“Ah, you asked for me?” I ask the general, too unnerved to talk to the leader directly.
Madelaine stands. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Isabella. General Janius was telling me all about you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.” My head is swimming.
The general eyes me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking.
"Your efforts with Strol the Kurian to both save Nina and then to apprehend the guilty parties…" Madelaine smiles. "You're willing to think outside the box. We don't have the same stringent guidelines when it comes to joining the military as had been in place before the Grots came to Earth. We need to maintain a strong military to have strength since we know that we aren't alone in the galaxy anymore. We also need to ensure that we continue to have peace on Earth as well. For the most part, we have that, but there have been some instances of riots against the Kurians and Novans, unfortunately."
“There have been?”
“Not many,” Madelaine says. “We try to deal with that as quietly as possible.”
“Of course.” I swallow hard, uncertain why I’m here and what’s expected of me.
“The general had a lot of interesting things to tell me about you,” Madelaine continues.
I risk a glance at the general. Her hawkish eyes are fixed on me, but her lips are ever so slightly turned upward.
“In light of recent events, your fortitude, and your ability to have compassion and drive to save those in your charge,” the general says, “despite your not listening to orders and being released from duty, we think that you would make a fine soldier.”
My eyes widen. “You do?”
Madelaine nods. “I know that following orders is crucial, yes, but a true soldier knows that there is more than the mission. Lives always come first.”
“Your job will be with any rescue missions, since they seem to be your forte.” The general now grins broadly and nods to me.
“You’ll also be charged with keeping the peace and putting a peaceful end to any riots that may arise wherever they arise. There will be a great deal of travel involved,” Madelaine warns.
“That’s all fine with me!”
“Does that mean you accept?” Madelaine asks, smiling herself.
“Yes!”
“We can work out the details and specifics now, and you will need a few rounds of training, but you have a week to get your life in order,” the general says, more no-nonsense now.
“Thank you. Thank you both!”
In a daze, I stand and shake both women’s hands. I leave the room. Jasper is there, waiting for me, and he asks where I want to go next.
“Back to Strol,” I murmur.
“Of course.”
But when we return to the cafeteria, Strol isn’t sitting there. A soldier explains that Strol had returned to his room, but that I might find a chocolate dessert waiting for me.
"If he doesn't eat both, that is," the soldier adds. She licks her lips. "They're amazing, and I don't know if there's a guy alive who I would save one for."
I laugh, but Jasper just shakes his head. I’m sure he’s thinking about Karen.
“Don’t worry, Isabella,” he says. “I know where Strol’s room is.”
I really can’t make heads or tails around this place, but Jasper never hesitates, and he brings me to a door, nods, and walks away.
My knuckles barely touch the door before it opens.
“You didn’t wait for me,” I accuse as I enter.
“I thought maybe we could talk in private some.”
I close the door behind me and notice the two desserts. He hasn’t touched his. It’s some kind of death by chocolate mound, and I can’t tell if it’s a cake or a pastry, but it does look divine. They’re sitting on top of a small table, but Strol is sitting on his bed, and I sit beside him.
“You can go first,” I murmur.
“No.” He tucks some hair behind my head. “You can.”
“I’m joining the military,” I say excitedly. “I’m going to have to travel, but I’ll be able to ensure there’s peace. No riots against Novans or Kurians.”
“That’s wonderful.” His lips curl into a teasing grin.
“What?”
“Are you wondering how your job will affect us?”
“Well, your father sent you here, right? Wouldn’t he be happy to have you working alongside me to ensure there’s peace and no animosity toward Novans and Kurians?”
“You’re asking me to go with you,” he says slowly.
My heart skips a beat, and my mouth goes dry. “Yes,” I whisper.
“Because you’re dazzled by me,” he says with a crooked grin.
I roll my eyes. “Something like that.”
“Then why?” he asks.
I swallow hard. “What, ah, what do you think about that?”
“About traveling the Earth with you? Seeing the sights? I think that sounds wonderful. Just know that I’ll be doing so as the official representative from Kuria.”
“That’s your title?” I ask.
Strol nods. "I'm the leader of Kurians here on Earth, basically."
“That’s… Wow.”
“It’s a huge step for me,” he says.
“A step toward making you overlord one day,” I say softly.
“Yes.” He eyes me and holds my hand. “Does that worry you?”
“No. Why? Should it?”
“It shouldn’t, but I know you.”
“Oh, yeah?” I tease.
“I do, and I know that you’re wild and fiercely independent, but I also know that you love me, and that scares you at times.”
“It does,” I murmur, placing my other hand on top of his.
“Sometimes being scared is a good thing. It means you have something to lose.”
“I don’t want to lose you,” I murmur.
“Then will you consider marrying me?” he asks in a rush.
“Strol!”
“We don’t have to get married right away,” he assures me. “And you don’t even have to answer right away.”
“I… I don’t know if I’m… I’m not sure I want to be a mom,” I say in a rush.
“Why not?”
“My lifestyle.
