“I think It’s someone crying.” Mirelle glances around the grove. “Should we go see?”

“Might as well.” I shrug. “The two of us can cry together, like a symphony. Maybe we can compose a new musical piece called The Sounds of Despair and become quite famous.”

“I don’t know if I like your sense of humor when you’re sad.” Mirelle gives me the side-eye. “Very morose.” She steps forward and pushes aside some vines. “Hello? Is anyone here? Are you all right?”

The sniffling stops abruptly. I step forward and see Cressa, with a startled look on her face. Her eyes are as red as the streaks in her hair, and swollen, like she’s been crying for hours. Her nose is red, too.

“What’s wrong?” Mirelle goes forward immediately and Cressa turns away. Her shoulders shake.

“Nothing.” She swipes at her face. “I’m fine.”

“If you are ill? We can help.” Mirelle reaches out a hand.

Cressa pulls her hair back and sighs. “I’m not sick.” Then she whirls and looks at me with such venom that I take a step back. “I’m sad. And angry.”

“Why?” Mirelle starts.

Cressa’s already speaking. “Because at this, of all times! The solstice. To see a beautiful gift wasted, tossed away, it makes me furious.”

“What gift?” Mirelle wrinkles her nose.

But I know what she means. I drop my gaze and look at my shoes.

Cressa adds, “Some of our best and brightest. Zandians who deserve someone who’s loyal and true, who loves them as dearly as life itself.” Her voice quivers and breaks. “And to see it all squandered for nothing? When there are other humans who would give anything, and I mean anything for them? Mother Earth.”

She renews sobbing so hard she can barely breathe.

When the sobs pass, she looks up at me again. “Mykl plans to mate the Zandian female, Kianna.” She shakes her head. “And Arc and Bow plan to mate you during Zandian Lights.” Her voice gets really quiet. “And it appears that you and I may have something in common.”

She stands up, and her tears stop while she looks evenly at me. Now she’s not fierce, but so sad that I want to cry myself. Of course, I wanted to start bawling the second she mentioned Mykl and the female.

“Tomorrow, Kianna. Right before the solstice. Just when you’re having your ceremony, too.” She shakes her head. “Mother Earth.” Then she blows out a breath. “Well, I suppose I’ll get through it.” Her voice is flat. “There’s always the Outlander program.” She snort and walks away.

“That’s the same holo you were watching.” Mirelle pokes me. “You want to be roommates with her?”

When I don’t respond, she says, “I’m sorry. None of this is funny.” She sighs. “Do you have your gown ready for tomorrow?”

I nod. “Apparently. Lorca delivered it.”

She picks a small pink flower from a Jax bush and puts it in my hair.

I bat it away. “Stop. I don’t deserve to be pretty. This isn’t the time.” The bloom floats to the ground.

“These are for strength, Kee.” She picks it up and holds it out on her palm. “Lanz told me. They’re medicinal. Something about helping people relax and getting mental fortitude.”

I roll my eyes. “From a plant?”

She tilts her head. “Why not?”

“Do I eat it?”

“Mother Earth, no. It’s probably poison in its raw form. They distills it down. You can use it, you know, like a symbol.”

“Oh, okay. I love how symbols are so fortifying.” I roll my eyes.

“You weave them into a crown to wear in your hair when you have the mating ceremony.”

She starts plucking more of them. “Come on, help me. You’re going to be the most lovely mate at the festival next planet rotation.”

Tags: Renee Rose Zandian Brides Science Fiction
Source: readsnovelonline.net