Page 63 of The Pregnancy Pact

“Come in,” I called, drawing the blankets up higher over my chest. Then I sort of rolled my eyes at my own action. It was a robot, for goodness’ sake, not a man.

Except that it was a male, and not a mecha male. I felt my eyes widen. He was an alien male of a species I’d never seen, with tentacles instead of feet. I bit the lining of my lower lip to keep from registering shock. Instead of hair, smaller tentacles sprouted from his head, reminding me of ancient legends on Earth of Medusa with her snake hair. His skin was bright red, scaled, and he wore a waistcoat over his middle. He glided into the room on five suckered tentacles, approaching my bed, using one of the tentacles to hand me a folded note.

“I am Vreld, Lord Ellax’s personal secretary,” he said. “This message arrived today for you. I believed it best to deliver it in person.”

“Oh.” Delicately, I slipped an arm out from under the blankets, fully aware I was married to his employer now, and I wasn’t wearing a bra. Did he care, though, being from such a different species? I had no idea! I’d had more acquaintance than most humans with multiple alien species, thanks to my former husband’s line of work, but I’d seen more species in the past few days then I’d met the entirety of my life back on Earth in the colony.

“Thank you,” I said, once the message was safely in my hand.

Vreld pressed a tentacle to his heart in an oddly endearing gesture.

“My pleasure.”

He spun about on his tentacles and glided from the room, leaving me sitting there blinking, trying to process what I’d just seen. Maybe there wasn’t any processing it, and I’d have to learn to live with it. After all, this was my new life.

Lady of the house, I mused, reclining against the cool, smooth pillows, glancing around the lavish quarters as I unfolded the note. Lady of the manor. Lady. Lady Lorelai.

Nope. Not sure I’ll ever get used to this, I decided as I flipped the top of the note. My focus fell on the loopy, sprawling Asterion writing, but thankfully I could pick out the writer’s meaning.

Greetings,

Allow me to call this morning and welcome you to Asterion. I will arrive at half-past nine.

—Sirena Ogdell, Elder of the Asterion Council

I glanced up at the Asterion version of a clock, which hung on the wall facing me. The Asterions had a different method of telling time, thanks to their twin suns and the fact that their planet had three moons, not one. On Earth, we humans had been allowed to keep our method of telling time, since that made sense for our planet. However, we’d still been forced to become acquainted with the Asterion method. Gazing at the clock, I mentally calculated the time, and realized—

“Oh, crap!”

I sprang from the bed, Ellax’s shirt twisting around my hips. Hastily, I shoved it back down, hopping on one foot to free my leg that had gotten tangled in the heavy blanket. I had approximately fifteen minutes until Sirena arrived. Sirena, who’d already made it clear that she disliked me, and who seemed to be spearheading the movement to wipe out Earth’s wild humans.

Why the hell is she coming here? I fumed. I know she isn’t coming here to welcome me to Asterion. She might be coming here to put a bullet in my head or a laser through my heart. Wonder if I should have a mecha or Vreld standing guard outside the room.

Which room? I didn’t know where I was supposed to receive visitors. Hell, I didn’t even know where the kitchen was in this mansion. Double hell, I didn’t even know where my clothes were!

This is great, I thought, feeling slightly panicky. I turned in a half-circle, smoothing down my hair. Is she trying to show me up? Here I promised Ellax I’d do everything in my power to be a proper wife for his station and make him look good. Instead, I’m a friggin’ hot mess when one of his peers shows up, and I don’t know what to do about it! Think, Lorelai, think!

My only option seemed to be the dress from last night. Heaving a frustrated sigh, I headed towards it. Sirena seemed like the type who’d take vicious pleasure in seeing me wear the same thing two days in a row, but I had no option besides borrowing my husband’s clothes…which seemed even worse.

I was still grumbling over the unfairness of life in general, not to mention this female Asterion’s terrible timing—which I believed was on purpose—when that weird chime sounded again. The doorbell chime, I realized.

“Yes, come in,” I called, straightening from picking up last night’s gown. A female mecha entered my new room. She mostly resembled a female Asterion, except for her mechanical movements, her grey eyes instead of gold, and the fact that her hair was obviously a wig, lacking natural texture.

“I was informed that you are to receive a guest soon,” she said, in a slightly mechanical tone common to all mechas. “I am Dorrys. I was personal assistant to the late Lady Druea. I will serve you too. I brought you some of her things.”

She’d been wheeling closer as she spoke. My eyes fell on the pile of fabrics laying across her outstretched arms.

Clothes! She’d brought me clothes!

“Thank you, Dorrys. You’re a life saver!” I gasped.

The mecha chuckled. “I do not think these clothes will save your life, but they will help you present a better appearance to Elder Sirena.”

I took the clothing and laid it out on the chair to sort, unaware that the mecha was sizing me up until she said, “May I suggest the black slacks and the red tunic? Although my former mistress had different dimensions than you, I believe those will fit you will admirably.”

I glanced up. A mecha capable of fashion choices? Well, sure. Why wouldn’t she be if she’d been the personal assistant to the probably-very-elegant former Mrs. Ellax Pendorgrin?

“I’ll be glad to accept any help you can give,” I said honestly, pulling the two items she’d suggested from the pile.

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