Page 10 of Eclipse Bound (Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides #7)

Eclipse sensed there was more to her statement, a personal history she wasn't yet sharing. Before he could inquire further, sounds of movement came from the eastern room.

Solar emerged, wearing new Earth garments that strained against his muscular frame. His skin-suit was visibly deteriorating, golden light leaking around the edges.

"These coverings you bought me are inadequate, Eclipse," Solar complained, tugging at the shirt. "And this skin-suit is failing. I cannot maintain human appearance much longer."

"I brought alternatives," Rowan said, retrieving a bag she hadn't yet unpacked. "These might work better. They're made for desert sun protection. Looser fit, better coverage."

Solar examined the offerings with skepticism but accepted them with a nod that, for him, constituted gratitude. "I must prepare for my research expedition to The Crash Zone to learn combat techniques."

"Research," Eclipse repeated dryly. "Of course."

Solar ignored his tone. "When will the corporation representatives arrive with our real supplies? The communication device has been silent."

"They said they would contact us when the ship is secured," Eclipse replied. "I wouldn't anticipate immediate assistance."

Solar muttered something uncomplimentary in their native language before retreating to his room with the new garments.

"Is he a warrior?" Rowan asked once Solar had gone. "I can tell he's all light and fire."

Eclipse nodded. "From the Solarus Zone. The light-dweller society values strength, direct action, and visible display. Subtlety is not their strength."

"And the other one? Lunar? He's all shadow and stealth?"

"The Lunaris Zone had to evolve differently to their environment to survive. Shadow-dwellers value observation, strategic patience, and the conservation of resources. Living in perpetual darkness creates different priorities."

Rowan absorbed this information. "And you? What does the Twilight Belt value?"

"Balance," Eclipse answered simply. "We exist between extremes, facilitating communication, finding compromise, maintaining equilibrium."

"That sounds exhausting."

Eclipse hadn't expected her perception. "It can be. Constantly mediating between sides that fundamentally mistrust each other takes its toll."

"Is that why you agreed to this mission? To escape the pressure?"

The question struck closer to the truth than Eclipse was comfortable admitting. "I was selected by the council because of my diplomatic record."

"That's not an answer." Rowan's gaze was steady, penetrating.

"No," he conceded. "It's not."

Another silence fell. Eclipse found himself wanting to share his true circumstances.

He'd submitted a transfer request due to his growing disillusionment with the endless, circular negotiations.

He also had a suspicion that this mission was less about peace and more about removing problematic voices from the political equation.

But such admissions might compromise the mission further.

Before he could decide, the western door opened, and Lunar emerged from the shadows. Unlike Solar, he moved with fluid grace, his form barely visible as he kept to the darker portions of the room.

"I require sustenance," Lunar stated. "The local provisions at Crimson Rock were inadequate for shadow metabolisms."

Rowan gestured to one of the bags. "There's food in the kitchen area. I included options for different dietary needs." She hesitated. "Though I wasn't entirely sure what aliens eat."

"We generally process energy rather than matter," Lunar explained. "But certain organic compounds can be converted more efficiently than others. Dark plants, fungal matter, fermented substances."

"So mushrooms, dark greens, and wine?" Rowan translated.

Lunar inclined his head slightly, which Eclipse recognized as approval. "Acceptable substitutes."

"Check the second bag," Rowan suggested. "I included several local specialties that might work."

As Lunar investigated the provisions, Eclipse noted the ease with which Rowan adapted to them. Most humans would struggle to comprehend, let alone accommodate, three aliens with radically different biological needs.

"You're remarkably calm about all this," he observed quietly.

Rowan shrugged. "I've always been good in a crisis. It's the everyday stuff I struggle with." Something in her expression suggested deeper meaning, but she quickly shifted focus. "Besides, if I freak out about aliens, I'll never hear the end of it from Stephanie."

"The loud female from the crash landing," Lunar identified from across the room. "She took recordings of our arrival."

"Yes, and she's convinced you're here to either abduct her or enlighten humanity," Rowan said with a hint of exasperation.

"I have watched her short movies on your overlord devices," Lunar continued. "She does not appear to be a being of logic."

"Overlord…?" Rowan dismissed the comment with a small sound. "Yeah, well, please avoid her if possible. She can’t keep a secret."

"Noted," Eclipse agreed. "We should minimize contact with humans beyond those already aware of our nature."

"Speaking of which," Lunar interjected, "Poppy has invited me to observe nocturnal wildlife at a nature preserve tonight. Her knowledge of shadow-adapted Earth species may provide useful comparative data."

"Is that what we're calling dating now?" Rowan murmured, just loud enough for Eclipse to hear. "Comparative data collection?"

Eclipse suppressed his amusement. "Just maintain your cover identity and avoid drawing attention."

"Unlike Solar, I do not cause electrical disruptions with my mere presence," Lunar pointed out. "My shadow-walking remains effective despite the skin-suit limitations."

After selecting several items from the food supplies, Lunar retreated back to his room without further comment.

"He's cheerful," Rowan remarked once he'd gone. "Though he's not wrong about Solar. He appeared as a flickering, bright spot on the security cameras. Lunar was barely detectable."

"For Lunar, that conversation was practically effusive," Eclipse replied. "Shadow-dwellers are not known for social niceties."

"Unlike twilight diplomats?" There was that teasing tone again, accompanied by a smile that created unexpected resonance patterns in Eclipse's energy field.

"We have our moments of directness," he said, moving slightly closer to her. "When circumstances warrant."

Rowan's pulse quickened, a reaction Eclipse could perceive even through his dampened senses. "And what circumstances would those be?"

"Compatible biorhythms," he answered, allowing a controlled pulse of energy to emanate from his form. "Mutual curiosity. Shared objectives."

"And what are our shared objectives, exactly?" Her voice had lowered, creating an intimacy in the space between them. Her energy called to him like a beacon. He couldn't ignore its pull. He felt himself drifting toward her.

Eclipse considered the question carefully.

The mission parameters specified that they were to form meaningful connections with compatible humans.

But his interest in Rowan transcended mission requirements.

There was something about her energy signature, her directness, her ability to balance practical concerns with acceptance of the extraordinary.

"Understanding," he said finally. "Of each other. Of the possibilities between different worlds."

Rowan studied him, her expression thoughtful. "You know, on Earth, when someone's interested in someone else, they usually just ask them to dinner."

"Would you like to have dinner with me, Rowan?"

His quick response seemed to surprise her, but her smile widened. "Yes, I would. But maybe not in the suite with your roommates lurking."

“We do not lurk,” Lunar yelled from the other room.

"I know a location," Eclipse offered, "with a viewing platform overlooking the valley. We could observe your planet's sunset while consuming nutrients."

Rowan laughed. "When you put it like that, how can I refuse?" She checked the time on her communication device. "I need to finish some work at the retreat first. Meet me at the main entrance in two hours?"

"I will be there," Eclipse confirmed.

After Rowan departed, Eclipse remained in the central space, processing the interaction. He had initiated a social ritual with a human female. A date according to Earth terminology. This aligned with mission parameters, yet felt surprisingly personal.

The energy stone in his pocket suddenly seemed heavier, a reminder of the report he would eventually need to file.

How would he describe these developments to the council?

Three representatives of a divided world formed connections with Earth females within days of their arrival.

Would they believe the timeline happened so fast?

He was sure Lunar could calculate the odds to that question, but he didn't want to hear them.

Perhaps there was hope for their diplomatic experiment after all. If they could find common ground with an entirely different species, might they not eventually do the same with each other?

If they succeeded, the council would have to let them return home, regardless of any secret agendas.

Eclipse moved to the window, watching as the sun began its descent toward the horizon. Earth's day-night cycle created a constant transition, much like the perpetual twilight of his home. But here, both sides experienced darkness, both knew light. Perhaps that made all the difference.

In two hours, he would join Rowan for the dinner ritual. But, for the time being, he had reports to update and two volatile companions to monitor. The diplomat's work was never done, even on a distant world with unfamiliar stars.

But for the first time since arriving on Earth, perhaps for the first time in longer than he cared to admit, Eclipse found himself looking forward to what came next.