Page 52 of Alien Burn

But she wasn't.

He had been speaking to her.

To Sereya.

Not anyone else.

“He asked me to be his mate,” Sereya finally said. “I accepted. We're in Courtship.”

Roemary's fingers stopped at the clasp.

For a moment Sereya saw her without the patient expression. Her mouth had gone flat, her eyes fixed on Sereya's face. Then she smiled.

“And he left you here with me?”

“He has work. He asked for my contact.”

“Yes. In front of me. Where he could be certain I wouldn't find it threatening.”

She set the clasp on the table with a sharp little click.

“They brought us here for an experiment, Sereya. To see what their bodies do. Don't confuse a result with knowing what he'll want once the excitement passes.”

Sereya held her gaze.

She had heard him say her name.

He had known exactly whom he was asking.

Her stomach turned, feeling the cinch that Roemary was putting on it. The doubt that she fed her.

“Did you tell him anything about me?” Roemary asked as she adjusted her dress.

“No.”

Roemary studied her. Sereya folded the loose edge of her bandage into place.

“I only ask because you can be impulsive when someone is kind to you,” Roemary said at last.

Sereya's hands stopped.

“A little interest. A sympathetic question. You forget yourself.”

Roemary came closer.

“I'd hate for you to do that again.”

Sereya raised her eyes.

“He asked about the tea.”

“Today.”

Roemary picked a thread from Sereya's shoulder. An affectionate little gesture, if anyone had been there to see it.

“Tomorrow it might be your family. Where you come from. Why you never mention anyone waiting to hear you've arrived safely.”

Sereya could feel her heartbeat in her bandaged hand.