Page 85 of Between Earth and Eternity
“Turns out it was nothing, and then you know the rest.” Her face falls, and I can’t help but laugh. “That’s it. I swear.”
She narrows her gaze on me. “I know you’re still holding back, but at least I got some of the story out of you.”
I shrug, acting none the wiser.
The nurse who comes by the suite a couple of hours later clears us to enter civilization again, so we decide to celebrate our eviction from quarantine in style by going somewhere fancier for dinner, but that means we need to go clothes shopping.
There are an abundance of stores to choose from, but we land on one located on Ring Four that seems reasonably priced based on the description Ori reads off from her StarComm. The shop is as described when we enter: elegant and fashionable with a blend of classic trends.
I’m immediately drawn to a pair of leather pants with a black lace top, though the lace is a stretch for me. Ori picks out the brightest pink dress I have ever seen, but if anyone could wear it, she’s the perfect model. The dress looks like it was made for her as she spins around in the dressing room, her alabaster skin and jet-black hair complementing it perfectly.
“I think you should wear that to the gala,” I say, watching her grin from ear to ear.
“I think you’re right.” She still has a few other options to try on. “Are you sure you don’t want to try anything else? I do love what you picked out for tonight, but what about for the gala?”
“I’ll come back before then. We still have a couple of months.” Though I saw a perfect floor-length black dress with long sleeves, a high neck, and a long slit on one side.
After a few more outfit changes, Ori chooses a sparkly tank top paired with a black miniskirt. While we’re paying for the clothes, a group of teenagers walk into the store. One of them, a Lottery winner named Erica, sees us and heads our way.
“Hey! Did you guys hear about Runa?” she asks, like it’s the most scandalous gossip. Teenagers never spare the dramatics.
“No, what happened with Runa?” I press, not sure where this is going. She probably scolded the teens again for being . . . well, teenagers.
“Apparently, she got reassigned. We’re getting a new steward for our ring.”
Worry and dread drench me in an instant. I lower my head so the brim of my hat covers most of my face.
“At first I was excited, but now I think I’m going to miss her,” Erica adds, clearly not aware of my panic building inside.
“She always was a bit tougher on you teens, wasn’t she?” Ori says playfully.
“So mean! But she reminded me of my mom in a way. I didn’t realize that until now,” Erica says, staring off for a moment. “Anyway, what are you guys shopping for?” She moves on like it is nothing.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, already strutting away.
“Skyler?” Ori asks. I turn to see her eyebrows pulled together in worry while Erica looks genuinely confused.
“I’ll see you back at the suite.”
I’m proud of myself for remembering the way, having only been here once. Runa and I aren’t friends, barely even acquaintances, but even though I can’t say for certain why, she has helped me out of precarious situations more than once. Ever since that day she collected me from my home, I sensed that she cared in her own way. I won’t and can’t dismiss this as a coincidence, for her sake. I approach the large mahogany doors and push the open button, but nothing happens, so I try the call button. The door cracks open to reveal Bex on the other side.
“Skyl—Miss Andrews. To what do we owe this pleasure?” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I need to talk to him.” I don’t ask if he’s available. If Bex is here, then he is around somewhere.
“Mr. Mannox is busy at the moment,” he says, looking far too serious.
“I don’t care.”
“I’ll tell him you stopped b—”
“No.” I push past him, and he does little to stop me other than asking me to wait.
When I enter the large office, Vallen sits behind the desk, resting his elbows on top, looking eerily similar to his father, while he listens to whatever the man in front of him is explaining—something unimportant. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
“Where’s Runa?” I ask, interrupting before either has a chance to speak.
“Miss Andrews,” the bastard says cooly, acting like I am a complete stranger, entirely indifferent to the fact that he saved my life. Apparently life saving doesn’t put you on a first name basis. “As you can see, I am in the middle of something,” he says calmly. If he’s surprised or angry, he doesn’t show it. I don’t even bother acknowledging the man sitting across from him, who stares at me, wide-eyed.
