banged his sword against a cuff “—tied up.”
“It won’t be for always.” She felt a blush coming on and stopped it as best she could. “It is for his arrival only.”
“The mating night?”
“Why, yes.”
Tibor’s eyes gentled. “Tell me, my queen, would you seek to restrain your husband on this most meaningful of nights of a marriage? You have had a bad experience, but it is not always that way between a man and a woman—”
“How would you know?”
His expression was suddenly mysterious, revealing a glimpse of the man she realized she knew little about. He’d been with a woman before; she knew it then without a doubt. But when? He’d been a eunuch all her life.
Her life, but maybe not his.
Then the look in his eyes passed and the circumspect guard was back. “It does not have to be that way,” he repeated.
“Enough of this subject!” She paced, swearing under her breath. “I do not wish to discuss it.”
“Your Majesty…”
“What?” She whirled on him, seething.
“The mating must occur that first night,” he reminded her quietly. “It must. No matter what your personal feelings on the subject. It is tradition. If you do not, if for any reason you hurt him, or repel him, the goddesses will not bless this union.”
She tried to keep her breathing from accelerating as fast as her heartbeat had. She refused to admit she was scared. Or to confess she wanted a chance to observe the Terran prince as one would a captured animal before letting herself in the cage with it. With him. “The mating will occur,” she assured him.
Tibor’s knowing, penetrating stare was also touched with compassion. My father, the king, would have looked at me that way, she thought. But then she’d have had her family to guide her into this…this unknown realm. To reassure her as she entered this marriage she didn’t want. Now she was compelled to take matters into her own hands—by imprisoning the hands of the Terran prince.
Chapter Ten
LEADERS, CELEBS ATTEND WORLD’S LARGEST BACHELOR PARTY
In what is surely the largest bachelor party in history, world leaders and celebrities kicked off a lavish celebration on the Las Vegas strip honoring Jared Jasper’s marriage to Queen Keira. Over ten thousand guests are expected at the event with millions more joining in around the world.
Jasper, the thirty-six-year-old newlywed, seemed to take the attention in stride. “Well, I’ve never seen a bachelor party like this before,” he said.
On Friday, the former Sacramento real-estate developer and national guard fighter pilot will depart with his entourage for Edwards Air Force Base. There, he will be met by a special transport that will take him to the royal palace some 578 light-years away from home. After nearly seven weeks spent in near-total immersion learning the queen’s language, Jasper approaches his new life with cautious optimism. “I expect it’ll take some time getting used to.”
So far, the team handpicked to accompany Jasper on his journey has not been approved by the Coalition government, citing security concerns. Despite last-minute wrangling, it is expected that Queen Keira’s new husband will depart Earth on time, with or without his contingent.
We would like to take a moment to wish Prince Jared Jasper the very best. He has our deepest respect and gratitude.
Jared stood by the Bellagio’s famous fountains with his friends from the squadron, glad to have his buddies nearby. The night was still fairly young, but he’d grown restless. After a while, the stream of celebrities and succession of world-class entertainment, including performances by all his favorite bands, had a numbing effect. “You guys want to take off—get some drinks downtown somewhere?”
“Oh, stay, you guys,” pleaded an actress hanging on Paco’s arm. “This is the party of the century.”
Jared had no such arm candy at the moment, though he’d gotten a goodly share of “Maybe I’ll see you later?” hints. But then, he was married. Public displays of affection with anonymous or not-so-anonymous hot chicks probably wouldn’t be a good idea.
“Yeah, for like an hour?” Paco said, reading Jared’s thoughts accurately. “I’m up for that.”
He untwined the woman’s fingers from his arm. “I’ll be back. Gonna entertain my good friend here.”
The group made their way through security and wound up on the street out in front of the casino. Secret service called for transportation. Jared knew he wasn’t going to be left unescorted tonight, and he didn’t bother arguing, but he was surprised when a Ferrari glided up.
“This is my ride?” Jared asked.
“Yes. A gift from an anonymous private donor.