Exit Strategy (Tales Of The Citadel #58)(3)

“What is it, Guardsman?”

He paused and seconds ticked between them.

“I need a date for my brother’s wedding, and I would like that date to be you.”

She was shocked into staring up at him, his deep green skin a darker shade than normal, but the silver rank markings were clearly etched in his cheeks. “What?”

“Your hair is a shade common to my people, and you can pass for a half-blood. I would like you to come with me and help me get through the wedding.”

“Why me? There are other green-haired women.”

“Are you really going to make me say it? You didn’t like it the first time.”

She scowled. “I was being sold in a public auction, and you bid on me!”

He grunted. “I was trying to get you free.”

Yna hissed. “You were in Peacekeeper uniform, and you let them send me to that bastard!”

He winced. “I put a tracker on his ship so that we could find you.”

She growled and turned to leave. He grabbed her arm.

“I can only say I am sorry so many times. What happened is a regret that I must live with.”

Yna tensed at the feel of his hand around her arm. It easily wrapped around her bicep. She wanted to lean into that touch, but her hurt was a formidable barrier.

She had met his dark green gaze while she was on the stand being sold. The compassion in his look as he bid on her had given her hope, and that was what hurt now. A black hole had grown where the hope had been.

“You didn’t answer my question. Why me?”

He closed his eyes and opened them slowly. “Because I have felt a connection to you since that first moment. The strictures of my assignment caused you pain, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are the one I think of when I close my eyes. When I got the order to go home for the wedding, there is no other woman that I wished to have at my side, facing my family.”

“Why?”

He rolled his eyes. “Because they are expecting me to announce my engagement at the ceremony, and I want a woman there who can pass for a fiancée.”

She jerked out of his grip. “You have to be insane.”

“No, it is the way my people do things. Once my brother is wed, I am next on the roster. The younger siblings cannot get married until the older ones are.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I just need you to pretend to like me until we leave. I can announce that we are going to wed on your world and that aliens are not allowed. That is accepted, and then, my younger siblings can announce their engagements.”

“What is your damage? I don’t want to be near you.”

He nodded. “I understand, but there is something else at stake.”

“What?” She crossed her arms and glared at him.

“My sister’s life is being threatened, and if she can’t get married within the next four months, she will suffer and possibly be murdered.”

Yna froze. “Why don’t you do something?”

“I am doing the only thing that I can. I am faking my engagement so that she can get married before her pregnancy is discovered. It is all I can do.”

The helpless expression on his features showed genuine emotion.

“Why? What is wrong with a pregnancy?”

“Her chosen mate is in one of the high families. For a woman to lose control enough to let herself be alone with a male courting her is bad self-control. For her to be pregnant shows a lack of character.”

“What about him?”

“His family will find him a chaste female of good family. He will be forced to wait a decade to consummate his marriage.”

“Why is she punished and he isn’t?”

He drew in a shuddering breath. “Because my family is middle class and his isn’t. There is a higher burden of purity on the lower classes.”

“Oh, then why did she...”

“I was engaged. She objected to my leaving and broke off the arrangement. If things had proceeded on schedule, I would have been married by now, and she would not be in danger. I need you to help me keep her safe.”

She wanted to kick him in the groin. His sister’s safety was a tool to get her to agree, but it was effective. “Fine. When do we leave?”

He reached out to her but clenched his fists and put his arms at his sides. “We can leave as soon as we notify the administrator.”

Yna turned her head. “Veera, you can stop listening at the door. I am going.”

The chirp from the outer office was a guilty sound. Veera opened the door and handed Yna a data slip. “Here are your travel funds and the order for rank marks to be installed in medical before you leave. Thanks for doing this.”

Yna took the slip, waved it over her wrist and checked the display on her implanted unit. “That is a bit of cash.”

Veera shrugged. “This is hazard-duty pay. This isn’t going to be easy for you. There are fashion files in the Guardsman’s shuttle. You can configure something from there.”

“Right. So, I am going to miss the shower.”

Veera nodded. “I saw the gift, and I will bring it on your behalf.”

Ahlgos looked relieved. “If you would not mind, we can get the rank marks placed on your face, and then, we can be on our way. The sooner we arrive, the better chance Likiada has.”