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L ondon sat rigidly as she watched her father, Emperor Blaze, stand to make the formal announcement she’d been dreading all night. How could he do this to her? Why was her mother allowing it to happen? She shot a resentful look toward the object of her despair.

General Zahn.

With back erect and head held high, he wore an unreadable expression on his stern face. His dark green eyes, which could almost be mistaken for black at times, were hard as though he were contemplating a strategy of war instead of attending his own betrothal dinner.

Admittedly, London found Zahn extremely attractive, with his wavy, long black hair inherited from his Zenobian ancestors, square jaw, long proud nose, and full lips.

Truth was, many Thibian women were enamored with the decorated general. Several noble houses had offered up their daughters as potential brides for him, however, he’d set his sights on a much bigger prize: the Emperor’s only daughter.

Her.

But like so many men on Thibius, Zahn was just too overpowering for her taste. Despite acknowledging his good looks, her heart simply refused to engage with him. The times they were able to converse, he was cold and reserved, speaking very little and not allowing her to really get to know him.

He treated her as if she was an asset to be gained and not a potential partner whom he’d treat as an equal. He didn’t bother to try to learn anything about her. Once he’d even scolded her when she’d laughed a little too loud at something one of her ladies in waiting had said. He’d told her it was behavior unbecoming of a princess.

And now she was about to become engaged to him. Tied to this humorless man male for the rest of her life and popping out baby after baby so that he’d have heirs who’d probably be just as obnoxious as him.

London didn’t want the fate of her mother. Granted, her parents’ love for each other was obvious for anyone to see. They often sneaked off to be alone and were always touching, but there was no doubt in London’s mind that her father was in charge in all matters.

While her father was indulgent to his wife’s whims, he always had the final say. He was also jealous if her mother so much as looked at another man. London wondered if it was because he viewed the queen as his property. Her mother didn’t seem to mind but there was something about it that London simply didn’t understand.

That was the way of things in their world, and London was certain General Zahn would try to rule her with an iron fist as well. Maybe she could learn to live with a strict husbands it weren’t for her lack of feelings towards him. He simply didn’t make her pulse race or heart beat faster. The one chaste kiss they’d shared hadn’t stirred any fire within her core like her mother had promised it would.

No. She couldn’t let this sham betrothal take place. And she knew exactly what she needed to do.

After the banquet was long over, she’d slip past her guards, sneak into the docking station and take one of her father’s ships. She only knew how to man one of the smaller aircrafts but with all the automation on the larger ships, she was certain she could figure it out.

But if she ran away, she’d need to get far away from Thibus. Even out of this solar system.

There was another galaxy that hosted a planet of humanoids who looked just like her. Her home planet. A place she had vague memories of.

Earth.