Page 14 of Shadows of Stardust

Keeping my steps lighter and more careful, I trail them the rest of the way to the falls and pool and the small mossy clearing surrounding it. It’s at the very edge of the production zone, ringed by the tall metal fence that circles the entire area. Though, this section is cleverly camouflaged by trees andshrubbery and climbing vines that make it almost impossible to pick out from the rest of the thick jungle.

The entire scene is lit with blue-green light shining up from the bottom of the pool. Roslyn lets out a soft gasp as they step into the clearing, with a bright smile so genuine it makes me doubt myself again.

Leave. I should just leave them to their evening. They’ve got three cams on them, more than adequately recording their interaction. There’s no reason to think she’s about to commit some kind of crime.

I’ve almost resolved to do just that. To leave them alone and review the footage later, spend the rest of the evening conducting more research or—perhaps more sensibly—doing my actual job of monitoring the entire zone rather than fixating on a single contestant.

Until a movement from the clearing’s edge catches my attention.

The Vas-Greshiran steps toward the pool, but Roslyn stays where she is, waiting until his back is turned before she brushes her fingers along the fence.

Idly—something that might almost look like an accident if I wasn’t watching so closely—her hand finds the metal links. Her fingers flex briefly, like she’s testing the weight and the strength of them. How likely they might be to hold a small human trying to climb up and over.

When the Vas-Greshiran turns back around to face her, she drops her hand slowly, casually, returning the smile he gives her with one of her own, looking untroubled, calm, completely at ease as she joins him by the pool.

“This is beautiful.”

I catch the edge of her soft murmur as I skirt through the jungle, positioning myself at a better angle to observe the two of them.

“I think there are a lot of plants on Eritin II that glow like this,” the male says, gesturing to the shifting blue-green light cast by the waterweeds growing at the bottom of the pool as the two of them crouch down to get a better look.

The hovercams follow, circling slowly to capture the whole romantic scene.

Roslyn nods enthusiastically. “That’s right. It’s a bacterium, actually, that causes the bioluminescence. It’s not harmful to touch, and it’s found in both aquatic and terrestrial…”

She trails off, and even in the dim of the evening and the soft glow of the pool, it’s easy to spot the flush of color on her pale cheeks. Like it did on the landing strip earlier, that color appears to be tied to some emotion. Embarrassment, perhaps, as she clears her throat and pauses what must be a recounting of some very detailed study she’s done on this planet and its environment.

Handy, that kind of study. Especially if one were to find themselves in the thick of the Eritin jungle carrying out some mission outside the Mate Match production zone.

“Sorry,” she says with a half-hearted laugh. “I don’t mean to bore you with a lecture.”

“You’re not boring me in the slightest, Roslyn.” He brushes a lock of dark brown hair behind her ear. “Quite the opposite, actually.”

Smooth, this male.

Roslyn’s posture stiffens slightly at the touch, but she recovers quickly as she forces another laugh.

“Great. I would hate to think I’m ruining your first night here.”

The Vas-Greshiran straightens and offers her a hand. Roslyn takes it, allowing herself to be helped up.

Another smooth move by this male as he uses the assistance to his advantage, drawing her close until the two of them are nearly in an embrace.

Roslyn’s eyes go wide, and wider still when he leans down and murmurs something into her ear that I can’t catch from this distance. Another pulse of color climbs her cheeks, stains her neck and chest a deep pink.

When the male pulls back, he’s staring down at her with all the tenderness in the universe shining in his eyes.

Besotted, I’m sure he appears to the cameras. Perhaps to Roslyn as well, though she doesn’t seem to be as starry-eyed as she drops her gaze to her feet and lets out another small, huffed laugh.

Undeterred, the male takes her hand in his and leads her back toward the beach.

After another murmured, close conversation I can’t hear from where I’m tailing them, they part. He looks back once over his shoulder as he heads into the pavilion, with a roguish grin no doubt meant to melt hearts and win admirers in the Mate Match audience.

And to charm Roslyn, of course.

Roslyn, however, stays right where she is, feet rooted to the sand for a few moments before she gives her head a sharp shake and turns on her heel to head in the opposite direction.

Perhaps back to her bungalow, or to explore more of the filming zone’s defenses, and I don’t spare even a moment’s hesitation before following.

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