Her cheeks went bright red. Oh my God. I’m in bed with Varrin. Eris could feel her heart pounding in her chest and forced herself to calm down. I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but the bed was so comfy! He probably has no idea that he’s draped all over me. Maybe if I can get up without waking him, I can salvage the situation.
That was easier said than done, however. The Rakorsian had effectively pinned her to the bed, and Eris wasn’t sure she could shove him off without waking him. She was also concerned about jostling him too much and hurting his injured arm. What to do, what to do.
Eris decided to start by putting some space between them. Her left arm was trapped under Varrin’s shoulder, but her right arm was free. She gently clasped his wrist and lifted it away from her waist.
Varrin tightened his grip and hugged her closer.
Eris let out a mortified gasp. She was still wearing the tight gold dress, putting only a thin layer of material between her and the slumbering Rakorsian. To her further embarrassment, his sleepy gray eyes blinked open and stared into her own.
“Going somewhere?” he rumbled.
“You’re awake!” Eris exclaimed. “You did this on purpose, you fiend!”
Varrin disentangled himself from her and rolled onto his back. “What can I say?” he asked, grinning widely. “You were warm, and I was drugged. I don’t see how you can possibly blame me for whatever happened next.”
“I can do a lot more than that,” she scowled, hopping out of the bed before he could grab her again. “And nothing happened next!”
Varrin chuckled.
Trying to recover her composure, Eris said coolly, “How’s the arm?”
He glanced down and grimaced. “Well, it’s an interesting fashion statement.”
“Could you be more of a girl?” She sighed. “I meant does it hurt?”
He lifted the cast toward her. “See those little squiggly lines on the monitor? Those indicate the level of painkillers being pumped into my bloodstream. I don’t feel a damn thing, and it’s lovely.”
“Lovely?” She laughed. “Remind me to break your limbs more often. You’re almost tolerable in this state.”
After making Varrin promise to stay in bed, Eris went to find them something to eat. “Stupid Rakorsian and his stupid saving my life,” she muttered as she searched the living room for some way to call room service. She spotted an electronic panel on the wall, and after a few minutes of fiddling, she managed to contact the front desk and order food.
Ten minutes later, a bald, smiling woman arrived at the door with a covered tray. “Is Master Korlethi all right?” she inquired as Eris took the tray. “I heard he showed up last night bleeding something terrible!”
“He’s fine. Thank you.”
Eris shut the door and returned to the bedroom. Varrin was nowhere to be seen. She set the tray on top of the dresser with an exasperated huff and then went looking for her stray Rakorsian. Where is that man?
A flash of movement caught her eye. Varrin was out on the balcony, leaning against the marble railing and staring up at the clear afternoon sky. As she walked over to his side, he said dreamily, “I like stars.”
“That’s nice,” Eris said. “Are you hungry?”
“They’re like a blanket in the sky.” Varrin’s face took on a puzzled expression as he continued gazing upward. “No, not a blanket …”
“A canopy?” she suggested. “I’ve got a tray full of all sorts of food. Surely something will appeal to you.”
“A glowing canopy of stars,” Varrin said happily. “Aren’t they beautiful?”
Eris decided to humor him. “They’re very nice, Varrin. Come on, you should be in bed.”
Ignoring his protests, she grabbed his uninjured arm and dragged him back into the bedroom. Forcing the Rakorsian to sit on the bed, she grabbed a bowl of blue porridge and a spoon from the tray, and sat down beside him.
“Open up,” she commanded, waving the spoon in front of his face.
“I’m not a child,” Varrin scowled. Eris tapped her foot impatiently until he relented and reluctantly accepted several spoonfuls.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Eris handed him the spoon and bowl. “Now eat the rest yourself. You may be drugged, but I’m sure if you can slay a jsgarn, you can conquer a bowl of porridge.”
She rose, grabbed a bread roll from the tray, and bit into it. “Mmm. I bet Miguri would love these.” Her thoughts turned to her little friend. I wonder how his search is going? I wish I could contact him somehow. She was about to ask Varrin for advice but then remembered he wasn’t in a particularly lucid state at the moment. I suppose I’ll just have to trust that Miguri knows what he’s doing.
When she turned back to the bed, she discovered that Varrin had fallen asleep again. The bowl was perched precariously on his chest, the spoon dangling from his hand. Pressing a hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles, Eris carefully retrieved the bowl and spoon, returned them to the tray, and tiptoed out of the room.
It took two full days for the Xycopan to wear off. But Eris enjoyed every second of his drugged state, because she was the one in charge for once. By the evening of their third day at the Starlight, Varrin was lucid enough to cringe as she recounted some of his more bizarre confessions during lunch in the suite’s sitting room.
“I did not say that.” Varrin scowled as he cut into a thick green steak.
“You did say that,” she assured him. “You grabbed a fistful of my hair, sniffed it, and told me it smelled like a moofa.”
“I’m sure I meant it as a compliment.”
“Yeah, sure you did.”
They were interrupted by a loud knock at the door. Eris started to rise, but Varrin motioned for her to sit, saying, “I’m not an invalid, you know.”
She rolled her eyes but decided not to argue the point.
When he opened the door, they saw a female hotel employee standing outside. The woman bowed deeply and said, “Master Korlethi, the hotel management cordially invites you and your companion to attend the annual Starlight Ball in the Nebula Room this evening.”
“Starlight Ball, huh?”
“Yes, sir. Today marks the three hundred and sixty-third annual celebration of the day the Starlight Hotel opened.”
Varrin glanced over his shoulder at Eris. “What do you say, Mimi? Care to accompany me to a ball?”
I should never have told him that ridiculous name Miguri made up for me, she thought. “I don’t really dance.”
“We’ll get back to you,” Varrin informed the woman and then closed the door. He turned back to Eris and sank into an exaggerated bow. “Your inability to dance aside, it would be rude of us to decline an invitation to such a prestigious event. I have a reputation to uphold, after all.”
“Should you even be seen in public?” Eris said uncertainly. “Aren’t we supposed to be maintaining a low profile?”
“It’s just a party,” Varrin said. “Relax! Besides, everyone here thinks I’m Aedar Korlethi, Takblinarian shipping magnate, and the authorities aren’t looking for anyone by that name.”
“I see. Do you have any other aliases I should know about?”
“Well, there’s Fizz Galeen, the penniless hitchhiker. And Kalawampa the star-talker—”
“What’s a star-talker?”
“Someone who talks to stars.”
Eris rolled her eyes. “But of course.”
“Although my personal favorite,” Varrin continued, “would have to be Magnificus.”
“And what does Magnificus do?”
“He’s an exotic dancer. His signature move is—well, magnificent.”
Eris was about to berate him for having such a ridiculous alias when it occurred to her that he was probably joking. “Ha ha,” she said.
“It’s true,” Varrin protested. “Look, I can show you.” He reached for the hem of his shirt.
“You will do no such thing!” she yelped. “Look, I’ll go to the stupid ball with you, all right? Just no stripping
!”
Varrin beamed. “I’ll find some maids to help you get ready.” He glanced down at his clothes. “And then I’ll go find something more appropriate to wear.” Muttering something about buckles, he strode from the suite, leaving Eris standing alone in the middle of the room.
“What have I gotten myself into?” she said, sighing.
When three maids knocked on the suite door a few minutes later, Eris reluctantly let them in and surrendered herself to their ministrations. To her surprise, it turned out to be quite an enjoyable experience. She discovered that on Vega Minor, preparing for a formal event included a full spa treatment—manicure, pedicure, massage, and more. Eris had never felt so pampered in her life.
Then the maids wrapped Eris in a sleek, sleeveless ivory gown that contrasted nicely with her dark hair and strapped pearl-hued high-heeled sandals to her feet. Eris tried reaching for the brushes to do her own makeup, not liking the idea of someone poking at her eyes, but her hands were gently slapped away. Her hair was left untouched, merely curled in at the ends to give it a sophisticated air.
“Oooh, Miss Mimi, Master Korlethi’s going to die when he sees you!” one of the maids gushed, wrapping shimmering, ivory-colored ribbons up Eris’s arms.
“I should be so lucky,” Eris murmured, examining the ribbons. How are they staying in place?
“Don’t be like that,” the second woman said, swatting Eris’s shoulder softly. “Master Korlethi had this dress sent up especially for you. The man clearly adores you.”
“Never takes his eyes off you!” the third agreed.
“How could you possibly know that?” Eris demanded. “We haven’t left the suite since we arrived!”
The maids started giggling. “Neither would we, if we got to shack up with Aedar Korlethi,” the first maid said breathily.
Eris felt her cheeks flush and forced herself not to respond. She was supposedly his mistress, after all. Such assumptions about their relationship were natural.
The maids pulled Eris to her feet and shuffled her over to the full-length mirror. Eris took one look and said, “Oh my.”
“You don’t like it?” one of the maids asked.
“No, no, it’s fine,” Eris assured her. I can’t believe I’m thinking this, but I look beautiful.
After shooing the maids away, Eris settled on the couch and turned on the holo-screen. Now I guess I just wait here until Prince Charming returns and escorts me to the ball. Does that make me Cinderella? Too bad I threw away those see-through heels Varrin bought me in the market.
Varrin soon returned, bursting through the door and striking a dramatic pose. “What do you think?” he said, gesturing at his new outfit—close-fitting, matte black, and trimmed with crimson. His right arm was still protected by the sleek, black metal cast, and there were no less than three belts strapped around his waist, complete with shiny red buckles.
Those feelings of attraction that she had once felt for Varrin began to stir again, but Eris ruthlessly quashed them. She wasn’t making that mistake again. “It’ll do,” she said nonchalantly.
Varrin laughed and sketched her a bow. “Well then, my lady, shall we away to the ball?”
She took his proffered arm and let him lead her from the suite.
23
The gala was underway by the time they arrived at the Nebula Room. Glancing around the huge ballroom, Eris saw several finely dressed alien couples on the dance floor, swaying to the beat of invisible drums. Above them stretched a dark glass ceiling onto which was projected an impressive hologram of a spiraling nebula. More aliens were scattered around the edges of the hall, some chatting by the long, glass-topped bar, others sipping colorful drinks as they watched the dancers.
Varrin led her to a sitting area with several small tables and plush lounge chairs where a group of aliens were immersed in a heated debate. When Varrin paused at the edge of the group, Eris stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “Do you know them?”
“I’ve met most of them,” he replied. “When you run—or pretend to run—in certain circles, you get to know most of the important players.” He then called loudly, “Gentlemen! It’s been awhile!”
“Aedar!” a few of the aliens greeted him, waving him over to join them.
Varrin pulled out an empty seat for Eris. She carefully smoothed the ivory gown beneath her as she settled down on the plush cushion.
“Haven’t seen you in, what, two years?” a slimy alien said, hurrying over and wrapping a tentacle around Varrin’s shoulder. “How’ve you been, my boy? Still playing the smuggling game?”
“Something like that,” Varrin said, gingerly removing the tentacle. “I heard Noppi might be here for—there you are, you old space pirate!” Abandoning Eris, he went over to chat with a leonine alien sitting on the opposite side of the group.
Eris knew he was just catching up with old acquaintances, but she couldn’t help feeling annoyed that Varrin had left her sitting there without first introducing her to anyone. She was about to go join him when she noticed the muscular, bald alien sitting next to her. He looks like a Scalkan, she thought. I’d better be careful.
Eris caught the Scalkan giving her an appreciative once-over and stiffened uncomfortably.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” the big man asked.
“Mimi,” she said frostily.
He smiled. “Cute name.”
“Thanks.” Eris looked away and pretended to be fascinated by something that was not the obviously interested alien next to her.
She focused on the couples twirling gracefully across the prismatic dance floor. Eris had never had much opportunity to dance. She had been to several parties in middle school but had always been a wallflower. And even if someone had asked her to dance, she probably would have said no. Then again, if those parties had been as spectacular as this one and my dress this lovely, maybe I would have said yes.
A braying laugh interrupted her reverie. Eris jumped when a large, meaty hand landed on her bare shoulder. She looked up to find the Scalkan staring down at her. “I’m Kraigoth,” he said. “I’m an old business acquaintance of Korlethi’s.”
Eris eyed him suspiciously. He seems nice enough …
“You’re watching those dancers mighty intently, Miss Mimi,” Kraigoth continued. “Care for a dance?” He beamed at her and held his hand out invitingly.
“Oh, why not,” Eris said. “Although I should probably warn you I don’t really dance.”
“Not a problem, Miss Mimi. I’m good enough for both of us.” Winking, Kraigoth led her onto the dance floor. He placed one arm around her waist and began to twirl her slowly across the floor to the beat of the drums.
Eris discovered that the dance had elements of the waltz in it and that if she let him lead, she could keep up without looking completely inept. “You’re an excellent dancer,” she said.
Kraigoth nodded as if it had never been in question. “For someone who doesn’t dance, you’re doing remarkably well.”
“My father taught me a little,” Eris explained. “He used to waltz me around the living room when I was younger.”
“Used to?”
“He left when I was seven, and I haven’t seen him since. My mother is very … overbearing. I think he couldn’t take it anymore.”
In response, Kraigoth pulled her closer as if giving her a hug while they danced. Eris felt a bit uncomfortable, but he didn’t let his hands stray, so she forced herself to relax.
“So how do you know Va—Aedar?” she asked.
“We met a few years ago,” he said and then lifted his arm to send her into a spin. Eris laughed as the world twirled around her. Drawing her back in, he added, “I’m in shipping. Korlethi put me in touch with a very affluent buyer. All above-board, of course.”
“Of course,” Eris said, smiling.
“So you’re here with Korlethi?”
“Something like that.”
“Shame,” Kraigoth said seriously. “You could do a lot better.
Korlethi acts like a gentleman, but I’ve heard some nasty rumors.”
Eris glanced over at Varrin, who was deep in conversation with the leonine alien. “That doesn’t surprise me,” she admitted. “To be perfectly honest, I’m with him more out of necessity than by choice.”
“That’s no reason to be with a man,” Kraigoth said.
“There are extenuating circumstances.”
“Like what?” he challenged. “Does he have some hold over you?”
“Not a hold, exactly.”
“Then what?”
She looked toward Varrin again. He was still conversing with Noppi. Lowering her voice, Eris said, “He’s promised to take me and my friend to Psilos.”
Kraigoth furrowed his brow. “Well, I can’t say I’m personally headed in that direction, but I have several cargo ships that make the run every few days. You and your friend are welcome to hitch a ride.”
Eris’s eyes widened at his generosity. “That’s very kind of you, but I don’t want to impose—”
“You wouldn’t be,” Kraigoth said. He favored her with another friendly smile. “I dislike seeing women taken advantage of, Miss Mimi, regardless of their species.”
He certainly seems trustworthy, Eris thought as they spun silently across the floor. And three days ago I might have taken him up on his offer, but now—
Her train of thought was cut off when the song ended and the dancers stepped away from each other. “Care for another dance?” Kraigoth asked, extending his big hand.
Eris was about to accept when she felt someone grasp her other hand and pull her away from the Scalkan. She found herself face-to-face with Varrin.
“My turn,” the Rakorsian said.
“The lady and I weren’t finished,” Kraigoth rumbled.
Varrin arched an eyebrow. “Oh, I think you were.”
“Don’t cause a scene,” Eris hissed.
With a mischievous sparkle in his eye, Varrin released her and sank into an overdramatic bow that brought his nose down nearly to his knees. “Would my lady deign to be seen dancing with a lowly mortal such as myself?”
Unbelievable. “Thank you for the dance,” Eris told Kraigoth. “But I should probably dance with Aedar before he injures himself.”
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