Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

A shlyn

Too stunned to protest, Ashlyn made no attempt to resist as Zade, lightning fast, angled his back to their audience, turning her with him, effectively shielding her from view as he slipped his hand out of her jeans, allowing her time to fasten the top button and stand up.

Ashlyn held her breath, waited for Antonelius to respond to the Councilor’s observation. Had he been replaced? Of course that’s what it looked like. Dear god, Zade had his hand down her pants, finger fucking her into the best orgasm of her life. What else was the woman to think? More importantly, why hadn’t she told Zade to stop? He’d asked, hadn’t he?

She should have been focusing on the mission, on learning as much as she could about Antonelius and how to fool the Council; not wasting what precious little time she had left to run after Zade. Then, to make matters worse, she let her temper get away from her. She had no one to blame but herself. This was all her fault. Fear and shame wrapped her in a blanket of ice, sapped away the last vestige of pleasure, leaving her cold. Empty.

With as much dignity as she could muster, she turned to face the people she had so grievously wronged. “Antonelius, Rachel, I’m..I'm..,” she whispered at last, unable to say anything more.

She expected something—anger, perhaps, or recriminations—but Antonelius met her gaze with a blank, unaffected regard. She couldn’t read his expression and was unsure of what to do next.

Her cheeks flamed scarlet. What could she possibly say in her defense that didn’t sound absolutely absurd? Right. Tell them I magically caught amnesia and forgot I was already claimed? Oh, wait, how about I tripped over something and Zade was inspecting me for injuries? Hah. No one is that stupid.

Ashlyn straightened her spine. She would just have to stall until she could think of an explanation reasonable enough to salvage the ‘engagement’ to Antonelius. She cleared her throat, buying herself a few more seconds. “I..well, you see, I..”

Before she could make up a reasonable lie, Zade stepped directly in front of her, his back to the door and everyone standing in it. She attempted to get around him, refused to look him in the eye, but he blocked her way, this time keeping her still with a firm grip on her wrist.

She finally looked up and met his penetrating gaze. Molten gold bore straight through her, searching, seeking.

She broke eye contact and peaked around Zade’s very large, formidable form. Everyone stared at him with rapt attention.

Everyone but Antonelius. He stared only at her and said, “I have complete faith in you, my love. Despite what may have occurred, if he forced you here against your will, I shall call security immediately.”

Zade squeezed her wrist, presumably in warning, and replied, “Do not be angry with Ashlyn. The fault is mine.” He addressed the words to the group, but his eyes never left hers as he wove together a believable story. “Before she met C’bor last year, I fully intended to claim her. I brought her here to prove to her that I am worthy of a second chance.”

“A warrior who cannot keep his woman’s attention deserves no second chance,” Antonelius countered.

“I agree completely, and had her attention wandered, I would have done the honorable thing and given her up.” Zade glanced at the prince before settling on Ashlyn once again. “That was not what happened.”

Antonelius crossed his arms, his lips thinned in annoyance. “I’m sure you’re going to enlighten us.”

“We argued. A simple misunderstanding, but she ran before I could explain and convince her to stay. I was in the middle of reminding her that I am the only one she really wants, the only one she needs, when you interrupted us.” He raised his hand, the one that had been inside her just moments before, and slowly sucked her juices from his fingers.

Her clit throbbed at the primitive caveman behavior, soaking her panties all over again. What the hell is wrong with me? Everything is falling apart and all I can think about is how much I want him to put those damn fingers back inside me, to fill me, spread me wide and drive his huge cock so deep, I have to beg for mercy.

She opened her mouth to speak but no sound escaped. What should she do? She gnashed the inside of her lip. Honestly, she could strangle both men.

Antonelius was the reason she had not selected Zade. During their private meeting he had logically pointed out that if she wanted to have a real relationship with Zade, she should choose someone that she didn’t care about and could leave behind once the challenge was over.

If she wanted Zade, and chose him, she would be forced to stay on Cappra, with Zade, once she’d claimed the Council seat. That would include maintaining any lies they told, not just to the Ubrion family, but to the entire Intergalactic Council. She would also have to worry about permanently maintaining her seat on the Council as an active member. She would be expected to govern. Rule. Vote. Make decisions that would affect millions or billions—her sister had said trillions— of lives on other worlds. Every word Antonelius had spoken made her heart sink and her options clear.

She could not choose Zade.

She glanced at the Council woman, who stared back expectantly. What was her question? “What?”

“Were you forced here against your will or not?” The alien had all four arms crossed in annoyance. This female was no fool. What would happen if she said Zade had forced her? Would she be able to salvage the agreement with Antonelius? Would Zade be in trouble?

Shit. She was still angry with him for spanking her, and wanted to get back at him, but she couldn’t allow him to be punished. She refused to lie just to get what she wanted. The decision had effectively been taken out of her hands. Zade would have to be her fake fiancé. When the challenge was over, per the plan, she would have to fake her death, he would go to Cappra as the new Council member, and any chance they had of being together would be gone forever.

Her heart lurched in protest. Suck it up. This is how it has to be, now. This is your own fault. You ran after him. You had the chance to stop. He asked you what you wanted. You should have let him go and waited to track him down until after this business with the Council seat was over. But no. Lost your temper, didn’t you? Again. You’d think one of these days you would actually learn. Fuck!

Ashlyn stiffened her spine. She looked past the Council woman, intending to tell the truth, only to stop short, her jaw going slack. Behind the Councilor, the second alien's features, hidden beneath his hood, suddenly came into focus as he stepped into the light.

His eyebrows, if they could be called that, were composed of a thousand hairbreadth tentacles that swayed like vines in a hurricane. As strange as they were, however, it was his eyes that sent shivers down her spine. Obsidian, glassy and cold with no discernible pupil, they seemed to suck her in, like black holes, into their depths. Not just terrifying, they were unnerving in an otherwise gaunt face. He made her skin crawl.

Suddenly very conscious of the fact that she was being rude, she closed her mouth, blinked several times, and gave the alien a forced, overly bright smile. Hopefully she didn’t appear as socially awkward, unsophisticated, and gauche as she felt on the inside.

“This was not a difficult question, child,” the Councilor prompted kindly. “Did he force you?”

Her stomach flip flopped. If she didn’t fix this immediately, Zade wouldn’t be the only one in trouble. She hated lying and was terrified of getting caught. Don't throw up. Don't throw up. You can do this. This is exactly why Rachel called you, so start playing the part. Mix the lies with the truth. Isn’t that what the best liars do? Calm down, take a deep breath, and go.

“No. No, he didn't force me. What he said was true. We connected earlier, at my sister's binding ceremony,” she lied, “but with everything happening so fast, I was too afraid to take a chance on him. Then I met C’bor. He was exotic and…and powerful. I didn’t worry about how little I knew him. He loved me, and that was all that mattered.”

Real tears rolled down her cheeks. She was so upset, so off balance, she didn’t have to fake the distress in her voice as she continued. “Now I..I’m so confused.”

“Of course you are, child.”

“This is absurd,” snarled the creepy second alien. A quelling look from the Councilor and he quieted.

“Please continue, dear.”

Ashlyn’s heart thudded painfully in her chest, her pulse pounding in her ears as she reached deep inside and spoke the truth she hadn’t shared with Zade. “Honestly, I was mesmerized by Zade from the moment I saw him, but the timing for us wasn't right. I knew he wouldn’t be able to leave his duties when I needed to go home. I came here with him thinking we would have a chance to talk, and then things got out of hand.” Ashlyn held up her hands as if to surrender, pleading for them to believe her. “He never forced me.”

The Council woman clasped both pairs of hands together, a sour expression flashing across her face. “Galaxy-twisted lovers then, and now, a love of triangles.”

Ashlyn couldn’t hold back a small sound of protest. “But we’re not.. I mean.. ”

Antonelius raised his hand, palm up, and interjected, “No. You have said enough. There will be no triangle. If he did not force you, then by the laws of our people, my claim is forfeit.” Without another word, he turned on his heel and left.

Stunned, Ashlyn turned to Zade. “Laws of your people? Forfeit? What does that mean, exactly?”

“It means he no longer has the right to claim you, since he could not hold your interest.”

“Before this goes any further,” interjected the second alien in a harsh tone, “as legal counsel for the Ubrion family, I, Ocliver Vii Salakoori, submit a petition for all properties, monies, and claim to the Cappran seat on the Intergalactic Council be returned to the Ubrion family immediately. If Prince Antonelius does not have a legal claim, the human has no eligible fiancé. Without a fiancé, she has no standing, no grounds for keeping the seat unless she marries a member of the Ubrion family, which she has repeatedly refused to do.”

Zade bared his teeth, “She has a fiancé. I just claimed her. As legal counsel, Ocliver Vii Salakoori , you should advise the Ubrion family to accept defeat and go home. She’s mine.”

Ocliver’s black, cavernous eyes narrowed. With a sneer, he continued, “I think not. When informed of the human’s engagement to a Caldorian Prince, I familiarized myself with both human and Caldorian laws and customs, so I know you speak falsely in an attempt to avoid the inevitable. She is officially unclaimed.”

Like a fish out of water, Ashlyn’s mouth opened and closed several times as she looked from Zade to Ocliver and back again, her eyes giant blue saucers. They looked like they were about to rip each other to pieces.

“This is neither the time nor place.” Rachel’s mate, Ambassador Shronti, held up one hand. “Let’s focus on the gathering this evening. Ashlyn Faro of Earth, her fiancé , and I––as the official representative of Caldor, have collaborated to co-host a welcome dance and dinner. As Earth is the host planet, you are in for a refreshing treat. The music, dancing and entertainment are reflective of Earth culture, which, until their recent acceptance into the Intergalactic Trade Community, has been unavailable. Let us all enjoy an evening free of politics. I believe there will be plenty of time for all parties to straighten out the legalities tomorrow.”

“Agreed.” The first Council member turned all four eyes toward Rachel and Cam with a sigh. “I had hoped to be done with this nasty marriage dispute quickly, but I can see now that is not going to happen. I believe I will accept the offer of a private room after all, Ambassador.”

Ignoring everyone else, Ocliver turned his full attention to the female Council member and bowed respectfully. “Councilor Boleen. Before you retire to your private chambers, one last moment of your time, if you will.”

“Very well, but please do make it short.”

“Of course,” simpered Ocliver. “The Ubrion family has come here to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, through marriage if necessary. A new claim has been made; therefore, all petitioners must be considered, per Caldorian law 67932-8. On behalf of C’Nar Ubrion and the Ubrion family, I hereby submit C’Nar’s petition to claim the human as his bride.”

Zade took two menacing steps toward Ocliver and snarled, “Touch her and die.”

Eyebrows waving furiously, Ocliver pointed his finger at Ashlyn, holding everyone’s attention as he decreed, “If you want to keep your seat on the Council, you have exactly six days to marry C’Nar Ubrion.”

Ocliver moved closer. Zade stepped forward to intercept the fucker. “Don’t. I will kill you.”

Ocliver lowered his voice to a deep tone Ashlyn’s human ears would not detect. “Challenge for the seat if you must, Prince Zade of Caldor. You should know, as the Council knows, according to Cappran law, once begun, should you fail to win the challenge, the female will be claimed by C’Nar, and you will be executed.”