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Entropy |
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Putting the maid in handmaid is
hard enough, but sacrificing her virginity on the wedding night is a
lot to ask of a bridesmaid.
Excerpt: A geothermal examination of Yana was not a glamorous assignment, but she was happy to have it. Her last two global assessments had been disasters. Ali puttered around her home, setting the kettle on before stripping off her insulated leggings and jacket. She threw on her woolly shawl and waited for her visitor to knock. The kettle had whistled and she was steeping a pot when the knock came. Ali rushed to open the door, stumbling back at the blast of cold that froze her to the bone. Dressed in the cloak and the casual garb of his kind, a Yanese male entered her toasty abode. He stomped his feet to dislodge snow while closing the door. No one on Yana left a visitor in the cold. It was horribly rude. "Tea?" she blurted out the one word that she could manage as she took in his pale green features framed by black hair with intense green eyes. Little green men did not describe the Yanese, though they were some of the visitors to ancient Terra. "Please. Alia Morgan?" "Yes. And you?" "Symon Ioneal. Ember's brother." He shucked his cloak, removed his gloves and placed them on the drying rack near the door. Such arrangements were standard on a world locked in a perpetual winter. "How is she?" Alia flipped her black braid behind her and placed a cup of tea with condiments on the table. He added sweet and citrus to his, and she followed suit. "She is getting married and wishes you to attend the ceremony." He grinned at her as he delivered the bombshell, "As the handmaid of honour." The sputtering was not ladylike, but she couldn't help it. The moment he looked at her, she lost all composure. Those green eyes saw right through her and she wasn't sure he liked what he saw. His eyes were very intense, taking in every inch of her face before sending his gaze down to her breasts for assessment. "Why me and why didn't she come herself?" "As her brother, it is my duty to see to details of the wedding, that includes getting you to the ceremony." He sipped at his tea and nodded in satisfaction. "Who taught you to make tea?" "My foster mother. We make it the same way on Terra. Sorry if it is too strong." She was babbling, but his gaze was exceptionally intense. "May I ask why you are staring at me?" "Oh, I will be your partner at the wedding, I am the groomsman of honour. I am just getting used to your colouring." "Oh." Lavender eyes were unknown on Yana, her black hair was common enough though. Her skin pinked under his scrutiny. "You change colour, how lovely. I was afraid you were snow white all the time." She didn't dignify that with an answer, sipping deeply at her tea before pouring him and then herself another cup. She had six months left on Yana before she would be recalled to the Alliance. As a Terran Volunteer she had only one task left before she was able to roam where she wished and find a home. Ali had to have a baby and the Alliance had to approve her match. She shook her head. That was nonsense and she would deal with it later. "When is the wedding?" He sipped at his cup and pursed his lips slightly as if he didn't want to speak. "The day after tomorrow." Her cup clattered in the saucer. "What? Why so soon?" "Ember is pregnant. She and Rudai are having a covenant marriage right off the start. No easing into it." His mouth pulled in a grimace. "Not a planned baby then?" "No. Rudai knows better, but he wanted her and he was determined to have her." There was something behind his irritation. "Friend of yours?" "For twenty years. Didn't stop him from fucking my sister though." He scowled. Alia blinked and barked out a laugh. "From what Ember said, I am fairly sure they met in the middle on that one." "She mentioned him to you?" "Yes, when I was in Teness before I came here to the geo station." She thought about it for a moment. "I don't know if I can get leave from my duties." "It is already done. I have contacted the prefect and have arranged clearance for you to attend the wedding and ceremonies." She smiled at him, not looking into his eyes. "When do we leave?" His tone was smug. "How fast can you be ready? The creeper is idling on the other side of the escarpment." She blinked. "Do I need to bring clothes?" Symon looked as if he wanted to say something naughty, but instead he said, "Clothing will be provided for you. Your circumstances are known." She nodded, ignoring the lump in her throat. As the Terran Volunteer, she had ship suits and jumpsuits and nothing more. The insulated clothing had been given to her by the Yana government, it wasn't even hers. She had nothing. Alia set the heat and maintenance levels of her small facility to keep it above freezing. She plugged in a few data runs that needed to be processed, then pulled on her leggings and coat. Stomping into her boots, she quickly rinsed and dried the tea set, putting the accessories into the fridge so they wouldn't freeze. At Symon's nod, she pulled on her gloves, wrapped the lower part of her hood so that only her eyes were exposed and vulnerable. The Yanese cloaks were known for their insulating properties, but they were valuable and not offered to aliens. Alia had to make do with the snowsuit. He pulled the door open and waved for her to precede him. Symon latched the door behind them and took the lead. She followed closely through the swirling snow, catching up when he paused to wait for her. In this whiteout, only a few feet made the difference between life and death, so getting lost was not a good idea. She threw her senses open again, keeping a tight grip on his signature as they walked to the creeper. The hum that the vehicle emanated was only audible from a few feet away. The snow absorbed all other sound. Symon practically threw her into the creeper, she shivered around in the cab until she was firmly seated and he took the steering mechanism into his hands to start them moving. "How long have you been out here? Ember didn't mention it." The instrument readings in front of him lit the path that would lead them back to Teness. "Six months." "Six months alone in that shed?" "Yes. It isn't the worst assignment I have had." She shrugged to hide her defensive instinct. She was touchy when folks insulted her home. He nodded, his black hair sliding free of his hood. "What do you know about Yana wedding ceremonies?" "They are similar to Terran ones except in the restriction of wedding parties. The bride and groom take different vows depending on their level of marriage. If it is convenience, they agree to honour their families, if it is a love match, they swear to formalize if their love brings children, and if a covenant, the bride must be a vir… How is Ember having a covenant marriage?" He set the creeper on auto and turned to look at her. "There has to be a virgin on the wedding night at a covenant marriage, but it does not have to be the bride, merely a member of the bridal party." Ten miles from her home and safety, locked in a vehicle with someone claiming to be her best friend's brother, she only had one thing to say, "No fucking way."
Entropy - available at Extasy Books
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