Stardust Dreams Read Free Page B

but
there was no way to tell if hers would prematurely gray in her twenties as
Aster's hair had.
    The baby's eye color was
the only real unknown. Aster's eyes were an unusual midnight blue and Rom's
were a green-brown shade of hazel… most of the time. Like many Noronians, his
eye color changed with his emotions—a characteristic Aster had learned to use
to her advantage shortly after they'd met.
    It had been years since she
gave more than a passing thought to the circumstances that brought her to Innerworld
and Romulus. They were of two different worlds, and a joining between their
races was forbidden by law. Yet the Noronian mating fever struck them both,
proving they were soulmates, destined to be together for eternity.
    Unfortunately, the same prejudice
that had existed when Aster first arrived in Innerworld still simmered in some
corners of the colony. Only the support of the Ruling Tribunal of Norona
prevented the bigots from speaking out too loudly.
    Aster prayed that their
daughter would be strong enough to withstand whatever trials lay ahead for her.
    Rom stopped rubbing her
back and snuggled up behind her. With a soft kiss on her cheek he assured her
everything would be fine. "In another month the worst will be over."
    Aster laughed. "Ha! That
shows how little you know about babies. But then I don't have much more
experience than you. Being an only child didn't exactly prepare me for this
role. Thank heavens we'll have Cherry to help. She never talks much about her
childhood* but I know she had nine brothers and sisters, so she had to have
picked up some practical knowledge about raising children."
    Rom blocked his next
thoughts from Aster. He liked Cherry and was glad Aster had been with her best
friend when they arrived in Innerworld, but Cherry's high energy level and
unleashed spontaneity always made him feel like he was caught up in a tornado. Whoever
said "opposites attract" must have had her and Aster in mind. Imagining
Cherry under his roof for extended periods of time did not fill him with the
same sense of gratitude Aster felt.
    Just before Aster fell
asleep, she reminded Rom that Cherry promised to come by for lunch tomorrow. As
always, she looked forward to hearing what her friend had done for excitement
this week. Rom was her soulmate, but Cherry held an equally important position
in her life.
    Long before the disaster
landed them in Inner-world, Cherry had appointed herself Aster's savior from
workaholism. Cherry was her alter ego, surrogate sister, and the closest friend
she'd ever had. Cherry had not only shared the most traumatic events in Aster's
life, but she always forced Aster to see the bright side of everything.
    If anything, her bond with
Cherry had strengthened over the years because of their being removed from
their world. Despite the fact that Aster and Rom shared thoughts, Cherry was
the only person in Innerworld who could truly understand her feeling of
alienness that never went away.
    And the fears she harbored
for her unborn child's future in a society where prejudice against Terrans
still fermented.
    Thankfully, Cherry was
around to keep her fears from overriding the joy.
    Cherry felt the softness
beneath her and tried to orient herself before opening her eyes. A sense of
danger swept through her, instantly followed by the memory of a wicked-looking
stranger. At least she hadn't been incinerated as the Weebort had been.
    Cautiously, she opened her
eyes and surveyed her dimly lit surroundings. She was in a gray-walled room on
a large bunk that took up most of the limited space. That devil must have
brought her here… wherever
here
was. After a moment, she recalled his
insisting she accompany him to his ship.
    Panic assailed her as she
leapt off the bed and pressed her palm to a square metal panel on the wall
beside the door. The door slid open with a soft
whoosh,
and relief
that she had not been locked in quickly replaced the momentary fear. Years of
improvising on stage had