Page 86 of Star Prince

She gave him a grudging nod that told him she didn’t believe he wouldn’t ultimately go back to theVashway of thinking. Or maybe she was still worried their engagement would keep him from becoming Rom’s heir.

“A lot happened over the past few days, Tee, life-changing things.”

Now she looked worried. “What, Ian?”

“Rom didn’t care for the way I was handling the frontier situation. He ordered me back to Sienna.” He lowered his voice. “I didn’t go.”

“He did?” Her voice rose. “You disobeyed the king?” She grew as pale as aVashcould get. “Is that what you meant when you said you broke the rules?”

“You can’t follow them all the time, pixie. Youtaught me that. The right path isn’t always the one everyone uses. Sometimes you’ve got to go your own way.” He took her hands in his. “You have to believe me, Tee, when I say I won’t make you live in the traditional way. Isolation should be a choice, not a law. I’m American; I’ve always felt that way. Being the crown prince won’t change that, or how I feel about Earth and my family. Or you, sweet pixie.”

Fascinated,Earth’s population watched the exchange—in pubs, in cars and shopping malls. In the Oval Office where a weary president argued with an incensed seniorVashtrade minister, Senator Charlie Randall rose to his feet, glancing from his phone to the television mounted on the wall. Then his mouth spread in slow smile of surprise. “There’s our boy.”

Ian pulledher snug against him. Cheek to cheek, breathing in unison, he rocked her back and forth. “So, what do you say?”

“Don’t do this,” Tee said in a tight whisper.

“Give me one reason why not.”

“‘The welfare of all comes before the desires of the few.’”

“Who’s to say this isn’t for the good of the many? I’m from the frontier. You’re from one of the eight original families. Yeah, things are going to be a little touchy until the Great Council finds a wife for Ché, but it’ll settle down. Come on; I love you, Tee. Andyou love me. Let’s get married. To hell with what anyone thinks!”

From nearby came the sound of a crowd whooping and whistling.

Ian lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder.Holy Toledo.His sister, the news crew,everyone,had formed a half-ring around the helipad.

Ilana’s finger came up against her lips. She shook her head, her eyes urging him not to say anything.Keep going,she mouthed.You’re doing great.

Ian was at a loss. Should he capitalize on this fortuitous impromptu forum, allowing the world to eavesdrop on a conversation that should have been private, so he could show Earth that he was human, fallible, and on their side? The day he said he would be Rom’s heir, he had agreed tacitly to a public life. But this was crazy.

“Say yes! Say yes!” The chant started with a whisper from Ilana’s lips. Then Lara took up the chorus, followed by the others on the rooftop.

Ian realized that they were urging Tee to accept his proposal. But she had shut her eyes. What looked like a prayer formed on her lips. She was going to turn him down, he thought with gloomy certainty.

“Say yes! Say yes!” The cheer spread quickly. Images of the events taking place on a rooftop in Los Angeles streamed into deep space, destined for planets all over the civilized galaxy.

Her eyes opened and she swore.

Ian’s mouth quirked. “That’s not exactly the answer I was after.”

“No.” She pointed into the crowd. “I thought I was imagining it. Butlook.”

Ian squinted past the lights aimed at him. A pair of newcomers walked toward them. They had smooth tawny skin and coppery light-brown hair. Both were attractive, tall, and broad shouldered, with eyes as pale and aristocratic as Tee’s.

“It’s Klark,” Tee whispered. “On the right.”

Ian’s voice was low and lethal. “I can’t believe he had the balls to hunt me down on my home planet.” Was Klark so completely evil, or was he just stupid? The man on the left raised his hand in greeting. Every muscle in Ian’s body tensed. Klark had brought his older brother, Ché—the man who had every right to claim Tee as his own.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ian sethis jaw and met the golden, coolly rational eyes of his unexpected adversary. Ché carried himself with the inbred insolence so characteristic of royalVash Nadahmen. And why not? Ché held all the cards—on his homeworld and here on Ian’s. All the prince had to do was imply Tee was by rights his, and it would hurl everything into chaos.

Ian glanced at Tee. She looked stricken. He wanted to reach for her, to hold her tight.One last time.He doubted she would marry Ché. More likely, she would run deeper into the frontier to “save him from ruin” and pick up the reins of her original plan. He would lose her either way.

Ché and Klark stopped in front of him, both a full head taller than he. Ché’s regal, dark-gray cloak swirled around his boots as he dropped to hisknees. “Greetings, my prince,” he said, bowing his head.

The show of respect threw Ian. “Rise,” he said, and extended his hand.

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