Page 8 of The Bride Auction

Mom leaned over to me. “Can you see yourself with him?”

“I’ll make it work. It’s not about physical attraction,” I said. “I need mental stimulation as well.”

“All these men are intelligent,” the lawyer responded. “They will treat your daughter well.”

The numbers rose higher and higher until they reached three hundred and seventy thousand dollars. An alien with leathery dark wings, long black hair and horns with onyx eyes that seemed to stare at me through the screen peered back. He was handsome in a demonic way I supposed. I shuddered.

“That’s a Wora, an empathetic species. At first, they appear terrifying to humans, but they’re some of the kindest aliens around,” the lawyer explained. “Due to their abilities as empaths, your daughter will want for nothing. The Wora desire only the best for their mates.”

“What about that one?” My father pointed to a feline alien. He was almost leonine, with a wide mane, soft brown eyes and short fur around his face and shoulders. He appeared to wear only a sash without a shirt. One side of his lips was curled upward, almost in a sneer. I hoped that was his version of a smile.

“That is a Temerlan.”

“Tell me about them,” my typically taciturn father demanded.

“They are a warrior race with a strong sense of justice. That particular male works jointly with the Klagan peacekeeping force. He would make a good mate. He is friends with many of the Abrane, the founding species of the Galactic Council. They’re the ones who make laws that see justice served with fair outcomes regardless of species or inclusion in the Galactic Council.

“He’d be a good one. He’s not too bad looking either,” my mother whispered.

My father shot her a glance. “I hope he wins. He’s bidding enough.”

My mouth dropped at the bid price of a million dollars to the lion-man. The red Minotaur bid an extra million before the lion-man, no, the Temerlan, I corrected myself, raised the price to five million.

My heart leaped and I looked between my parents. “Is that really the price he’s willing to pay for me to be his bride?” I asked, my mouth full of wonder.

“It is,” the lawyer said.

I squeezed both my parents’ hands. “See, I told you everything would be okay. Now no one’s going to have to worry.” He must be filthy rich, I thought, I can only hope he’s not an asshole. I’d learned the hard way money doesn’t always buy class or manners.

The five of us stared at the screens for what seemed like an eternity. When no one else placed a bid, a small countdown timer began starting at 30 seconds. My heart started thrashing in my chest and I counted along with it.

Ten.

Nine.

Eight.

I hoped none of the other aliens outbid this Temerlan.

Five.

My throat threatened to close and I squeezed my parents hands tighter.

Three.

Mom rubbed her fingers against the top of my hand.

Two.

I exhaled.

One.

My father’s hand trembled in mine.

The counter hit zero and virtual confetti blinked across the screen by the Temerlan. Lindsey handed me a single long-stemmed red rose.

“Congratulations.” The lawyer shook my parents’ hands before shaking mine. He handed me a tablet. “Our number is programmed in case you need to contact us for whatever reason. We will be in touch in one week to make sure that you’re settled in. Are you prepared to leave now?” he asked.

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