Page 64 of Alien Wants A Wife

Just when I’m thinking I might as well climb the ladder and head home, for all the good this conversation is doing me, he clears his throat.

“There used to be a plaque. Here.” And he touches the wall, a little to one side of the ladder, about level with his shoulders.

I lean forward a fraction, squinting through the dancing shadows, and that’s when I see there’s a square portion of the rock wall, about the size of an A5 piece of paper, that’s been smoothed of blemishes. And there are four small holes, like where screws might have been.

“Your parents put a plaque there?” I guess. If the planet’s only ever had five residents, then the plaque can’t have been from anyone else. “To mark the first lake?”

“A memorial plaque for my sister.”

Shit.

I move to touch Killan’s arm, thinking of comforting him, then change my mind. He doesn’t seem the kind of guy who’d appreciate a hug—and, well… if I’m being brutally honest, I can feel the cameras watching us, and I don’t particularly want to have my hug rejected by Killan in front of billions of audience members.

“I’m so sorry. Roan told me a bit about how she got sick?—”

“Why are you sorry?” Finally, he looks at me.

The similarities between him and Roan are extreme, but I could never get them confused. Roan is a fraction smaller, afraction less intimidating. Significantly less overbearing. And his eyes aren’t stained by sadness, as Killan’s are.

“Umm…” For a second, I don’t understand his question, then I realize he’s genuinely askingwhy. Maybe offering apologies when someone tells you about their dead sister isn’t how condolences work for Ril’os. “I mean, I’m sorry that happened to you and your family. I’m sorry she got sick.”I’m sorry she died.But I don’t come right out and say it, not when Killan hasn’t said the d-word either. “Where’s the plaque now?”

“Sorin has it.”

“Oh.” Maybe because Sorin could see how heartbroken Killan is, even just thinking about the plaque, let alone seeing it every day. Or maybe Sorin is as heartbroken as his older brother and wanted something in his cottage to remind him of their lost sister.

I can’t work out if Killan’s telling me this just because or if he’s trying to make me understand something. Something important.

Whatever that something important is, I’m not getting it.

“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you, going througheverything.” I hardly know what I’m saying. I do know I don’t want Killan to regret sharing this part of himself with me—and with our audience. I’ve got a strong feeling this moment here is going to make the final cut of today’s episode; it’s exactly the type of juicy family drama that would’ve been highlighted in reality TV back on Earth.

He blinks, looking at me with hazy eyes. I’m not sure he heard me.

“Moving to a new planet. Starting a new life. Working every single day to make sure that what happened to her doesn’t happen to anyone else. It’s an immense responsibility.” No wonder he’s so frickin’ grumpy and stressed all the time. As the oldest brother, he’s carrying a lot of emotional weight on hisshoulders. “Few people would have the strength to bear it as you do.”

“Roan was born on Ril II.”

“Okay…” I turn to more fully face Killan, but he’s glaring at the wall again, as if it did him a personal injury. “Are you telling me that Roan never met your sister?”

“Her name was Roa.”

“Roa sounds an awful lot like ‘Roan’.”

To be born into a family who already loves you, who’s desperate for another child… I’ve always wondered what that might feel like.

And it’s that thought which has me realizing what this absurdly awkward conversation is all about.

“You’re scared I’m going to hurt Roan.” I can barely say the words out loud, and when I hear them, I jump, scared of my own shadow. Scared of Killan being able to look inside of me and seeing the deal I made with Chloe to save myself at Roan’s expense.

There’s nothing I can say that wouldn’t be a huge lie.No, I won’t purposefully break your baby brother’s heart. Even if it is the only way I can guarantee Lydia and Briar and my safe return to Earth.

What was it that our first task had said? Two Truths and A Lie…Can you guess which contestant is hiding the biggest secret of all?Of course that’s me and my preordained betrayal.

Then, I start panicking that me not saying anything is as good as a confession. I splutter something about needing to use the bathroom, grab hold of the ladder and make a hasty escape.

Except it’s not hasty at all. Because climbing up three stores is hell on your muscles, and my arms are still aching from the climb down an hour ago. And because I’m crying, and it’s even harder to climb a ladder when you can barely see through your tears.

Chapter Twenty-Four

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