Page 13 of The Monster's Mate

That no one knows was enjoyable.

Isabel turns to me. “I can assure you, he will be an utter gentleman. We’ll heap the extra pillows from my bed into the middle. Make a wall. He’ll keep his place.”

“I am a perfect gentle-male,” Skiden assures me.

“He is,” Maman says. “For despite that teasing tongue, the Goddess blessed him with a most flexible—”

River cuts her off with a hand over her mouth.

Methinks they’re all crazy. But yet, all four of them are blinking at me innocently.

I give a huge sigh, because like it or not, I’m at Isabel’s mercy. “It’s technically not my bed, or my home, so I guess I don’t have much choice…”

“Luce, of course it’s your home. I’m staying on Pimeon full time. I’d sign it over to you, but well…”

“We can’t,” I say softly, and we smile at each other. No one in the commune knew she was shunned just like no one knows I’m pretending to be her. It’s the perfect situation, really. I have a job without anyone who looks for me knowing where I am.

“What’s going on?” River asks, looking from me to Isabel.

“I’m fallen,” Isabel says simply. “Everyone knew what happened to me the summer I turned fourteen. I was wedded despite that, but my father refused to overturn the conviction when Trevor died. So, I have to remain veiled and wear dark clothing with a scarlet letter when I leave the commune grounds. Which works out great when I wanted to escape to Pimeon because Lucy can wear the veil and pretend to be me—”

“So, you didn’t lose your job,” River finishes.

“Exactly. I wasn’t sure if Bronan would let me stay or not. I needed a backup plan.”

“Well, you can give Lucy the house now, can you not?” Maman asks. “Now that you know you will not come back here?”

“No,” she and I say together. I can’t have my name on any paperwork.

“I-I don’t have a job and even with the house, I would need to work for the bills, so it works out well to just keep cleaning the church and answering as Isabel,” I say.

“The only way for us to get caught is if my father walks through the church while she’s working, and I doubt that’ll ever happen.” Isabel rolls her eyes. “Besides, there’s no laws againstpretendingto be shunned.”

There’s an awkward silence.

“Well, that’s that, then,” Skiden says, clapping his hands together, which have conveniently come loose from the apron strings. He gazes adoringly at me. “Which side of the bed do you want?”

My jaw drops.

The other three ladies begin whispering and moving toward the door, ready for their own safe rooms.

“Breathe. It’ll be okay. We’re just sleeping in the same bed. That’s all.” His smile is soft, gentle, not at all cocky and teasing like he’d been with all the other women in the kitchen—who have now left to get Isabel’s extra pillows. They’re in my bedroom, making a wall in the middle of the bed, before each one yells a goodnight and heads off for their own peaceful slumber.

Isabel’s still in her bedroom with River and Maman when the alien and I make our way from the kitchen to my bedroom.

“Well, um… this is my room. Oh, I guess we haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Lucy. I’m prickly and suspicious and I toss and turn at night.” Awkwardly, I hold out my hand. “I check the windows for strangers who lurk around in the dark and have even found one.”

He doesn’t hesitate. He reaches out and clasps mine in his and all at once I notice how warm he is. How his hand engulfs mine because it’s much larger. How appalling I thought he looked at first but now that we’ve kissed? He’s not quite as strange as I thought.

“Pleasure to meet you, Lucy. I’m Skiden. I joke when I’m uncomfortable, but I’m seriously working on that. So, I’ll be honest and tell you I really enjoyed kissing you and won’t make you uncomfortable again.”

Wait… he enjoyed it? My cheeks flame.

Chapter Four

Skiden:

“Oh, sorry. That probably made you uncomfortable.” I wince, knowing I’m as awkward as a youth around this female.

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