Page 10

My men, he calls them.

Warden Tenn was worried abouthismen. Worried about their happiness and what they deserved.

He’s protective of them.

I recognized it in him as easily as I recognized my own protectiveness towards Cherry, Magnolia, and Darcy.

We probably both just wanted what was best for our people in this situation.

But what if what was best for one group, wasn’t what was best for the other?

I sighed and shaded my eyes against the burning sun.

“What do you suggest, Warden?”

Some of the anger faded from his expression. He rubbed a big, calloused hand along the hard line of his jaw.

“Thirty days,” he said, dropping his hand. “One human month. That’s how long the trial marriage period is for the human brides. They are required to remain here for the full thirty days before making any final decisions. You should do the same.”

“Thirty… days…” I coughed, struggling to draw air into my lungs for a second. “You want me to stay here for a whole month?”

“I do.”

Damnit. I could see the logic in it. If the brides had agreed to their thirty-day trials on this planet, then I should probablydo the same. Get the full Zabria Prinar One experience, murder convictions and all.

“But… I hardly have any stuff,” I pointed out. “I don’t even have clothes!”

The warden appeared to stiffen.

“Silar and Fallon are both excellent at sewing,” Cherry said, patting my arm with her free hand. She then used that hand to gesture at her beautifully-tailored trousers and top. “Silar made this outfit for me. We can definitely get you some emergency clothes to wear.”

“It will take some time,” Silar said with a grimace. “I will have to work on the pieces at night, after the other chores are finished.”

“Oh, no, I don’t want you to have to do that,” I said hurriedly. Murderers or not, I knew that both Silar and Fallon had to have incredibly full schedules running their ranches out here with so little support from the Zabrian Empire. “I’m sure I can figure something out. I can-”

“I’ll do it.”

Cherry and I both turned to stare at the warden in startled surprise. Even Silar gave him a puzzled sort of look.

“What?” Warden Tenn said gruffly. “You think I can’t sew?”

“We didn’t say that,” Cherry replied dubiously.

“Well,” Warden Tenn grunted, sounding just a tad offended. “I can.”

“What happened to, ‘a warden’s time is seldom his own?’” I asked pointedly. “From what I understand, you’reverybusy.”

Too busy to read the book I wrote, let alone make me some freaking clothes…

“I am busy,” he bit out testily. “But I…”

“But you what?”

White streaked through his eyes, then disappeared. He hitched up his pants by his belt and practically spat his next words.

“But I’d make time for you.”

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