Page 4 of Orin

The friendly male, standing at almost seven feet tall, towered over me and was at least half-a-foot taller than Orin or other pure Alarans. Adorning his head were two gold-colored horns, with one extending from each temple that curled around his pointed ears.

All pure Alarans possessed blue-green skin, but Clor’s teal skin also had a shimmery silver hue to it. His hair was white as snow and cut short. Although he seemed close in age to me, I wasn’t sure how old he was.

The two large bumps on his back were almost hidden by his typical attire of pale trousers and a billowy beige top. The bumps confused me. Once I got to know him, I asked about them and he confessed that his mother was Ixul from the planet Graacux.

He was born with wings like his mother and confided in me he had never shown them to anyone in public. He kept them hidden. Even from me. Clor did not possess the same level of telepathy as pure-blooded Alarans, but he appeared to have strong empathic abilities.

Despite their differences, I stopped perceiving the people around me as aliens.

Rather than fighting against my new circumstances, I realized it was easier to accept my new life and try to adapt best I could. That included accepting that the people on Alara looked different from me, and I was one of only two humans on the planet.

I got the impression that Clor wasn't comfortable with long silences. Because when we hung out, he talked. A lot. Today was no different, and Clor didn’t stop talking while he filled me in on the latest juicy palace gossip.

“...and someone witnessed them exiting the closet,” he finished, then widened his eyes, giving a scandalous glance.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the way Clor told stories with all the drama in his voice. It was delightful that this seven-foot tall being that appeared intimidating was lighthearted and funny.

He sighed, and I noticed a wistful look on his face, but it vanished when he caught me staring. We were both lonely, but avoided discussing it with one another. I didn’t want to hurt Clor or lead him on. My heart belonged to someone who would never want me. But it didn’t stop my longing for Orin.

We neared the doors to the gardens, and Clor turned his head to gaze at me. “Have you considered where you'll live after the baby is born? Are you still thinking of leaving Alara?”

My eyes met his. “I haven't decided yet.” I responded with a casual shrug.

The reality was that I couldn’t decide whether to stay on Alara.

Should I choose to stay, Grace would be the only female friend I had, and I’d still feel lonely. Especially since I couldn’t see myself settling down with anyone but Orin.

Being surrounded by thousands of other humans in a human colony would help me feel less isolated. There, I wouldn't bump into Orin and be reminded that he had no desire to be with me.

“I understand.” Clor nodded, looking disappointed. “I’ll make my way back to the kitchen.” He smiled. “I promise to bring extra yudatillo cakes when I visit later.”

We said goodbye, and he headed toward the kitchen.

When I turned, I saw Orin walking in the opposite direction. It had been weeks since I last saw him and I couldn’t resist calling out just to get a glimpse of his face.

My mouth fell open when he stopped and gazed back in my direction. He squinted at Clor’s back, then grumbled something about the city guard, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying.

Without a second look, he walked away. If I didn’t know any better, I would think he was jealous. I laughed at my thoughts.Yeah, right. Good one, Liv.

3

Olivia

STEPPING INTO THE PALACEgarden, I was met with unique floral scents that never failed to lift my spirits. There was a mix of sweet yet peppery fragrances. They weren’t familiar to me, so I couldn't compare them to anything on Earth.

The colors on this planet were truly exceptional. The sky also had a soft pink hue that I found fascinating. There were tiny shrubs with cute yellow-gold flowers that stuck straight up, and the garden beds had tons of plants, shrubs, and flowers of all shapes and sizes.

I didn’t stop to admire them because I knew Grace was waiting for me at one of the tables in the tent. The same tent where King Trex was crowned and their mate bonding ceremony took place. Trex’s transition from warrior to King left him unsettled when we first arrived on his home planet, after his father’s death.

But together, he and Grace were making the best of ruling the planet and overseeing the Protectorate Alliance Forces.

I heard my name being called by Grace, and I turned to see her waving at me. She was my sole human companion on Alara since Riley left months ago with Krin.

“You look pretty today,” she said, getting up to hug me.

Standing nearby were staff waiting to bring us our food. My butt barely hit the chair when one of the male staff members brought over a tray of cups, a pot of Tulian tea, and some Alaran foods that I already knew would be delicious.

The baby kicked, and I rubbed my belly, eyeing the delicious-looking lunch. The tray also had some yummy yudatillo cake, my favorite sweet treat.

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