Outlander (Borealis) by Ellie Bay Page B

emotion.
“Dominus!” I wrapped my arms around his neck, pattering his face with kisses of
gratitude. “Thank you!”
    “Claire, I—” was all he could manage through his shock.
    Finally, I crumpled in his arms and broke into a fit of
sobs. Everything else fell away and all I knew was the overwhelming affection I
had for Marcus. Though I hadn’t known him long, he had been my rock and now he
validated what I’d been trying to say for days. I am not from here.
    Even with all of my Dom’s affection, I had felt alone in
Borealis. Now I had an ally, someone I could trust. There was no need to hide
my memories of Earth from him because he finally understood. I was so emotional
that I struggled and failed to pull myself together.
    Without a word, Marcus carried me out of the lagoon and set
my feet on dry ground. He swathed me with a large, warm towel.
    Marcus padded me dry, but I couldn’t stop shivering. He
wrapped the towel around me and carried me again.
    When we made it back to our cell, my sobs had turned to
whimpers.
    Marcus dried and brushed my hair as I sat on the edge of our
bed, sniffling and feeling my eyes get heavy. Before I knew it, I was dressed
and tucked in bed. As my cheek touched the pillow, exhaustion suffused me like
a drug.
    From behind me, he stroked my shoulder and whispered sleep
into my ear.
     
     
     

Chapter 7—Marcus
Alexis
    Within a few heartbeats of Claire’s descent into sleep, God
had summoned Marcus to his chambers. It was inevitable. God would not sit idle
and let a Borealian talk about being from another planet. Still, there had to
be something to Claire’s memories of Earth.
    Standing in front of God in his chambers, Marcus tried to
keep his cool. He had to appeal to his Master’s merciful side, small and hidden
as it may be. Marcus had to do whatever he could to keep Claire from being
punished. She was too fragile for God’s wrath right now.
    “You think it wise to indulge Claire’s talk of this…Earth
planet?” Boreas asked with an edge of displeasure.
    After a deep breath, Marcus replied. “Master, it doesn’t
sound like a delusion. She is so certain. And the language, the details…how
could somebody fabricate an entire world, a way of life so different from
ours?”
    “What are you trying to say? That this other planet exists?”
God’s violet eyes bore into his.
    “No, Master, not exactly.” He had to be cautious. God did
not like being challenged. “She acts quite normal when she speaks of it.
Telling me about it soothes her. I thought it would be a way to bring her
closer to the here and now.”
    “By feeding her delusion?” he accused. “Surely, you see how
that’s not sound reasoning.”
    He lowered his eyes, hoping his gesture of submission would
calm Boreas. God’s temper was simmering and he didn’t want to see it boil.
Marcus tried to sound calm, even detached. “Matters of the mind and heart do
not always make sense. I am only doing what I think is best for my submissive.
If you disagree, Master, I will discipline her if she mentions it again.”
    Boreas let out a breath. The corners of his eyes creased.
“It doesn’t seem logical to me, but the mind and heart are your areas of
expertise, not mine.”
    “So I can allow her to speak of Earth?”
    Even if he was angry, Marcus hoped he saw the advantages of
keeping Claire content.
    “Only in private. If anybody else hears of this there will
be consequences.”
    “They won’t,” Marcus said. “I will make sure of it, Master.”
    God lay on his over-stuffed silk couch, wearing a pensive
expression. His eyes cut to Marcus’s. “This Earth, it fascinates you—the way
they create and form families?”
    Marcus blinked, feeling a bit off balance. “I suppose it
does.”
    “It’s not that different from Borealis when you think about
it. Your fellow Doms and submissives are your brothers and sisters .
Aurora and I are your parents . The demigods could be your aunts and uncles .”
    “Yes,