Page 17 of The Intergalactic Duke's Inconvenient Engagement
Chapter 5
Raz stalked down theGrandy’s main corridor, his mind whirling so hard it seemed the artificial gravity had failed. He was forced to stop and lean against the bulkhead, taking gulps of air.
Luckily no crewmembers saw him in such a state. How humiliating.
He’d always known he’d marry for the duchy. That was the way of things. His sire and mother had had a cordial relationship, butit hadn’t been based in love. Or lust.
And larf it,whyhad he even pictured that?
With another muttered curse, he pushed away from the wall and resumed his fuming trek.
Marry! Marry an Earth girl. So he could claim her portion of the dilapidated space station and magnanimously offer to run the thing for her and the other hostages who only wanted to put the horrors of the place behind them.
That wasn’t piracy. It was lunacy! Worse than lunacy. At least lunatics got a full moon while he would get…nothing. A station they would break down for parts. A black hole—which literally sucked. And a runaway bride he’d never see again.
If Blackworm hadn’t been already incarcerated, Raz swore he would’ve hunted down the larf-licking ex-nobleman and put a black hole inhimfor causing this conundrum.
Although it wasn’t really a conundrum. Raz had never questioned that he would one day return to Azthronos and take up the reins—and ruins, apparently—of the duchy, with all that entailed. If this was what was needed…
He would do it.
“Of course you will, dear boy,” his mother had responded to his teeth-gritted agreement. “I’ll be in touch once I work out the agreement with Open Worlds For All,who’ve been appointed the girls’ guardian by the transgalactic council.”
“I await your word,” he said grimly.
“Well, don’t just wait. You need to woo one.”
He wanted to smash his head on theGrandy’s pointy prow. Even if that meant spacing himself. Which actually sounded like a reasonable choice at the moment. “Woo one?”
“Earth is sending representation for the girls too, and you’ll need toconvince that envoy that our plan is in the girls’ best interests. And Earth’s too,” she added with one of those nonchalant waves of hers. “Show them how much they need this, how desirable this deal will be. Those closed worlds can be rather backwards, so don’t be subtle.”
“Why, I might even need to play the lustful libertine,” he said acidly.
She nodded. “I imagine that would be very effectivewith an Earth girl. Consult Captain Nor. He used to be a pirate before I appointed him to theGrandiloquence. No doubt he will have some guidance. It would probably be best if you are engaged to the girl and the union consummated before the OWFA guardian and the Earth envoy arrive. Less quibbling if the girl is already in love with you.”
Raz sputtered. “I am not consulting anyone about consummatingan engagement.” And as for love…
His mother had signed off with a smile that would’ve been a smirk on a less aristo countenance.
And now he was marching back to the Black Hole Brides to choose one to claim ashisbride.
Trixie was too young. Lishelle too stabby. Carmen and Anne too… Well, they were perfectly nice, but it didn’t really matter what they were.
It had to be Rayna.
He alreadyhad a connection with her, or so it had seemed to him. Although maybe that was just because he’d held her half-naked in his arms. That probably felt like enough of a connection to the lusty libertine he was about to become.
With a curse under his breath, he paused outside the door to the suites where he’d assigned the Earther females. He’d checked with the med bay officer on duty and been toldthe abductees had all been cleared by Doctor Boshil and relocated to the suites. As he’d told Rayna, the niceties added to theGrandyfor his tour had been easily repurposed for their comfort, but now he realized how odd it was to stand outside the door to what had so recently beenhisrooms and realize his future bride was within.
Not that she knew it yet, of course.
In lieu of smashing hishead on the ship’s prow, he banged it on the door.
The panel slid open to reveal Trixie, looking smaller than ever in a large Thorkon day robe. She gazed up at him. “Hi.”
Lishelle loomed over the smaller female’s shoulder. The robe fit her perfectly. “Trix, what are you—?” Her dark eyes snapped up to Raz and narrowed. “Sweetie,” she said—not to him, obviously. “You shouldn’t open the door tojust anyone.” Her tone was as gentle as her gaze was fierce, and Trixie nodded obediently.
“I’m not just anyone,” he pointed out. “I’m your savior. Also, commander of this ship. Also, bearer of good news.”