CHAPTER TEN

“I swear by the moon, mother, that he is the most infuriating male I’ve ever known!” Celia whined as she paced the length of her cabin.

Her mother was doing that thing again where she stared at the moon like it was the only thing in existence. She was listening though, because she asked, “I take it the meeting this morning went well?”

Celia looked dryly at her mother, and even though Sheeva’s eyes were on the moon, she smirked. Her mother had been out of the settlement for most of the day with a few others, so they only had time to give account of their day now.

“He’s a nightmare,” Celia said.

“He’s an enigma,” her mother added…or countered.

Celia frowned. “You hate him, right? You don’t sound like you hate him. Everyone else does.”

“I definitely hate him. He thinks he can break your bond, which is stupid and hurtful, but it is as sure as the moon’s light that he will not break it.”

“That’s unfortunate. I’ve found myself rooting for him recently,” Celia said, and her mother turn