Page 55 of Wrong Bed Right Alien

Her brow furrowed, a sob lodging in her throat. What kind of alien Romeo and Juliet were they wrapped up in? Smiling through the tidal wave of emotion, she sniffed back her tears.

“Is that how the magazines said to ask a woman the most important question of her life?”

Confusion flashed in his amazing eyes but then he grinned, and she felt it as clearly as if his hand cupped her face.

His voice was deep and tender. “I think the question is, will you marry me?”

“Enough!” The king’s sharp voice cut through the room and A’zal was repositioned to face him. Her heart lurched at the changed emotion on A’zal’s face. She could only see his profile, but he looked like he was giving in. She couldn’t understand the king’s words.

“Yes,” A’zal said right before he was strongarmed by the guards to his feet and turned toward the door.

Bile rose in her throat. “Wait! Wait, what are you doing? A’zal!”

Without thinking, she bit into the forearm of the guard holding her. He jerked his arm back and she bolted, racing after A’zal. Tristan blocked her, his face apologetic.

“I’m going to kick you right in your alien nuts if you don’t move.”

He didn’t respond.

“I know you can understand me, Tristan. Move.”

She was small and weak against them. But she wouldn’t give up. She’d never give up. A’zal couldn’t leave her alone here with these… creatures. She and the baby would never truly be safe. She’d spent most of her life being scared and haunted by alien stories. If she was going to live it, she was going to make it count.

Turning toward the screen, she pointed a finger at the king. His eyes flashed but she didn’t give a fuck. She was tired of trying to please everyone. She’d bent over backward for the assignment that her boss had given her and had gone out of her way to be polite and accommodating with Pel Cappa, only to end up fired. Most of her childhood had been muddied by her father’s weird fame and she’d struggled to redirect people away from his abduction stories and focus on her as a person, not the daughter of a crazy man.

She was done being nice.

“Exile me with him, you asshole. You’re willing to throw your son away, then you might as well toss your grandchild into the desert, too. We’ll find a way to survive. Love always does.”

The king looked questioningly at Tristan, who hesitated, clearly unwilling to translate her words.

“Tell him what I said.”

Words were exchanged. Tristan clearly became uncomfortable. Looking at Kimber, he hesitated before leaving the room. The shadow man followed and a moment later, A’zal returned. Alone.

He opened his arms, and she didn’t think twice before rushing into them. His big, tall body curled around hers protectively as they clung to one another.

The king spoke, drawing A’zal’s attention.

“He wants to see,” he said, lightly touching her belly. “So do I.”

Kimber took a breath and lifted the hem of her shirt over her small baby bump. Turning sideways to the screen, she kept her eyes on A’zal and relished his wonder as he touched where his child grew. There was a bit of fear and shock mixed in his expression. She knew the feelings very well.

After several long moments, the king lowered his gaze and said a few words. A’zal only nodded and the screen went dark.

“What did he say?”

He smiled and gathered her close. “He wishes to meet his grandchild.”

“Does this mean you’re not going to be dumped in a desert?”

“My father isn’t well. He may still punish me, but he needs me more than he will admit. I feel in my hearts that he will relinquish the throne soon. He’s disappointed that I broke the rules, but he still needs me for the role he’s giving up.”

Aliens didn’t operate like humans, she supposed, but there were similarities in how difficult they could be. It was obvious A’zal, and his father had a complicated relationship, the way she and her father had.

He grinned mischievously. The way he smiled was odd, as if he had more facial muscles than humans and it brightened his entire face. “You never answered me.”

Searching his face, Kimber lost herself in his unusual face. Those lips, so firm and full. What would they feel like on hers?

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