Page 34 of The Marriage Bargain

When he said that, memories flashed and I recalled it all. I hoped my face didn’t blanche, but I swear I felt the blood leave my cheeks.

“The Overlord who came over to talk to me was Flight Commander Abidah?”

“Sure was.” A puff of smoke from the glowing tip of his cigarette hung in the air between us. “You remember now.”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah. I’d never seen a Gorgathelian before, I guess. Wasn’t sure what they looked like. That’s why I blanked when you said his name and rank and race.”

“Yep. He’s a big shot here at the Citadel. Thinks he is, anyway. Why’s he so interested in you?”

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Can I just pass, please?”

Pass. That was funny. I felt like I was going to pass out. All of the sudden, I was overwhelmed with a desire to get to Caide. Take his name. Accept his protection. Caide was still somewhat of an unknown, but not like the Flight Commander. Caide would keep me safe. I knew that instinctively, even without being able to explain why I knew that.

“I don’t have a reason to stop you,” he shrugged, permitting me through with a cordial wave.

The guard, once so interested in my business, was suddenly treating me with newfound respect. Or deference. I doubted he respected me by any means, but he probably respected the fact that I had two high-ranking aliens from two different alien races and from two different professions interested in me.

Maybe he was even interested in me because they were. As I drove beyond the gates, in my rearview mirror I saw him staring after me, his eyes hard and narrow above the glowing tip of his cigarette.

I shivered.

Definitely better to be marrying Caide than winding up on a breeder’s list, auctioned off to the highest-ranking alien or human that wants me because of my sister’s fertility or whatever reason they have.

It was hard to imagine I was desired because of anything else.

Except by Overlord Caide, since his offer of marriage had nothing to do with heirs or fertility, yet I sensed loud and strong that he found me attractive. Hell, he was the one who’d brought up the stipulation that casual sex was okay. He wasn’t pushing it. It was more like…letting me know he was down for it if I was.

Would I be? Would I ever be? I wondered, mentally switching gears from the unsettling encounter at the gate to my upcoming wedding. I’d only slept with a few guys, and they were my boyfriends at the time. Foolishly, I’d thought I was in love with both of them. I’d been young. Naïve. Now, I was a woman in her mid-twenties, who hadn’t had sex in forever. I’d been burned badly by those two boyfriends. I knew I wasn’t the type for casual flings. I wanted something solid, like my sister and Zyn had, albeit with fewer kids. If any. Now? How ironic that apparently the majority of the males interested in me—not even human males—wanted me because they hoped I’d be producing their heirs. They didn’t even want me sexually, just my ability to make babies.

Life sure takes crazy twists.

A few streets away, stood the Castle, lofty and inspiring—or staunch and daunting, depending on one’s point of view. I drove down a side street or two, seeking the section where the Officials worked, guided by directions Caide had given me earlier. Scant transports, cars, or vehicles remained in this particular parking area this late at night. I recognized Caide’s transport and parked next to it. I breathed my lungs full of cold air before slamming my door shut. I didn’t bother locking it. We were inside the Citadel. Hungry humans outside might comb through my truck for something worth stealing or even steal the vehicle itself. The notion of an alien doing either was laughable.

Frigid air swelled in my lungs, making me cough. There was nothing laughable about how I felt as I gathered my shreds of courage and trudged through the curtain of teeny snowflakes that had started to fall, going on to meet my fate. My doom. My salvation. I didn’t know which.

CHAPTER 20

DELLE

Overlord Caide was waiting outside on the newly paved sidewalk, a lone figure in a thickening curtain of miniature snowflakes. His grey jacket formed tightly around his chest and shoulders. White snowflakes dotted his dark-silver hair. Golden eyes reflected the parking lot lights as he watched my approach. Several fantastic earrings decorated his strangely shaped ears. I clenched and unclenched my fists, determined to look brave. Determined I wouldn’t concede to anxiety.

His mouth tilted in a small smile. “All is well,” he said. “I found an Official to marry us.”

“That’s good,” I replied, stopping in front of him.

Was it, though?

Flight commander Abidah is interested in you.

I shook off the shivers inspired by that thought. Yes, it was good. It was.

“Are you ready?”

He didn’t seem nervous. Why was I? This affected him every bit as much as it affected me, right? Maybe he wanted this. Or possibly he was simply good at shielding his emotions and not displaying fear. I could do that too.

“Yep.” I forced a smile. “Born ready.”

He eyed me sideways. “You were born ready to marry an Overlord?”

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