Page 62 of Soros
“If we can’t do it from theGreat Defender, we’ll have to go to Fedaros together and, Tania…” Soros paused before he pushed the last words out. “If we are to stick together from now on, would you consider living on Eidrona with me? I know Earth is your home, but it’s a complicated place with limited access.”
Too tired to make profound decisions like that I didn’t answer him. Placing my hand on top of his, I squeezed a little and closed my eyes. When he pressed his lips against mine and kissed me softly, I smiled and whispered, “I love it when you talk about a shared future. We’ll figure it out together.”
Soros nuzzled my nose with his. Squinting one eye open, I saw Soros smiling at me with love in his eyes.
“I can’t believe we’re talking about living together. It’s so crazy,” he said.
“Not for humans. They do it all the time.” My voice was drowsy, and I was running on my last bit of energy.
“But we Eidrons don’t. And I never thought it would be an option for us,” Soros said.
“Speak for yourself. I’ve wanted you almost from the moment we met.” My eyes closed again but my hand held onto his.
“Careful what you wish for. I’m difficult. You know that. Living with me won’t be easy.”
“Hmm…” A sound was all the answer I could give him. I remembered our time living together as magical and didn’t have any fear of getting tired of Soros.
“Let’s talk about the practicalities later, Nanish. I’ll let you sleep a little. We’ll be on the move again soon.”
Soros was right. After less than an hour of sleeping, it was time to go.
Star and I sat next to each other on the alien spacecraft that flew much faster than normal planes. Unlike me, Star wasn’t tired. Her strong need to understand what had happened made her ask me questions non-stop.
“I thought humans were good people. You said they were. Those men weren’t just bad because they had been mind-clouded by Ko’roz, were they? I mean, they were bad before he got there.”
“Most humans are good, Star. I’m sure there are bad seeds on all planets and I’m so sorry that your first experience with Earth got tainted by those vile men. They were criminals and will be punished. We have a criminal justice system that will take care of them. I promise you that they won’t ever be allowed to hurt other women again.”
Star didn’t look comforted. “What about the other women who were there?”
“They are free now and will go home to their families,” I assured her.
Like a machine gun with endless ammunition, Star fired her next question at me. “What would have happened if we hadn’t been rescued?”
“It’s better if you don’t think about that,” I encouraged her, but of course, my answer didn’t stop Star from continuing with her questions.
“Would we have been imprisoned like Jade and Sival and would other people have watched us live our lives?”
“Not quite.” I didn’t want to tell her the details about trafficking because, being in shock myself, I wasn’t ready to put into words how dangerous the situation had been. “Let’s just say that it’s a good thing that we got out.”
Star sat turned in her seat facing me. “Will the men get a death penalty like my family?”
Ko’roz was sitting in front of us, squeezed in between Lios and Nerix. Craning his neck, he tried to get a glimpse at us, but Nerix was quick to order him to sit still.
Ignoring Nerix, Ko’roz asked Lios, “Who is her family?”
“That’s none of your business,” Nerix said, but Ko’roz still guessed it.
“Is that the hidden twin from the Zorlack clan?”
No one answered his question, but Star exposed herself when she said, “I was never hidden. My sister protected me.”
Ko’roz’s laughter sounded hollow. “I can’t believe I sold her so cheap. If I had known that I had a member of the Zorlack clan in my hands I could have made her transfer all her wealth to me and sold her for a fortune. I might even have played with her myself.”
“Keep quiet,” Nerix ordered Ko’roz but he kept talking.
“Her father was a friend of mine. I was there when he bought her mother.”
“You were?” Star moved in her seat. “You knew my mother?”
