“So what’s going on between you and my brother?” Sellah asked.

We were sitting on the silver hoverbed in my room, nibbling on some Eloim snacks Al had whipped up for us while Sarden and Grav and Uncle Tellum talked in the other room.

After connecting with Sellah and putting our ships in synchronous orbit, it had been decided the next order of business was to go back to Eloim and find a way to expose Hurxx and get Sellah back on the throne. How exactly, no one was sure. But the general feeling was that we needed to sleep on it and decide the next day. Everyone was bone tired—me included. Still, we weren’t quite ready to part yet, which was how Sellah had ended up with me, asking awkward questions.

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I mean, I thought I knew—or had an idea when he and Grav first rescued me from Count Creepy. He grabbed me in his arms and started talking about how he’d thought he lost me and how my eyes were so blue—”

“Wait a minute—what?” Sellah looked at me as though I’d said something shocking.

“What do you mean what?” I asked her. “What did I say?”

“You said he talked about the color of your eyes. Can he see them?”

“What do you mean? Of course he can see them,” I said, frowning. “But it’s just because I’m a La-ti-zal.” I rubbed my neck, where the inhibitor collar had been. It had left some scratches which still stung. “It’s weird though—he was talking about the color of my eyes while I was still wearing that damn collar. Wouldn’t you think that would have inhibited my, uh, powers enough to keep him from seeing colors?”

“Sarden doesn’t see color when he touches you because of your powers, Zoe…” Sellah leaned forward and pressed my hand. “Don’t you know most males with Vorn DNA don’t see in color until they meet the female they’re supposed to be with? He sees colors when he’s with you because you two are meant to be.”

“Meant to be? Meant to be what?” I asked, feeling my stomach do a little flip.

“Meant to be mated—bonded although I don’t know how that’s possible. Most half-breeds aren’t enough of one DNA or the other to form a bond with a female. It’s one reason most of them never settle down. How can you be sure of the male you’re with if you can’t bond with him?” She shrugged and popped another Eloim snack—which looked like gray paste on a pink cracker—into her mouth.

“Um…sorry to sound ignorant about all this but what exactly does bonded mean?” I asked. “I mean, do you just feel really close to that person or—”

“No, no—it’s an actual, physical connection between a male and female,” Sellah assured me. “You’re able to feel each other’s emotions when you concentrate—some closely bonded couples are even able to send and receive thoughts.”

“Seriously?” I shook my head. “Sorry but that just sounds weird—we don’t have anything like it on Earth.”

“It’s not weird, it’s wonderful.” She sighed. “I’ve always dreamed of finding my fated mate—the one male in the galaxy I’m meant to bond with. After I finished my schooling, of course.” She made a face. “Instead I have to go back and rule Eloim—if we can find a way to get rid of Hurxx, that is.”

“You really don’t want to rule, huh?” I asked.

Sellah shook her head. “It’s a pain in the behind, believe me. I mean, it might not be so bad if you had someone you trusted and cared for beside you on the throne. But, well, I never felt any trust for Hurxx and I knew he didn’t care for me either, not even in a proper familial way. He just wanted me out of the way.”

“We’ll get you back,” I promised her. “And then maybe you can find someone you trust more.”

“I wish it could be Sarden,” she said sadly. “But I don’t think he’ll agree to even ask the Council’s approval. He always felt so hated by my father and grandfather because of his Vorn blood and appearance. When they sent him off to Vorn 6 as a young male to spend time with his second family, I know he was glad to go. At least there he fit in a little more. I always missed him though.”

“He must have come back to visit you sometimes,” I said. “Or you two wouldn’t have stayed so close.”

“Oh yes—he came back regularly to see me. He was very protective.” She pressed my hand again. “He’ll be protective of you too, Zoe—if you’ll let him.”

“I don’t know if…if he wants me like that,” I said awkwardly. I couldn’t help remembering the passionate kiss we’d shared when he first rescued me from Doloroso, but what if that was just a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing?

“I think he does,” Sellah said quietly. “I’ve never seen him look at a female the way he looks at you. Please, Zoe…just give him a chance. I’d love to have you as my sister.”

“I—” I started to say but then Al whizzed into the room, his lantern-eye blinking rapidly.

“My lady Sellah, your guardian, Lord Tellum has asked me to tell you he is retiring to his ship for the night. He wants to know where do you wish to sleep? Here or on his vessel?”

“You can stay here tonight, if you want,” I offered her. “I think Grav has the other spare room but you can share with me. The bed is roomy enough.”

“Well…” Sellah bit her lip but just then the door slid open and I saw Sarden standing there.

“Zoe,” he said in a low voice. “Can I talk to you?”

“Of course you can—we were just saying good night.” Sellah jumped off the hoverbed and leaned over to give me an affectionate nuzzle. Apparently the Eloim people rubbed noses together the same way we might kiss a friend on the cheek back on Earth.

“Sellah…” I began but she shook her head and grinned. “I’m going to stay the night on Uncle Tellum’s ship—he has more room than you do here. And besides…you two need your privacy.”

“Privacy?” Al, who was still hovering on the end of his long, snaky silver neck, sounded confused. “Why would Master Sarden and Lady Zoe need privacy?”

“Come with me,” Sellah said, motioning to the A.L. “And I’ll tell you.”

She led Al out of the room, stopping to rub noses with Sarden before she left and the door slid shut behind them.

Leaving the two of us alone.