Page 9 of Summer

Even if she doesn’t understand our ranking in society, she must understand the wealth our family has. If she’s gone and Father brokers a deal with a suitable match, they’ll try to run Aaoric’s life. Demand parties and balls and…

Could I sit by and watch my brother suffer? Worse – would I have to befriend her? Would our parents turn their sights to me next? Marry off their daughter and son in the same year, secure their power?

I shudder at the thought. They would never. I’ve always been the perfect daughter, never causing a fuss, never speaking my mind. I’ve earned a spot in this household unlike my brother, who gained it by birthright.

“Six,” Father concedes, standing. He flags the attendant down. “Give me that device, the translator one,” he orders. The attendant returns a few moments later, holding a small device in his hand. It’s the latest discreet translator device, made specifically for the fragile skin of species like humans.

“Is that the best idea?” I ask. If she can understand us, she’ll know that Aaoric doesn’t plan to marry her. What if Father turns her into a spy for him?

“It’s limited – it only translates Hothiny. No reason for her to understand everything,” Father scoffs. He takes the device from the attendant and approaches the human woman. She doesn’t seem to notice him until his hand is on her head, jerking it sideways until her neck is exposed.

For a brief moment I think I see a flash of something across her face, something like defiance. But it must have just been fear, because she does nothing to stop Father as he shoves the translator against the skin of her neck. Father lets her go and steps back. The woman raises a hand to her neck, her fingers gently touching the device.

“It’s a translator,” Father explains in Hothiny. “So you might converse with your husband.” He talks slowly, enunciating each word pointedly. He points to Aaoric, who continues to ignore her.

“Thank you, sir,” she says. Her voice is a surprise – it’s harder than I expected, deeper, a pleasant rasp that is so different from the high pitch affect most of my friends take on. “May I know the name of my betrothed?” she asks.

“Very good, very good,” Father mumbles, as though he’s praising an animal. “Marquis Aaoric Vestinhoth, that is your future husband. You’ll be Lady…” He trails off, clearing his throat. “What is your name, again?”

He paid for her, dragged her onto the ship, and he doesn’t even recall her name? The woman takes no offense, giving him a shy smile. “Summer, your grace.”

“Ah, yes, of course. You’ll be Marquess Summer Vestinhoth, in six months’ time. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To be the lady of a manor?”

It’s as though he’s speaking to a child. Summer’s eyes widen, her gaze darting from Aaoric to Father.

“Six months,” she echoes.

Father nods. “Yes, six months. Very soon, marry him,” he points to Aaoric. Aaoric’s shoulders are bunched nearly up to his ears, his fingers gripping the seat so hard the veins on the back of his hand are visible.

“An honor, your grace,” Summer tells Father.

Father titters happily and returns to his seat, a smug smile on his face. “Look at that, Aaoric. A willing bride at last!” He switches out of Hothiny to Tatinnish. “Try to run this one away. She’s nowhere to go, no friends or family to fall back on. If you so much as harm one hair on her head, I’ll know…”

Aaoric starts at this accusation. “Harm her? I’m not cruel like you two,” he shoots back.

“Don’t lecture me about cruelty. There’s a reason no respectable female in this system wants to marry you. I’ve heard the rumors, I know what they say about you. You’ve done this to yourself. If you’d just accepted even one of the females presented to you we wouldn’t have to buy you a bride. A human at that!” Father scoffs and shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I suggest you try to get her to like you. I expect an heir in the next year,” Father adds.

Aaoric doesn’t turn from the window the rest of the trip.

Summer continues to stare into space, her fingers occasionally brushing the device at her neck.

I return to my cross stitch, helpless to save my brother from his fate.

5

SUMMER

I’m fucked.

I was bought by a duke and duchess for their eldest son. Not just some rich merchant, not some inconsequential rich alien. If I go missing, they’ll have the money and resources to track me down. Did Protegre include my past in my file? Did they give any history to the buyers?

My fingers trace the translator device behind my ear. Does it include tracking? Tonight, I’ll alter it. I already know it doesn’t translate every language; I recognized a few words of Tatinnish when the translator stopped working. It didn’t take a translator device to understand the situation I was in.

The duke and duchess bought me for their son who wants nothing to do with me. Well, either me or marriage. Or both.

The sister watches me the entire flight to their planet. She may be cross stitching, but I see the way her ears prick and her head swivels every time I shift in my seat. She’s the one I need to avoid the most. The father speaks to me like I’m an idiot – good. They will underestimate me.