The Chosen 5: Trapped

Chloe gripped the handrail as she gazed at the two large moons gleaming in the dark, alien sky of Zibon 8. She felt dizzy as she looked down over the edge. She was so far up she couldn’t see the ground, whether ocean or land.

Looking back up, she tried to remember how different Earth’s moon was. It was sad to think that she’d barely looked at it back home. That she’d barely noticed anything of her world.

So caught up in her little life, in her little home in Texas, she’d rarely noticed the blue of the sky or the shining stars.

She closed her eyes, letting all the new sensations prickle against her skin. It felt different too. It smelled different.

In a queer way, it made her pine for home. She was starting to miss the blue. The one moon.

Everything that was once normal.

Chloe opened her eyes. The nostalgia came and went and didn’t last long. The excitement of a new world, of a new life, was waiting for her, begging her to reach out and take it.

Chloe’s eyelids fluttered as a big warm presence made itself known. Two huge hands curled around the railing beside hers. It felt like the air was vibrating.

His smell suffused her body like a perfume. She took a deep breath and released it, and immediately her misgivings and regrets swept away.

How did he do that? They’d known each other for almost a year now. They’d been in each other’s pockets every minute of every day.

How could he feel like a beautiful, wonderful stranger she was still getting to know, and yet feel like someone she’d known for several lifetimes?

Tor leaned his chin upon her head. “You think too much.”

“Yes.”

“We must go.”

Chloe sniffed. “Curfew is for children.”

“I agree, but what can we do?”

Chloe leaned back into him, his warm chest pressing up against her back. “What will happen if we break it?”

“I guess they’ll drag us back.”

“Then what’s the rush?” She felt a thrill of excitement. “Why not give them a bit of a fight for a change?”

He chuckled. “I guess we could see what happens.”

Chloe gazed into Zibon 8’s night sky, trying to keep her mind focused away from Tor—but it was hard. And it seemed to be getting harder and harder as each day passed.

“Is our bond getting stronger?” she asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“Do I really need to answer?” She entwined her fingers through his. “Doesn’t it worry you?”

“Do you really need to ask?”

Chloe was frustrated, and yet she couldn’t help smiling. Tor always did this to her, made her feel so many opposite things.

She turned in his arms. Tor was smiling too. His long dark hair tumbled down over his big shoulders, shifting in the breeze.

The alienness of his face suddenly struck her: his too-big jaw, his too-high cheekbones, those predatory yellow eyes. His sheer hugeness was another thing; it made her shiver, it made her heart beat hard, it made her want to curl up into him like a kitten and completely lose herself.

He always reminded her of her “femaleness” in a way no other person did.

His silvery shirt glittered. His smile broadened into a grin, and it made something inside her lurch.

Seizing his face, Chloe looked into his yellow eyes. They were gleaming against the moonlight and seemed to pierce her right down deep into her bones. The tip of her tongue was tingling.

Her mouth filled with saliva. She didn’t realize she was kissing him until a voice called for them to stop.

They jerked apart.

“Curfew!” the voice barked.

Chloe wiped her mouth with a start. Tor’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes glowing like liquid gold. He was panting as he turned to look at who had disrupted them.

Two men stood at the entrance to the balcony, arms folded.

“It is only our job, Tor. It is what keeps you safe,” the one on the left spoke.

“No offense, Darrin, but I think I can do a better job keeping Chloe safe than you can, don’t you think?”

“Don’t make this hard. Just go back to your quarters,” he said. He sounded tired.

And with that, she took Tor’s hand and stormed her way back across the balcony, the two Zibons pulling out of their way.

Once they were out of earshot, Tor said, “You continue to surprise me. Where did that come from?”

Chloe shrugged, too angry to speak. She was shaking as they made their way down the women’s quarters.

When they reached their room, Chloe sat down on the edge of the bed, breathless. The automatic lights flicked on.

“Easy for you to say,” Chloe said. “They don’t treat you like you’re a breeding dog with no other purpose in life.”

“They don’t think that.”

Chloe laughed darkly. As he tried to sit down and take her hand, Chloe stood. She started pacing the room.

Itchy to do something. Itchy for Tor.

She raked her fingernails down her neck.

“They’re starting to look at me strangely,” Chloe said. “Haven’t you noticed? They’re starting to get suspicious.”

She touched her eye. Every morning, she checked for the telltale bumps, just to make sure their precautions were still working.

“I won’t deny that,” Tor said.

“What do you think will happen when they catch on?”

“I cannot say.”

“But you’re worried,” she said. “Do you think they’ll… Do you think they’ll force us?”

He didn’t answer. Chloe could feel the ripple of unease through their bond.

“It isn’t fair,” she said.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

“Stop with the guilt. I don’t blame you.”

“You should. It is my fault.”

“You saved me.”

“And imprisoned you again.”

“No.” She gripped her throat as it swelled with tears. “Even if—even if I were forced, I’d prefer it. I’d prefer it over several lifetimes over what I had before. At least I’ll be with you.”

Tor stood and joined her.

“You say that because of the bond, but I appreciate it.” Smiling, he stroked her nose with his broad forefinger. “We’ll get through this.”

Chloe gazed up into his eyes. “As long as we’re together.”

“We have to be together, remember?” He broke out into laughter. “We have no choice!”

Chloe smiled, her tears drying up as his humor echoed darkly and wonderfully through their bond. As he laughed, she watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down.

It made his throat seem thicker, his shoulders broader, his hands more huge. He suddenly filled the room.

Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips against him.