Dark Princess: Shadows (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance #89)

45. Morelle

45

MORELLE

M orelle finished the last spoonful of the sweet concoction Gertrude had said was fermented milk and fruit, savoring the unfamiliar taste. Everything on Earth was new and different, from the food to the clothing to the way people interacted, and so far, she liked it much better on Earth than on Anumati.

In fact, there was no comparison.

She felt liberated.

Then again, all she had seen so far was the inside of a clinic, and what she knew about the world outside these walls was what Brandon had told her.

She couldn't wait to see it.

She was scraping the bottom of the glass to get the last of the fruit and fermented milk when a knock sounded at the door.

"Who is it?"

"Brandon." He opened the door just a crack. "May I come in?"

"Yes. Of course." She pushed the rolling table away and straightened the blanket around her.

"Good morning, Princess." He walked in, arms laden with bags and packages and a big smile lighting up his face.

When he approached her bed, he leaned down as if to kiss her cheek but hesitated, hovering close but not touching his lips to her face.

Morelle held perfectly still, not wanting to discourage him. She did not know Earth customs, but Annani had kissed her cheek, so maybe it was a common way of greeting.

She wouldn't mind Brandon kissing her cheek or even her lips.

Oh, who was she trying to deceive? She wanted him to kiss her right on the lips and know what it felt like. She had never been kissed by a male like that before, and as her mother had said in her dream, it was long overdue.

When he pulled back without completing the gesture, disappointment fluttered in her chest. Was there something wrong with her? Or maybe Earth customs prohibited him from kissing someone who wasn't his relative?

At times, it seemed as if Brandon was trying to impress her or to make her like him, and she wondered if that was considered courtship.

According to the head priestess on Anumati, Kra-ell males competed for females by trying to impress them with their fighting talents through dueling. Other forms of showmanship were elaborate war dances and songs.

Brandon told stories, dedicated his time to her, and was now providing her with clothing. Was that constant attention and care his way of courting her?

The thought sent a warm flutter through her stomach.

But why would he want to court her? He knew nothing about her, and given how she looked, it couldn't be a physical attraction.

Perhaps he was doing all this on Annani's behalf?

The thought cooled her rising hopes.

"Good morning." She forced a smile. "What have you brought?"

"I come bearing gifts." He pulled a box from his pocket and opened it. Inside were two earpieces like the ones he wore. "These are for you, so you can understand what people who don't have a teardrop are saying."

When she reached for them, he shook his head. "Let me do this for you. They mold to the shape of your ear, so it's important to insert them properly the first time."

Morelle nodded. "What about when I want to speak to others? Does everyone have earpieces?"

"No." He looked down at his teardrop. "This should work in reverse as well. I will check with William, whose lab makes these things. If it does, I'll give you mine." He pulled one of the earpieces out of the box. "May I?"

"Yes, of course."

His fingers were very gentle as he inserted the device in her left ear, and as his hand brushed over her cheek, Morelle felt tingles on her skin.

"How does it feel?" he asked.

"It's comfortable, but I can't hear anything on that side."

"That's because I didn't activate it yet." He pressed on his teardrop and then tapped her earpiece. "Can you hear me now?"

She laughed. "I hear you talking in Kra-ell in this ear and your language in the other. It's so strange."

He lifted the other earpiece, and when she turned her head to allow him easier access, he put it in her ear, waited a moment, and then tapped it as he had done with the first one.

"How is it now?"

"Perfect. I hear Kra-ell in both ears." She touched the devices gently. "Do I ever take them off?"

"They need recharging every other day or so, but they don't need long. You can charge them while you are in the shower, and by the time you are done, they will be ready."

She looked confused. "How do they charge?"

"Simply put them back in the box, and then put the box on a charging circle." He pointed to one on the bedside table. "You can also carry the box in your purse or pocket and only put them in when you need to talk to someone who doesn't speak Kra-ell and doesn't have a teardrop device."

Morelle looked down at the gown that Gertrude had provided. "I don't have a purse or a pocket."

"Yes, you do." He took a step back and pointed at the bags and boxes he'd carried into the room. "I got you nice things to wear. I'll leave them beside the bed and ask Gertrude to help you get dressed, and some of them have pockets. The purse, though, is still in the cart. I just brought a small sampling for you to choose what to wear today."

When she just gaped at him, not sure what she was supposed to say, he chuckled. "It's a beautiful day outside, and I can't wait to take you out of here so you can enjoy it."

The prospect of going outside without veils or suffocating robes sent a thrill of excitement through her. She couldn't wait either.

"Thank you so much for the clothes and for everything you are doing for me. I don't know how I will ever be able to repay you."

Brandon reached for her hand, bringing it to his lips for one of those gentle kisses that made her heart skip. "Being with you is my reward. I don't need any repayment other than that."

"Why? You don't know me. What if I am a terrible person?"

His brow furrowed. "You are not terrible. Why would you say that? Is it because of all the stupid people on your planet calling you and your brother abominations?"

Morelle hadn't even thought of that. She was doing her best not to think about that vile world. "I didn't say that I was terrible. I said that I might be, and you would not know."

"I have good instincts, Morelle, and no warning bells went off when you were still asleep or when you woke up. I enjoy being with you."

"Why?"

He chuckled. "Get dressed, and I will tell you during our tour of the village. Deal?"

Morelle narrowed her eyes at him. "You don't know why. For some reason, you are drawn to me, and you don't know what that reason is, so you are going to use the time I need to get dressed to think it through."

"You are wise, Princess Morelle." His eyes danced with amusement, but he didn't deny it. "I will leave you to get dressed before we get into further discussion and prolong our departure even further." He strode to the door with fluid grace, closing it softly behind him.

She sighed. He was such a confusing male. But hadn't the head priestess said that males were impossible to understand?

Morelle had thought that the female was being bitter and spiteful, and she had been—the priestess had not liked anyone—but perhaps her words were true.

Moments later, Gertrude walked in. "Brandon told me that he got you some clothes." She glanced at the packages with curiosity. "Let's see what we've got here."

Morelle watched as the medic pulled the first item out of one of the bags and held it up for her to see.

"This is a very nice dress, but it looks too fancy for everyday wear." Gertrude draped it on the bed over Morelle's legs. "Now, let's see what's in here." She pulled out two items from another bag: a pair of soft gray pants that looked comfortable and a white blouse from a fabric similar to the pants but a little more delicate.

"I like these," Morelle said.

"Yeah, I like them too." Gertrude held up the two garments. "It's a little much for a ride through the village, but if you like it, go for it." She draped them over the bed and then leaned down to open the two boxes that Brandon had left on the floor, producing a pair of gray shoes that matched the pants. "Those will do just fine. They're flat and will look great with the slacks." She put them next to the bed. "Where do you want to get dressed, here or the bathroom?"

"The bathroom." There was a mirror in there, and Morelle wanted to see what she looked like in these new garments.

To her surprise everything fit perfectly, as if crafted specifically for her body. The pants were so wide that they looked like a long skirt, and the blouse's fabric felt wonderfully cool against her skin.

"You look stunning." Gertrude helped her to stand upright in front of the mirror. "What do you think?"

Morelle didn't know what to say. She had never worn anything like it nor had she ever even seen anyone wearing such things. The white blouse had short sleeves and a tie in the front that was part of it. Gertrude fussed with it a little until she was satisfied with how it looked, and then she tucked the blouse inside the wide waistband of the pants.

"Your waist is so tiny," Gertrude said. "It must be your Kra-ell half."

"Is it considered unattractive?" Morelle asked.

"No, it's perfect. The pureblooded Kra-ell are too thin, but you just look like a runway model."

Morelle frowned. "I must have misunderstood. Why would a model run away?"

Gertrude laughed. "Forget I said that. Are you okay with walking out of the room with my help, or do you want me to get you the wheelchair?"

The medic had shown her the chair with wheels she could use for mobility if her legs grew tired.

"I would rather walk."

"As you wish." The medic wrapped her arm around Morelle's middle. "Lean on me, Morelle."