Page 14 of Zylonn's Human Bride
“Zylonn is building me one. He started working on it last night.”
“Oh my goodness!” Meris flashed a bright smile. “That’s amazing. How is that possible?”
“He’s a skilled engineer. He bought some old parts from the laboratory he works in, refurbished them, and says he’ll have it built in a matter of days. I can hardly believe it myself, but soon I’ll be able to speak with my family and friends.”
“That’s wonderful. Oh, Nova, I’m so happy for you.”
“You can use it, too. If you’d like, that is.” Nova recalled that Meris had never spoken about her family. Whenever Nova had asked her questions about them, the petite redhead had always either given vague responses or scrambled to change the subject.
“I appreciate the offer. I might eventually decide to contact them, but not yet.” Meris drew in a deep breath and looked uneasy. “My younger brother was always the favorite child. He was the child who wasn’t leaving them one day, so I guess that’s why my parents always focused on him and ignored me. I was never close to them. Sometimes when I tried to be, I would be rebuffed and reminded that soon I wouldn’t be a part of the family anymore. Anyway, thank you again for the offer, but I don’t think they want to hear from me.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Nova said and once again she appreciated her lot in life. She’d had the most supportive and loving parents she could have ever imagined. She’d been close with both of them and Julie as well. “What about old friends? You are welcome to use the video comm to reconnect with any friends you wish.”
Thankfully, Meris grinned at this suggestion. “I have a couple of good friends I would love to contact. Thank you, Nova. I’m so glad we were roommates during the voyage here. Your company made the trip all the more bearable. I was so nervous about coming to Tarkkua.”
“You’re very welcome and I’m so glad we were roomies, too.” Nova glanced out the window at the mountains in the distance. “I can’t believe I’m actually saying this out loud, but this place is starting to feel like home.”
“It feels like home to me already,” Meris said, her voice strained. “I know this might sound crazy, especially since we’ve only been on Tarkkua for a few days, but I think I’m falling in love with Allonis. He’s so kind to me and after the way my parents treated me, I feel like I’m finally where I’m meant to be.”
Nova squeezed Meris’ hand and stared into her friend’s tear-filled gaze. “It doesn’t sound crazy at all.”
Though she wasn’t ready to admit it aloud, Nova was starting to wonder if perhaps she was starting to fall in love with Zylonn, despite her initial resolve not to do so. Her initial fear of him had long faded. Though he could be stern with her, he was also understanding and showed her affection on a daily basis. She always looked forward to his arrival home from work, anticipating what would happen between them in the bedroom and simply looking forward to their long conversations.
She also awoke each morning in his arms, feeling cherished and protected.
Yes, it was probably safe to say that Nova was developing tender feelings for her new husband. Though at one point in time she’d promised herself that she would never feel affection for the stranger she was forced to marry, she couldn’t deny the warmth that was brimming in her heart for Zylonn. She also couldn’t help but wonder if he starting to fall for her too.
Chapter 12
Nova sat in a large, plush chair in the living room, browsing the vast selection of books on the e-reader she’d brought with her from Earth. The e-reader contained over a hundred thousand titles—more than enough reading material to sustain her for the rest of her life. It was the most precious item she’d brought with her, as she much preferred reading books in her native language and she wasn’t sure if books written in Earth tongues were sold in the Tarkkuan marketplaces.
Finally, she found a historical romance novel that caught her eye and opened to the first page. In mere moments, she became lost in another world, swept up in the strange complexities of navigating the ton in Regency England. She found herself empathizing with the heroine whose social ladder climbing parents forced her into a courtship with a suitor—a known rake, no less—whom she didn’t particularly care for. The man might be a duke, but the heroine didn’t care for lofty titles and fancy things and she dreamed of marrying for love.
As far back as she could remember, Nova had known she would never marry for love. But, as she once again examined her growing feelings for Zylonn, she considered herself lucky. She liked him, that was for certain. She enjoyed his company and there was no denying the building passion they shared in the bedroom.
But was it truly the beginnings of love she was experiencing?
She wished she knew what it felt like to fall in love with a man. She’d never dated and had never been in love before, but what she felt for Zylonn was similar to the unwanted attraction the heroine in her historical romance novel was starting to harbor for the duke. She sighed and sat the book aside, feeling silly for drawing a comparison between her own situation and that of fictional characters, as the heroine in the book would no doubt get her happy ending.
But what about Nova?
Would she get her happy ending?
Nova heard a noise and looked up to see her husband standing in the doorway, a sensuous smile on his blue-green lips. She marveled that his lips and the palms of his hands were a slightly different shade than the rest of his body, a beautiful blue-green shade that always drew her gaze. Her heart fluttered at his sudden presence and she couldn’t help but feel the first stirrings of arousal. It was just after dinner, but perhaps he intended to call her to bed early.
“It’s ready, little human.”
Too distracted by her thoughts of being bedded by Zylonn, she peered at him in confusion, not quite grasping what he was talking about. “What’s ready?”
“The video comm, and it’s working perfectly. I tested it out by contacting an old Tarkkuan teacher who lives on Earth that I knew as a child. Come, my bride, and you may contact your family. Based on what you’ve told me about them, I am certain they will be overjoyed to hear from you.”
She jumped to her feet and rushed to grasp his large hand. “Oh, thank you, Master.” Tears burned in her eyes and she blinked rapidly to keep from crying, but she knew she would probably burst into tears of happiness the moment she saw her parents and sister.
Zylonn gathered her close and kissed her forehead, then he handed her a clean white cloth. She accepted it and gave him a confused look.
“I figured you would need that while you’re talking to your parents.” He gave her a wry grin, kissed her again, and led her into the library where he’d been working on constructing the interstellar communicator.
“You think of everything, Master,” she replied as they entered the room.
