Excerpt: Stars Sang To Me

Telm’s head tilted, and she could feel the warmth of his fingers on her chilled skin, replacing the tears with heat and agony.

“You’re exhausted,” He whispered low and softly to her, “You are vulnerable and afraid, tired and cold and lonely. If I promised you safety, if I drew you to me right now, and kissed you and took you to my bed, you would go willingly. You would give yourself over to everything I offer, and you would trust me, do as I say, give without question, wouldn’t you?”

She hadn’t thought the day could hold anymore surprises, any more fears, any more trials, but she jerked back, out of his hands, practically scrabbling off of the chair onto legs that couldn’t hold her and dropped her to her knees beside the ottoman. “No… You…” She whispered, trying to understand what his game was, where was the Admiral that just that morning she had admired, that she had … “Why are you doing this?”

His hand remained in the air where her face had been, the fingers quivering before he curled them into a fist, “To show you how easily you can be manipulated. By me. By Dashell. By Maclaine. Malli, you can not trust anyone. Ever. Your duty is not to me, or the Captain, or even to the people on this ship that you call friend.” Telm closed his eyes for a beat, shifting his closed fists behind his back, “Whatever happens, no matter what or who or how, you do what you have to do for this ship. For the safety of this fleet. Not because I say so, or Maclaine says so. Not because you think that one or the other of us is right or wrong, but because of what YOU believe is right or wrong.”

Shattered, Malli remained on the floor, sliding to her buttocks and curling her arms around her knees. She felt the sense of security vanish entirely and in her mind she was back in her chair in her dome, staring into the vastness of the universe and feeling so absolute and tiny and insignificant.

And afraid.

Telm knelt down in front of her, ignoring her jolt as he rested his hands over hers, “I will do everything I can to keep you safe, belkia. And not just for what you are to the fleet, but for what you’ve become to mean to me,” His voice was very soft and gentle inside of her head, but it didn’t still the chaos that rode in her gaze when she finally raised her gaze to his. “But you cannot trust me. You can not trust anyone. Not now. Not here.”