Page 18 of Pulled By the Tail
The dark thought spoiled her mood. Was he waiting for her? Or would she arrive and find herself a widow?
Freema, however, kept up her correspondence. Each day had a new message, even if it was only a brief, “I miss you.” Near the end of her residency, Freema often repeated that when she accepted a post on a colony, there would always be a place for Georgia.
Having a fallback plan helped to calm her nerves. If it didn’t work out, if she couldn’t get along with Tranquility or he was deceased, then she’d lick her wounds, go live with Freema, and become one of many human colonists seeding the stars.
No, she scolded herself. She wouldn’t start this new chapter of her life with one foot already out the door. She made a commitment and would see it through.
Her journey was at an end. Just outside the shuttle, her future waited.
She blinked in the afternoon sunlight. Cold air braced against her exposed skin. Winter firmly had its grip on this part of Corra and all her winter gear was packed away. The climate on ships and stations had been strictly controlled, and maybe even a little on the cool side, but she had never needed anything more than a cardigan or light jacket.
The house stole her attention and she forgot all about the cold. Constructed on honey-colored stones, it stood warm and glowing in the sunlight. The doors and windows were semi-circles, a traditional Corravian style she recognized from her reading. Half of the windows were boarded up; the wood painted beige to blend with the stones. The house was massive. Not a castle, not by a long shot, but much grander than any place she had ever rested her head. Despite this, the house still held a warm and inviting air.
The door opened and Georgia’s body snapped to attention, exhaustion vanishing. A coppery bald head peeked out before vanishing again. Before she had a chance to worry that Tranquility forgot about her arrival, the door opened again, and a grinning Tal male strode forward. With an easygoing smile on his face, she recognized him immediately. Tranquility. He hadn’t forgotten after all.
He held out his arms like he greeted an old friend. Georgia dropped her duffel bag to the ground, ready to run forward and embrace, just like in the movies.
A woman with vibrant chestnut hair styled in loose, perfectly placed curls, joined Tranquility and wrapped her arms around his waist. She stretched up on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on his jaw. The message was clear as she marked her territory. “Who’s this, honey bear?”
Chapter 4
Georgia
Freema,
That offer still good?
-G
The woman’s smile hit her as hard as a punch to the gut. She was stunning, Georgia thought, like a slimmer, more glamorous version of herself.
Somehow, while Georgia tried to process the situation, more people joined them. The shuttle pilot unloaded the last of her bags and shoved a tablet toward her for her signature. She took the pen but didn’t sign. Not yet.
“Georgia! At last!” Tranquility’s smile didn’t budge but now, all too late, she realized it did not reach his eyes.
Feeling disconnected from her body, the confusion of several people talking all at once washed over her but did not penetrate the fog in her mind.
Abandoned again. Like always.
Vicious doubt clawed at her, whispering all her worst fears.Replaced, again.
“What’s going on?” she said, finding her voice at last.
“Yeah, honey bear, what’s going on? Who is she?” The woman pressed herself closer to Tranquility.
“Yeah, honey bear,” another Tal male said, his voice mocking. He folded his arms over his broad chest and frowned. He shared more than a passing resemblance to Georgia’s match. This had to be the brother, Talent. He gave his brother such a scornful look that Georgia felt he was on her side.
“I’m Georgia, Tranquility’s match. His mate,” she said, only to be met with silence. Three sets of eyes stared at her blankly, like she spoke a foreign language. Had her translation chip failed? No, it worked flawlessly for months. She shifted nervously from foot to foot. “From Celestial Mates? We're, um, married.”
The blonde narrowed her eyes. “No, I’m married toQuil,” she said, stressing the abbreviated name.
Now it was her turn to stare blankly. “I don’t understand. The agency sent me. We were matched.”
Tranquility—no, Quil—ran a hand through his hair and had the decency to look ashamed. “Well, you see, there was a change of plans—”
Quil kept talking but his words didn’t penetrate the static buzzing in her head. Minutes ago, she had been worried that Quil had died and left her a widow. Instead, she had been left at the altar. Humiliation burned through her.
“I decided to marry Fiona, but don’t worry, I’m not abandoning you,” Quil said. A bitter laugh tore from her throat. “You can marry my brother, Talen. He’s not much to look at, but he’s hardworking and loyal. You can be happy with him. What do you think?” Quil paused, tail swaying behind him like he genuinely expected an answer.
