Page 11 of Eclipse Bound (Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides #7)
Chapter Seven
Sunset in Duskrock was unlike anything on Zorveya.
As Eclipse waited for Rowan outside the retreat's main entrance, he found himself transfixed by the spectacle.
The red rocks caught the fading light, their hues deepening from terracotta to crimson before glowing with an almost internal fire.
The sky above transformed through gradients of blue, gold, and magenta in a cycle that Eclipse's people never experienced.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Rowan's voice broke his reverie.
Eclipse turned to find her approaching, having changed from her work attire into a simple dress that complemented the twilight colors around them. The sight of her created a resonance in his energy field that had become increasingly familiar yet no less intense.
"Yes," he agreed, not specifying whether he meant the sunset or her appearance. "The transitional phases of your planetary rotation create remarkable effects."
Rowan smiled. "Only you could make sunset sound like a scientific observation and a compliment at the same time."
"It was meant as both," Eclipse clarified. He offered his arm in a gesture he'd observed humans performing. "Shall we proceed to the nutrient consumption location?"
Her laugh was warm as she slipped her arm through his. "You mean dinner? Yes, let's go."
They walked to her vehicle, a modest transportation device she called a compact SUV. Eclipse had studied the mechanics of Earth conveyances during their journey, but experiencing one firsthand was a different matter. The interior smelled faintly of the coffee the hotel had kept offering him.
“I am curious. I smell the coffee everywhere. Do humans require this beverage to live?” He located a lidded cup in the console as the source.
Rowan laughed. "I can’t speak for all humans, but I practically live on it.”
Small crystals and foliage hung from the mirror, and what appeared to be fossilized plant matter was secured to the dashboard.
“And this?” He gestured at the objects.
“Desert sage for cleansing energy,” she pointed at the mirror before moving her finger down to the dashboard, “and a piece of petrified wood. It’s supposed to be grounding. A gift from a client who thought I needed to be more rooted."
"And did it root you?" Eclipse asked.
Rowan's smile turned wistful as she started the engine. "Possibly. I've moved around a lot. Never stayed anywhere long enough to put down roots. But this place feels promising."
As they drove away from the retreat, Eclipse observed how she handled the vehicle with easy confidence, navigating the winding roads with practiced precision. The sunset continued its spectacular display, painting the landscape in ever-changing hues.
"I've arranged for us to have dinner at a place called Luciérnaga," Rowan said. "It's on a ridge with a good view, relatively private, and the food is excellent. I thought you might appreciate the panorama."
"You have considered my preferences with remarkable accuracy," Eclipse noted. "Just as you did with the accommodations for Solar and Lunar."
"I'm good at reading people," she replied with a shrug. "Part of my job. Though I admit, aliens are a new challenge."
They drove in comfortable silence for several minutes, ascending higher into the red rock landscape. Eclipse found himself studying Rowan's profile, the way the fading light played across her features, the subtle energy patterns that radiated from her physical form.
"You're staring," she said without taking her eyes off the road.
"I am observing," Eclipse corrected. "Your biorhythms have unique harmonic patterns. They create resonance fields that interact with my own energy in ways I had not previously experienced."
Rowan glanced at him briefly, her expression amused. "Is that your scientific way of saying you find me attractive?"
"Attraction is an inadequate term for the phenomenon," Eclipse replied. "I do not think humans have the perfect words to explain it. But yes, it encompasses part of the experience."
They arrived at the restaurant, a structure of glass and stone that seemed to emerge organically from the red rock cliffside. Inside, a host greeted them and led them to a table on the patio overlooking the valley, where the last rays of sunlight illuminated the landscape in gold.
"Ms. Clark, we have your requested table," the host said with practiced courtesy. "Your server will be with you shortly."
Once they were seated, Eclipse took in the panoramic view. "This location provides optimal observation of both geological formations and atmospheric conditions."
Rowan smiled as she unfolded her napkin. "And the food's pretty good too."
A server approached with water and recited a list of fermented grape beverages Eclipse recognized as alcohol. Rowan selected something called a cabernet, then helped Eclipse navigate the menu, explaining various Earth food preparations and ingredients.
"I recommend the grilled vegetables and perhaps the fish," she suggested. "Based on what you told me about your dietary needs, those might align best with your metabolism."
When the server departed with their selections, Eclipse found himself studying the other humans in the restaurant. They seemed oblivious to his non-Earth origins, accepting his presence without question despite his slightly unusual appearance.
"Your skin-suit is holding," Rowan noted when she found him studying his arm. "Though it's thinning around the eyes. And the star-like quality of your gaze is noticeable."
"Does it concern you?" Eclipse asked.
"No," she answered honestly. "I find it beautiful. But we should be careful. Others might start to notice."
Their wine arrived, and Rowan demonstrated the ritual of tasting before acceptance. Eclipse followed her example, finding the liquid complex and not unpleasant, though it created unusual energy patterns in his system that would require monitoring.
"So," Rowan said after they'd both sampled the beverage, "diplomatic mission aside, why are you really here, Eclipse?"
The directness of her question caught him off guard. "The mission parameters were as I explained."
"Yes, I know the official story," she said, leaning forward slightly. "Three aliens sent to Earth to prove different kinds can get along by finding human mates. But there's more to it, isn't there? I can see it in your eyes when you talk about your world."
Eclipse considered his response carefully. The mission was classified, yet Rowan had already demonstrated both trustworthiness and remarkable perception.
"The situation on Zorveya is more complex than I initially conveyed," he admitted.
"The tensions between the Solarus and Lunaris zones have escalated beyond diplomatic solutions. War is imminent. That will leave us vulnerable to outside attack. Other aliens who want to harvest minerals will likely return and attempt to take over again. We’ll be weakened, and they will succeed.
My world will be wiped out within five Earth years. "
"And sending you three away is supposed to help how?" Rowan asked, skepticism evident in her tone.
"Officially, our success would demonstrate that cooperation is possible between the sides when we have a shared purpose," Eclipse explained. "There is a misperception on my planet that the sides cannot be around each other due to varying energy signatures, and that too long of an exposure period causes sickness. I think it’s an excuse not to try, rather than an actual genetic phenomenon. However, I suspect our selection was strategic for other reasons. Solar is a high-ranking member of the Solarus Elite Guard. Lunar has connections to the Shadow Intelligence Network. Both would be influential voices in any military conflict. If we convince them that they can work together, it’ll make them advise their people toward peace instead of war.
Hatred runs deep. There are those who would rather die than compromise. "
"And you?"
"I had submitted a transfer request from the diplomatic corps," Eclipse admitted. "After sixty cycles of mediating the same arguments with diminishing results, I had become disillusioned. I think my being sent here is a punishment for leaving."
He was surprised he admitted it out loud.
Rowan's expression softened with understanding. "With you gone, they think they can have more control over the situation."
"That is my assessment, yes." Eclipse took another sip of wine, noting how the liquid blurred the edges of his energy containment. "The Peacemaker Council framed this as our last hope for peace, but I believe they may have already decided conflict is inevitable."
Their food arrived, momentarily pausing the conversation. Eclipse examined the grilled vegetables and fish with curiosity before attempting to mimic Rowan's use of the metal implements.
"So you're political exiles," Rowan summarized after the server departed.
"In effect, though not officially," Eclipse agreed. "Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides was contracted as a convenient mechanism for our removal. Their incompetence was likely an unanticipated factor."
Rowan laughed softly, though there was little humor in it. "Exiled to Earth through an interstellar dating service. That's a new one."
"And yet, despite the circumstances, I find this exile increasingly acceptable," Eclipse said, meeting her gaze.
A slight flush colored Rowan's cheeks. "Because of our compatible biorhythms?"
"That is part of it," Eclipse acknowledged.
"But there is more. Your world has variables we lack on Zorveya.
The cycling of light and dark. The adaptation to change.
The acceptance of differences." He gestured toward the now-darkened landscape, where lights from the town below created a mirror of the stars above.
"Solar and Lunar experience both day and night here.
On our world, they never would. Unless the other side took them prisoner. "