Chapter Twenty-Nine
Poppy and the missing brides bided their time on the secondship, trying to take care of the women crying on the cots. As they tried tomake them as comfortable as possible, Val noticed that the sick women’s feverswere starting to fade but the women were still in obvious pain. Poppy wastrying to keep everyone calm but couldn’t stop her own anxiety from rising.
“They need medical attention. Why hasn’t anyone been back tocheck on us?” Poppy asked, glancing at the door on the other side of the cell.
“My only guess is that Demascus doesn’t care. He seemedcrazy, Poppy. The few times I’ve met him in Council meetings he seemed like anass, but today he was really off his rocker.” Val motioned for Melanie to comecloser so they wouldn’t disturb the women on the beds.
“Melanie, was Demascus the one who transferred you?” Poppyasked, wondering if he’d had a hand in all the brides being taken.
“Yes, it was weird. I was supposed to be escorted to themedical unit for an exam today but instead I was taken to a room where Demascuswas waiting for me. He told me I would be getting a briefing on Phaeton Primeto be able to acclimate and he gave me a pill. I didn’t realize what washappening and ate it like candy.”
Melanie grimaced, as if realizing how stupid she had beenand continued, “Andrea apparently is the only one who was told why she wasactually escorted to Demascus. Since her union was being dissolved, she signedsome forms and followed his goon squad without a fight. She just thought she washitching a ride home. It was only when she realized that not all of us werehere of our own free will that she started asking questions. I think he hither, if the red mark on her cheek is any indication.”
Hearing their whispers, Andrea left Brandy to take care ofthe sick women and joined them standing by the cell door.
“Yeah, that little asshole backhanded me when I went to helpStaci,” she said, nodding to the brunette on the first cot. “It was obvious shewasn’t herself when the warriors strapped her into the shuttle. When every oneof you seemed drugged, I realized not everyone had signed up to dissolve theirbridal contract.”
Motioning to Brandy, who was wiping the brow of one of thewomen, she continued, “Brandy wasn’t drugged either. I asked her what was goingon but she wasn’t sure. The idea of her fighting four warriors wasn’t an optionin her opinion so she didn’t struggle.”
“Andrea, I hope I’m not being too nosy, but why did youdissolve your contract?” Val asked quietly.
“I’m curious too. I can’t even imagine leaving Sorin,”Melanie admitted.
“When I met Zane, I felt attraction, but as we got to knoweach other, I realized I thought of him as more of a brother or best friendthan a possible husband.” She grinned wryly. “I friend-zoned him pretty quick.”
“Was he pissed?” Poppy couldn’t help but ask.
Andrea smiled at the women and shook her head. “No. Wetalked about it and have actually become really close while I’ve been here.When we found out some of the matches were incorrect, it seemed to make sensethat ours was one of the mistakes. I think he may have been relieved, honestly.We act more like siblings than anything else.”
Glancing at the women who had calmed enough to fall asleep,Andrea whispered in a hushed tone, “We may not have wanted to marry but I’msure he’s wondering where I am now. I was actually pretty bummed that Icouldn’t just stay on the ship and work. We became pretty close. He’s like thebig brother I never wanted.”
She shrugged. “I thought I was going to the medical unittoday for an exam since I was going to be around a while longer until I wasable to go back home. I’d never been to the med center so when my escort led meto Demascus, I followed him, not knowing it was the wrong direction. All of asudden I was in a room with Demascus and he said I was being transferredimmediately.”
“Hey, Melanie said that she was supposed to go to themedical unit too.” Catching Val’s gaze, Poppy saw she’d caught on too. “That’swhat happened to the appointments today.”
Both women were lost and waited for Poppy to explain.
“I work in the medical unit with the doctors and we wereexpecting all the brides,” Poppy explained. “When none of you showed up, weweren’t sure what was happening. Rodin and Tamin left messages for yourwarriors. If they received the messages then they must have realized by nowthat you never made it.”
“Which means that someone will already have realized we aremissing!” Valerie finished for Poppy.
“Exactly!” Poppy was so excited at the thought that someonehad to have noticed their disappearance that she almost didn’t catch the glanceAndrea sent her way. “What?”
“You’ve been working at the medical center?” Andrea asked,cocking an eyebrow at Poppy.
“Yeah, why?” Still unsure where this was going, Poppystudied Andrea’s face. She didn’t seem mad at Poppy, but more curious thananything.
“I was a nurse on Earth,” Andrea explained. “I had beenhoping to help out on the ship but never got the chance to make it there. Zaneeven suggested I ask the Council if I could possibly stay and work herepermanently.”
Poppy realized now why Andrea seemed to naturally want tohover over the incapacitated brides. Her training must have been helping hercare for them as best she could. It explained all the forehead touching andpulse checks Poppy had witnessed her doing off and on all day.
Thinking for a moment, Poppy studied Andrea with all-neweyes. “Andrea, how would you like it if I took you to the medical unit andshowed you around once we get back?” Seeing Andrea’s eyes light up with pleasure,she tacked on, “The place also comes with not one but two handsome doctors whoare in the market for brides.”
Andrea couldn’t help but laugh. “Well now, I’m not sure I’mready to jump into the dating pool again so quickly.” When Poppy’s face fell,she added, “But I would love to see the medical
