Setting Fire to the Stars (a MM Sci-Fi Romance)

Chapter 17: Adamas

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Lauren
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I am never eating strawberry ice cream ever again.

That was my first thought as I opened my eyes, the taste of strawberries and cream heavy on my tongue. It was a weird sensation. To my knowledge, I hadn't eaten any of the sweet dairy products. Yet there it was, the sweet taste tingling against my parched lips.

Glancing around the dazzling star-filled space, I realized I had once again returned to the heavily lavished pink room. Instead of the bed, someone had laid me on a comfortable gray lounge sofa. Rage coursed through my chest as I remembered the face of the white-haired man who'd drugged me. That fucking psycho. If I ever saw him again, I'd be sure to punch that condescending frown off his face. Until then, I needed to find a way out of here.

My head throbbed from the remnants of a migraine. Groaning in frustration, I slowly sat up, fully expecting my ribs to scream in agony but to my surprise, I couldn't feel an ounce of pain. Looking down to examine my chest, I stopped short as my eyes fell upon my current wardrobe.

"What the hell?" I spat out, my fingers smoothing over sparkling cloth.

Gone were the silky white clothes I'd recently adorned, replaced by a sheer light pink dress. That's right, a dress. What the hell?  The gown flowed delicately around my lanky figure, seamlessly hugging my hips and flowing out around my legs. The gossamer lace twinkled in the dim lighting, as though woven using the stars themselves. While it was an incredibly gorgeous design, probably worth thousands of dollars back home, the fact that I was wearing it made me dizzy with confusion. This place, these people, made me very, very uncomfortable. Did they think I was a woman? Now that was flat out insulting. I knew that I didn't have much muscle to begin with since I never really worked out, but I did try to frequent the treadmill in the gym on campus. I was a guy, dammit! I had the equipment to prove it!

So yeah, again, what the fuck?

"Are you feeling better, my lord?"

Whipping my head around, my attention landed on the face of a young girl. Her silver hair was tied up into a loose bun, misplaced strands sticking out wildly as though they refused to be tamed. Baby blue eyes stood out beautifully against her brown skin. The long-sleeved dress shrouded her figure, but I could still tell that she was very thin by the frailty of her face and hands. She looked too young to be working as a servant.

I realized belatedly that this was the girl I had shoved past while trying to make my escape earlier. "Uh, who are you?"

The girl curtsied with remarkable grace, her slender face dipping politely. "My name is Synth Cofellia, Your Eminence," she responded meekly, keeping her eyes downcast. "I am here to serve you however I can until His Excellency's arrival."

Terror cramped my stomach. I sprang off the couch and staggered to my feet. Holy fuck, the Emperor. I'd forgotten all about it. That golden-eyed creep had mentioned that he was coming. The last thing I wanted was to meet the maniac behind my kidnapping.

"Stars. Are you okay, my lord?" Synth asked, white eyebrows wrinkling in concern as she reached out to me.

Peddling away her outstretched hand, I shook my head. Her words barely registered, my breathing shallow while my heart thumped wildly in my ears. Clasping my hands together to hide my frayed nerves, I forced breathes through my nose, centering myself with a slow inhale. "How long have I been out?" I asked, my voice cracking in my middle.