding when they said those that would be picked would be treated like princesses.”
“If it means to honor you above all else, then yes, we will treat you like princesses.”
Janae waved her hand. “We have things to discuss.” She turned to Adryel. “Now, I just need to see Graecey--”
“Graecey fell,” Adryel said, the pain of it hitting her again, and her eyes watered.
