The moment Hallan pulled his suspendcraft up to her family unit’s home, Amsen’s chest tightened. Part of her didn’t know what she was doing here, but the bigger part needed to confront her parents, ask why they put her in such a situation, and why had they dragged Hallan into the mess?

The craft lowered to the ground. “Amsen.” Hallan’s voice came out tight and tense.

In Hallan’s residence she thought they might have a chance, but then the damn cube vibrated, it literally was a time block to everything good. Her life was controlled by cubes and by males, but somehow she won a small victory when she convinced him to take her to her home during their Merging Time. The fact he gave in made her emotions toggle between hope and despair. “Thank you for doing this.” She leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“We did not inform your family of our visit. They are not expecting us and we are taking up others’ time,” he growled.

No one was every pleased with her. She could do no right. Rather than waiting for him to help her out, she slid the panel of the suspendcraft open and ran toward her home, or her old home, she didn’t know what anymore.

The door opened and she dashed past her father, noticing they already set up for her arrival.

“Amsen!” Her mother shook her head and motioned for Amsen to follow her. “What are you doing? You can’t be here until the Union Ceremony.”

“Well, I am here and now you have to deal with me.” She followed her mother to the meal preparation area.

“Shh.” Her mother shushed her.

In an effort to calm herself she took a deep breath. “Were you that desperate to get rid of me? Forced partnerships were done away with star cycles ago.”

Her mother put her hands on her hips. “It was time to get your life together.”

“What did you do to me that I woke up in bed with a male I didn’t know?” Fine, she stomped her foot.

“You can’t tell me that was the first time that happened,” her mother whispered.

“At least it was my choice. At least I lived.” She let out a yell and rushed away from her mother, into the front room where she only stopped for a moment to glance at her father and Hallan. Unable to face any of them, she charged into her bedchambers.

Already the room appeared different. Her artwork was off the walls, her knickknacks gone.

“My daughter.” Her mother entered and softly slid the door closed. “Please understand we had to take action. It was time.”

Amsen wrapped her arms around her shoulders. “Why does everything have to be on such a schedule when the things that really matter aren’t on a schedule?”

Her mother came up behind her and gave her a hug. “You always felt things deeper than everyone.”

“They said grandma had more time and they were wrong. They said if my brother had more incubation time he would live.” Unwanted tears blurred her vision. “So it was time for me to find a partner, it’s Merging Time, a Union Ceremony. What does it matter?”

“It matters because we have to control what we can.” Her mother’s voice softened. “Now let’s talk about something that matters right now.”

She turned and took in the female who raised her. Gorgeous in her elegance, her iridescent hair dulling a bit with age, but still she was stunning.

“Tell me, is he…” Her mother smiled and shrugged. “…satisfying.”

“Mother.” How could she answer that? Did she tell her of all the males she had ever been with this one seemed the most experienced, the most caring, the one who wanted to please her? Did it have to do with the fact he felt she was his partner? Did such a relationship make that much of a difference?

“When we met him, I had a feeling he would be excellent.” The woman let out one laugh. “That’s extremely important, you know.”

She glared at her mother. “There is something about him.” Something she didn’t even want to admit.

“He’s a good male. He will take good care of you. As time goes on, he will become a part of your heart and you will barely remember when he wasn’t in your life or you didn’t want him.” Her mother smoothed down her hair.

“What if it wasn’t my time?” Too many questions wracked her mind that there just wasn’t enough time to sort them all out. “Why does everything have to be so controlled and contrived?”

“Did you ever think it was time for something and maybe you just didn’t know it?” her mother asked. “Don’t you at least owe it to your family and to Hallan to make it through the Merging Time? He let you come here, it seems as if you are sharing control.”

“He let me. What if I just wanted to go.” She continued this age-old argument.

“That is a partnership.” Her mother countered.

“What if I decide not to go through with it?” In a bit of defiance, she lifted her chin. “You let me start this on a lie of the worst kind.”

“You will make it to the Union Ceremony and we will never speak of how your partnership began other than it was arranged, which is not a lie by any means.” Her mother’s tone took on a hardness, a finality. “I know you would never disgrace the family by ending a partnership with a good male for no good reason, and you would never divulge secrets which you yourself can’t remember and would make your family union appear in a bad light.” She stood up taller and gave her one of those knowing looks, one that truly told Amsen who had the control.

Amsen paced around her room, stopping at the bedding, picking up her favorite blanket and hugging it to her chest. Partnerships cut short for any reason were disgraceful, and the parties involved had a hard time recovering if they ever could.

“Now, go to your partner, get back on schedule, and I will see you in seven days.” Her mother patted her back.

Blanket still in hand, Amsen returned to the front room. “Hallan.”

Instantly, her partner stood and crossed his arms. “Amsen.”

Her eyes darted over to her artwork then back to him. Maybe he didn’t know she was forced into this relationship, but now he knew she was a worthless artist. She refused to apologize for her creation and stood up straighter.

“Is there anything else you need to tell me?” His tone came out terse and accusatory.

She swallowed. There were too many things to tell him. All things that she would have to hide. Maybe with time she could move on, she couldn’t disgrace her family. “No.”

He pointed toward the exit. “Then get in the vehicle. We have no more time to waste.”

She walked forward, stopping at the door to turn and look back at him. There were parts of taking control that were scintillating, if kept in the proper place.

“I said its time to go home.” He led her out.

She let him take her to the suspendcraft, but swore if her life was going to come down to minutes and seconds she wouldn’t make it to the Union Ceremony. However, for the sake of her family unit she had to give him another chance.