A/N: I changed the cover 🙄.... what do you think???

Macon shifted nervously behind Chiss as a low growl resonated in his chest.  Her hand instinctively wrapped around his arm.  The simple gesture caused him to glance down at the contact.  She released him and he cursed himself for drawing attention to it in the first place. 

"Easy Brother.  I was merely informing you that the first meal will be served soon. I will let Neymer know to set a place for your guest."

Chiss nodded and sat perfectly still until his brother vanished from sight. 

"Oh my gosh! Could you have made us look any more guilty?  You practically hung up signs saying we were.... well you know.  Which we're not so..." Macon rambled on nervously until Chiss looked at her with amusement shining in his lavender eyes. 

"No, I don't know what you're implying."  Chiss smiled as he noticed Macon's flushed cheeks. 

She shoved at his shoulder, "Yes! You do." Her voice was low now, and she rolled her eyes at his attempt to embarrass her further. 

xoxoxo

"How can you expect me to eat with your family? They are all going to think-    uggghhhhh..." she groaned out and let her head fall back into the pillows on his bed. 

Chiss lay on his bed beside her, ankles crossed and arms folded as he stared at the tiny brunette.   

He noticed how she had managed to make herself  more than merely presentable in only 10 minutes. 

She'd slipped on a simple blue dress and twisted her long waves into a low bun. 

A few tiny curls managed to hang free framing her face. 

Was it possible that the female wanted the approval of his family?  
And if she did.... what might that mean?

"Okay, fine. I'm ready. I guess I have to meet them at some point, and I'm starving honestly."
She only now noticed that she'd not taken time to eat since yesterday morning. Not that she'd had the time. 

"It will be fine, Macon." She stilled as she heard her name slip from his lips. 

Her eyes met his and his brow raised daring her to point out what ever this was between them, but she took a deep breath and a step towards the door.  

She couldn't deny the utter attraction that she felt for him, but this was not Earth AND she did not have the luxury of acting on her own desires.  Beyond all of the obvious reasons that she told herself, Xane had been good to her. 

"Come,"Chiss opened the large wooden door.  Macon couldn't help but rub her fingers across the exotic looking wood frame. 

The wood itself, she noticed, had light blue undertones that she couldn't help but study. 

And she would have continued to stare at the door if what lie just beyond hadn't caused her jaw to drop. 

"Hmp.." a startled sound fell from her lips as she looked at the grand palace before her. 

Yes, it was most certainly a palace.  The enormous room was made almost entirely of a shiny metal that gleamed like rose gold. 

Sheer muslin drapes hung and caught gentle gusts that swept through what Macon thought had to be an interior room. 

She noticed that Chiss was already halfway through the room when she looked back at him. 

Nearly sprinting, she ran straight into his back. She stumbled backwards, but before she hit the ground his strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her flush against him. 

Hesitantly she let her eyes trail up to meet his. 

Her breath stuck in her chest.  

His jaw ticked as he did his best to hold back from what he wanted so desperately in this moment.