Jenna

JENNA

A zul looks like thunder, something which is not helped by the cobra style hood which flared out the moment I mentioned Starlight Brides/Lottery.

He probably wants his money back or something, and I’ve lost my only chance to find out more about the scheme to take back to Britannia with me.

“Not right,” he growls. “You should have known.”

“I still agreed to it. You’ve seen the paperwork,” I say hastily. “But if you wanted a willing bride who knew what she was getting into, then you need to take it up with Starlight Brides.”

“You are not willing?” Azul cocks his head to one side, his hood subsiding.

“I mean, I’m okay being here, with you. You’ve not kidnapped me or anything,” I reply, suddenly feeling the heat from earlier.

“Would you like me to?”

“Is this one of your kinks, the kind they cater for on Luxus?” I query.

Azul’s face darkens, his scales seemingly having the ability to change color.

“I’m not going to Luxus for a good time. I’m going to get my mark. Once I have him, the bounty on his head will mean I can retire.” He shifts position. “So, here’s the deal, little sunray, if you wish to accept it. We go to Luxus together and pose as a mated pair. This will get me close to my mark, a Helytelen called Rossz, close enough I can spring my trap and get him away from his security and off the planet before he can blink. Then I will give you a fifth of my fee, and you can go wherever you want in the galaxy to start the new life you crave.”

stares at me for a long time. Unable to help myself, my tail tap-taps on the floor.

“You want me to be your mate on the pleasure planet and then after that I can go free?”

“Pretend to be my mate,” Azul clarifies. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. And you get paid.”

With his hood retracted, he’s looking hopeful, almost innocent, although it’s very clear this Glycon is anything but innocent. The glitter in his eyes, those incredible eyes, tells me everything I need to know. But this way, I can have more time to investigate Starlight Brides and have some of the adventure I crave, all before returning to Britannia .

This way, I can live a little.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I’ll do it.” I put my hands on my hips, and Azul sways slightly. “But no funny business.”

“Funny business?” He frowns.

“No mating or pleasure . We do the job, we get your mark, and we get out, that’s all.”

I’m not entirely sure what emotion crosses his face, but he dips his head as he contemplates my reply.

“Very well,” Azul says with a smile which is a cross between hunger and desire. “No mating or pleasure. A transaction, nothing more.”

“Nothing more. And when we’re done, our marriage is dissolved.”

“Agreed,” Azul says. “We go our separate ways.”

And somehow, his easy agreement is like a sharp dagger sliding into my heart.

“It’s three nova-days’ travel to Luxus as there are no wormholes in this part of the galaxy.”

“A good old-fashioned road trip?” I query.

“What’s a rood-trip ?” Azul asks, brow furrowed.

“Something I read humans used to do, when we had a planet.” I sigh. “They’d travel across it using ground transport called a car, or sometimes a two-wheeled transport called a motorbike.”

“Why?” Azul settles himself on one of the big squashy couches.

“I’m not sure. I think for fun?” I shake my head. “Since we left Earth, fun has been in short supply. I can’t imagine doing a trip for no reason.”

“What did you do on your star cruiser… Bri-tann-ya ?” Azul mangles the pronunciation of the ship’s name, but I don’t bother to correct him.

“I was a security officer, second class.” I look down at the blaster in my lap, pick it up, and hand it to him.

To my surprise, Azul is grinning, his sharp fangs on clear display.

“A female who knows her way around a weapon is a worthy mate indeed.”

“Not mates.”

“No, of course.” He sobers. “Not mates. No pleasure.”

“No pleasure,” I respond. “None whatsoever.”

With the words barely out of my mouth, I’m already regretting them, which is absolutely insane. I can’t possibly fall for Azul, not after less than an hour in his company.

Not when I have a mission to complete and a promotion to claim.