“A relationship with Orin might make me stay. But he always runs in the other direction whenever we see one another. It’s clear he doesn't want to be with me.” My lips curved into a frown. “I suppose it makes sense. What guy wants to help raise another man's child?”
Grace tilted her head, giving me a sympathetic look. “Orin will come around. Give it time.”
With my hormones running wild, my voice rose when I snapped in frustration. “Time! He’s had months already! We met four months ago on that ship, Grace.” I scoffed, feeling my anger rise, making my chest tight.
A lump lodged in my throat and I forced it down. My next statement was fueled by hurt. “I’m tired of sitting around, waiting for something to happen with him. Maybe it's time to set my sights on other males? There are plenty of them available.”
She closed her lips and gave me a skeptical look. “You know you don’t mean that. Besides, Orin could be your fated mate.”
A rueful snort escaped me. When an Alaran male met his K’sha, or fated mate, he knew it. Trex provedthatwhen he met Grace. There was no way I could be Orin’s fated mate. He’d know if I was. He would’ve said something.
“When did you last lay eyes on him?” Grace asked.
My shoulders tightened. “While coming here, he turned and walked away. He’s barely said a word to me in months.” My lips drooped. “Even on the ship when we spoke before, it was only to relay instructions to me. We’ve discussed nothing personal.”
I stroked the side of my teacup. “Today was the first time I’ve spotted him at the palace in weeks.”
In the halls, he couldn't seem to get away from me fast enough. I had no idea why he disliked me so much. I'd done nothing to make him feel that way. At least I didn’t think I did.
My thoughts made tears well up.
Grace gave me a thin smile, as if she understood my situation.
She didn’t. Trex made it clear right away that she was his fated mate, and he did everything he could to win her love. For them, it was love at first sight.
But I understood she was trying to be supportive, so I said nothing.
“He’s rarely been here. Trex has him assigned to the city guard.” She said, as if that altered anything. My heart sank at her words. It just proved he didn’t want to be around me. I frowned, but Grace continued to elaborate.
“Trex says things are still tense in the city. There are problems cropping up with some of the citizens and the guards. Trouble is brewing due to rumors of more shapeshifters on the planet.”
An icy chill ran through me. “Have they discovered more shapeshifters?”
Upon our arrival on Alara, Grace had a firsthand encounter with one. Playing the role of a royal medic, he went to the extent of killing Trex’s father, then abducting her.
Luckily, she didn’t get injured, but it frightened me enough to avoid leaving the palace alone.
Grace tilted her head and gave me a tight smile. “No. There have been no reports of them. The city guard knows what to look for and Orin's new posting there will help weed out anyone with bad intentions.”
“Hopefully, Orin will be happier working for the city guard.” I didn’t mean it. In truth, I’d miss seeing him around.
Taking a sip of my hot tea, I enjoyed its sweetness, closing my eyes for a moment. When I opened them, Grace glanced around as if making sure we were alone.
She leaned forward and spoke in a hushed tone. “Orin’s posting is only temporary. It’s top secret.... he is trying to find out if anyone on the guard is involved in a series of attacks on non-Alarans.” She relayed, as if knowing my thoughts.
Thank god he’ll be coming back.... hang on. “What?” I gasped.
She raised her hand. “Males are the ones being hassled. Fortunately, no one has suffered severe injuries. Fear can lead to foolish behavior. That’s all this is.” She sat back in her seat, brushing some of her long red hair off her face.
That didn't sound reassuring at all.How could she be so nonchalant?As a nurse, her perspective on things like this differed from mine.
We both continued to eat in silence for several minutes. My mind wandered to how I ended up in another part of the galaxy where there always seemed to be one crisis after another.
I thought about my students back on Earth who were ages seven and eight. A perfect age where wonder and mystery abounded in their imaginations. Biting the inside of my cheek, I wondered what people thought happened to me when I failed to show up for work?
Not that it mattered. There was nobody who cared about me. No one wholovedme.
“Liv?”
