Read Online Alien's Bride Book Three by Yamila Abraham - Free Book Online Page A

  When I looked over at her I saw she was sleeping with her head nestled in her folded arms on the table.
    “I…I guess I’ll lie down for a while.”
    The act of reclining on the mattress made me realize how exhausted I was.   Every piece of me ached with tension.   I let my head sink into the pillow and faded into sleep.
    I slept three or four hours at the most.   The sound of Elentinus’ voice had me clambering out of bed.   He was descending the stairs with Whore.   Inga lifted her head from the table as they walked to her.   I went around the other side of the table so I could be near enough to hear without instigating a new round of insults from her.
    Elentinus took out a control unit and pressed some buttons on the side.   Inga’s pink collar appeared and then fizzled out.
    “I’ve removed your collar.   Nayjoor said he doesn’t want you anymore.   He’s destroying your marriage record when he gets home.   I’m going to make arrangements for you to join the Earth colony.”
    Joyful tears bubbled up inside me.
    Inga remained derisive.   “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
    “I understand your reluctance, but it’s true this time.”   He leaned nearer to her.   “They left without you.”
    Inga’s lips parted.   She looked at Elentinus.   “They’re gone?”
    “Yes.”
    “He…won’t come back for me?”
    “I’ve forbidden him from ever returning.”
    Inga searched the table in front of her.   Her breathing grew rapid.   “You can’t forbid him from getting his wife.   He could change his mind.”
    “That won’t happen.   We have an agreement.”
    Inga scowled.   “What agreement?”
    “I’m allowing him to claim that he unraveled the Aquars’ scheme to rescue you.   He’s saying he discovered the pod when we landed on Earth, and that he subsequently traced their signals to my Domestics.   He’ll also claim he’s the one who discovered that the collars thwart the Aquars’ rescue attempts.   He took the pod back with him as a trophy.   He’ll be lauded as the hero who finally put a stop to the theft of our brides.   Most importantly, he’ll be able to humiliate me as the fool who was baffled for months by a scheme that took him mere days to uncover.”
    Inga covered her mouth.   Her eyes darted around as though she were looking for another excuse not to accept it.   Then her tears poured out once again.   She shuddered with quiet sobs.
      Elentinus soothed her shoulder.   “You’re free, Inga.”
    The proclamation made her sob louder.
    “Return to the guest room and get some sleep.”
    She backed up her chair and rose to obey.   After taking one step away she turned around and threw her arms around Elentinus.
    “Thank you.”
    He placed one hand on her back.   She broke away, snuffling, and headed for the door.   Whore flanked her.
    “Do you know the way?”
    Inga nodded.   “I’m just thirsty and tired.”
    “Go with her, Kang,” I said.
    My Domestic sped to his little robot elevator so he could meet her outside Elentinus’ door.   I rubbed my weary face with my hand once they were gone.
    “I’m sorry you had to do that, husband.”
    He took a deep breath through his nostrils.   “It bothers me only slightly.   The other council members will mock me, but that was their custom anyway.   The evidence we have now is a boon to the empire.   It doesn’t matter if it comes from me or Nayjoor.   We’ll benefit all the same.”
    I felt so wrung out I was dizzy on my feet.   “Is there going to be war?”
    “No.   But we’re going to expose their activities to their allies and demand the stolen brides be returned.   If they don’t comply we’ll have every right to assault their home world.   I doubt they’ll take that risk.”
    “What’s going to happen to the retrieved brides?” Whore said.
    He frowned.   “I don’t know.   That’s something we’ll have to vote on.”   He rubbed my back.   “I’ll suggest they be