Page 72 of Home

“Of course, you did. You are aware those quarters are assigned to someone other than you, and there’s a little thing called privacy. I’m pretty sure that applies to one’s quarters as well.”

Mirilla sighed. “I am aware. I just wanted to speak with you and didn’t think it would be a good idea to be admitted by the guards at the front door. Au'revele is with the Sirena in medical anyway and won’t know I ever used her entrance to get here.”

“So, it’s okay if somebody just traipses through your quarters at will if you’re not there?”

“Bart, please. We both know I’m taking liberties I wouldn’t normally. That’s how badly I needed to see you. It’s already caused me issues yet here I stand.”

“What kind of issues?”

“It’s of my own doing, I’m sure. It’ll pass, but I can’t help but think had I not been using it in a way that I shouldn’t have been, it wouldn’t have been lost.”

“What’s lost?” he asked.

“My passkey.”

“Mirilla, the multiverse isn’t punishing you for using your key for personal reasons.”

“It might be!”

“Mirilla…”

“I know. I’m just feeling like it serves me right.”

“It probably fell beneath your dresser or behind it.”

“I’m sure it was on my dresser. I took it off then went into the cleansing chamber. But it wasn’t there when I came out. I’ve been using my spare.”

“It’ll turn up.”

“I’m sure. But I have to report it to the Sovereigna. She won’t be happy. It’s a breach of security. But despite that, I’m here taking a chance to speak to you anyway.”

“Because you want me to know that you’re nervous to tell the Sovereigna you lost your passkey?”

“No. I needed to speak to you and you wouldn’t even look at me long enough for me to say two words. I haven’t been able to locate you at all since the last time I saw you in medical.”

He picked up a piece of cheese and popped it in his mouth before he looked up at her again. “Ever think there might be a reason for that?”

“You’re avoiding me! I knew it.”

“Seems like the right thing to do.”

“How could it be the right thing to do?” Mirilla demanded.

“I told you what I wanted. It doesn’t work for you. You’re ashamed to be associated with me, so I’m doing you a favor by not associating with you.”

“I’m not ashamed of you!”

“As long as no one else knows about us, right?”

“I’m simply trying to protect my own reputation. There will come a time, very soon at that, that you’ll return to your matters of state, and I’ll be left behind. I don’t want to have to deal with the whispers that will follow if I’ve not at least made an attempt to keep my private matters private.”

“Is that what you think? That I’ll go and leave you behind?”

“Isn’t that what you did last time?”

“No! Well, yes, but not literally. I did not leave you here and pretend nothing at all happened. I always planned to come back.”

“You never gave any indication that you’d return for me.”

---