Page 52 of Alien Prince’s Fake Bride (The Tentacle Throne #1)

As I enter the room with Umbra, I idly wonder how many centuries it has been since it has contained an actual fire. More than fifteen, I determine.

“All these things have been carefully checked,” I state. “There should be no bombs or other possible traps among them or inside them.”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Umbra says, clinging to my arm. Her voice echoes from the bare brick walls. “It’s all very wonderful and impressive.”

The gifts are what one would expect courtiers and random subjects to give to their future emperor and empress.

Small notes state who gave them, which means rich people have given flashy, expensive gifts and less wealthy individuals have focused on quality.

There are stacks of glittering fabrics in unfamiliar textures and colors, intricately crafted sculptures of flora and fauna made from iridescent minerals, and caskets filled with rare, shimmering foodstuffs and potent, oddly-scented distillations.

Some larger items include levitating display platforms for personal items and intricate works of art.

There’s a fair amount of glitter and shiny objects, as well as conveyances and military equipment.

Six rifles are lined up against one wall, as well as about twenty edged weapons of various sizes, mounted in racks.

There’s even an antique ray gun the size of a room, its blued metal surface betraying its immense age. There’s no note on it, and I can’t help but wonder who would give us something as completely useless and at the same time immensely stylish as that.

“These are only the things that have been cleared for us to look at,” I explain. “There’s another storage hall with more gifts, probably a hundred times this heap.”

Umbra’s eyes widen. “Really? That much?”

I shrug. “It’s a big empire. Everyone wants our attention.”

“Well, you have mine;” comes a voice from behind.

I whirl around, drawing Bellatriz halfway out of her sheath. “Nerox! What are you doing here?”

My brother saunters into the room, his cape doing the usual flourish. Behind him comes two young women of the giggly type, skimpily dressed in the way I remember daughters from noble families think will impress princes. It never worked on me, but I suppose Nerox is more impressionable.

“Oh, I can’t miss this.” He has a merry smile on his face, eyes focused only on Umbra. “You’re both so hard to pin down! Do you like the ray gun, Umbra?”

Umbra draws closer to me. “It’s very fine. It must be powerful.”

Nerox goes over to the gun and reaches up to slide his hand along the bulbous end of the barrel. “For its time, yes. Now, your new little knife gun could probably cause more destruction.”

Umbra looks up at me, her hand going to her belt where the knife hangs innocently. “Oh.”

I feel my eyes go narrow. How could he spot her knife that quickly? Has he changed and become observant?

“To a barbarian like you, this must seem like a weapon from the far future,” my brother goes on.

I grab Bellatriz again, ready to draw her fully and chase the scoundrel out. “Nerox, if you?—”

“It’s fine, my love,” Umbra says and squeezes my hand.

“Yes, we don’t have anything like that where I come from, Prince Nerox.

But we have two things more powerful than any gun.

They are called ‘courtesy’ and ‘manners’.

I know you have heard of neither. Perhaps one day I shall teach you about them. Would you like that?”

My brother laughs. “She’s not easy to vex, Mareliux!

Perhaps she is precisely what you need. You don’t recognize the gun, then?

It was part of my own collection. It took me years to find.

It’s the very gun Huriak the Heavy fired to start the battle of Darpu.

His unbroken line of victories started with this.

He was the first famous warrior of our casHuriak line. ”

“It’s a fine gift,” I growl, impressed despite myself.

“Thank you. Now could you leave my wife and me alone? I’m nervous with you this close and rifles just a few paces away.

” I glance over at the girls. They’re barely inside the room, staying quiet and not posing any kind of danger, seemingly awestruck by Umbra.

Nerox arches his eyebrows. “Oh, you think I’d kill you, Mareliux?

Or the delightful Umbra? No, no. That’s not my style.

Violence was always your way, not mine. Granted, you were forced into it at a young age.

But I was also forced into things I had no control over.

You went to the army, I was left here at court.

We are shaped by the lives we had to lead.

” He gives the ray gun a final slap. “But that’s neither here nor there. When do you leave again?”

“We’ll see,” I tell him. “We might postpone the reception. I will have to attend to the intrusions into the Empire.”

Nerox takes in the room full of gifts. “Postpone it again? It’s starting to look like you’re keeping Umbra away from the Imperial court. Not a good look for an heir apparent. Almost as if you had something to hide.”

I laugh without joy. “Why would I want to hide Umbra? Look at her! I want the galaxy to know that she’s mine.

But even more than that, I want her to stay safe.

And when it comes to that, the Imperial Court is the worst place I can imagine.

And court receptions… well, I don’t think I have to remind you. ”

Nerox looks Umbra up and down. “You don’t. And I don’t blame you for that sentiment. I mean, after the experiences you had. Did he tell you, Umbra?”

“My husband has told me many things,” Umbra says coldly. “In private conversations .”

He nods approvingly. “She’s loyal, Mareliux. I wonder if you haven’t found a real gem in this alien. I will see you around. And you, Umbra.” He throws the cape behind him again in a dramatic flourish and saunters out of the room, ushering the girls ahead of him.

“Sorry about that,” I growl. “I sometimes don’t know what to make of him. He’s changed. He grew up in the palace and has acquired all the qualities needed of a courtier and a slike. It’s not his fault, really.”

“Darient told me about the things that happened to you two,” Umbra says thoughtfully. “You both had tough lives. I think he just did what he had to stay alive.”

“I suppose so.” I walk over to a stack of fabrics and flick through them. “Later I would like to know what exactly Darient told you. Nerox has a point, though. I should present you properly to the court.”

“Then do so,” Umbra says firmly. “Announce that there will be a reception tomorrow, but don’t tell anyone the place or exact time.

Decide both randomly at the last minute, then give everyone a short time to get there.

It will be really difficult for them to plan an attack if they don’t know where or when.

Oh, that’s very fine.” She takes a sheet of fabric between two fingers.

“Looks like Nibasian fabric,” I tell her. “From Nibasia, believe it or not. It’s known for its fineness. Yes, good idea. That’s what we’ll do. And then… well, I have to say this has gone better than I thought. You’re dealing with the courtiers and the Emperor better than I ever have.”

“I like it here,” Umbra says as she spins the wheel of a gold contraption of some kind.

“The Emperor didn’t seem to hate me, Darient is nice, your brother is entertaining.

And I’m starting to control the Syntrix better.

” She stares at a long saber and lifts it with Syntrix, then makes it hover.

“Do you think it’s because of the Tentacle Throne being so close? ”

“Possibly,” I tell her as I examine a sculpture that shifts color in a hypnotic display. “But I think it’s just that you’re getting used to it. The practice is paying off.”

“That’s probably it,” Umbra agrees and lets the saber drop. She lifts a crystal case the size of her head and peers through it. “Ugh. Is that a?—”

There’s a rattling sound from the empty fireplace, and something drops into the iron grille.

“Grenade!” I yell when I see the ugly metal ball.