Bound: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance by Ivy Barrett

Author:Ivy Barrett [Barrett, Ivy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 2023-04-05T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

Cara spent the afternoon with Raina. They walked through the gardens and sat by the pool sharing all their frustrations about Altorian rules and the expectations of their families.

“My parents are horrible,” Cara told her cousin, not interested in going into details. “It was obvious from the start that the only interest they had in me was converting me into some form of profit. What about yours?”

Raina’s laugh was harsh and bitter. “Same thing. They sent me to the Citadel to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. If Flora hadn’t seen me and put a stop to it, I would likely be mated right now.”

“It’s a stay of execution, not a pardon,” Cara pointed out. “We are conduits. It doesn’t matter how loudly we argue or how much we object. We will be claimed by two aggressive males and we’ll spend the rest of our lives as part of a power triad.”

Rather than offer her opinion on the subject, Raina asked, “Why are you being so hard on Grandma? None of this is her fault.”

“I disagree. If she had been honest with us once we were old enough to understand, we might have been able to keep the Altorians from finding us.”

“We don’t know that.” Raina shook her head and sighed. “We were taken to Earth to protect us. You’re not being fair to her.”

Cara didn’t want to fight with Raina. She didn’t even want to fight with Iris. She was just hurt and unsure of what the future held. She sat on the edge of the pool, her feet dangling in the water. Instead of responding to Raina’s charge, she asked, “Why do you continue to use the name Raina? You’re perpetuating the lie.”

“It’s the only name I’ve ever known,” Raina pointed out. “Why switch to Cara? You spent over twenty years as Aspen Hays.”

Cara shook her head. Her entire life on Earth no longer felt real. She started to tell Raina about Tov and Merrik, but thought better of it. She needed to know exactly what Flora had planned before she revealed that she had formed an attachment with a couple of potential mates. “Who and what I was on Earth has never felt so far away.”

Iris exited the house and joined them beside the pool a short time later. Her steps were hesitant, expression cautious. “Flora and her mates just set down in front of the house. You two should put yourselves back together.”

Raina, who wore a bathing suit, rushed over to where she had left her clothes and hurriedly dressed.

Cara drew her feet out of the pool and stood up. She still couldn’t look at her grandmother without wanting to start a fight so she kept her face averted. She dried off her feet and slipped on her sandals. If casual clothes weren’t sufficient, Flora could tell her to change. She was through taking orders from Iris.

“You can’t ignore me forever,” Iris said as Cara brushed past her.

“I can try.”

Raina dashed into the house, clearly excited for the reunion.

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