Page 11 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

One Hour Later

Zade stormedthrough the empty hallway, his jaw clenched as he barked into his communication device for his second in command. “Bren.”

“I take it the human chose someone prettier than you?” Amusement heavily laced his question.

“Is my ship ready to depart? We won’t be staying to watch this farce.” Zade practically snarled.

“What happened? I saw the way you two were eye fucking before I left.” Of course he had. Damn invisible Lumerians.

“So did everyone else. Somehow, they convinced her not to choose me.”

“Those scheming bottom feeders,” Bren growled. “Who did she select?”

“Antonelius. Some of the Council members are already here, leaving me no time to change her mind.”

“Sure about that?” Bren cut in, “because my scanners show a female form running toward you.”

Zade slowed, annoyed that he’d been so distracted he hadn’t heard her coming.

A dainty hand touched the back of his arm.Ashlyn.He wanted to turn around and make her his. Kiss her. Mark her. Take her there in the deserted hallway. Prove he was the one for her. He did none of those things, his back ramrod straight. She’d made her choice.

“Prince Miralos. Zade. Please wait. You didn’t let me explain; you just walked out.”

He felt her tug on his arm and turned to face the small human woman, his face devoid of emotion. He would not allow her to see his anger or how much her rejection stung. “What is there to say? I do not need explanations or platitudes. I am not a child in need of coddling when he does not get the toy he wants.”

“You mean the power you want?”

“Of course.” Let her believe the Council seat was all he truly wanted.

Ashlyn’s eyes flashed with temper. ““Maybe you don’t need coddling, but where I come from it’s rude to walk away from someone who is talking to you.”

His eyes narrowed dangerously as he bent closer, invading her personal space. “Then you can add rude to your list.”

“What list?” she said between clenched teeth.

He straightened; his feet planted wide apart. He had no desire to argue with her, but she was obviously begging for a fight. The fire in her hair should have warned him of her temper. Apparently, such traits existed in all females, regardless of species. Of the females who chose to add red, he was especially careful. Ashlyn appeared to have been born with the tempting shade. His cock twitched.Either way, their tempers run hot and passions even hotter.

Ashlyn crossed her arms, foot tapping impatiently. “What list?” she asked again.

His jaw tightened. She wasn’t going to let the comment go. Fine. “The lists females make to condemn a man before he knows he’s done wrong or has a chance to fix it. Sometimes lists of things he has no control over. He’s too big, too small, too fast or too slow. Maybe he has the wrong parents, read the wrong books or gets into too many fights. Maybe he asks too many questions or not enough. Whatever he does, it goes on the list.”

“I do not make lists,” she huffed indignantly. “At least, not that kind.”

“Then the kind with goldtalodsnext to their names.” He swept his hand expansively through the air, unable to curb his anger any longer. “The one with the most talods wins?”

“Talods? As in Caldor’s version of money? Now you’re calling me a gold digger?!” Ashlyn’s face flushed an angry shade of red. “You callous, arrogant, self-absorbed alien bastard. I can’t believe I even considered.. you assho-”

“Careful,shenga.” His tone, to those who knew him, had become dangerously low. “The last woman who dared to call me names ended up bent over my knee. I daresay she can still feel my handprint on her ass.”

She gasped in outrage. “You wouldn’t dare, you insufferable...” she ranted, her index finger stabbing him in the chest with each word, “pompous, overbearing, conceited jackass.”

“That’s it. I warned you.” He picked her up, threw her none too gently over his shoulder and began walking back the way he had come.

Ashlyn screamed, her fists beating uselessly against his back. His hold on her was unbreakable. “What are you doing? Put me down!”

Instead of complying, he tapped his communicator. “Bren?”

“Still here. You do remember she chose the other guy, right?” came the sardonic reply.

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