“She saw something in one of her visions that finally brought him around,” Sophia said mysteriously. “Don’t ask me what, though—she’s become really closed mouth on the subject. And on anything to do with him, really.”
Olivia smiled. “You think she might be falling for him?”
“It wouldn’t do her any good, even if she did.” Sophia looked sad. “She has to go back home soon to that awful guy her parents picked for her to marry. That Yo-dah…ugh!’
“He might not be so bad,” Kat said, taking a bite of her cupcake. “Lots of arranged marriages work out well.”
“Not this one,” Sophie said. “I saw a holo of him and I don’t blame Nadiah for not wanting to marry him. He’s all tall and skinny and pale with these weird eyes that stick out too far. Looks like a cross between a frog and a hairless cat.”
“Well maybe he has a nice personality,” Liv offered, but Sophie shook her head again.
“Unfortunately, not. According to Nadiah he’s from one of the top aristocratic families on Tranq Prime and he’s unbearably snobby about it.”
“Ugly and snooty.” Kat shook her head. “A bad combination.”
“You’re telling me.” Sophia reached for a blueberry and almond crumble cupcake and took a tiny nibble. “Of course, his family is the only reason Nadiah’s parents want her to marry him. They don’t care if she’s happy or not as long as she doesn’t pollute their family’s perfect bloodlines.”
“Poor Nadiah!” Liv sighed. “It’s too bad she can’t just refuse to go back.”
“She can’t though—the blood bond between her and Yo-dah will start pulling her back whether she wants to go or not.” Sophia too another bite. “In fact, I think it might have already started. She’s been really quiet and to herself and lately I keep seeing this strained look on her face—it’s like she has a pain inside but she doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you sure it’s not something we can fix with the right meds?” Liv asked. “Have her come down to the medstation and we’ll take a look.”
Sophia shook her head. “Sylvan already gave her a head-to-toe exam. He says she’s fine and there’s nothing he can do. Only going back home and fulfilling the blood bond will help.”
“But that’s ridiculous—her parents made that engagement for her when she was a little kid, too young to protest,” Kat said indignantly. “Can’t the bond be broken somehow?”
“It can be challenged by another male,” Sophia said. “But no one but a Kindred warrior is going to be strong enough to actually break it. Apparently that’s one reason the natives of Tranq Prime dislike the Kindred so much. They broke a number of blood bonds back when they first came to the planet and claimed the girls who were promised to Tranq Prime males as brides.”
“But they did it to save them from Blood Fever, didn’t they?” Liv pointed out. “Would their parents really rather have seen them dead than mated to a Kindred?”
Sophia shrugged. “Apparently. Hey, I told you it was a messed up place.”
“I guess so.” Kat shook her head. “Of course anyplace they eat pudding made of bug guts—”
“Kat!” Liv looked green again. “I swear I’m going to get you back the minute you get preggers.”
“Sorry!” Kat looked contrite. “I was just thinking of Nadiah. I feel so bad for her, having to go back and live in that awful place with a husband she doesn’t love.”
“I know.” Sophia was suddenly tearful. “I feel like she’s my little sister and there’s nothing I can do to help her. We were hoping that she’d find a Kindred to connect to—one who would be willing to challenge the bond for her. But somehow it just never happened and now it’s almost too late.”
“Well maybe something will happen soon,” Kat said, putting down her cupcake to give her friend a comforting squeeze. “You never can tell—she might go to sleep and start dream sharing with someone tonight.”
Sophia blotted a tear from her eye. “I hope you’re right but I just don’t know how much longer she can hold out. She looks terrible, the poor thing. I just wish there was someone who could help her.” She put down her own cupcake and ran a hand through her hair. “Sorry for getting emotional, I’m just stretched thin right now. It looks like the minute Nadiah leaves, we’ll be getting another guest.”
“You will?” Liv frowned. “Who?”