Page 22 of Escape Clause

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“A marriage is a binding partnership between two consenting parties…” As the officiant launched into the ceremony in an unromantic deadpan, Hope’s knees shook. With cold fingers, she clutched her bridal bouquet like a lifeline.This is it. It’s finally happening. No backing out now.

Equal parts relief and sadness engulfed her. Gleezer couldn’t reach her, and Krogan had turned out to be nicer than the first impression had led her to believe, but this perfunctory, impersonal wedding fell way short of her secret dreams. She told herself this wasn’t the end; the situation was temporary. It wasn’t like she’dneverhave a chance to marry for love, but it felt like it. Like most little girls, she’d fantasized about a romantic fairy-tale wedding to a courageous, handsome prince who loved her more than life itself.

Then again, what could be more storybook than marrying an alien from another planet? And he was governor-general. That was close to princelike. He’d proved his mettle by accepting responsibility for fixing the planet’s problems. Nor could she imagine anyone more handsome than her tall, commanding groomwith his angular, masculine features, piercing eyes, and long dark-blue hair swept off his forehead marked by a silvery sigil.

Fairy-tale wedding, courageous, handsome prince—I guess the only part I’m not getting is love.

She snuck a glance at him. The markings along his hairline were especially noticeable right now, looking like jewelry against his smoke-blue complexion. The band of silvery scales had spread down his temples, nearly to his jaw. She narrowed her eyes. Odd.

“With full knowledge of the mutual obligation to…”

She tried to pay attention to the words coming out of the officiant’s mouth. One should listen to the vows, shouldn’t she? The wedding might not be what she’d hoped for, but it would be legally binding. For a year anyway.Until he no longer needs me to help promote Cosmic Mates.

At the jab of pain, she corrected her thoughts.We both intend this to be temporary. I wouldn’t be marrying him if there wasn’t an escape clause.

“Agree to accept limits on personal autonomy to support the needs of the other party…”

She smoothed a cold, shaking hand down the skirt of her new dress.A princess dress.She’d never wornanything so pretty in her entire life. As soon as she’d seen it, she’d envisioned herself wearing it to the wedding. She didn’t expect to get it in time, but Don Juan assured her she would. It seemed frivolous to buy an outfit to wear once, but maybe there would be other occasions? The dress had been her sole splurge. The other clothes she’d ordered were multifunctional and utilitarian.

Krogan had given her carte blanche to get what she needed, but she had no intention of taking advantage of his generosity. With Don Juan’s help, she’d found some suitable everyday garments in a women’s shop on the planet’s HyperSphere, and the android had scanned her to determine her size.

“Shared responsibility…mutual interdependence…” The monotone could have put her to sleep, except she was too wired.

Krogan surprised her by reaching out and taking her free hand, engulfing her cold fingers in his warm palm. She clung to his hand, feeling her nervousness ease a tad.

They’d started off on the wrong foot, but he’d gone above and beyond to compensate, demonstrating that when he made a mistake, he didn’t double-down; he corrected it. He didn’t love her, would never love her,but she couldn’t fault his courtesy or kindness. After talking with Larth—and having observed firsthand the effects of the nano-virus—she’d gotten a much better idea of the incredible responsibility Krogan shouldered. But, for their wedding, he’d left the office early, picked her up, and took her to the flower mart to get a bouquet. He’d taught her how to use the vaporator so she wouldn’t get lost again. He’d seen she needed clothing and immediately rectified the situation.

If forced to marry someone out of necessity, she could do far worse than him.

“Do you, Hope Bennett, agree to enter into a legal union with Krogan as your husband for the term of one year to be extended indefinitely should you both concur?”

The sound of her name jolted her out of her reverie. “I do,” she said.

“Do you, Krogan, agree to enter into a legal union with Hope Bennett as your wife for the term of one year to be extended indefinitely should you both concur?”

“I do.” His voice sounded sure and strong.

“As an officiant of Caradonia, I proclaim you legally bound in matrimony in accordance with theaforementioned provisions,” he announced in his deadpan.

Several silent seconds passed before reality hit.That’s it? We’re married? That was…anticlimactic.

Sheharbored noromantic illusions, and it was acivilceremony, but considering the critical purpose of Cosmic Mates, the officiant could have put alittleheart into the ceremony. For all the animation he’d mustered, he could have been reciting zoning regulations. Or maybe she wasn’t being fair. Perhaps he’d done the best he could with the legalistic language.

Krogan squeezed her hand and released it. She held her breath.Is he going to kiss me?She looked up at him nervously. Her heart pounded. He gazed at her, with an expression almost like bemusement. The markings on his forehead sparkled.

The assistant scurried forward. “Sign here.” He shoved a tech-tab-like device at Krogan.

Her new husband scrawled his name then passed the device to her. She signed. The officiant added his autograph, and then the assistant stowed the device in a drawer.

The officiant and his assistant stared at them.

“We won’t take any more of your time,” Krogan said. “Thank you again for keeping the office open for me.”

“Of course, Governor-General.”

Krogan settled his hand on the small of her back, and they exited the office.

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