Enemy of the Alien Bride Lottery by Margo Collins (sight word readers TXT) 📕

“First of all, I need you to know that I never wanted to testify against you during your trial.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“But also…the only reason the prosecution even had the information about our conversation is that I told Zont. I wanted him to use it to exonerate you, to show that you were trying to help Amelia heal him.”

I shrugged. “But I wasn’t. Really, I was helping Amelia—the fact that she wanted to save Zont is the only reason I had anything to do with him at all.”

“So you can forgive me for that—for telling the truth when I was called to testify?”

I took his hands from where they rested on the ground beside him and wrapped his arms around me from behind. “Absolutely. You didn’t mean to hurt me.”

I heard him swallow. “The next one might not be so easy to forgive.” He paused for so long that I began to wonder if he was going to speak again.

“Well? Spit it out. You’re beginning to make me nervous.”

“I’m the one who reported your fraudulent marriage.”

I froze, considering his words. “So that’s how they figured it out?”

“Yes. As soon as I got back to Station 21 from the hunt for Amelia, I looked up everything I could about you. That’s what I found.”

“Why did you report it?”

He dropped his head down onto my shoulder, muffling his voice. “Because I wanted you for myself.”

“Is there anything else?”

He raised his head again. “One more thing. Vos Klavoii drafted me into the Holiday Special, and I manipulated the outcome—I got Drindl and Plofnid to tell Lola how she could make sure she ended up with Valtin.”

I started to say something, but Wex patted my arm with his hand, then rubbed against it with his thumb, sending little shivers through me. “There’s one more thing.”

“Tell me.”

“Your name was not drawn in any kind of blind lottery.”

For the first time since he started talking, I turned my head to stare at him in surprise. “So it was a set-up?”

He nodded. “It was. But not to punish you. I wanted you here to give me a chance to convince you that we belong together.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “So that was the reason for the “second-chance grooms” theme?”

“Yes—I convinced Vos to find a way to include me in the games again.”

“Is that everything?” I asked.

“I think so—for now, anyway. If we’re going to be together, I don’t want it to be based on lies and deception.”

He sounded so earnest that it nearly broke my heart. “Then I have something to tell you, too.”

“I’m listening.”

Somehow, it was easier to do this when we were not facing each other, but were touching. “I stole your wristcom yesterday. I used it to sneak into the control center and upload some spyware. I also downloaded your personnel file. But I haven’t looked at it yet. I was afraid to open it in case my room was bugged.”

A bark of laughter escaped Wex. “Good call. There are cameras in all the brides’ rooms.” He paused. “Who was the spyware for?”

I swallowed. “An anti-Bride-Lottery group on Earth.”

“Are you a member?”

“Not exactly.” Now I slid off his lap and turned to sit on the ground facing him. “But you have to know, I sympathize with their views. Even if you and I end up together, I can’t be okay with the Bride Lottery. Not as it is now.”

Wex nodded slowly. “I agree.”

“You do?”

“Yes.” He leaned forward, holding his hands out, inviting me to place mine in them, and when I did, he curled his fingers around them. “But…how would you feel about beginning to change the way the Bride Lottery works from within?”

I blinked. “How do we do that?”

“One step at a time. I do believe that Khanavai males and human females often belong together. I’m certain we do. If you and I work together, maybe we can change the Lottery and Games from this old-fashioned, barbaric system and turned it into something beautiful. Something that doesn’t rely on stealing human females from their home planet.”

I nodded slowly, and a smile began to spread across my face. “You mean, a way for Khanavai warriors and human women to meet and decide if they like each other, even without ridiculous, set-up games?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“I like that idea.” Rising onto my hands and knees, I leaned forward and kissed Wex again.

For the first time in a long time, I was certain that my life was about to get a whole lot better.

Chapter Eighteen

Wex

“There’s one last thing,” I said as I stood and held my hand out to Dee to help her stand as well. “Well, two, actually.”

“What’s that?” she asked as she brushed leaves off the back of her clothing—another green dress.

One that matches my skin, I realized, wondering if Drindl and Plofnid had chosen that color on purpose.

Of course, green does look good on her.

I grinned at the thought.

“You look like you’re thinking all kinds of wicked thoughts.” Deandra raised her eyebrows.

“Oh, I am. But that’s the second thing on my list.” I took her hand in mine and began leading her back toward the path that would take us out of the garden.

“What’s the first?”

“Why don’t you like to be called Deandra? It’s a beautiful name. It suits you.”

“Oh. That.” She stopped and blew out a breath, then bent down to pluck a beni flower from its spot on the ground. As she began walking again, she stroked the soft petals. “It was what my mother called me.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. She died when I was ten. Before that, she used to call me her beautiful princess. Princess Deandra.” She gave a sad smile but didn’t meet my eyes. “After she died, my father turned inward. He started preparing for disaster, forcing me to join him in learning how to survive without technology.” Her voice dropped. “Without other people.”

“Did he not call you Deandra?”

Her laugh was bitter. “No. Dee was his nickname for me.”

“So no more Princess Deandra?”

“No. No more princess anything. Hell, I