Page 100 of Exiles on Earth

THIRTY-ONE

ELLEN

“He’s been chosenby a high-ranking female,” Shara explains.

The screaming in my head lessens, and I gulp for air. “He’s alive?”

She nods, sliding a glance to the Prif. “He is indeed. Now, I have vidscreen interviews to do, this is a momentous occasion for all clones, and?—”

“Wait.” The Prif’s voice is low, dangerous. “He was chosen?”

“Indeed.”

“But he got the lowest scores.” The Prif bares her teeth.

Relief flows into me like a warm breeze on my hills. “He’s alive. And… chosen. Good! Someone else saw how kind, strong and… and considerate he is.”

The warmth washes over my cheeks, tickling. I put my hand up to find wetness. I’m crying.

It must be the aftermath of shock, that’s it. I’m happy he’s found a mate.

Really happy.

Floss whines next to me, Rex grumbling in the back of his throat. ‘But… he’s your mate.’

I shake my head. Ilia wanted kids and a life here.

I think. I mean, that’s what he said, but every action, all the time he spent with me both on the farm and here, screamed he yearned for me.

But he never said so. And now it’s too late, like Shara said.

With my dog at my side, I announce. “I’m ready to go home now.”

“Before you go, there are interviews to do,” the Prif says smoothly. “We want to hear all about your experiences of Oloria.”

I curl my fist into Floss’ fur. “I’m not interested in being paraded around or made fun of again. I’m going.”

“Yes, that’s for the best.” Shara stands, not looking at me. “I’m heading for my own interviews now, I don’t want to be late.”

The Prif bares her teeth briefly as the door clicks shut behind the All-Mother. Then she turns to me. “I’ll give you a faster ship, the fastest one in all Oloria. You took five Olorian days to get here, by all accounts: this will have you back in two.”

A quick bit of mental math tells me I can be home in just over five days, if one of Ilia’s days is nearly three of mine and it took us a fortnight to reach this place. Five days, rather than two weeks.

It’s a very tempting offer indeed, because I want to put this place—and Ilia—behind me as quickly as I can.

THIRTY-TWO

ILIA

Imaya’s compoundconnects to the science and research center I showed El-len, with a fast link to her offices inside. My new female mate heads straight there, saying, “I’ll join you after lunch, Bolera and I have some observations to make!”

That leaves Frion and Ysura to show me around the complex, with the younger, purple-spiked True Born simmering with resentment the whole way. Frion doesn’t seem to harbor the same feelings, cool and composed as he shows me past the gymnasium with betrillium onyx weights, all-purpose kitchen filled with the latest nutrition systems, and the sleeping areas, but he doesn’t try to get to know me either. His words drone as he describes their home in detail.

Frion points to a central room with a recessed deck. “Here is where we take care of Imaya?—”

“He’s not to know all this,” Ysura seethes.

“I’ll need to if I’m going to perform my duties.” I forcibly relax my fists. “I’ve had all the training and I have the innate stamina to pleasure a female… I mean, my mate, for up to five hours?—”