Page 28 of The Marriage Bargain

The crazy string of thoughts flashed through my brain, taking me from nervousness to humor. I guess the Overlord must have read it on my face because he said, “This amuses you?”

“Oh.” I felt my cheeks warm. “I’m sorry. My mind was going through wild scenarios. I just had a funny thought.”

“Would you care to share?”

How could I tell him I’d been imagining how angry his family would be if he and I had a baby together? He might find the idea funny—hell, he obviously didn’t care for his family. Then again, he might be aggravated. I didn’t know him well enough to judge. I decided I’d better keep quiet.

“No, it was nothing. Really. Anyway, I guess I—I guess I agree with you. We might as well do this as soon as possible, if we’re really going to.”

“Do you have a preference as to where?”

Where? Where? Zyn and Tarralynn had gotten married by a local magistrate at the magistrate’s home. They’d had to request special permission from the Overlords first. Even our human magistrates were under Asterion control. I’d been there as a witness. Did we need witnesses? Tarra had worn a traditional white dress and carried flowers. Zyn had scrounged up a suit. I didn’t see the need to make a fuss. Wasn’t like this wedding was going to stick.

“I don’t,” I finally replied. “Do you?”

“If being married at the Citadel does not bother you, there are officials who can do it today. Now.”

Now. Right now. Again, I felt my breath constrict. Again, I swallowed down the feeling.

“Sure,” I said, proud of myself when my voice didn’t tremble. “Sure, why not? Might cut through the crap to just go to the Citadel and get it done.”

Caide nodded soberly. “Do you wish your sister to be present? Or a friend?”

I drew a breath. Released it. My sister. Tarra was going to freak over this. However, she was the one who’d first warned me about the breeder’s list. She’d get it. She’d rather I stick up for myself this way, than be shuffled off to some creepy, unknown alien. As for friends…seemed I was short on those, lately. Too busy with work and helping raise my sister’s kids.

“No,” I said, swallowing down the lump in my throat. “It’s fine. I think I’d rather do this alone.”

The alien—okay, I had to stop thinking of him like that. If we were going to be living together, I had to get over our differences and accept that he was a person exactly like I was. Caide—I needed to start thinking of him by his name. Caide regarded me with a mix of soberness and almost pity.

“You are not alone,” he said finally. “I will be there.”

Was that supposed to be reassuring? I guess it was, and I guess it was kindly meant, but it wasn’t all that comforting. He and his kind were what had gotten me into this predicament in the first place.

“I know,” I replied, proud of myself for not arguing or stating useless, obvious facts. At this point, it was what it was. “Thank you,” I tacked on half-grudgingly.

“Of course. It would be my honor to assist you in any way that I can.”

I blinked a couple times at that, confused. Was he joking? Serious? He was so hard to read! If he meant it, why did he care? He didn’t owe me anything.

“Um, thank you again,” I muttered, ducking my head. I didn’t like the way he was looking at me. Intense, like…like he actually did care. And I couldn’t figure out why.

“Might as well get this over with,” I said, desperate to resume some form of action and get away from confusing stares.

Get away from confusing stares. You’re about to marry this guy. What are you going to do when you’re stuck in a house with him all the time? How are you going to evade him then? Plead headaches constantly?

It won’t be like that, I argued with myself as, with unspoken consent, we both trudged silently back down the park trail. He’ll be at work all day. I’ll be at work too, or over at Tarra’s with the kids. I can’t abandon her and the kids for him because we have a fake marriage now. We don’t have to spend much time together or anything. Not like we need to work on our marriage. He’ll go on about his life and I’ll go on about mine. Heck, maybe he’ll even let me just stay put in Zyn and Tarra’s house. Do I really need to move in with him? Why go to all that trouble? If this blows over in a few months, I’ll have to move back out anyway.

As if Caide had suspected or deduced my train of thought, in an eerie answer to my questions, he said aloud, “We marry today, and I will bring men to move your belongings to my quarters tomorrow, if that suits you. For tonight, I will take you to Zyn’s to pack a bag and then bring you back to my home.”

Oh crap.

Seriously? How did this guy stay one step ahead? How long had he been planning this anyway? I was about to get suspicious. If word of the alien breeder’s list hadn’t come directly from my sister, I might convince myself that the entire thing was a web of lies he’d spun to get his hands on me.

Get his hands on me…right. Because I was so desirable. I almost eye-rolled myself, but checked the reaction with remembrance of him talking about how casual or bored sex should be okay.

Clearly, he wants to have sex with you.

If he’s bored. How flattering.

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