Page 21 of His Brazen Bride

By the next afternoon, I’m officially a wife.

Kind of anti-climactic, really. It had been a whirlwind of events: first being dressed by Xi and the servants, then the contract signing before the Keeper of Records, and finally the ceremony—which was the shortest part of all.

No reception after, either. Fine with me.

The impending wedding had been announced earlier in the morning, along with Xi’s pronouncement that I was the Royal Commander’s fated mate, and Xi said they’d been inundated with well-wishes and gifts. It seems Xi was right: the people of Ydris were overjoyed at the news, as well as their…our…allies.

Some had apparently expressed concern over a hasty marriage to an outsider, but they were far outnumbered by those in support of the match.

Once we’re changed out of our wedding regalia, Xi and I meet Ryz and Zadren in the control room.

Zadren greets us with a fist to his chest and a bow. “Congratulations, my Queen.”

Right. I’m a queen now.

I bow to him. “Thank you.”

Ryz is staring at the screens.

“The Outside Forces are retreating,” he states.

“Really?” I say, moving to stand next to him.

“Yes, and have been since your nuptials were complete,” Zadren continues. “They haven’t contacted us to make any formal statement, but they are on a clear course away from the palace.” He smiles. “Naturally, we will continue to track their movements.”

Ryz scratches his jaw. “I must prepare a message for them.”

“And then you’ll send a search party for my friends, right?” I add. “Every second you waste could be disastrous. We need to start lookingnow, Ryz.”

He growls, looking at me as if I’d just asked him to carve up one of the moons in the sky.

“No, we will wait until I’ve had a conversation with Commander Hak’en. We don’t know their true intentions. What if it’s a trick?”

I jab a finger at the screens. “Look, evenIcan see most of the ships are long gone. We have to act quickly.”

He pounds the console with his fist, and I jump. “I’ve warned you about telling me how to lead my people. You’re being ridiculous.”

I lift my chin. “Not ridiculous. My friends are out there, scared and alone, and they need me. Humans care about?—”

“If we make the wrong move, your friends won’t have anywhere to come back to. I’m sorry for their situation, but I cannot risk my entire planet and the well-being of our allies for them.”

I narrow my eyes. “You promised you’d focus on finding Iris and Lacey. Now you’re backing out. This isnotthe honorable way of a Royal Commander.”

A loud snarl tears from Ryz’s lips.

“How dare you question my honor, woman,” he roars, startling the others working at their stations and making his sister gasp.

I stand my ground, watching his neon blue eyes turn to flame. I know I should be afraid, but all I can feel is disappointment. I turn and stalk off, Xi accompanying me.

“He’ll come around, Gwen,” she murmurs as we walk through the hallways. “Give him time.”

“My friends don’thavetime,” I fume. “What a rat!”

She presses her pewter lips together. “He’s just being cautious. He has to be, in his position.”

I nod glumly. “I know. I guess I just expected more from him. How can I trust him now, when I’ve seen him go back on his word?”

She pats my hand as we reach the guards flanking the doors to the Commander’s suite. My things were moved here earlier, but I didn’t get a chance to see it properly.

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