you’d hurt someone in the castle, Galan would never have forgiven himself.”
Guilt streaked through me and I stared at the table, worried that Sabrina would see it on my face. “I wouldn’t have hurt anyone or tried to escape,” I said in a small voice entirely unlike my usual one. “I just wanted to do a bit of exploring.”
“You asked me where the front door was,” Sabrina said.
I continued to stay quiet and Sabrina said, “May I give you some advice, Ellis?”
“Yes.”
“Try to see this apartment not as a prison but a gift. I realize it’s difficult, I was in a somewhat similar situation to yours for the first few weeks I was here, but the alternative will be much worse. My husband is not always a patient Draax, and if you keep trying to escape, he will have you sent to the Draax prison until we can return you to Earth.”
I appreciated what she was saying but she wasn’t the one who would be imprisoned for the next forty years. As grateful as I was for the Draax king’s kindness, I still needed to look out for myself. I’d learned the hard way that I couldn’t count on anyone but me.
She was obviously waiting for me to reply, so I painted on a sincere expression and said, “Of course. You’re right. I’ll follow the rules from now on.”
Her look suggested that she didn’t believe me, but she finished off her juice before heaving herself to her feet. “Ugh, my ankles are so swollen. I know tons of women love being pregnant, but I am definitely not one of them.”
“When are you due?” I asked as I stood.
“Another couple of weeks. It’s nice to formally meet you, Ellis.”
“It’s nice to meet you as well, your highness.”
She made a face and I smiled and said, “It’s nice to meet you, Sabrina.”
I followed her to the door and Adrix opened it for her. “Come, my queen, I will escort you back to your quarters before I take the human for her walk in the garden.”
“Thank you, Adrix.” Sabrina paused in the hallway. “Remember what I said, Ellis. Okay?”
“I will. Thanks.”
The door shut and locked and I wandered back to the table. I sat down and pushed my fork around my half-eaten food. For the first time since I arrived, I’d lost my appetite. I hated that Galan was upset with me and hated it even more that he was upset with himself.
Enough to tell him you lied?
My face went hot, and I pushed my food away before crossing the room to stretch out on the bed. Lying was what I did. Next to boosting ships and repairing mechanical shit, it was one of my best skills and it had saved my ass more times than I could count. I’d never felt bad about lying to someone before and these feelings of regret and remorse were foreign and unpleasant.
I didn’t need to feel bad. Galan and I weren’t even friends for God’s sake.
* * *
Ellis
I sat cross-legged on my bed and stared across the room at the lock on my door. My palms itched and I traced the leather case sitting in my lap. Picking the lock and leaving my apartment would be a colossal mistake. I knew that.
But it’d been two days since the queen’s visit. Two days of nothing to do. Two days of eating meals, lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, and twice daily walks with Adrix in the garden.
Two days of not seeing Galan.
There was a knock on my door, and I shoved the leather case under the sheet before standing. The door opened and a woman with warm brown skin and pink hair stepped into my room and smiled uncertainly at me. “Hi there.”
“Hello,” I said.
A second woman walked in and I said, “Inara, hi!”
“Hey, Ellis.” Inara smiled at Adrix who was standing behind them in the doorway. “Thank you, Adrix. We’ll holler if we need you, okay?”
Adrix blushed, his gaze flickering to Inara’s breasts for the briefest of seconds. “You are welcome, Inara.” He hesitated. “Your hair looks very pretty today.”
“Thank you. I like your shirt,” Inara said.
Adrix’s skin turned an even darker green and I could see his tail waving around behind him like it was in a stage two hurricane. He glanced at me, the excited wave of his tail slowing. “Do not try and harm Inara and Candala, human.”
“I won’t,” I said. “My murderous intentions are only at about a one