Page 45 of The Red Woman on Mars

“It is not only Delilah I’m thinking about. Silas Gatlin told me everything.”

“You take an eager interest in that man’s concerns,” growled Xavier.

“Of course I do! You caused his misfortune.”

“Misfortune!” scoffed Xavier. “Yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed.”

“He was owed an inheritance from your father. And because you were jealous, you stopped him from inheriting. What kind of man treats someone who was raised beside him so badly?”

“Ha!” Xavier walked with quick steps across the room to stand in front of her. “And this is your opinion of me? I thank you for explaining it so fully.”

Vivian sprang to her feet. Her heart was hammering in her chest. “From the very beginning—from the first moment I met you, you have been arrogant and conceited. You don’t care about the feelings of others. You are the last man in the world—this world or any other—that I could ever love.”

Xavier’s eyes were blazing. He closed the last foot of distance between them and bent his head toward her upturned face.Vivian wondered for one thrilling moment if he planned to kiss her and how she would respond if he did.

“You have said quite enough. I understand your feelings perfectly and am now only ashamed of what my own feelings have been.” He straightened and walked away from her. “Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.” The door vibrated in its frame as he slammed it on his way out.

Vivian sat down abruptly. Xavier, in love withher? Absurd. How many times had he made it clear he wanted nothing to do with her? And how had he expected her to react to his brash confession? What arrogance! To assume she would fall into his arms after everything he had done to Delilah. And to Silas.

Vivian’s breath quickened. She pictured the way his eyes had narrowed, how close his face had been to her own. What if he had kissed her? She was stronger than a Martian. She could have easily pushed him away. What if she had kissed him back? It would serve him right if she had. She would have bit his lower lip. Pulled at his shirt collar. Anything to get a reaction from him.

The door opened, and Vivian jerked her head up. Had Xavier returned? She didn’t think she could get through another argument with him without acting on her rash impulses.

“Vivian!” Wim said urgently from the doorway. He was swaying under Luz’s weight as she folded against him. “Help me!”

Vivian was at their side in two strides. She pulled Luz away from Wim and helped her to the couch. Luz lay down with her head on Vivian’s lap and let out a whimper.

“What’s wrong with her?” Vivian asked Wim.

His face was stark white. “She was perfectly fine on the train ride home. It was not until we rose to exit that she informed me that she felt dizzy. And then she vomited on the walk from the station.” Wim’s hand clutched his bald head, his middle finger tapping on one of the augmentations on his skull.

“Don’t just stand there gaping like an idiot,” Vivian snapped. “Bring her some water.”

After Wim had left the room, Luz blinked up at Vivian. “Be nice to him, Viv baby. For me.”

Wim’s hand shook as he returned with a glass of water and brought it to Luz’s lips. Luz lifted her head slightly to swallow and then leaned back down onto Vivian.

“Is this kinetosis again?” Vivian asked Wim. “Like Delilah?”

Wim shook his head, lips pressed together. Two red splashes of color had formed on his bleached face.

“Do you know something?” Vivian demanded.

“I—the Intelligence does. Nausea and vomiting are an anticipated side effect of the in utero calcium treatments. This is … expected.”

“Expected.” Vivian felt her own stomach roil. “Is that what you saw Dr. Chavez for today? The first calcium treatment?”

Wim wasn’t looking at them. He stared, with both his real and artificial eye, into a corner of the room, his head cocked for long minutes. Vivian watched his face contort and forced her hand to remain steady as she stroked Luz’s hair. “I can’t!” he suddenly growled, and then bent to his knees, his fist pressed against his forehead. He leaned forward, touching his fist to the ground, and in a barely audible whisper said, “Forgive me, Intelligence. I am weak.”

Luz sat up slowly and picked up the water glass from where Wim had left it under the couch. She gulped the water with her eyes never leaving Wim’s prone form. And then, she rose shakily to her feet and crossed the room. She knelt at Wim’s side and touched the bare skin of his head. He turned into her, wrapping his arms around her body, shuddering.

“I’m to be your husband,” he whispered in a muffled voice into her chest. “It’s my duty to keep you safe from harm.”

“Baby, this one isn’t in your control.”

“It should be. I speak with the Intelligence’s own voice.”

Vivian pulled her knees into her chest and watched the two of them uncomfortably. They seemed to have forgotten she was there.