Alien Me by Emma Accola Page A

of his body. The emotion transferred to me, and I wanted to blast him and his terrible horror away from me. Fighting for control, I concentrated on keeping my hand cold. An energy bubble, first as a sparkle, then like a snowflake, formed over our clutched hands. First it was green and then blue. Then it sank as it encircled my hand and Judah’s. As I watched, tendrils of energy, like streamers, came from the orb and began moving up my arm and around Judah’s. I looked up and saw Judah’s diamond pupils fixed on mine.
    “That’s enough,” Sean said suddenly and plunged his hand into the orb, bursting it like a soap bubble.
    The tendrils wafted away in pretty stripes like rainbows as they reabsorbed into my skin. The spell broken, Judah stepped back and blinked hard several times. Then he bowed slightly and returned to his place with the others. His color had changed to a more pale shade of blue, and his chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths. His face registered no strain.
    Naomi turned to Judah. “What did you feel of her energy, my lord?”
    He tipped his head toward Sean. “He is all through her. So are the missusans and a soldier from the field. Her strength is indescribable.”
    “If she drained three missusans, then she has energy from all the Great Houses.” Sylvan’s boredom had been replaced with something like consternation. “Lord Sean, you will come away with Lord Judah. Lady Arlee, you will stay here with Lady Darcy until you receive word to take her to her quarters.”
    Sean turned to me. “Will you be all right?”
    “No problem.” My pride answered for me. Sean had stayed in Geminay all by himself for what felt like a month. I should be able to handle this room for a little while.
    Sylvan and Naomi left first. The rest followed, leaving behind Lady Arlee, a tall strawberry blonde with blue cat’s eyes. She wore a purple tunic, knee-length and fitted over her slender form. Her hair was ornately curled and braided, with one long lock lying over one shoulder. Her complexion was healthy, only slightly blue, and her gaze lingered on Judah as he exited the room. Her face didn’t betray any emotion, but my skin was picking up a vibration of sadness and loss.
    “Who is Judah to you?” I asked, acting on a hunch.
    Her reply was flat and resigned. “We were betrothed until he was selected to marry you, my lady.”
    Her words were accompanied with a wave of grief. “I’m sorry about that. I really am. You must know that I didn’t ask for this.”
    Arlee inclined her head at me to acknowledge my reply, but she couldn’t look at me.
    “You don’t have to stay.” Being in my presence must be torture. “I’ll be fine by myself.”
    “I am sure that is true, my lady, but in Geminay it is customary for the former betrothed to be assigned to the Sworn Asset who replaces him or her. It reinforces the fact that our first duty is to Geminay and not to matters of emotion. The Original People believe that it results in enhanced integrity building.”
    The notion baffled me. “This doesn’t seem like adding insult to injury?”
    Arlee tipped her head. “How is it insulting to do one’s duty to family and society, my lady?”
    “I didn’t mean that being around me was insulting. What I meant is that I don’t want to be the stick used to beat down your heart.”
    “Are you ordering me out of your sight, my lady?” she asked with a catch in her voice.
    I sensed her fear and thought there had to be more to this. “If I were to, what would happen to you?”
    Arlee became very solemn. “I would face punishment for my lack of character and discretion at putting my vulgar desires ahead of the needs of the Original People.”
    “Then I’ll try not to make this worse for you.” For Arlee there was no upside, just loss all around. She bit her trembling lip, as if to hold it still. Her shoulders slumped, and I could feel her anxiety, her indecision.
    “Is there a specific reason why the two of us