Bound to the Stars

Chapter 5

A strange silence moves through the group. Nadine looks at me before turning back toward the woman. "Are you sure?"

"My roommate works in the medical wing. She heard the attendants talking this morning." The woman gestures toward the unfamiliar guards lining the hallway. "Those are royal security."

I glanced toward the nearest Valerathyin dressed in black. Well, s**t.

The attendant behind us orders everyone to continue moving before anyone can ask another question. Nadine stays unusually quiet for the rest of the walk, and I find myself watching the Valerathyins as we pass more closely.

I've never met any member of their royal family. I have absolutely no desire to change that. The moment the doors to our living quarters close behind us, everyone begins talking at once. Questions bounce around the room faster than anyone can answer them. Why would the royal family come here? Has someone been matched? Were we being moved? Had something happened outside the center?

I make my way toward my bed and sit down, deciding that participating in the speculation isn't going to make the answers appear any faster. Nadine follows me and sits on the edge of her own bed. She watches me for a moment before narrowing her eyes. "You are being suspiciously quiet."

"I don't care."

"You care a little."

I gave her a look. "The same king responsible for putting us here is coming to visit the prison. A prison that he himself insists isn't a prison. Forgive me for not being excited."

Before Nadine can respond, a woman across the room speaks loudly enough to get everyone's attention. "Do you think the prince will be with them?" Apparently, that question is far more interesting because several conversations stop immediately.

“I heard he's never been to a matching center," another woman says while folding the blanket at the end of her bed. Someone near the window shakes her head. "That's not true."

"It is. He doesn't agree with them."

That gets my attention despite my best efforts not to care. Another woman scoffs. "That's human propaganda."

"Why would humans create propaganda that makes an alien prince look good?" Fair point.

The first woman sits down on her bed. "He's spoken against the matching centers. My brother heard one of his broadcasts before they took us. He wanted humans to be allowed to stay in their own communities and for the Valerathyins to find their mates naturally."

I glance toward Nadine and find her looking back at me. She gives me a small shrug. "Have you heard that before?" I ask her.

"A little."

"And you never mentioned it?" I'm not sure why that annoys me, given that she's right; I probably wouldn't have cared. Nadine seemed to reach the same conclusion. "You hate all of them. I didn't think you'd care."

"I don't." I looked back toward the women across the room. "So what? We're supposed to applaud him because he realized kidnapping humans and locking them inside matching centers might be morally questionable?"

"I don't think that's what they're saying." Nadine leans back on her hands. "Maybe he really doesn't agree with his parents."

"He still lives in their palace. He still benefits from everything his family has done."

"He's the prince, Anna. Not the king. Maybe he can't stop them."

That quiets me. I don't like it when Nadine makes reasonable points while I'm trying to be angry. I know almost nothing about the Valerathyin prince. I've seen his image, obviously. His face has appeared on broadcasts and during some of our lessons, usually when they're teaching us about the royal family. I know he's the only son of the king and queen. I know he's next in line for the throne.

That's about it.

Apparently, according to the conversation happening around me, he's also incredibly attractive. I wouldn't know. They all look strange to me. "He's unmated too," someone announces from the other side of the room.

Nadine's eyebrows lift. "How can their prince still be unmated?" The woman shrugs. "Same reason most of them are. He hasn't found her yet."

"Maybe she's not human," another woman offers. "She probably is. Almost every new bond they've discovered has involved a human."

I decided I have officially had enough of this conversation. I lie back on my bed and pull the blanket over my head. Nadine laughs beside me. "What are you doing?"

"Removing myself from this conversation." My voice is muffled beneath the blanket, but that is perfectly fine with me. "You know the blanket doesn't make you invisible."

"I'm willing to test that theory." She grabs the edge and pulls it away from my face. I glare up at her, which only makes her smile wider. "If the prince is coming here, there's a possibility his mate could be here." I grab the blanket back. "Congratulations to her."

Nadine is quiet for a moment. Too quiet. I know that silence. Slowly, I lowered the blanket enough to see her face. There is a mischievous smile spreading across it, and I immediately know I am not going to like whatever comes out of her mouth next. "What if it's you?"

I yank the blanket completely away from my face. "Take that back." Nadine laughs at the horror in my voice. "I'm just saying. Technically, it's possible."

"Well, stop saying." The thought alone makes my stomach turn. After this morning's lesson, the last thing I need is for Nadine to put that possibility into the universe. “You could be a princess.” She draws out the last word, clearly enjoying my discomfort far more than any best friend should.

"I would rather lick the floor." I gesture toward the concrete beneath our beds to emphasize exactly how serious I am. Her face twists in disgust. "That is absolutely vile."

"So is the idea of mating with one of them."

"You don't even know him." Nadine reaches over and grabs her pillow, settling it behind her back. "What if he's actually nice?"

"He's an alien."

"That's speciesist." I slowly turn my head toward her, trying to determine whether she is serious. The way her lips press together tells me she's fighting a laugh.

"Did you seriously just accuse me of being speciesist toward the aliens who invaded our planet?"

Nadine finally loses the battle and laughs. "Maybe."

"You've officially lost your mind."

"Probably," she admits, still laughing as I turn onto my side and face away from her. The conversation continues around us, but I stop listening. The prince could walk through every building in this place for all I care. He could sense someone tomorrow, take his mate, and return to whatever palace the Valerathyins have claimed for themselves.

None of it has anything to do with me. At least, that's what I tell myself. A few minutes later, another announcement sounded throughout the center, quieting the room. "All residents will remain in their assigned quarters until tomorrow morning. Prepare for royal inspection at 0900." Groans immediately fill the room. I close my eyes and shove my face farther into my pillow. Great.