and a hold over everyone. Whatever the matriarch wanted, she got. In the end, her father backed down and Lian remained housebound.
She wasn’t even sure why her mother kept any guards in the house. There was nowhere for her to run in the middle of this frozen wasteland.
The only place she could run to was her dreams.
“How many times do I have to tell you it’s not safe for you out there? The world is full of danger.”
“It’s also full of adventure.”
Meiling shook her head. “You’re young. You don’t know what you’re saying. You have no idea what can happen to beautiful girls out in the galaxy.”
“No, I don’t, because you won’t let me!” she yelled. “Instead of letting me see for myself, you’re willing to whore me out to the first guy who flashes enough credits to entice you.”
The slap made Lian bite down on her tongue. Her mouth filled with blood and she rubbed her cheek. It already throbbed and was beginning to swell.
“You will not speak to me like that again.” Her mother’s face was flushed, her open palm still in midair. “I know what’s best for you, far better than you do.”
Lian’s vision blurred as she tried to hold back the unshed tears. She refused to rub her aching cheek again. “How long are you going to keep me trapped inside this ice castle? I’m not a child anymore—I want my own life.” She’d become a pathetic doll trapped inside a snow-globe, and the protective shell was starting to crack.
Meiling sighed, grabbed both of Lian’s hands and led her toward the bed, where they both sat down. Most of the anger seemed to have faded and Meiling was back in control.
“Lian, I understand that you want to spread your wings and fly. I do. I wanted much of the same when I was your age…but it’s not safe out there. I learned in ways you can’t imagine, and I don’t want you to have to live through it as well.”
Lian made a move to snatch her hands away, but Meiling held on tighter.
She’d heard the “I’m doing this to keep you safe” lecture before—the family business and name needed to be upheld, social status meant everything, a guard wasn’t good enough to fall in love with. It was all bullshit. Lian knew where the credits used to fund this lavish abode really came from. Yet Meiling always paraded herself like some sort of lady.
“Lian, are you listening to me?”
“Yeah…” But she wasn’t. She’d spotted something bright moving across the night sky. A quickly descending flash of white laser light, followed by an orange fireball and a trail of thick smoke. Her window still displayed a magnified image outside, so she saw the details and sensed the presence of a vessel plunging toward the estate.
Sometimes she could tune into the external world by way of thought and sensation. She didn’t know why or how she did it, but she often felt when the wolves in the icy wilderness were on the prowl moments before she heard them howl. Or sensed when a new ship landed on their premises. She even believed that on the first night when she’d stumbled on the captives, it had been because she’d awoken from a dream with them in it.
He’ll fall from the Heavens, and you’ll fall for him.
The thought came out of nowhere, but the impact made her spine tingle with excitement. What did it mean? Why would such a thought strike her?
“You’re always lost in some fantasy world, but you need to grow up. Any respectable twenty-three-year-old would be married by now, or at least promised to someone,” Meiling said. “You need to think about the reputation of your family, if you’re not concerned about your own.” She squeezed Lian’s fingers tight.
“Ow!”
“Listen to me.” She leaned so close Lian could see herself reflected in her eyes. “You’re a very ungrateful daughter. I’ve considered your feelings and tastes long enough, believing you would make a wise choice from the palette of men I’ve hosted for your benefit, but my patience is
She wasn’t even sure why her mother kept any guards in the house. There was nowhere for her to run in the middle of this frozen wasteland.
The only place she could run to was her dreams.
“How many times do I have to tell you it’s not safe for you out there? The world is full of danger.”
“It’s also full of adventure.”
Meiling shook her head. “You’re young. You don’t know what you’re saying. You have no idea what can happen to beautiful girls out in the galaxy.”
“No, I don’t, because you won’t let me!” she yelled. “Instead of letting me see for myself, you’re willing to whore me out to the first guy who flashes enough credits to entice you.”
The slap made Lian bite down on her tongue. Her mouth filled with blood and she rubbed her cheek. It already throbbed and was beginning to swell.
“You will not speak to me like that again.” Her mother’s face was flushed, her open palm still in midair. “I know what’s best for you, far better than you do.”
Lian’s vision blurred as she tried to hold back the unshed tears. She refused to rub her aching cheek again. “How long are you going to keep me trapped inside this ice castle? I’m not a child anymore—I want my own life.” She’d become a pathetic doll trapped inside a snow-globe, and the protective shell was starting to crack.
Meiling sighed, grabbed both of Lian’s hands and led her toward the bed, where they both sat down. Most of the anger seemed to have faded and Meiling was back in control.
“Lian, I understand that you want to spread your wings and fly. I do. I wanted much of the same when I was your age…but it’s not safe out there. I learned in ways you can’t imagine, and I don’t want you to have to live through it as well.”
Lian made a move to snatch her hands away, but Meiling held on tighter.
She’d heard the “I’m doing this to keep you safe” lecture before—the family business and name needed to be upheld, social status meant everything, a guard wasn’t good enough to fall in love with. It was all bullshit. Lian knew where the credits used to fund this lavish abode really came from. Yet Meiling always paraded herself like some sort of lady.
“Lian, are you listening to me?”
“Yeah…” But she wasn’t. She’d spotted something bright moving across the night sky. A quickly descending flash of white laser light, followed by an orange fireball and a trail of thick smoke. Her window still displayed a magnified image outside, so she saw the details and sensed the presence of a vessel plunging toward the estate.
Sometimes she could tune into the external world by way of thought and sensation. She didn’t know why or how she did it, but she often felt when the wolves in the icy wilderness were on the prowl moments before she heard them howl. Or sensed when a new ship landed on their premises. She even believed that on the first night when she’d stumbled on the captives, it had been because she’d awoken from a dream with them in it.
He’ll fall from the Heavens, and you’ll fall for him.
The thought came out of nowhere, but the impact made her spine tingle with excitement. What did it mean? Why would such a thought strike her?
“You’re always lost in some fantasy world, but you need to grow up. Any respectable twenty-three-year-old would be married by now, or at least promised to someone,” Meiling said. “You need to think about the reputation of your family, if you’re not concerned about your own.” She squeezed Lian’s fingers tight.
“Ow!”
“Listen to me.” She leaned so close Lian could see herself reflected in her eyes. “You’re a very ungrateful daughter. I’ve considered your feelings and tastes long enough, believing you would make a wise choice from the palette of men I’ve hosted for your benefit, but my patience is
Similar Books
