Forbidden Rule (An Alien Love #2)

Chapter Four

Skyler's POV

We exited the Council Hall and followed the cobbled path that ran the expanse of the nearest group of homes and shops- the town. But they didn't call them that, I came to find. I would though, because I was still mentally human. 

I stared in fascination as we progressed; we passed buildings of all shapes and sizes, full of color that made me feel as if I walked through a watercolor painting. The setting was definitely modeled after the renaissance, with the street lined in old fashioned lamp posts and roofs that tapered atop a dome, the arched and detailed artwork of the octagonal windows so beautiful I nearly got sucked into the depth of it. The only things that gave it a truly Morfilian touch were the window shape and colors splashed about the roofs and plants in the surrounding gardens. I could smell everything from lilacs to burning wood, and hear the dinging of chimes in the breeze and dark music that played from a foreign instrument. We had just passed a building in the shape and color of a ship when someone called out behind us.

"Rowan? Is that you?" came the female voice. It was a girl who looked to be in her late teens like me, with a slim figure and jet black hair. But by Morfilian standards, she could be hundreds of years old. Her eyes locked on Rowan in a way that was almost possessive, glinting in the violet light a metallic gray. 

"Hey, Meri," he replied, offering a lopsided grin. "What's up?"

"'What's up'? Is that all you have to say to me?" she pouted, crossing her arms. She took my mother and I in, then looked back at Rowan with a deeper pout. "Don't be rude, introduce me."

He rolled his eyes and gestured to us as he said our names. "This is Winnow and Sidariea, and this is Meri my...um, promised."

Mom's eyebrow went up. "Oh, how nice to meet you maime. Pleased indeed."

I narrowed my eyes at her. Her aura was...triumphant. But then I understood-she thought he'd also had feelings for me and was happy he was taken. I couldn't care less. I looked back at Meri and nodded, trying to smile in the bustling air. People walked around us, soaking in the relaxing sunshine of the two suns and perusing the shop windows. 

"Same," I said. 

I caught Rowan's eye. He was studying me. Maybe the troop member and Mom were right. I squirmed but smiled at him reassuringly. "You never mentioned her, Row. Shame on you."

Meri's gaze flickered about, moving her weight from one foot to the other. Strange that she didn't embrace or kiss Rowan if they were promised to each other. I know that if I were in his shoes and hadn't seen or spent much time with my soon-to-be, I'd be all over them. After all, Meri was definitely not bad looking: her hair rolled around her shoulders in glossy waves, perfectly framing her high cheekbones and bright gray eyes. Her human form was stunning-Jace hadn't been lying when he said most Morfilians preferred a human form, even on their own planet. I'd say over fifty percent that I'd seen so far were. 

"Um..." I said, trying to break the sudden awkward silence. My eye caught on a window that was full of gowns that were worn by ever shifting mannequins. Their variety of fabrics were displayed on a rotating carousel made of a flowing silver metal that had carved roses and thorns about it that seemed to constantly bloom and shrivel in movement. Fascinating. Mom saw what I looked at and laughed.

"Care to join us as we look for a proper fest gown?" she asked Meri and Rowan as she hooked her arm in mine. 

"No, we should probably catch up," Meri chimed at the same time that Rowan said, "Sure, I need a tunic."

Another bout of awkward silence descended on us. Morfilians around us continued to mill about, laughing and going in and out of shops. They wore an assortment of styles and colors that would've given me a headache if I were still a normal human. I could make out a contrast in statuses now that I'd seen a few on the ship here. Some females wore extravagant dresses made of luxurious materials while some were in plain chitons and utilitarian dress. Men were in tall, soft leather boots with just as nice breeches and tunics. Others were in what looked like work attire, clothing that could be moved about in. There were some in uniforms of deep red and black, similar to Jace's black robe but woven with silver hallmarks of station.