But I just smiled. “Is it a good thing?”
“Not sure. Your world is better. People look more respectful. Even breathing is easier. I wouldn’t want tourism to destroy this.”
What the fuck wastourism?
“So it’s good most people don’t know about this system,” she continued. “I’d hate to see it become like Earth.”
She squeezed my hand tighter and pulled me toward a food stall. Good. It was time she stopped thinking about her past. It was time she only focused on the present and the future.
16
I will fuck your worries away.
Filbur
The desperation on my brother’s face told me enough about the day ahead; I was not going to enjoy it.
“I am sorry brother,” he said, a wince pulling at his face. He kept looking at the floor, avoiding my eyes. “The tiny man is being extremely insistent and the old one keeps talking about contracts being breached, I…” He let out a charged sigh. “You need to bring her. They are waiting in the palace.”
This was a nightmare. I would wake up in my net, Tamara’s naked body draped over me.
Thiscould not be happening.
My hands turned to fists and the sharp edge of my thumb dug into the side of my forefinger.Fuck that hurts.
But it did not hurt as much as being forced by the Humans to give up my bride, without being given any explanation.
“Filbur,” my brother continued, placating. “I amnotsaying that we will fulfill their request to get her back.”
“Then why are we forced to go anyway?” I gritted out, casting a glance over my shoulder only to see Tamara slowly walking down the stairs, yawning.
“Because we are not savages. So youwillbring her to the palace. As her partner, you will be allowed to stay with her while they explain the reason they believe they have the right to get her back.”
Was it her…ex-partner? The one who abused her? The one whobrokeher? Would I be able to cut off his stupid head?
“I donot—”
“I would like to settle this case as soon as possible,” he interrupted me. “So take this as anorder. You and Tamara are to report to the palace in one hour, otherwise I will have to come here with them.”
I gritted my teeth. “Fine.”
Over my dead body I would let them set foot in my home. InTamara’shome.
“What is going on?” Tammy’s soft, still half asleep voice asked behind me.
I turned just enough to slide my arm around her frame, pulling her close to me.
My brother smiled. “Nothing of importance,” he said. “We are expecting you in one hour, and we will settle this issue. Do not worry about a thing.”
Well,Iwas worried out of my damn mind. But the look my brother gave her was filled with kindness. It did not matter what was going to happen, he was going to fight for us. For Tamara to stay here, with me. Withus.
She was Canco now. Her skin color and texture did not matter. The fact that she had hair either. Tammy was one of us. She was family.
I held her tighter as my brother left, walking back to his palace with tense shoulders.
“Fil’?” she asked, trying to wiggle her body away to catch my gaze.
No way was I letting her step away, so I turned my face to look at her.
