Page 3 of Savage Union

“You think I care about his money?” I demanded. “I don’t want his nasty hands crawling all over me just so you can get the latest fashions at a discount!”

Lyrah stamped her foot, which made no sound at all in the thick, luxuriousBernahfur carpeting.

“You selfish, stubborn girl!” she snarled at me. “You can whine and cry all you want but youwillmarry the male I picked for you! Your father has agreed to this match and the date of your Binding Ceremony has been set.”

“You’re joking with me!” I shook my head. “Daddy wouldn’t do that to me! He wouldn’t make me marry an old man.”

“Oh, no?” A cruel smile twisted her painted lips. “Then why don’t we ask him?”

She pulled out her mobile holo-projector and punched in a number. A moment later, a 3-D hologram of my father, about a foot high, was hovering over her palm.

“Yes, Lyrah my love, what is it?” he asked, looking distracted. My Father has the gilded horns of a Chieftain—the only males besides Head Enforcers that are allowed to paint their horns gold—and eyes the same dark gold as my brother, Slade’s.

“Zirex, my darling, Jessina and I are here at Chez L’ronge having lunch with my good friend, Grr. Malofice. You remember him don’t you?”

“Oh yes—the rich merchant.” My father nodded distractedly. “Well, why did you call?”

“Well, it seems that your daughter doesn’t like the idea of getting Bound to Grr. Malofice,” Lyrah said sweetly. “She doesn’t understand that it’s in her best interest to get married before she’s too old to attract a husband.”

“I’d rather die single than marry a man old enough to be my GrandSire!” I exclaimed. “Daddy, he’s older thanyouare!” I added, appealing to the holo image of my father.

“Now, Jessina, your mother and I talked about this,” he said sternly. “We agreed that it would be best for you to be Bound to an older male—one with a stern hand who could keep you in check.”

“Why do I need to be kept in check?” I demanded. “Why do I need to marry at all?”

My father glowered at me.

“You’re a princess of Clan Cruel—of course you must get married. You’re lucky I’m not using your marriage as an alliance to another Clan—I’m being kind in allowing you to get out of our lifestyle.”

“You think forcing me to marry an old male I don’t love or even know is being kind?” I demanded. “Lyrah only chose him because he’s promised to get her a discount on the latest fashions!”

“That’s not true! I had only your best interest at heart when I chose Grr. Malofice for you,” Lyrah snapped. “And since the contract is already signed, it’s too late to back out now.”

“What?” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Daddy, please say it’s not true!” I begged my father. “Please tell me you didn’t sign me to a Binding Contract without even asking me if I wanted to be Bound to this male or not!”

For the first time my father looked uncomfortable.

“Now, Jessina,” he began. “When we signed the contract, we were only thinking of your future happiness?—”

On hearing those words, “when we signed the contract,” all hope left my body. Once a Binding Contract is signed, there’s almost no way to back out of it. If my father really cared so little about me that he would allow my malevolent stepmother to choose my future husband based on who would give her the best discounts when she went shopping, then there was no way he would listen to my pleas and let me out of the upcoming union.

Which meant I was going to have to find a way to get myself out of it.

“All right, fine,” I said.

“What do you mean by that?” Lyrah demanded.

I shrugged.

“Just what I said. If the contract is already signed, then there’s nothing to be done. It can’t be taken back.” I was furious—more angry than I had ever been in my life—but I knew if I showed it, I was only going to make them suspicious. And I couldn’t afford that—a plan was already forming in my mind.

“So that’s it? You’re happy with our choice?” My father raised his eyebrows.

“Well, he’s not as young as I had hoped my husband would be,” I said. “But you did say he’s rich, right?”

“Yes, extremely. He’s one of the wealthiest males in the Imperium,” Lyrah said slowly. I could tell that she distrusted my sudden change of heart.

“Well, then I guess I can just wait for him to die,” I said, shrugging.

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