“Did you get knocked over the head and dragged here caveman-style?” Jillian asked.
“Um, no. Tark saved my life.”
She glanced at Tark and gave a slight nod. “Good for you. I hope you treat her well.”
Rorwick made a sound like a wounded animal, though a big one, and then left the room. Tark kissed Suki’s cheek and followed his friend. Jillian motioned for her to sit down, and Suki was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the furniture was. It had looked like it might be a little stiff, but she sank onto the cushion.
“Tark said you’ve lived here a year,” Suki said. “It seems like a nice place.”
“Unless you live with a behemoth like Rorwick.”
“He seemed… stressed. And tired.”
Jillian shrugged. “I’m not making his life easy, but what would you have done if you’d woken on a strange planet, in a strange man’s home, and he decided he was going to claim you like a piece of luggage?”
“I guess it would depend on the circumstances. It took us several days to reach Xpashta. Why were you asleep for the trip here?” Suki asked.
“I was sick and had been ejected into space in a rescue pod. According to the medic who tended me, I was nearly dead. Rorwick decided the second the pod was open that I belonged to him,” Jillian said. “Didn’t give me any say at all!”
“He doesn’t seem like a bad guy, even though I don’t really know him. There’s no anger or hatred in his eyes, no evil. Why don’t you want to be with him?”
“I’m not a piece of property! I should get to make my own choices.”
Suki looked around the room a moment before settling her gaze on Jillian again. “If you could choose, who would you want to be with? Has another cyborg caught your attention?”
Jillian’s cheeks flushed.
“So, there is someone?” Suki asked.
“There’s a cyborg I’ve spoken to at the marketplace a few times. He’s always smiling, always happy, and he’s so polite. When I’m with him, even if it’s just a few minutes, I feel a peace I haven’t experienced since I left Earth. I tried with Rorwick. I did. Yes, I threw a tantrum at first and I was furious, then I understood his position and why he’d claimed me. It still didn’t make it right, and I honestly don’t feel a connection to him. It’s like they’re all forcing me to be with Rorwick, and I just…”
“You don’t think you could ever love him?” Suki asked.
“No,” Jillian said and sighed. “I really don’t. I don’t like it when he touches me, even though it’s never inappropriate. I don’t even like being in the same room as him. I’m sorry if that makes me a horrible bitch.”
“Have you told anyone how you feel? Maybe told him about your connection to the other cyborg? Is it possible he returns your feelings?” Suki asked.
“I haven’t because any time I’ve expressed my displeasure, I’ve been dismissed. The other cyborg… we don’t discuss my situation with Rorwick, but I can tell by the way he looks at me that he cares. I feel safe with him. There’s a kindness in his eyes that makes me feel warm. With Rorwick, I feel like he just wants me as a possession, like I’m his because he’s the one who pulled me from the escape pod. I know he wants a mate, but I don’t have feelings for him. Not like that.”
Suki nodded. “All right. What’s the other cyborg’s name?”
“Balize.”
“I know I’m new here, but maybebecauseI’m new I can get someone to listen. Would you be all right with me talking to Tark and maybe one of the Commanders? I’m sure they would rather you be happy here than with someone who makes you miserable,” Suki said.
“I make you miserable?”
Suki jerked her head toward the door and paled when she saw Rorwick and Tark. Rorwick looked ill and it seemed like a giant weight settled on his shoulders. She wished that she could ease his pain, that there was a way for both of them to win in this situation, but she didn’t see that happening.
“I had thought maybe you would eventually…” Rorwick trailed off and shook his head. “I never meant to make you miserable. I liked your fire and didn’t realize you truly hated being here. I thought you were playing hard to get. I’ve heard some human females do that. I thought I was supposed to chase you, to wait you out. It never occurred to me that you really didn’t want to be with me. If you don’t wish to remain here, I won’t force you. You can have whatever you want from the house.”
He turned and walked off and a look of guilt crossed Jillian’s face. Suki reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. Tark came closer and knelt in front of Suki.
“What do you need from me, mate?” he asked.
“Can you find Balize and bring him here?” she asked. “I think it’s time he and Jillian talked about something more meaningful than whatever he has in the marketplace.”
“Why don’t we take Jillian to him?” Tark suggested. “Rorwick left, but he could return and seeing Belize with the woman he wanted to claim might be painful. He truly didn’t understand that Jillian wanted her freedom to choose another. We have very little knowledge and understanding of human females, except for what we’ve learned since Lathim found Maggie. Rorwick never meant any harm.”
