Page 8 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

“I’m sorry, I truly am. We can’t bring in another stranger. We don’t have time and there’s no one else we trust. There’s so much riding on this. The power of that Council seat could affect entire galaxies. Trillions of lives. Hundreds of trillions. We can’t let the Ubrions have it. The Caldorians will do anything to prevent those assholes from getting it back. They are pure evil, Ash. You have no idea.”

Ashlyn groaned. “Yes, I do. I’m not an idiot. Okay. Alright. You win. Coma–girl had four months to prepare. How many do I get?”

“A few hours. Like I said, we’re out of options and out of time.”

“Shit! Hours?! That's it?! I can't even decide if I like a guy in a few hours, and I’m supposed to convince a bunch of snobby alien politicians that I'm in love with one?!” Bile rose in the back of her throat. She put a hand over her mouth. She was going to puke.

“I'm sorry, Ash. Truly. We tried to postpone the challenge by telling the Council there was a family emergency. They insisted the proceedings must continue as scheduled. Failure to show will be viewed as an automatic forfeiture. In their eyes, this is an internal family squabble. One seat among many,” Rachel explained, finally a bit rattled.

Shit.In through the nose, out through the mouth. 4-7-8. In four, hold for seven, out slowly for eight. Repeat. In. Hold. Out.

Rachel placed her hands on Ashlyn’s shoulders. “I told everyone not to worry. I know you can handle it. You always step up. You’re perfect for the job.”

Ashlyn’s brow creased with worry. “No. The other girl was perfect, which is why you chose her. I’m going to be a replacement for the replacement. She needs to be here. Can’t you wave aReGenwand over her or something?”

“ReGen wand?” Rachel snorted. “Been readingGrace Goodwinnovels again, have we?”

“Hey, the science is good. I bet they exist. Somewhere.” Ashlyn's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “And don’t act like you haven’t read every single one of her books. Twice.”

“Guilty. But Earth hasn’t traded for anything like a ReGen wand yet, and besides, the Caldorians don’t need them. They havemajustones, remember? The stuff they make from it will heal just about any wound they have.”

“I know. I know. The Caldorian cure-all. How could I forget?” She made a face at her sister. She didn’t care how immature it was. “I’m holding out for a ReGen wand.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Rachel rolled her eyes. “I’ll have them get right on it. In the meantime, we still need you. We can use their own laws against them. You couldn’t kill a fly, but all the warriors on the other side of that wall are lethal, royal or not. They would protect you with their lives. So, pick one of those hotties in there and we’ll be in business,” she said, grinning.

Embarrassed, Ashlyn hissed under her breath, “I doubt Caldorian royals would appreciate being referred to as ‘hotties’, no matter how drool worthy they are. Where’s your sensitivity, Rachel? Aren’t you the wife, excuse me, ‘bound mate’, of an Ambassador now?”

“Oh, I don’t think they mind,” she whispered back conspiratorially.

Rachel’s tone was far too smug for Ashlyn to ignore. She looked at her sister, then followed her gaze to the subjects in question. All five warriors smiled like they had just won the jackpot. Somehow, they’d overheard. Well, damn. Super hearing? Advanced tech? How had she forgotten they had both?

One by one they gave her the slightest of bows, a clear acknowledgement they had heard her. Heard everything. All but one warrior. He stared unrepentantly. His molten eyes dared her to look away. Her toes curled.Oh, yeah, he’s the bad boy, all right.

“Okay then.” She turned back toward Rachel and tucked the same strand of hair, the one that never wanted to cooperate or stay where she put it, back into place and put one hand on her hip. She could brazen it out with the best of them. “How long would one of those ‘hotties’ and I have to pretend we’re planning our very own happily ever after?”

“You have the right to walk away at any time, for any reason. As for the length of the challenge, according to Cappran law, they can give you three challenges, or tests. In total, it cannot last beyond a quarter cycle. That is about two months here. We don’t think they’ll want to drag it out that long. The Council won’t stand for it. As soon as the final test is over, if you are successful, you will be declared the new, legitimate holder of the Council seat. Any time after that we can, if you still don’t want to stay on Cappra and co-rule, stage a tragic accident for you and you will be able to disappear, return to your normal life on Earth. No matter how suspicious the death appears, there’s nothing they’ll be able to do about it. The law is the law. Whoever you choose today will then remain as the legitimate Council member of Cappra.”

Ashlyn took a deep breath, suddenly dizzy and slightly nauseated. “I don’t know who to choose. Can Dagan do it?”

“Nope. You have to choose. It’s part of the agreement they worked out amongst themselves. Caldorian politics. If Dagan chooses, it will cause problems for him back home. Whichever prince claims the seat will have power on Caldor, and throughout the rest of the Intergalactic community, unrivaled by any but the actual Council member for Caldor. Seats rarely change hands. They’re handed down from generation to generation like a throne. This is an unprecedented opportunity for Caldor. Dagan told me interplanetary wars have been fought over a single seat. All but one of the princes volunteered.

“Which one?”

Rachel pointed to the prince in question.

Of course it’s him.Ashlyn refused to be disappointed, even a little. None of this was real. Claiming her wouldn’t be real. This was all going to be fake.Fake. Fake. Fake.Why did she have to keep reminding herself of that fact? “Why is he here if he didn’t volunteer?”

“The original candidate from the Northern Sector was recently killed. Prince Miralos was asked to take his place.”

“Oh. I see.”

“Yes. The situation is really unfortunate, but if Prince Miralos is your choice, he is just as qualified as the others and just as determined to make it work.”

“Right. And if the Council finds out we’re lying? Then what? Are we going to start a war?”

“If you lose, then as C’Bor’s widow, you will have the option of forfeiting and going home or marrying an Ubrion.”

“You really think we can pull this off? ThatIcan pull this off?”

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