like the tone of her voice. What’s weird is that when I first met Berg, through that vid screen in Riley’s kitchen, I was terrified too. Like, I couldn’t speak. Riley had tried to tell me that the Hyrrokin looked like our version of Satan. That they had red skin and black horns. They’re bald, with no hair on their bodies. And they have sharp fangs and claws. And they have black, barbed tails and they breathe fire.
You’d think this would cause me to stay away. That I’d want nothing to do with the beings on the planet Tarvos.
You’d be wrong.
“They’re scary at first,” I admit, “but you get used to them. They’re actually very nice.”
“Chloe, they breathe fire! And they look like demons from the pits of hell.”
“Well, yeah…”
“You can’t give birth to one of their babies. How will you survive?”
“The doctors assured me that it is just as safe as if I were carrying a human baby. In fact, they claim it’s safer because of all their advanced medical technology.”
“What about the horns and the fangs and the claws…? Won’t that baby tear you apart as it exits your body?”
I wince. “Hyrrokin are born without their claws, fangs and horns, those grow in soon after birth. Same thing with the flames.”
“Flames? You’re going to have a fire-breathing baby? Oh gods. This sounds like a terrible idea.”
This is nothing new. Lucy always thinks everything I do sounds like a terrible idea.
“Come home,” she insists. “I can find someone to marry you. You don’t have to leave the planet to find a husband.”
My shoulders slump. This is the story of my life. I’m always considered the desperate one, looking for a man to give me a second glance. It’s ridiculous. My hands fist. “I’m not doing this to find a husband.” That was always Lucy’s focus in life, but that’s not my focus. I don’t need a man to care for me, I can take care of myself. If I ever marry it will be because I’m in love. That would be the only reason. “And anyway, I signed a contract and I’m already pregnant. So this is a done deal.”
“You’re going to carry this male’s demon-baby to term, give birth to it, and then give it up to him, giving up all your rights?”
I swallow. “Yes.”
“Well, what are you going to do there after you give birth to this male’s offspring and then give it up to him?”
Fuck, I have no idea. But I’m not going to admit that. “I’m not sure. I have a one-year work visa, so after that expires, I’ll either continue to stay here and make a life for myself, if they’ll let me, or maybe I’ll move on to Omega 9 and try out something different.” I make sure to paste a smile on my face while I say this, trying to act like the idea of possible eviction from Tarvos is no big deal. But it is. It so is.
“Okay. So, where are you living while you carry this baby to term?”
I chew on my lip. “In his house.”
“You’re living in this male’s house, carrying his baby and yet you’re not married? Chloe, are you having sex with him?”
“No,” I gasp. “No. We’re just friends, and he’s not even here. He had to leave on business. I’m house sitting for him.”
“You’re carrying this male’s offspring and also house sitting for him? Hmm. I hope he’s paying you a lot of currency.”
She has no idea. It’s so much currency, I feel embarrassed to talk about it. But it’s what I needed to pay for Lucy’s marriage and to keep our family house.
Lucy finally grows bored with this line of talk and switches over to start talking about herself. She tells me all about how handsome her new husband is and how loving. “…but everyone calls me Mrs. Chang,” she complains.
“Well, you’re married now. Isn’t that what they’re supposed to call you?”
“His family is just so…traditional. His parents and grandparents live with us. Two different sets. And the grandparents have all the say, they are the authority. Do you know he lives with his entire extended family? The grandparents want us to have children right away. And they expect Xi to work his ass off and provide for everyone…”
Only my sister would marry a man first without realizing all of this up front. She met him at a dance, found out he was wealthy, handsome and single, and the next week they were engaged. In