Page 36 of Revealed

Serge paused, then nodded reluctantly. "Well, yes, but—"

"Then you should be saving time because you don't have to sweet-talk the brides anymore," Mandy pointed out. "Remember how long it took me to come around to accepting Dorn?"

"Are all the tributes happy with their matches?" I asked before I could think better of it.

Serge seemed to notice me for the first time. His eyes raked over me appraisingly. "My, my. Aren't you a big, handsome one?" He turned back to Mandy. “Is he on our list of grooms?”

Mandy chuckled. "This is Maxxon. He was just telling me about returning from Earth. Up until the reveal, he worked as a procurer.”

“Of course, you did. I knew I recognized you.” Serge clapped his hands together. "Well, we’re now swimming in willing brides."

"But are they all accepting their matches?" I pressed, trying to sound curious and not desperate. "Not one has rejected their mate?"

Serge sighed dramatically. "Of course they're accepting them. We haven't had any of the new tributes unhappy with their matches." He eyed me speculatively. "Now, what kind of female do you want? I can easily match a Drexian like you."

His words were like a slap to the face. If all the tributes were accepting their matches; that meant Allie hadn't turned down the Drexian picked for her. She was probably already happily paired with her new mate.

I stood abruptly. “I should go.”

Mandy tried to stop me. “Didn’t you want to talk about what’s next for you?”

“You were right,” I said as I walked woodenly to the door. “I need a change. It’s time I joined an Inferno Force ship.”

“Dorn will be pleased. I think he still misses his crew.”

I left Mandy and Serge, determined to talk to Dorn and get myself onto an Inferno Force ship. Any ship. I didn’t care if it was patrolling Kronock territory and risking life and limb every day. At least I would not be in a place where every happy couple would be a reminder of what I'd lost.

I reached the inclinator and stepped inside, not caring where it took me. As the doors closed and the car began to move, I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes. The sooner I could get away from the Boat, the better. But no matter how far I got, I knew I couldn't outrun the ache in my chest or the bitter taste of regret on my tongue.

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Allie

Iwhirled around at the sound of my name, my heart leaping into my throat. For a delusional moment, I thought—hoped—it might be Maxxon. But instead, Reina hurried toward me, her blue hair bobbing with each step.

"Allie! What are you doing down here?" Reina's large eyes were wide with concern. "This is a staff area. Come on, let's get you back upstairs."

Before I could protest, she had her hand on my elbow, steering me towards an inclinator. As we walked, she continued to fret. "I was so worried when I couldn't find you in your suite. I thought something might have happened to you."

I couldn't help but smile a little. It was clear that worrying was second nature to Reina. "I'm fine. I was just exploring."

Both lies.

We stepped into the inclinator, the doors glided shut, and we began to move. I decided to take a chance.

"Reina," I began, trying to keep my voice casual, "do you know a procurer named Maxxon?"

Reina's nose wrinkled as she thought. "Maxxon? Yes, I believe I do. Tall, dark hair, very serious?" When I nodded, she continued, "But I'm pretty sure all the procurers have been reassigned to new jobs off the station. We don't need them to source brides from Earth anymore, not with the volunteer program."

My heart sank. "So, he's not on the Boat?"

Reina shook her head. "I don't think so. I believe some went to an outpost in another galaxy, but I'm not sure." She narrowed her eyes at me. "How do you know him?"

I tried to keep my face neutral. "Oh, we just met briefly when he was on Earth during the invasion. I was curious, that's all."

Reina nodded, but I could tell she was suspicious. Thankfully, before she could press further, the inclinator doors opened onto the Promenade.

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