Reckless Rescue Read Online Free

Lying would only prolong the misery. “No, I’m not.” She reached blindly for a seat, collapsed into it, and dropped her head into her hands to hide her tears.
    “I’m sorry, lass,” Nerris said, and he spared a look at his son as well.
    Numbness seeped into her bones. She was tired. So tired.
    “Just one more month,” Nelor pleaded.
    His father shook his head. “I’m sorry, son,” he repeated. He put his arm around Nelor.
    Her mother reached out to hug her, but Marlee pushed her away. Even as she did it, she knew she wasn’t being fair. Her mother hadn’t made the rules. She simply helped to enforce them. But right now, the difference seemed inconsequential.
    “Now Marlee,” Yasmyn said. “You know this is the only option. It’s time to move on.”
    “Move on to what?” Marlee glared at her mother, her vision blurred. “There’s nothing to move on to. Find another partner, another chance of having a baby, right? Who with, Mother? Everyone here has either proved infertile, or is too young or too old. Or they already have a family.”
    “Calm down, Marlee. Don’t be dramatic. You know as well as I do that we need more children. Everyone is in the same situation, and we all need to work together if we are to survive.”
    As a child, her mother’s no nonsense way of dealing with problems had helped pick her back up. No matter how bad things seemed, her mother found something positive to say, even if it was just to remind Marlee that it could have been worse. It had always helped her to keep her chin up.
    Today, it wasn’t working.
    “You’ve made your point. Can’t you just leave me alone now?” Her voice wavered, and her throat ached.
    “Come on, son,” Nerris said. “A clean break is best. Get your things and come home.”
    Marlee’s head jerked around. “Can’t you at least give us a minute to say goodbye?”
    “Of course,” her mother said quickly, when Nerris opened his mouth to object. “We’ll be waiting outside.
    The door closed behind them, and Nelor heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, Marlee. I wish I’d been able to give you a baby.”
    “It’s not your fault,” Marlee squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. “It could just as easily be me.” She reached out to take his hands, not caring if he saw her tears. She didn’t need to pretend in front of Nelor. Of all the people in the village, he was one of the few she could be herself around. And now he had to leave.
    Tears glistened in his eyes too. “I hope things work out for you next time.” It was a standard response. Expected.
    She didn’t want to hear it. “I don’t want to do this again,” she said quietly. “I can’t.”
    Nelor brushed her hair out of her eyes. “Yes you can. You’re one of the strongest people I know. And I know you’ll make a wonderful mother someday. Don’t let what we’ve shared stop you from achieving that.”
    She didn’t feel strong. She wasn’t like her mother. She couldn’t live the way her mother had. “It’s not just about having a baby. I don’t want to be with someone else, live a life with them that should have been with you.”
    She didn’t want to spend her days with someone she couldn’t be open with, couldn’t cry in front of, or, worst of all, someone she was afraid of.
    “We don’t have any choice, Marlee. The council’s rules apply equally to everyone. And if they didn’t, where would we be? Our population would drop even more quickly. We might not like the idea of changing partners so often, but it’s the only way to make sure there even is a next generation.” He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.
    Marlee shook her head. She didn’t want to hear it even though she knew it was true. She and Nelor could have been happy together. They had been.
    “I can’t keep trying anymore,” she said, her voice dull. “I won’t go through this again.”

    T YRIS TOSSED AND TURNED ON the Hylista’s firm mattress, sheets tangling around his legs,