Tempted by Celestial Bodies

Chapter 3

chapter three

day three

“Nade? Lady Sinead, wake up.”

I gasp into wakefulness, the scent of honey lingering in my nose. Jalus is sitting on the edge of my bed, one hand on my shoulder.

Sitting up halfway, I rub my eyes. My breather mask is back on. Did Jalus replace it for me? I smile. What a gentleman.

The pleasant soreness of a night well spent is punctuated by burning, itching pain all down my arms and legs. I run my fingers across my arms, wondering if the scrapes are getting infected, and find fresh blood. New scratches. I look down and curse. The sundress I was still wearing when we fell asleep is in tatters again. My tits, and pretty much everything else, are on full display.

“What happened?” I mumble groggily. “Jalus? Did a squirrel get in?”

“I slept.” He frowns. “I shouldn’t have. Kin need very little sleep. I intended to stand guard while you slept, but…when I woke, I was alone. I scoured the forest, following your scent, and discovered you here.”

I bolt upright. “Wait. You didn’t bring me back here?”

Jalus shakes his head. “Do you remember anything?”

“No…” My hands start to tremble. The last thing I remember is falling asleep in his arms on the forest floor.

“You’re still in danger, and I failed in my duty to protect you.” Jalus bows his head. “I’m sorry, Nade.”

“No…Jalus…”

At that moment, someone bangs on the cabin’s front door. With a couple of choice swear words, I vault out of bed, bundle the ruined dress into the corner, and throw on another. My hair must be a riot, but I just run my fingers through it on my way to answer the knock.

It’s Cecily, looking worried. “Lady Sinead? I canceled your first meeting of the day, but your next one is with your father. It’s in ten minutes.”

I check the time and groan. “Give me five to get cleaned up.” Dad wouldn’t appreciate me showing up to a meeting with sex hair.

Thankfully, Jalus seems ready to go. His hair is immaculate, wings folded, and that uniform fits his delectable frame with only a few wrinkles betraying that it spent the night crumpled up on the rain-soaked ground.

I don’t want Dad asking questions about my injuries, so I cover my arms with a long-sleeved robe. I fairly sprint to the embassy, where the vid-call is already live on my wallscreen.

“Good morning, Dad,” I say, proud of how cool and collected I manage to sound. “How are things back at the Palace?”

There’s a long pause for the relay lag. When Dad replies, it’s to wave my pleasantries away impatiently. “Tell me about the Eiris negotiations.”

Typical. He gives me six months to get results, yet expects them within two days.

“They’ve just started,” I tell him truthfully. “But I think I see a path forward.”

I wait for Dad to receive my end of the message. When he does, he leans forward, stroking his chin. “You have a plan of attack?”

“I’m starting to formulate one, yes.” Sweat trickles down my back.

“What’s your estimated timeline?” Dad presses. “The contractors want a new landing date.”

Shit . “I…don’t know if I can give you one yet.”

Long silence. Then, “Make an educated guess.”

“Four weeks,” I say. It’s the first number that comes to mind. Why didn’t I say eight? Twelve?

Dad sits back, looking pleased. “Well! If you’re able to clear a path for the contractors by then, I’ll be very impressed, Sinead. Keep me updated. Now, do you want to discuss details on your plan? I’m very curious what you’ve come up with.”

A lead weight settles in my stomach. I can’t tell him any obvious lies. If I say I’m planning to subdue the Kin with violence, he might show up with an army of mercenaries to help me. The only way forward is by twisting the truth just a bit…

I’m highly conscious of Jalus’s presence in the corner behind me as I say, “I’ve made good progress connecting with the culture. I’m trying to build goodwill by listening to their folklore. Once they fully trust me, I’ll use their own stories against them and convince them that the trees are harmful. That we’d be doing them a favor by cutting them down.”

Another lag interval. Is the holo-capture picking up my nervous shaking?

“Not the approach I’d personally go with,” Dad says, “but since our other attempts have failed, I’m willing to try a new angle. All right, Sinead. You’ve got four weeks. Don’t disappoint me.”

The call disconnects.

I sink into one of my office chairs, fanning myself. “Cecily, could you find me some coffee, please? Or tea? Or…honestly, I’ll take anything liquid.”

“Coming right up, my lady,” my secretary says, and lets herself out of the office.

I meet Jalus’s gaze reluctantly. “I’m sorry you had to hear that,” I say.

His posture is stiff, his expression bland. “Why should you be? Nothing you say surprises me. I knew this was your intent from the start.”

“No, Jalus…” I rub my eyes. “I mean, yes, I did come here intending to do whatever it took to get those trees cut down. But yesterday changed things for me. You have to believe I never would’ve…that I wouldn’t lie about…” Stars, I don’t even know what I’m saying. I’m losing him with every word.

Jalus shakes himself, his wings ruffling just enough to let the rainbow flash through before they settle. “I believe it would be best if I guard you from outside the room today,” he says, his voice monotone.

He shuts the door behind him gently, but it echoes in my ears like a slam.

Jalus barely acknowledges me for the rest of the day, except to follow me at a respectful six paces behind when I go to the dining hall for lunch and dinner. When I retire to my cabin for a sleep cycle, he takes up his post outside the front door, making no motion to join me inside.

As I get ready for bed, I’m tempted to go outside and beg him. Not the sexy kind of begging, either. The pathetic, groveling kind.

But I don’t know what there is to say if, after all that big talk about me trusting him, he still doesn’t reciprocate that trust.

So I lie down in nothing but my panties, because fuck you, alien squirrels, I’m not ruining another nightgown , and let sleep take over.