Page 3
“What about when five years is over?”
I shrug. “Our agreement ends.”
The human leader is silent for several ticks. “How many women do you plan on acquiring?”
Disgust runs through me. “You speak as though we are purchasing these females like animals, when that is not at all the case. As I have said more than once, we are offering an opportunity for a different life. One with a mate and hopefully children who will be treated with kindness and affection. They will want for nothing. But only if they choose to come here of their own free will.”
The female doesn’t appear ashamed. “How many women’s names do you want called in this lottery?”
Given there are hundreds of unmated males of an eligible age, that is a difficult question. I don’t want the human leader to dismiss my request because she doesn’t want to lose that many of her people. Plus, with the rebellion brewing and growing stronger with each passing day, I don’t want to be responsible for a large number of new citizens yet. “We will start with twenty in the first round. After six moon cycles—months—we will reevaluate that number and see if the next group can be bigger. We will do this every six moon cycles until the five anums are up.”
Eloise shifts, but I keep my gaze locked on the human leader. I am certain she wants to get as many females out of the bottom tier as possible, but we can’t appear too greedy.
“At least two hundred women could be chosen to go to your planet?” There is a tone of disbelief in the Madame President’s question.
I tilt my head. “From my understanding, there are approximately seventy-five million females on your planet who fit the eligibility requirement. Surely, you will not miss a few hundred of them?”
Her skin tone brightens, but she doesn’t demonstrate any other change aside from a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Of course not.”
Several ticks pass until I ask my final question. “Do we have a deal?”
Chapter 2
Four-ish moon cycles ago
Devon
I’m still not certain this isn’t a dream. Less than two months ago I was one of twenty women randomly chosen in a bridal lottery to leave Earth for an alien planet and find a husband there. Apparently there aren’t any more women of marriageable age due to some sickness that swept through the Bohnari people.
As I glance around the apartment, the nervousness I’ve felt from the moment the spaceship left Earth until I stepped off it and onto the streets of Preska recedes to a manageable level. In its place, excitement ramps up. The kitchen and living room are a single open area, but it’s huge. It might be because the only furniture is a sofa with two end tables, a coffee table, and a small dining table with two chairs.
I walk into the next room and stare at the massive bed that dominates it. The bedding is simple, if a little plain. Unable to help myself, I move toward it and plop down to test its firmness. To my surprise, I sink into the mattress. Holy shit, it’s like sitting on a cloud. I fall backward with my arms spread out and am almost swallowed whole. My laugh rings out as I roll around, messing up the neatly made blankets. For several minutes, I stare up at the ceiling with a silly grin on my face.
Since the girls and I are supposed to meet back on the walkway in less than twenty minutes, I better finish the self-tour of my new place. Reluctantly, I climb off the bed and check out the walk-in closet that is nearly as big as my entire flat back on Earth. I’m not sure I’ll ever have enough clothes to fill it, but I’m certainly going to try.
The hygiene room is jaw-dropping. Within its own separate area is a wall of buttons that appear to control a high-tech toilet. Not only that, but the cleansing stall could house an orgy if I were into that sort of thing. Neither of those can top the bathing pool built into the floor. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
The water is a crystal clear blue-green, and even though I can see the bottom of the pool, I can’t tell how deep it actually is. Considering I can’t swim, I hope it’s shallower than it looks, otherwise I’m going to be really fucking sad. I didn’t come all the way here only to wind up drowning in the damn place. A hundred credits tells me the girls are feeling the same, since I can almost guarantee they can’t swim either. It’s not a luxury—or opportunity—afforded to us bottomers to be taught. The only accessible bodies of water large enough to actually swim in anyway are the disgusting, polluted, sewage-laden river that runs through the city and lake just outside of it.
“Holy shit. This has to be what the upper tier lives like.” My granny wouldn’t believe this. A small pinch of pain inside my chest reminds me how much I miss her. I kneel down and run my hand through the water. “It’s already warm even.”
Looks like I better learn how to swim, I guess.
After a final peek around, I head back out to the kitchen. The cabinets are stocked with plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. There are also pans and pots. Not that I know how to cook. Until we boarded the Bohnari spaceship, the only thing I’ve ever eaten in my life is protein bars. It might be nice to learn though.
The cooling unit is empty, but we were all told of the market square in the center of the city where we can buy almost anything we need, including food. The housing complex itself also comes with its own cafeteria and a chef, who we can order from any time day or night. Like I said, I’m not at all certain this isn’t a dream. If it is, I don’t want to wake up.
On the table are instructions on how to program the biometric scanner at the door so it will only open for its owner. They are easy to follow so it takes me no time at all to get that done. I’m in the middle of a final walk through when a soft trilling sound echoes through the apartment. It takes me a second to figure out someone’s at the door. I open it and a large Bohnari male stands there holding two familiar-looking satchels.
“Devon Jackson?”
“That’s me.”
“I have your belongings. May I place them inside for you?”
“Sure thing. You can just put them next to the sofa.” I step to the side to let him pass, but I keep the door wide open while he places my bags where I asked.
He walks back toward me. “Is there anything else I can do for you before I go?”
