Page 44 of Forbidden Letters
“Dancing devils.” My dad laughed and shook his head. “And here I thought Motlanders didn’t have a sense of humor.” Looking to the rest of us he admitted, “Devina got me good on that one.”
“Devin,” Wilma corrected him. “It’s better if we stick to Devin so we all get used to it.”
“Fine.” William raised up a hand to signal he understood.
My mom wrinkled her forehead. “I still don’t understand what Motlanders have against drones? Why would you use cars and bikes when you can fly around?”
“Mom, it’s something about them rejecting technology.” Wilma spoke over the rim of her tea. “They’re afraid after what happened during the Toxic War. That’s why they prefer everything as natural as possible.”
Devina gave Wilma a nod. “That’s right. We don’t strive toward technological breakthroughs. What matters to us is a life full of purpose.”
“Purpose… like how?” my mom asked.
“We care about each other and it’s our goal that each generation leave the planet cleaner than we got it. So much of the world is still uninhabitable because of pollution and radiation, but we’re cleaning up oceans and streams one at a time. One of our Council members compared it to spending your life cleaning up after a party you didn’t attend.”
My parents had a ton of questions for Devina but I had a hard time concentrating because the responsibility of her safety lay on my shoulders like two heavy blocks of lead. I’d been a protector for as long as I could remember, but this was different. Devina didn’t know our customs and expectations. She wouldn’t know how to read a situation and had already proven by coming here the first time that she was a curious risk taker.
When we arrived at the large fields that had been transformed into a marketplace with ten arenas for fighting, we flew over the area very slowly.
“I love that we’re allowed to park inside the VIP area,” my mom mumbled low with her nose pressed against the window.
“That’s because it’smytournament.” Wilma sat up taller. “I’m the only one who gets to do it. Well, except for the King of course.”
“About him.” I lowered my voice and spoke directly to my sister. “Keep your distance. Just nod and smile but do not under any circumstance go with him anywhere.”
Wrinkling her nose up, she snorted. “Eww, why would I? He’s so vile.”
I could feel Devina’s eyes on me but explaining how crazy and unpredictable our king was would have to wait.
My dad and I were the first to exit and we helped our mother and Wilma out.
“Devina.” I held on to her arm as she exited last. “Promise that you won’t do anything stupid.”
A triangle formed between her eyebrows. “Like what?”
“Like getting me killed.”
Inhaling deeply, she shook her head. “I promise to follow your lead.”
“Good.” I should let go of her arm, but the connection between us with my touching her and both of us looking deep into each other’s eyes made my body tingle with excitement.
“I…”
She waited for me to finish my sentence.
“I’m sorry, but I like touching you.” To soften my rude words, I laughed a little.
Devina smiled a little. “It’s just because it’s new and otherwise forbidden to you, don’t you think?”
“Are you coming?” My sister was shouting for us and after locking up the drone, we hurried after her as I thought about Devina’s question.
Is my attraction to her only because I can’t touch other women?
No!The answer rose up from within. Even now that Devina was dressed as a moody teenage boy, my body reacted to her. There was something about her personality and the old soul looking back at me every time our eyes met. Devina wasn’t a girl bride. She was a woman with about the same amount of life experience as me. She had known joy and suffered devastating loss. She was complex and flawed, but at the same time fascinating and beautiful. If I was honest with myself, she’d been on my mind morning, noon, and night since before I met her in person.
My dad stopped and hurried us along. “The fight is about to begin.”
Devina and I jogged to keep up with my parents and Wilma but as we were about to enter the VIP area up front, I stopped them. “Wait. Everyone will be looking at Wilma and her entourage. It’s better if Devina and I blend in with the crowd.”
