Page 56 of Married to the Beast

He had no answers. He only knew that he wanted to hold her in his arms and keep her safe…and right now the only way he felt he could do that was to keep their eventual ending from her. If he told her he was going to eventually disavow her, it would only bring her pain. He wanted to avoid that as long as possible.

I’ll tell her when the time is right,he promised himself as he cuddled her close and assured her that he cared for her.I’ll be sure to let her know I’m going to provide for her, even after I leave, so she can find another husband if she wants to.

But the idea of Aleena with another man made him feel the stirrings of Rage—a red-eyed possessive jealousy that brought a growl to his lips. Well, at least she and her mother would be able to live comfortably together, he comforted himself as he tried to push the emotion aside.

Bear held Aleena close as she drifted off to sleep, planning how exactly he would explain the situation to her and tell her he was leaving when the time came.

He had no idea that the decision of how and when to tell his bride he was leaving her was about to be taken out of his hands completely …

36

ALEENA

It was the night of the big ball and Aleena couldn’t have been more excited. She had a gorgeous new outfit that Bear had bought her for the occasion with the most beautiful breast shield she’d ever seen. It was pure platinum with diamonds and amethysts sewn into the fine links of the pattern. There was a pale purple skirt to go with it made of a fine, gauzy silk that floated around her legs in delicate layers. Bear had also gotten her an amethyst necklace and earrings to match as well as some delicate silver and purple dancing slippers that fit her perfectly.

The cost of this outrageously expensive outfit had been as much as a house—Aleena’s eyes had nearly popped out of her head when she saw the price tags. But Bear insisted that the lavish gifts were her due and that the pale purple color of the precious stones brought out her eyes.

That was the only drawback, Aleena thought, as she got dressed for the night’s festivities. Though they had been Joined for almost a month now, her Kindred husband had yet to change the color of her eyes and so their Joining was still unconsummated.

Of course, they did many deliciously naughty activities together in the bedchamber, but he still wouldn’t take her allthe way. Aleena had given up begging him—her mother had counseled her not to nag her new husband. Bear would take her when he was ready and, in the meantime, she had a ball to get ready for, she told herself firmly.

The ball itself was being held in honor of the completed negotiations between the Kindred and her own people. In fact, Bear’s superior officer—a warrior by the name of Commander Sylvan—was folding space from the Mother Ship in order to attend the festivities.

Aleena was nervous to meet her husband’s boss. She hoped she would reflect well on Bear and bring him honor with his commanding officer. She was going to be on her very best behavior and try to be charming and gracious all night. She was?—

“Ah, there you are. Goddess, you lookstunning, baby.”

Aleena turned at the sound of her husband’s deep voice, flushing with pleasure to see the admiration in his golden eyes.

“Do you like it?” She did a little twirl so that her long gauzy skirt fanned out around her.

“Like it? I fuckingloveit,” he growled. “You’ll be the most beautiful woman there tonight!”

“Thank you, my Bear.” She came to him and stood on tiptoes to kiss him on the mouth. “I want to bring you honor and make you proud of taking me as your wife,” she whispered when the kiss broke.

“Youdomake me proud,” he murmured, kissing her back. Then he sighed deeply, as though something was troubling him.

Aleena frowned.

“Is something the matter? Has your Commanding officer been delayed?”

“No, he’s going to be right on time. He’ll meet us at the ball,” he said, which didn’t really answer her question. “Come on…” He took her by the arm. “We don’t want to be late.”

“Of course not.” Trying to put the worry she felt out of her mind, Aleena allowed him to lead him from her dressing chamber down the grand staircase of their home.

On the way to the ball, she tried to still her nerves. Her whole family was going be there—well, excluding her mother. She had taken the cure that Bear had gotten the scientists aboard the Kindred Mother Ship to prepare for her and she was still recovering her strength in the nice new cottage that he had bought for her.

But Aleena’s father and stepmother and her half sister, Faleesha would all be present. In her splendid new outfit, Aleena felt like a princess and she wanted to show them that she had made an excellent match despite the fact that they had initially forced her Joining with Bear upon her.

The ride to the ball was silent with Bear evidently lost in thought, though he held her hand and stroked her fingers absently with his thumb. His horns had been polished to a high shine and his bushy black hair was brushed neatly and held in place in a club at the back of his neck. His uniform buttons gleamed gold and his tall black boots were shiny and sleek. Aleena felt proud to be seen with him—she couldn’t wait to dance with her husband and let everyone see how handsome he was.

When the hovercoach drew up at the entrance of The Plaza—the huge arena where the largest affairs of state were held—Aleena’s eyes got wide. There were so many people here! All the diplomats and couriers and politicians and their wives were present, dressed in elegant luxury. And around the roped off areas, crowds of regular people were gathered, all there to gawk at the rich and powerful.

Aleena remembered coming to watch a similar event when she was much younger. Then she had been part of the commoncrowd. Now she was alighting from a luxury hovercoach on the arm of her famous and important Ambassador husband.

And to think, just last month mother and I were living in the shabbiest part of town, unsure of where our next meal would come from,she thought wonderingly. Her swift reversal of fortune nearly took her breath away.

She sent a silent prayer of gratitude to the Goddess of Mercy as Bear helped her out of the coach and she took his arm. All around her people were staring in wonder at her gorgeous outfit. She was glad she’d taken time to go get her hair done in a stylish up-do of swooping curls that drooped elegantly down from the crown of her head. Two little ringlets framed her face and she smiled brightly as she turned her face to the recording devices.

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