Read Online Bride Games: (Alien's Bride) by Yamila Abraham - Free Book Online Page B

we stay here?   This planet is awesome.   It’s more than awesome.   It’s a fricking paradise compared to Earth.”
    “It’s a slave planet, Vivian.   The deal is, we win, we get our freedom.”
    “Slave planet?   What fricking slaves?   They aren’t slaves.   What the Hell slave owns their own restaurant and has fifty people working for them?   And like, what kind of slaves are looking all rich with high tech gadgets and buying expensive stuff at the mall and stuff?   Damn!   If these are slaves then sign me the fuck up.”
    Lenora felt like a bully who’d just stomped on Vivian’s sand castle.   She wrung her hands together.   “The priority is winning the games to make sure you don’t end up with Nayjoor.”
    “Yeah.   No doubt.”
    “After that—I don’t know.   I mean…”   Would Elentinus let them stay here?   It would be wonderful for Vivian, but she knew better than to seek this herself.   The only way she could stay here was to marry Lysanter.   Forget it, Lenora.  
    “Well, I don’t know the rules or whatever,” Vivian said, “but if I can stay here then let me stay here.   It would suck ass to have to go back to Earth after what I saw today.”
    It occurred to Lenora that there was another answer.   The knowledge gave her a strange calm.   “We’ll work something out.”
    “Work it, Len!   Please!”
    Lysanter tapped at their open door.   Vivian gleamed a smile at him that he softly returned.
    “Your friend seems happy.”
    “She had a great time.   Thank your servant for me.”
    “It was his pleasure.   He said she was delightful.   More joyful than any Dak-Hiliah he’s known.   She seemed more like a Dornovonian to him.”
    Lenora pursed her lips.   She didn’t want to shower too much gratitude on him, so she translated to Vivian instead.   The younger woman smiled even broader and gave Lysanter a thumbs up.   His brow furrowed a moment at the unknown gesture, but he returned her smile.
    “There’s an early dinner being prepared for us.   After which I need to take Vivian to the arena for a practice run.   You won’t see her again until after the games tomorrow.”
    “Why not?” Lenora said.
    “She’s getting a preview of tomorrow’s challenge.   I don’t want her giving you any information.”
    Lenora’s brow quavered.   “If there’s no real stakes to whether I win or lose, what’s the point of preventing me from cheating?”
    “The only way Danfet would allow me to help Vivian was by promising not to help you.   You’re the best competitor, Lenora.   He wants you to continue to pleasing the audience with an authentic effort.”
    She rolled her eyes.   “Pssh.”
    Lysanter went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.   “I know you’re being exploited.   Tolerate it for Vivian’s sake, Lenora.”
    Her voice softened.   “Of course I will.”
    “I can tell you a few things.”
    She looked at him.
    “In the final game you must work with a partner in order to win.”
    Lenora’s lips parted.
    “You need to succeed tomorrow or you won’t be able to help Vivian.   She could be partnered with one of the other women, but two of them failed yesterday.”
    “He said two of the other girls lost the challenge yesterday,” Lenora said in English.
    “What?” Vivian said.   “Seriously?”  
    “A third tried to forfeit, but Danfet convinced her to continue playing.   Her heart is no longer into it.   She wants to give up and marry the groom she was placed with.”
    Lenora made a slow blink.   “Wow.”
    “That just leaves one other player, you, and Vivian.   As I’ve said, you’re the best competitor.   These other women don’t have anything near your level of training.”
    “I have to win.   It’s as simple as that.”   She turned and explained the situation to Vivian.
    The younger woman registered a look of horror, but then quickly recovered with a smile.   “Dude, you let him touch you now?”
    Lenora