situation, too.”
I huffed a short laugh. “Well, I’ve always found honesty an admirable quality in people.”
“Will you stay, then?”
“Will you sign the dissolution of the marriage contract?”
He paused, his mouth pressed into a stubborn line.
I folded my arms across my chest. “That is the deal. Your reputation and the future of the liaison program in exchange for my freedom.”
“How long are you willing to stay with me?” he asked in turn.
I still felt uneasy in his presence. However, this conversation gave me hope. The immediate future no longer seemed that scary or bleak.
“I suppose I could stay until the end of the month when the ship of our delegation is scheduled to depart.” There were no other ships leaving for Earth until then, anyway.
“That’s too soon,” he shook his head energetically. “The contract stipulates at least a year.”
“It depends on how things go.” I stood my ground. “Daily shouting matches may make even a month seem too long. A year of that may drive me to jumping off one of your glass domes rather than staying a moment longer under the same roof with you.”
“Don’t jump.” His frown deepened as he sat on the bed again, this time on my side of the mattress.
“I’d prefer not to.” I drew my legs up under the covers, to make more room for him. “Let’s just try to talk first, yell second. You and me, both. Okay?”
He tipped his horns with brief nod.
“Will you come to the Ball tonight, then?”
I heaved a breath. “Is it important for you that I come?”
“Yes. The Governor is not just the head of our country, he is also a very good friend of mine. I’d love to honor his request.”
“Well. Since that’s kind of a part of the deal we’ve just made, I’ll come.”
“Thank you.” He got up from the bed.
Smoothing the fur over his temples with his hands, he then adjusted his uniform and said in a rather formal tone, “I’ll pick you up right after work. Be ready.”
I THOUGHT ABOUT THE Governor’s Ball all morning. Now, that I’d agreed to go, I wanted to do it right. After breakfast, I asked Omni to show me some pictures of past Governor’s Ball events.
Apparently, the head of the Voranian government loved to party. There were not one, but three balls at his palace, in the last year alone. The one the Colonel and I were going to tonight seemed to have no other purpose but to honor the Colonel and to display his new human wife to Voranian society.
I understood now why the Colonel had made an effort to ensure my appearance there. He couldn’t possibly show up to the gathering of people who had come specifically to gawk at an alien from another planet without said alien on his arm.
That meant I’d be the center of attention, no matter what I did or wore. However, if everyone was about to gawk at me, I wanted them to at least do it for all the right reasons.
I studied the dresses of the few women in attendance at the previous events, then went to my closet in search of something similar but even better. I wanted to make myself look amazing for the occasion. After all, I was coming to the event as the wife of the man in charge of the entire Voranian Army, and I’d agreed to play the part.
Thankfully, my well-stocked closet offered plenty of suitable options. After trying on a number of stunning gowns, I finally decided to go with one in blush chiffon with pink-gold embroidery on the bodice, cup-sleeves, and a flowing multi-layered skirt. Its style was elegant enough for such a high-profile occasion as the Governor’s Ball promised to be, yet also sweet and breezy to appeal to my personal tastes.
Close to dinner time, I changed into the dress and did my make-up. Omni managed to curl my hair for me, after I had explained to him exactly how it had to be done. I even had a suitable barrette in rose gold encrusted with tiny crystals and pearls. And I found a pair of gorgeous, crystal-studded sandals on one of the shoe shelves in the closet.
By the time Omni informed me of the landing of the Colonel’s aircraft, I was completely dressed and ready to go.
With one last quick look in the brand-new mirror that had replaced the broken one, I rushed out of the room.
A light flutter of anticipation lifted my spirits. A party always meant fun, didn’t it?
This