Smart.

I spend the rest of the Hallec awake, pacing, alternating between staring at the human woman with the haunted eyes and reading the too-short application she filled out several years ago.

By the time the Hallec is over and the city bustles with Wulfric as the suns begin their descent, I am practically vibrating with anticipation.

Tonight, I meet the woman who would be my wife.

Aileen McEllroy.

A human mate.

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CHAPTER 3

AILEEN

I’m halfway to a new life. I blink, eyes adjusting to the lights after the near darkness of the stasis chamber. My legs are shaky as I walk down the ramp of the transport ship, and I cling to the railing for dear life.

A woman, petite and curvy with tiny horns protruding from violently purple hair, holds a sign with my name on it, and my stomach flips with nerves.

The other job seekers on my ships are sorted based on career. Mechanics, engineers, teachers, and other professionals all find their groups based on their own signage, but here I am, alone, and the only human with her name on a sign.

I swallow hard, and the purple-haired woman smiles brightly at me as she catches my eye.

“You must be Aileen,” she gushes, her voice high-pitched and breathy. “Oh, I’m so, so happy you’re here.”

“Ah, me too?” I offer up, but I don’t sound convincing, even to my own ears, and she cuts me a quick look that tells me she’s sizing me up. “Can you tell me what my job is going to be? Or where I’m going?” I force myself to ask the questions, feeling brave despite the slight stammer to them.

My hand waves at the rest of the transport passengers, who are already moving along with their groups.

“I’m Violet,” she says instead, offering a hand. I stare at her open palm. “Don’t humans like to shake hands when they meet?”

“It’s been a long time since I met another human.” The words come out haltingly, and I’m surprised at the depth of the ache in my chest at the words.

“There weren’t humans on your station?” she tilts her head, and her eyes shift color from pale blue to dark purple.

“Yes, there were, but… sorry. Sorry.” I shake my head. “I’m nervous.”

“Oh my stars, of course you are. Of course.” Violet looks pleased at my admission, though, which doesn’t really help. “Okay, well, let’s get you started on the paperwork. Not feeling any stasis sickness, are you? Not going to faint?” Her mouth twists to the side. “Or do something else that human bodies do?”

“I’m…” I take a moment, because I do feel a little strange, and I don’t want to faint, but I also don’t want them to think I’m weak, so I take a deep breath and soldier on. “More paperwork?” I feel as if I’ve signed my entire life away before I even stepped on the transport. So many contracts. So many signatures. So many thumbprint biosignatures.

“Yes, but this is more of a, ah, formality when it comes to our paperwork,” Violet trills. “Your, ah, employer has already approved everything, so this is truly just for us. Then we will get you to our spa for a massage and a, ah, a species-required makeover⁠—”

“I’m sorry, a what now?”

“A species-required makeover. The, um, the world you’re going to live on is peculiar about certain things, mostly scent-related, and we want to ensure that you make a favorable impression in your new home.”

“Right.” The word stretches out of my mouth, and my nervousness starts to curdle into more serious misgivings. I glance over my shoulder at the transport.

Maybe it’s not too late to get back on it.

“A massage, too, of course. An esthetician to work on your, ah, look for your new position. A tailor will come by to measure you and have all your new clothes made.”

“A uniform?” I ask, perking up slightly. A uniform wouldn’t be so bad.

“Ah, no, not exactly. Just follow me, and we’ll get you started on your luxury treatment. The home you’re going to is providing the works. The upgraded Stardust package. You’ll be pampered from now until you get on the shuttle to your planet.”

“Home?” I echo, trying to not trip over my feet as I follow her. “Am I going to be a maid or a servant?” A throb of longing goes through me. “A nanny?”

I haven’t been around children in a long time, but the idea… appeals to me. A home. Little babies to look after. It sounds… nice.

Even if they aren’t human.

“Why would they spend so much on the spa, the uh⁠—”

“Stardust package,” Violet supplies, her legs moving unexpectedly fast considering how tiny she is compared to me.

“Right. So then why this Stardust package, if I’m just going to be a nanny or a maid?” My new employers must be very generous.

A thrill of excitement goes through me.

That would be nice. It would be so nice to have someone else help take care of me. To not be on my own.

To be pampered, even if it’s just this once.

A little sigh of satisfaction goes out of me at the mere idea of it.

“You’ll see,” Violet trills, and before I know it, we’re there.

Wow.

“Ooh,” I squeak, my eyes wide as I try to absorb it all at once. “This is…” I don’t have words for what it is. The room is at least two stories high, and I swear I see birds flitting around at the top. One wall drips with pink and purple foliage, lime-green flowers cascading down on vines, their gentle floral scent filling the room. Another wall’s fitted with glinting pink stone, water spilling in a melodic rush from the top.

The whole aesthetic is strange and wild and lovely, and I can’t stop staring at it.

I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire life. It calls to me, and I inhale deeply, some anxious part of me relaxing, melting at it.

“You’re going to be perfect,” Violet tells me, clapping her hands in delight.

I turn towards her, some of that carefully won calm stolen away.

“For what?” I ask.

The fact that she hasn’t told me what I’ll be doing, exactly, is starting to put me ill at ease.

“For the Stardust spa package, of course. You’ll love it,” she chatters, zooming to a cleverly hidden desk. Carved out of the same soft pink stone as the water wall, the desk is adorned with all sorts of plants.

“Sit, sit,” she says, and I perch myself on a matching stool.

My hands are trembling, whether from the after-effects of the stasis pod that they stuck me in to get here or nerves from this huge life change, I don’t know.

“Okay, so just some final pieces of the puzzle.” Violet holds out a data pad, and I press my hand to the biometric scanner.

It dings, apparently satisfied, and Violet exhales a hugely relieved sigh.

“Good. You are who you say you are.”

I peer at her, bemused. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“This client was very firm about their choice of you in particular.”

A frown creases my forehead. “I thought this was a lottery.”

“For the participants chosen for the jobs, yes, of course it is. Of course.” She beams at me. My frown—and my suspicions—deepen. Something isn’t right. “But you’re in a new, special program we are rolling out to certain clientele.”

“I am?” The question comes out high and squeaky.

“Yes. You are one of our first Starlight Brides. You’ve just signed the marriage contract to a clan leader on planet Wulfric.” The words spill out of her faster than the water racing over the stones behind her, like if she says it fast enough, I won’t be able to figure out her meaning. “He’s very handsome, and he’s in a position of political power, which is why you need the spa package. And you’ll have an entire new wardrobe and a staff at your disposal in your new home. Congratulations on your new marriage and career as his wife.”

My head spins.

“Wulfric?” I repeat. “Marriage? Career as his wife?”

“Thrilling, isn’t it?”