Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
So even though I am tempted, I cannot search the information databases. The best thing I can do is continue to hide, my head tucked low.
"We cannot mention the wedding to anyone," I tell Maeve. "And we should not look it up on the comm."
She nods, her expression worried. "What are we going to do?"
"Nothing. We are going to do nothing. We are going to act as if everything is normal. We will stay on your farm and tend to your meat-stock and grow plants." I rub my neck, because it's in one piece and I like it that way. I should reach out to Kazex. Tell him that I need to talk to Zebah. Right now, though, even that feels dangerous. Zebah can only be trusted as far as the credits go.
"You don't want to do anything?" She's back to frowning at me. "I can go into town and ask about things. I'm good at hiding my true motives and sussing out answers. I can do that for you."
I shake my head and move toward her, putting my hands on her shoulders. Maeve has good intentions but she is far too innocent for the political games my brother loves. She won't stand a chance...and I don't want her in any more danger than she's already in. "I appreciate the offer but the best thing we can do is continue our pretense of being a newly married couple. I am a male you found when you posted a bulletin for a husband. If anyone asks where I am from, it's a station that you cannot recall the name of and I was named in honor of the Heir."
It's a good lie. People often name their cubs after the ruling family to curry favor. With my orange, hacked-up fur, no one will mistake me for Heir Zhurrrvas...I hope.
But Maeve gives me another searching look. "So the wedding upsets you...because it's your brother? He's not marrying the woman you were supposed to marry, is he? Do I need to worry that there's another woman out there?" Her tone is joking, but her expression is wary. "Because I can tell you right now, I'm a lover not a fighter."
Is she jealous? Why do I find that charming? Why does that make my mood lighten? I put a finger under her chin and tip her head up. "There is no wife but you. I never entertained the thought of marriage prior to my arrival here. It seemed like too much trouble."
"Yeah, all it took was a threat upon your life to get you to the altar," she jokes. "Such flattery."
Not just one threat upon my life, if I'm being honest, but I grin at her. "If it makes you feel any better, you are the best wife to be found on this planet."
"You don't have to butter me up, buddy. I know our marriage is fake. Just because we're fucking doesn't mean it's more than that. Speaking of..." She gestures back to the bedroom. "Want to get your rocks off to forget about your troubles for a while?"
Kef me, I would truly like nothing more. "You do not have to ask twice."
CHAPTER
SEVENTY-FOUR
MAEVE
Everything has gone all wrong.
Zhur and I had sex and it was just as good as before. But afterwards, he excused himself and took a shower, then went out to the barn to tinker with the equipment. I'm pretty sure it's so he has alone time to think, but I can't help but feel like I've messed everything up.
I genuinely thought he would want to know about the wedding. How am I supposed to know how many praxiian princes there are? Or that the guy getting married is busy stealing Zhur's throne? I should be panicking about how I've somehow married a prince that's on the run, and I'm going to get tangled up in his business. Instead, all I can think about is how hard this must be for Zhur.
I want to help somehow...but how?
After I shower, I head into the kitchen and make food. Feeding him seems like an easy thing to do. I sear the meat and leave it bloody, and keep vegetables to a minimum, just how he likes it. When he doesn't come in from the barn, I move to the vid feed, but I can't bring myself to turn it on. Instead, I cover the food and head out to the barn to meet him.
Zhur stands in front of the control panel, a blank look on his face. He might be in my barn, but his brain is a million miles away. "Hi again," I say softly. "Want to eat?"
He jerks around at the sound of my voice, startled to see me. "Maeve. Ah. No, not hungry. I'll be inside in a bit. I need to work on this. Need to..." He trails off.