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The Citadel
“Are you going to dream about Neloff again tonight?”
Kendra’s hushed voice drew Eden back into wakefulness and she growled at her roommate. “I was just about to find out.”
Kendra laughed then whispered, “Sorry. I’m too wound up to sleep tonight. Tell me about the dreams again. They’re the only thing that’s keeping me going.”
“Me too.” Eden rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. It had been five long weeks since she’d seen Neloff, at least in reality. Five weeks of intensive training and physical conditioning. Her dream dates were the only flicker of light in this dreary world.
Unlike the dormitories on Earth, there were only two people in these rooms. She’d also been allowed to choose her roommate. Still, there were two narrow beds, a shared storage compartment, and tiny round table with hard-backed chairs. The bathroom connected two of the bedrooms so it could be accessed by four trainees. There was nothing comfortable, nothing individual, nothing that reflected the occupants’ personalities. In other words it was more or less what she’d dealt with on the island. She had foolishly thought being ‘rescued’ would mean a better life for her and her friends, but nothing much had changed. Others still controlled every aspect of her life, and she was isolated and lonely.
Raina had everyone calmed down and curious about the future by the time they reached the Citadel, but the three days aboard her mates’ ship had been challenging. After transferring over to the larger ship, each female listened to the background information and watched the supporting videos. Then Eden walked them down to the clinic where the outpost’s physician scanned them to ensure that they were healthy and free from injuries. They were inoculated against communicable diseases. Lastly, they were injected with nano translators that would allow them to understand and eventually speak the twelve most common languages found in their star system.
Eden had been helping with the orientations so she was one of the last to go through the process at the clinic. As soon as the doctor finished his scans, he asked the medic to step out of the room. “I need to ask a personal question, but I want you to understand that you are not in trouble for what I’m about to say.”
His obvious anxiety was making her uncomfortable. “That’s fine. Go ahead.”
“None of the other females were sexually active. Several told me that the only males they interacted with were the founders. Were you willing when you lost your virginity or was a crime committed? If someone hurt you, we will?—”
“I was willing. And he sure as hell wasn’t one of the founders. No action is necessary.” She reinforced her words with a warm smile.
“Good. I’m relieved. I have no tolerance for that sort of abuse.” He returned her smile before he continued, “As you are likely aware, ever since puberty your mystic energy as well as your bonding instincts have been suppressed with a combination of chemicals. These chemicals are harmful, so everyone needs to wean off of them. However, once the suppressant is discontinued your abilities will activate and your instincts will return with a vengeance. Do you understand what that means?”
“We basically go into heat?”
“Correct, but that is only one element of the physiological rebound. Energy that has been contained for many years becomes dangerous when it’s released. We cannot possibly manage forty-six explosions all at the same time. Reluctantly, I gave most of your friends a booster to reinforce their suppressants. Your levels are not yet dangerous, but your circumstances are unique. If you are now, or will soon be courting, you might not want the booster. The choice is entirely up to you.”
“How long will it suppress my abilities if I take the shot?”
“Three to six months.”
She shook her head. It would only take a few days to reach the Citadel and soon after that Neloff and whomever he had gone to recruit would come get her. “I think I better pass.”
Over the next five weeks, her certainty gradually faded into worry and finally anger as she waited for her lover to return. Neloff had seemed so sincere, his attraction so genuine. If it wasn’t for the dreams Eden would have given up hope entirely, but even that thread of proof was starting to fray.
“You said the dreams are like dates,” Kendra reminded. “You share a meal or walk along the beach.”
“We’ve done both of those.” But those weren’t the activities Eden was anxious to repeat. The dreams weren’t always sexual, but they had been more so lately. “The problem is, I don’t know how much is Neloff and how much my imagination. We were on his ship for one day and we were alone for all of ten minutes.” That was nonsense, but she wasn’t about to admit that she’d spent an entire night in Neloff’s bed. The truth was private, a precious secret she hid away like a treasure. “I’m afraid if I meet him again, he’ll be very different from the male in my dreams.” That was definitely true. She knew Neloff was capable of dream sharing. She just wasn’t sure if that was happening or if she was just lonely and missing the only lover she’d ever known.
“I don’t care if he’s just a figment of your imagination. I still want to hear about him. Where did you go last night? What was the dream date like?”
Kendra sounded so wistful, so hopeful, that Eden couldn’t refuse her. “We had dinner in a cabin on his ship. The view was breathtaking, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.”
“I understand why. Neloff is even better looking than Tandor and that’s saying a lot.”
Jobek and Tandor had found Ansley like Neloff said they would. Then they’d seduced and claimed her. Ansley insisted that she’d been an eager participant every step of the way and that they made her blissfully happy. Eden was thrilled that her best friend was in love, but Eden missed her too. They hardly ever saw each other now. Ansley was always off on some important mission with her exciting mates.
And Eden was left with nothing but dreams.
“Are you asleep?” Kendra whispered.
“Yes. I’ll talk to you in the morning,” Eden replied.
“Say hi to Neloff for me,” she said softly. “Does he have any other brothers?”
Eden smiled in the darkness. She didn’t blame Kendra for her talkativeness. Their days were regimented and redundant. Endless hours of meditation and the same training exercises over and over. Nearly all of the actual training required their power to be activated and that could only happen once they decided on a set of potential mates and agreed to a formal courtship. And according to Raina and Ansley, courtship was intense, aggressive, and overtly sexual.
Their description was the primary reason Eden was concerned that she wasn’t actually interacting with Neloff. He was too patient, too willing to simply talk or hold her hand during their dream dates. Even when they did make love it was slow and romantic. She’d only had physical sex with him twice, well, three times if she counted pleasuring him with her mouth, but all three had been very different from what took place each night. It had been five weeks. Their mind link had probably dissolved by now. And it was looking more and more like Neloff’s promises had been empty pillow talk meant to soothe a naive fool.
