Chapter 7

Once again Constance watched in the mirror as Adele made the final adjustments to her dress. The passage of a week had not changed her opinion of the dress - it was as heavy and unflattering as ever - but at least she was no longer quite so pale. There was another change as well, and Adele hummed thoughtfully as she finished lacing the elaborate ribbons across the front of the outer robe.

"You appear to have put on a little weight, Miss Thompson. A needed improvement," the seamstress added hastily, clearly afraid that Constance would take offense.

She was amused rather than offended, smiling at Kalpar as their eyes met in the mirror. He was extremely diligent about making sure she ate. She'd also found that she enjoyed eating much more when she was sharing a meal with him. After a brief hesitation, he returned her smile and she bit back a sigh.

The week had been confusing in many ways and he was the main source of her confusion. They had been together the entire time, just as he had promised, but she sometimes felt as if she didn't know any more about him than she had when her father had presented him to her.

But that isn't entirely true, she thought, a reminiscent smile curving her lips. Now she knew what he looked like naked, she knew how he kissed, and she had experienced his kindness every day. Despite that, she still had the impression he was concealing something from her. He'd revealed almost nothing about his previous life, turning the subject whenever she'd brought it up, and she hadn't pressed him.

She also hadn't had the courage to suggest repeating their kiss and he hadn't offered, but she'd seen him looking at her mouth often enough, his silver eyes flashing white, that she was sure he'd thought about it as often as she had. Perhaps after this wretched ball was over…

She'd never been a fan of the high-profile social events her father favored, always feeling tongue-tied and ill at ease, but knowing that she would be meeting the male her father had chosen for her only made it worse. Maybe he isn't as bad as I've heard, she thought, but her eyes went back to the mirror, studying the huge figure of her bodyguard, standing patiently in the corner of her room. The severe formal uniform her father had ordered suited him, accentuating the strong lines of his body and that handsome, alien face.

Her father would never countenance such a match, but she couldn't help a wistful thought for what might have been. Despite her lack of knowledge about his past, she wouldn't have hesitated to accept a match with him. Not that he necessarily returned her interest, of course. But then their eyes met in the mirror again and his flashed white. Yes, he was interested.

Adele performed one final check, making sure that the high back collar of the robe hadn't damaged her elaborate upswept hairdo, then stepped back.

"All you need now are the jewels and you're ready."

"They're in the box on the table -"

Kalpar brought them over before she finished speaking and Adele opened the box, giving an awed gasp.

"Very nice indeed, and a perfect complement to the dress."

The seamstress carefully fastened the heavy necklace around her neck. Ornate gold scrollwork framed glittering purple jewels she didn't recognize. The overall effect was almost barbaric in its splendor and Adele was right, it did complement the dress although, like the dress, it was too heavy and ornate to suit her. A matching tiara was pinned into her intricate hairstyle and her head immediately started to ache but she forced a smile.

"Thank you, Adele."

"Not at all, Miss Thompson. I trust you will enjoy the ball."

The seamstress bobbed her head and left, leaving her alone with Kalpar.

"What do you think?" she asked him.

He was standing behind her and she watched in the mirror as he lightly touched her hair, then stroked his hand down the fragile column of her neck - the only skin exposed by the dress. His hand lingered on her neck, his thumb gently stroking the curve from ear to shoulder. It was the first time he'd touched her since the kiss, and she had to fight not to lean into his hand.

His touch sent pleasurable shivers racing down her spine but at least the heavy gown concealed the fact that her nipples had stiffened. His nostrils flared and he took an abrupt step back.

"I think your father will be pleased."

"But not you?"

Her attempt at a teasing note fell flat and he shook his head.

"You know I prefer your hair down."

Their eyes met again. The exception to the moratorium he seemed to have placed on touching her was her hair. He had brushed it for her every morning, working out the tangles before running his fingers through it to "check" for any remaining knots - a process that always lasted a considerable time. Not that she had the least objection, of course.

"Considering how much time and how many products were required to get it to this state, I suspect you will have your work cut out for you tomorrow."

"I- Yes. Shall we go?"

She nodded, wishing she could take his arm as he went to open the door, but the fitting had taken place in one of the rooms on the main floor of the penthouse and there were sure to be a number of servants around. Instead she raised her head as much as she could under the weight of the tiara, straightened her shoulders and went to join her father.

An hour later,her stomach churned as she descended the grand staircase into a glittering ballroom. Tiny white lights were sprinkled over almost every inch of the ballroom, reflecting in the hundreds of holographic bubbles that floated through the air. Port Cantor's elite filled the opulent space, sipping champagne and exchanging meaningless smiles.

Her father had chosen to arrive separately and she was alone except for Kalpar's reassuring presence. He was the correct two steps back and to the side, but the knowledge that he was there gave her courage. His imposing frame radiated strength and she clung to that amidst the dizzying splendor.

As they reached the foot of the stairs Ellen, one of the women from the hospital charity, came to speak to her, a friendly smile on her lips, and she relaxed a little. She encountered several other volunteers as she moved through the crowd, although not all of them were as friendly as Ellen. No matter how hard she worked, her father's reputation overshadowed everything she did.

Her father was waiting for her next to a set of doors on one side of the ballroom, an icy smile on his lips.

"Constance. I'm so glad you could join us. Finally." Even though he had been the one to insist that they make separate entrances, his disapproval was clear and she flinched. "Now that you are here, I would like you to meet Lord Vexian."

Dread coiled low in her belly as a hulking alien stepped forward. Even though Lord Vexian was not the only non-human present, his appearance was jarring—mandibles protruded on either side of a prominent jaw and lidless black eyes seemed to bore straight through her. A long black tongue flicked out to trace his mandibles, the leer unmistakable even on that terrifying face.

"She appears very soft." His voice had a grating note, like a metal part that needed oiling.

Soft? Was that intended as a compliment? She chose to assume it was and forced herself to incline her head graciously. "You're too kind, my lord."

"Not at all."

The ridged edges of one of Vexian's powerful claws closed around her wrist. He wasn't hurting her but the threat was there. He tugged her forward, inspecting her like a piece of livestock and she wondered hysterically if he was going to want to examine her teeth as well. Bile rose in her throat as he leaned closer, his cold, musty breath ghosting over her cheek.

Kalpar made a slight, abortive movement but thankfully he remained in position. She couldn't bear the thought that he might suffer the same fate as Algar.

Vexian's claw traced the high neck of her under gown.

"Her face is satisfactory. But what does this conceal, I wonder?" He looked over at her father and clicked his mandibles. "You cannot expect me to make an acquisition without a thorough inspection."

Inspection? Surely her father would never permit such a thing. To her despair, he only nodded coolly.

"Of course. Come this way."

Her father opened the door behind him and her horror intensified as she realized why he had chosen this position. Her stomach roiled as she followed him down the corridor, Lord Vexian's clawed hand an unwelcome weight on the small of her back. Though she kept her chin high, every step felt like a lead weight dragging her down into an inescapable nightmare.

Half way down the hall, her father opened another door into an empty study with a carved wooden desk and several large leather chairs arranged in front of a blackened fireplace. Vexian leered down at her, his lipless mouth stretched in a grotesque facsimile of a smile. "After you, my dear."

She hesitated on the threshold but her father's icy expression brooked no argument. She forced herself to enter, the dark wood paneling and lingering traces of smokestick fumes giving the room a suffocating air. Her father paid no attention to her hesitation, looking past her to Kalpar.

"You are dismissed until I summon you again."

She couldn't prevent herself from giving him a quick terrified look. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes flashing white as they met hers. But then he inclined his head, his face an inscrutable mask as he stepped back into the corridor and closed the door behind him.

"Now then," Vexian grated, making himself at home in one of the large chairs as he gave her an expectant leer. "Please remove your gown so I may examine my potential bride's assets more… intimately."

Her stomach churned as her father settled into the chair across from Vexian without any objection. How could this possibly be the same man who had always been so adamant that she cover her body? She gave him an imploring look, but he met it coldly.

"I have preserved you for precisely this moment. This is your opportunity to prove your worth."

Numb with despair she fumbled at the elaborate lacing of the over robe but her fingers were shaking too hard to untie it. Her father's face grew increasingly icy but Vexian chuckled as he rose and joined her.

"Allow me."

One swipe of a terrifyingly sharp claw and the ribbons simply fell apart. He raised his thankfully closed claws to her shoulders and pushed the robe off of them, the weight of the fabric carrying it quickly to the ground. She felt horribly exposed, even though the heavy silk under gown still covered her, but there was worse to come.

Vexian circled her, once again studying her as if she were a piece of prime livestock, then looked over at her father.

"This garment may still conceal unacceptable flaws."

Her father would never permit Vexian to go that far, would he? But once again he ignored her unspoken plea and nodded.

"You may remove it."

A terrified whimper escaped her lips and her father frowned, but Vexian only laughed again before slicing a claw across the second set of ribbons. Fabric whispered over her skin as the heavy satin slipped down over her shoulders to pool at her feet. Adele had provided a strapless one piece undergarment that matched the gown so she wasn't completely naked but she'd never felt so exposed in her entire life.

Her father surveyed her with an air of clinical detachment as Vexian made another circle. This time he paused in front of her. He played with the ornate necklace for a moment before running a claw across the upper edge of the undergarment. She couldn't prevent herself from shuddering, and his tongue flicked out again.

"She is quite small," Vexian said. "I'm not convinced she can take the full size of a Ctharan. It could be… challenging."

Despite his objection, his eyes were fixed on her breasts, the lust on his face obvious. Her father shrugged.

"A human female's body is designed to stretch. I'm sure she can be trained to take you. And wouldn't that be preferable to a female who has already been used by others?"

His clinical response only added to the nightmarish quality of the scene.

"She is quite untouched?"

"Completely. You will be the first to possess her in every way."

Vexian pushed a claw thoughtfully against the slight swell of her breast and another whimper escaped. He laughed and looked over at her father.

"It appears that you have already trained her to be compliant at least. Such a refreshing change from a Ctharan female."

I'm not compliant, she screamed in her head but the words refused to emerge from her mouth.

"Compliance is her most valuable trait." Her father's words were clearly intended as a warning and she shuddered again. "Are you satisfied with your inspection?"

Vexian chittered thoughtfully as he traced the edge of the undergarment again and she prayed desperately that he wouldn't demand that she remove that as well. But he shook his head and turned away.

"For now. However, I will require a medical exam and I expect to be present for that exam."

A whole new level of horror washed over her but once again her father only nodded before giving her a dismissive look.

"Agreed. You may get dressed and go, Constance. I'll summon you when Lord Vexian and I have concluded our negotiations."

She scooped up the discarded gold silk gown and flung it over her head, then fled the suffocating study. Tears blurred her vision, but she ran anyway, her only thought to get away. She careened around a corner and ran directly into Kalpar's solid frame.

His hands gripped her shoulders to steady her, the warmth of his hands penetrating her cold skin.

"Constance? What?—"

She crumpled against him, finally allowing the shame and despair she'd bottled up to erupt in a torrent of tears.