Page 53 of Starborn Husbands

“No trouble? You attempted to abduct the Crown Prince of the Tauri Nebula, and you expected no trouble?”

“I wasn’t abducting him. I have an agreement with the king. He said I could place the rune on him in good faith while we finished negotiations. I was going to return him to the palace where he belongs.”

The prince has a smooth voice. It’s the damn antithesis to my husky one. I’m sure it fools a lot of people, but not me. I don’t doubt the king’s negotiating with him, but there’s no way he’s agreed to this.

“I don’t give a shit about the agreements you think you have. This isn’t how we do business in the Nebuli.”

Gem’s composed, brushing off his robes. Brushing away their violating hands. My fingers curl into my rifle, festering with rage. Why haven’t I ended this douchebag’s miserable life already?

“As an apology, I won’t have you tried for killing my warriors without cause,” he says.

“Without cause? I have plenty of cause. The prince was under duress. It’s my job to protect him.”

“What’s your name soldier?” He knows I’m a threat. Heknows. Good. One day, I’m going to make him eat his own dick. Today won’t be that day. I’m dearly close to not giving a fuck, but he’s a prince. That would cause a war. If he ever does something like this again, I won’t care about starting a war.

Still. I don’t have to tell him shit, I just really want to. “Atlanta Orion,” I declare, proud as fuck.

Gem glares murder at me. I might pay a little for that—at least I assume, haven’t had too many relationships—but Gem needs to learn that I’m not holding back when it’s about him. I have enough power to hold my own. He steps closer to me, hiding himself from the prince by ducking his head.

“After this, my father will end negotiations with you,” Gemini says, keeping a stiff upper lip.

“I guess we’ll see, my lovely star.” He looks between the two of us. “Unfortunately, I may have to demand a little more now that your bodyguard has demolished two of my best warriors.”

This is a prince-to-prince conversation, so I stand down, but my lip is curled into a snarl.

“I understand,” Gemini says.

Yep, definitely paying for my bold actions later. That’s okay, I’ve got plenty of ways to distract Gem from his anger.

“Your bodyguard is a little too involved and he’s not a very good one, considering he left you unattended. For now, all I can do is advise against it. Once we’re married, you’ll have new ones.”

My sweetheart’s still aimed at Prince Dildo, all I have to do is pull the trigger. Gem places a hand on my rifle, a physical cue to take it off the prince. Fine, but only because he wants me to. No, fuck that. Only because I’m not prepared to shoot him in this instance.

“I understand,” he repeats. “But I wonder if you might be persuaded to keep this incident between us? My father doesn’t have to know what you tried to do, and perhaps nothing happened here today?”

It gives the prince pause. It’s a good deal for him. He knows he was outta line.

“Nothing happened here today.” He holds out a flawless hand. I know it’s for Gemini, but he’s not fucking touching Gem.

I grip it with one of my dusty ones. Dusty from traipsing through the catacombs. I shake it with a grip powerful enough to let him know who he’s dealing with. “Now, go fuck yourself.”

The prince’s hands are too smooth. I’m surprised he can swing an ax that size at all with hands made for ballroom dancing and holding the stem of a wine glass.

“You aren’t like any warrior I know,” he says.

“You’re damn right I’m not. I’m an Orion.” It’s fun when people haven’t heard much about Orions. A whole new species to hate us, starting with me. It’s also a rarity that can only be experienced with a dignitary from another galaxy. The heads of our galaxy have usually met my father.

“Charmed,” he says.

“Remember that name, asshole.”

“Atlanta,” Gemini hisses.

Yeah, fine. I’m just provoking him now. I allow him to dust off his ax and get the fuck out of here.

* * *

Gemini won’t speak to me. It’s not the first time, but it’s not often, and I hate it just as much every time.