Page 16 of Alien Orc's Prize

“A thousand!” She gaped at me. “Either that’s a translation error, or you are being extremely dramatic right now.”

“Dramatic?” I gestured at the front of my vest, glinting all over with the pins I’d stuck there. “Look at me. I look like some miniature archer has been using me for target practice.”

Her eyes glinted and then went to my forehead.

“Well, then their aim isn’t very good. They should have aimed righthere.”

To my credit, at least I did not flinch when she flicked me this time.

I scowled at her, trying to suss out why I’d earned another forehead flick after I’d taken such pains to make sure she didn’t die from the cuts of ten thousand ill-placed pins. My wife seemed rather ungrateful for my efforts. But perhaps she did not know that the idea of Prince Gal down on his knees, pulling pins out of a human’s dress, was heretofore unfathomable.

I would have laughed at the thought myself.

Before today.

At least she was smiling at me. Her cheeks were pinkish now. Her scent was enticing, heady, and wafting more strongly towards me as her unpinned dress began to slide and collapse down. She caught it and held it fast against her breasts before I could see much of anything. I found myself rather sulky about the speed of her reaction time.

“Just,” I waved my hand vaguely at her and then the floor, “let it fall.”

Luna looked at me as if I’d just suggested she eat the dress and then shit it out onto a plate for my breakfast.

Blast.I’d never been much good at using words to seduce a woman. I’d had my fair share of sexual encounters, but it was usually because the female involved had been interested in me first and had pursued the rutting. I was a prince. This had always just been…easy.

I found myself completely at a loss at how I might encourage Luna to get naked. I stared at the dress as if the weight of my eyes alone could make it fall and save us both the awkwardness.

“No one comes this way unless I call for them,” I added gruffly. “We’ve nearly arrived at my chambers.”

I jerked my chin towards the door not a dozen steps from us.

She followed my gaze, gave a nervous-sounding laugh, and instead of responding to what I’d said, she rather nonsensically replied, “I don’t even know what I’ll wear to sleep.”

“I don’t wear anything to sleep. Why should you?”

Her head snapped to me so quickly it was a bit of a wonder it did not fly right off her shoulders. Human necks were stronger than I would have previously given them credit for.

“Of course you don’t.” She shook her head slightly. “Well, whatever state I sleep in, I’m not undressing out here in the hall.”

With that, she turned and headed for my chamber door. To my grave disappointment, she held up her dress the entire way.

CHAPTER 11

LUNA

Prince Gal’s chambers were large and luxurious, with their own impressive bathing room, much like the guest suite I’d first been shown into. Unlike that other room, though, this one sported the most extraordinary set of carved crystal doors and windows I ever could have imagined, leading out onto a gargantuan balcony that overlooked the sea. The palace was perched on a high cliff above a sandy cove, and looking out the windows and doors gave me the impression that we were floating above the black waves. The rising and crashing water looked like the flap and fall of wings, tips painted silver by a big, low-hanging moon.

I inhaled shakily, a few tears pricking at my eyes. I’d seen more beautiful things today than I’d probably seen in my entire life.

“Are these yours?”

I spun at the sound of Prince Gal’s charred and rumbly voice. He was holding the clothing I’d worn here in his hands. Fervently, I hoped they’d been washed by whoever had brought them here. He’d already complained about meemitting smells, whatever the hell that lovely little comment meant. I did notneed him getting a whiff of my worn-out grey travel suit and sweaty undies and sports bra.

“Yes. I suppose I exaggerated a bit when I said I hadnothings.” But only a bit. The clothes were all I’d come with. I didn’t even have a comms tablet anymore. Selling it to buy food had been the final nail in the coffin for my sad, single-girl life. It had been the day after selling it that I’d girded my loins, slapped an optimistic smile on my face, and joined the Starlight Brides program.

“They are not well-made.” Prince Gal said it like my cheap clothing was a personal affront to him.

“At least they fit me!” I said with a slight chuckle, tugging up on the front of my gaping dress until the fabric rustled meaningfully.

“You’ll have new things made to fit you immediately.”

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