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Stop thinking about what you don’t have. Won’t have. You’re going to fill that empty space. Wealth. Power. Managing the estate. Seeing your district rise again...
My engagement to Cala was purely a power move. This is no different.
He rolled to his side, wishing sleep would come, but it was even more stubborn than he was.
This marriage will be no different.
But maybe... Maybe I wish it could be.
Chapter Six
Jade stepped into the hall of the lodging house. Her belongings were packed, but she left them in her room. She was paid through the end of the cycle, anyway.
“Miss Jade! Wow...” Claude, Griselda’s grandson, was standing in the hall, eyes wide.
“Oh, hi, Claude. Ready to go to the mine?” Jade asked. She managed a real smile for him.
“You look—you must be the prettiest queen in town.” Claude’s tail swayed nervously behind him, then curled around his ankle as he ducked his head.
Jade chuckled. “You think?” She was wearing a dress in shimmering, cobalt blue, one that Griselda made for her for a very small price.
Griselda and Claude had adopted her, even more than the other humans who’d arrived with her. She was the one who had never moved out, never found lodgings of her own. She had just stayed as the cycles flew past. Jade knew they would miss her, and she would miss them, and tough but kindly old Miles, too.
“Oh, yes! Grandma would tell me I shouldn’t ought to say it because you’re a grown Queen, and I’m just barely a Knight, but whoo-ee. You’re gonna get married up before you know it.”
Her chuckle deepened and grew, a trickle of warmth turning into a sweeping tide that erased most of the coolness in her chest—for a moment. “I hope so. I’m supposed to meet my future husband today. He’s on the ship that’s coming.”
Claude’s eyes rounded, and his ears flattened. “What? You’re gettin’ married? To a stranger?? Grandma and I’ve never even met him! How did you meet him? How d’you know he’s a good man, gonna treat you right?”
“Aw, Claude. My Knight in shining armor.” Jade knew the pun would pass over his head, but she didn’t care. She allowed herself to hug the boy, already as tall as her. When he was fully grown, he would be at least a head taller. “He’s a Leopardine from a very respectable family. I’m sure he’ll treat me fine.”
“Why? ‘Cause he’s got credits in the bank?”
The warm feelings slowly sapped away. “I suppose.”
“Oh.” Claude looked surprised at her answer. “But you love him?”
“Love isn’t necessary for a marriage, Claude—uh. Not for me. For you, yes. You’ll find a Queen that thinks the world of you, who loves you from ears to tail,” she reassured.
But Claude had his grandmother’s stubbornness. “Why me and not you? That don’t make sense.”
“It does, Claude, honestly, it does.” Jade licked her lips. She wouldn’t tell the young Felid about her past career, or how she’d learned that she couldn’t love anyone. “You see, sometimes you like someone, and they’re an excellent match. It’s not love, but it’s enough. Look, most of the town is heading to the mine to welcome the Comet Stalker. I’ll introduce you to Ardol. You tell me if he’s a good Knight, okay?”
“Hm. I will. I’ll get Sheriff Dane to check him out, too!”
Jade smiled and nodded. Whatever he found out, it wouldn’t matter. She was going to marry Ardol. The last message he’d sent included their newly purchased marriage license and instructions to be ready to wed two days after he landed. Factual. Work instructions.
Most of her clients had some kind of perverted passion or other. Some emotion—good or bad.
“You smell worried.” Claude’s nose twitched.
“Well... I am. I’m worried that I’ll miss you too much when I leave. But we’ll comm each other, all right?”
Claude’s swallow was audible. “All right, Miss Jade. Couldn’t you and this Leopardine live here? It’d be a cinch to find you folks a house. My parents’ house...” Claude blinked suddenly and then smiled, “My Mom and Dad aren’t around anymore, and I gotta live here where Grandma can keep an eye on me...” He shrugged. “My aunt had a house, too. She was gonna move into it when she got married. Bet Grandma would sell it to you and that Leopardine.”
“Oh, Claude. That’s incredibly sweet, but I couldn’t. You’ll live in one of those houses one day and sell the other to one of your friends. Won’t that be nice?”
Yes. It would be nice to grow up in houses near your family and friends, to live in a place like this, where everyone helps each other. Where people rely on each other and don’t abuse the privilege.
