Sayeeda’s eyes cracked open and she groaned. The hormones and adrenaline had burned off the alcohol she had imbibed. To be honest she was still half basking in the afterglow of the evening's activities. Unfortunately this simply made it easier for her to appreciate the gravity of the situation. She didn’t know for a fact that Indra’s family would react badly to this new situation, but she had dealt with enough planetary nobility to know that sleeping with their crown prince designee would not go over well. At the very least they might seize the Highlander and take the reward back. At worst they might face imprisonment or execution. Technically the marriage contract that Neil had with Indra did not involve her. She had agreed to undertake Gregorius’ mysterious errand but that was a separate contract. Satisfied in her own mind that she wasn’t reneging on a contract, she rolled out of bed and looked around for some clothing. Neil sat up in bed behind her blinking himself awake as Taya continued to hammer on the door.

“What the…” Neil mumbled.

“Shut up,” Sayeeda hissed as she grabbed a tank top and pulled it over her head.

“Junebug, Indra’s people don’t know where he is, will you let me in already?” the aristocrat called through the door.

“I’m not decent,” she called back. Taya snorted a laugh.

“Are you ever? I’ve seen you naked plenty of times Sayeeda,” she called.

“Can’t they find him with the security cams?” Junebug asked, finally managing to locate a pair of pants, pulling them on without underwear. 

“Stars I don’t know, I don't know what their coverage is like inside the actual inner palace, would you hurry up and let me in?” Taya demanded. Junebug toggled the door but stepped out into the hallway, using her body to conceal the fact Neil was inside, closing it behind her but not before she flashed a fall back hand signal behind her back.

“What the…” Taya protested, her confusion visible.

“Junebug you aren’t even wearing any shoes,” the aristocrat protested. Sayeeda looked down at her feet in mock surprise.

“You are right, we need to buy shoes, probably clothes too,” Sayeeda agreed.

“You have all those things in your room,” Taya pointed out tactfully. 

“Look I just made a hundred thousand credits, a girl can’t want to spring for new threads?” she asked breezily.

“What about Neil?” she demanded as Junebug took her by the arm and maneuvered her down the hallway.

“He is probably down at the Highlander, screwing around with a mech if I had to guess, you know how he loses track of time when he is working. We can check, after we get shoes,” she said with artificial brightness.

“Why are you acting so weird?” Taya demanded as they rounded a corner. It took a tremendous effort of will not to look back towards her room. She hadn’t had time to shower or anything and she was momentarily concerned that Taya might notice.

“Neil’s getting married in a couple of days,” she pointed out, “I can’t be a little weirded out?” Taya nodded sympathetically and Junebug managed a smile that was distinguishable from a grimace only by degree. This was really messed up. They rounded another corner only to be confronted by Saxon. The Hex was in his armor though medical units were clamped to his elbow and leg. He bared his teeth and then offered a sort of strange bow to Sayeeda.

“You are a fearsome warrior, I am honored to have mated with you,” he declared before striding off down the hallway. Taya gasped and gave her a shocked look. Junebug sighed. No. Now things were messed up.