Of course, she agreed to dinner. This was a chance to find Ernansis V’dnen, the one expecting the locket.

Naturally, that fit right into what Katrina wanted. She’d spent the last day and a half split between being locked in her room, trying to figure out what to do next, and exploring the ship looking for ways to find out where her contact was. She was careful to avoid Rush while she looked for anything that would pass for phonebook or a map or any kind of information about Janus’s capital city, Asmute.

This was perfect.

And yeah, true, it didn’t break her heart she would be able to spend time with Rush. She knew better than to think anything could come of this. She was promised to another man, even if that other man couldn’t be found. She’d signed a contract. She’d have to go along with anything the government said. The contract clearly stated she was coming here to marry a citizen of the planet Janus. Actually, when she thought of it, it had said she would marry one of the Cardinal Few. And she didn’t even have a clue what that was.

She noticed the room was silent and Rush was staring at her expectantly. “What?”

“I asked if you felt you needed to go to your room to do… woman stuff to get ready.”

She looked down at her jeans and top. “You think I need to dress differently? Fancy?” She touched her hair. “I don’t look okay?” She wasn’t sure if she felt insecure or pissed with his insinuation.

He held out his hands in a universal sign of surrender. “No. Not at all. I know women like to change… you know.” He shrugged.

She found his demeanor charming. “So, I look okay?” Maybe she was fishing. So what?

He nodded. “You do. Not planning anything fancy.”

Fancy or not, an assortment of butterflies flittered around her stomach, reminding her this was as close to a date as things got. And with a guy that was dreamy.

Yeah, especially when she considered her other dates in life. She hadn’t had the best taste in men. She always had to spring for dinner—usually opting for the cheapest fare at the Bangin’ Burrito and a movie at the dollar theater—the one with the bird nests in the ceilings of the walkways. Walking into the movies was like trying to avoid being bombed with bird crap.

So to Katrina, this was definitely going to be a step up, even if he took her to a roadside food truck. Did they have food trucks here? Or trucks at all?

A small laugh escaped her at the thought.

Rush tilted his head and studied her. “What’s funny about not fancy?”

She shook her head. “Sorry. I was thinking of something else.” She chastised herself because she shouldn’t have been thinking about anything other than finding Ernansis V’dnen and delivering this locket to him.

“Shall we?” He held his arm out.

Is it so wrong that, for a brief moment, I want to feel like I’m on a date?

She took his outstretched arm, letting her fingers rest on inside of his elbow. “Such gallantry is a thing of the past.”

“Not on every planet.” He gave her a sideways glance, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“What’s on the agenda?”

“I was thinking perhaps a ride in a carriage, drawn by maccorans—”

“Those armadillo-looking camel creatures?” Katrina’s delight in this was not faked. She was genuinely curious about those animals, and so much more.

He nodded with a laugh. “Yes, though hardly armadillos or camels. Probably more closely related to giraffes on your planet. Maccorans are native to Janus, but we have none on Zama, my home planet.”

“I want to hear about your home planet. Is it anything like Janus?” She stayed in step with him as they exited the ramp of the Javelin.

He shook his head. “Not in the least. Especially not the structure of society. It’s much more civilized. Far more pretentious.”

“So everybody is fake?”

He paused at the end of the ramp to press a button on a console. The ramp rose, sealing the Javelin away from prying eyes and thieving hands. Then he turned to look at her, appraising her, as though trying to ascertain her mettle.

“Not every Zamanese is fake. I certainly don’t consider myself to be that way, and I know some from Zama who aren’t. But many are so swept up with the pursuit of wealth and prestige, it does make one wonder.” He started in the direction of the lights, away from the landing strip they’d been on.

As she was attached to his arm, she followed. “Why did you leave Zama?”

He took a deep breath, a myriad of expressions crossing his face in the dim lighting cast by the setting of the dual suns to the one side and the rising sun on the other. “My reasons for leaving are complicated.”

She could take a hint and switched subjects. “I could have sworn there was darkness on Janus, wasn’t there? But there’s one sun over there, and two over yonder, so what gives?”

“There will be darkness. A large planet that revolves around the single sun will be blocking its light in a few hours. Then there will be full and complete darkness. We have between eighteen and twenty-two hours of sunlight every day. The amount of light varies when there are three suns high in the sky, or two, or if there is one. And then of course, when that sun is blocked and the other two have set, as I said. Complete darkness.”

“Is that difficult on your body? Having that much sunlight? Is it the same on Zama?”

“No, it’s not difficult. You become accustomed to it. And it’s not the same on Zama. Zama has two suns and two moons.”

She could have sworn she heard sorrow in his voice. “Are you homesick?”

“I don’t miss Zama.”

“Do you have family there?”

“You are full of questions.” His strides grew longer, making her wonder if he was trying to dissuade conversation.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I have a father.”

No mother? But she didn’t ask.

“So, as I was saying earlier” —he scratched his stubble— “I’m going to take you for a ride in a maccoran carriage to the square. There’s a place there to eat. I think you’ll enjoy it. The cuisine is specific to Janus with an influence of their native peoples, but has a Zamanese twist to it.”

“That sounds great!” She clasped his arm tighter. “Rush, thank you. Thank you for this tour, the opportunity to see Janus, and to get out of my room.” And to find Ernansis V’dnen.

“My pleasure.”

And he looked like he meant it.