“Can I help you?” I asked, unsure of how I was feeling.
He let out a breath at the sight of me, his eyes studied my face intently before they glanced past me.
“Are you… are you going somewhere?” He asked. The boxes that contained my things were everywhere, a good amount stored by the doorway for easy access when the moving truck got here.
Why was he asking?
I didn’t dare get my hopes up. He’d ignored my existence for the last two weeks—it was over.
Crossing my arms, I replied, “Clearly. Not that it’s any of your business.”
“I…” He broke off, swallowing thickly.
I huffed. “You what, Vincent?”
“So you’re an agent?” He asked.
I thought of just shutting the door on him, but figured I owed him this at the very least.
“Yep.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “And my mother knew?”
“Yes. She’s the one who asked us to come in, “ I replied with a huff, feeling my temper rise. “What do you want, Vincent?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Are you fucking kidding me? Then why the hell was he here?
Sighing, I pleaded, “Then can you please just go?” I moved to shut my door, “I don’t have time for this. I have another assignment to get to.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want to.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “I don’t care what you want. Just leave.”
He took a step towards me, hands up. “Penny.”
I could tell immediately from the change of his tone what he was up to. I shook my head vehemently. “No. No. I refuse to do this.”
“Please-”
I held up a hand, cutting him off. “No. That time has come and passed.”
“Penelope-”
I continued as if he didn’t say anything, “You didn’t say anything for two weeks. Two full fucking weeks. If you had anything to say, you had plenty of time. If there had been any chance to salvage this… whatever the fuck we were, it was then. Not now.”
He swallowed hard, his adam’s apple bobbing with the movement. “I love you.”
I could feel a thick lump swell in my throat. “No. I just told you no. You don’t get to do this now. Just get out.”
He took another step towards me, cupping my cheek in his warm palm. “Penny, I love you.”
I felt the walls I’d built to keep out the hurt wavering under his relentlessness.
I felt tears beginning to sting my eyes as I cried out, “Fuck you, Vincent.”
He used his other arm to pull me closer, whispering, “I love you so much Penny. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner.”
“You’re a right bastard, you know that?” I cried without any real venom.
He brushed his lips against my cheek, “I love you so much that I would die for you. I would go to hell and back for you.”
“Why? Why now?” I demanded, wiping my eyes angrily.
“Because I’m an idiot,” I could barely make out the beginnings of tears in his eyes, “Don’t go,” he pleaded as the tears began to spill down his own cheeks.
I shook my head. “It’s too late.”
“It’s never too late, love. We’ll make it work,” he murmured as he bent down and captured my lips with his own.
The End
More Books by Dominica Bolden
Haasji Settlement Brides
The Alien Chief’s Bargained Bride
The Exiled Alien’s Unlikely Bride
The Alien Soldier’s Runaway Bride
Love & Nobility: Historical Fantasy
Defying the Devilish Duke
Provoking the Passionate Crown Prince
Supernatural Society
Undercover Secretary
Available Now
The Alien Chief’s Bargained Bride
Mallory Delour would do anything for her little sister, Stephanie. So when a genetic disease threatens her sister’s life, Mallory is left with only two options:
She can go into crippling medical debt to delay the inevitable, or she can become an alien’s bride with the assurance that Stephanie will receive life-altering gene therapy.
For Mallory, the choice is easy….
But for Alek’dar, it isn’t.
When the humans approached him, he’d been wary. But, by taking them up on their offer, he can kill two birds with one stone—a bride for him and an alliance with the humans.
Happiness hasn’t been factored into their decision but that doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t find it.
Unless someone, or something, stands in their way.
Available here.
Chapter One
Mallory
“To be honest,” Stephanie began, her voice was barely above a whisper. I perked up and my attention diverted from the bag I was currently struggling to close. “I’m kind of excited.”
My lips twitched into a smile that wasn’t quite sincere. Careful to avert my eyes from her knowing gaze, I nodded eagerly. Even at seventeen, she was quite perceptive. “I don’t blame you, Sis.”
Stephanie worried her lip between her teeth. “So you’re not mad?”
“What?” As if I could ever be mad about this. It was almost offensive, but knowing Stephanie as I did, I didn’t take it to heart. “No, of course not!”
“Are you sure? I mean I’m going to be gone for an entire year, off-world.”
Sure, I might have been a tad jealous, but it was for the best. It wasn’t like she was going on vacation or anything. Stepanie was going to receive treatment—and be completely cured—for her Friedreich’s Ataxia. I just wish I had been able to afford it sooner, to save her all the pain and suffering she’d endured over the last seven years.
But when you’re the only one in the household capable of working, it puts a damper on things.
Pausing my packing, I sighed, and reached for her fidgeting hands. “Of course, I’m not going to be mad at you, Stephanie. You need the treatment, and if that means you’re the first one of us off-world, I’m ecstatic for you.” I gave her a reassuring squeeze before resuming my task.
“I wish you could come.”
“I wish I could, too, but you’ll be fine.”
She clicked her tongue in disapproval. “Still, I hate how expensive it is.”
“I know, but at least you’re going to get better. That’s all that matters.” With one last tug, I was able to zip the suitcase closed, the stupid thing. I hadn’t wanted to tap into Stephanie's credits anymore than I already had to, so I settled for the cheaper set of luggage for her journey. Which meant they were smaller.
With a sigh of relief, I leaned back, tossing my raven locks over my shoulders.
“If you say so, Mallory.”
Standing from my seat on her bed, I grinned and gently tapped her nose. “I do say so Steph.” I took a look around at the bed, making sure I hadn’t left anything out. “Looks like we have everything just about ready,” I murmured, more for myself than anything, as I went through my mental checklist for what she might need over the next year. Or years…. A pang of guilt ate away at my gut, but I steeled myself to the feeling. It was a necessary omission.
She didn’t need to know that I wouldn’t be here when she came back. I’d still be planetside, as far as I was aware, but not in the village. Not where she could have regular access to me, like now.
“I sure hope so.” She giggled, waving her hand in reference to the three bags clustered beside her bedroom door. While they might not be much to others, those three bags contained almost everything she owned.
“Same here.” I started for the door, turning back before I crossed into the hallway. “Well, I’m going to head into the kitchen for a minute to check on the cookies. Do you need anything before I go?”
She shook her head, her loose brown locks shifting with the movement. “Nah, I should be fine here.”
“All right. I’ll be back in a few.”
> “Thanks again, Mal.” Her voice took on a somber note.
I lift a hand in acknowledgment as I head out of the room. “It’s no problem, little sis.”
I didn’t wait for a response as I shuffled down the hall. It wasn’t until the scent of spice cookies wafted through the house and hit my nostrils that the tears pricked at my eyes.
Sniffing, I willed them back.
Now wasn’t the time.
Not with her still here.
And to be honest, I thought I was all cried out, but I guess I was wrong.
Once I got her to the spaceport, I’d have to do some packing of my own. I couldn’t get it done yet because I didn’t want to let on how I was able to finally afford the treatment. We had nowhere near as many credits as it would require for her to receive the treatment on my shit pay alone. So, when the Council—made up of elected officials from all of the outlying villages—approached me with their offer, I couldn’t refuse. I didn’t have a leg to stand on when they offered to pay for her treatment.
The price for her cure was my freedom—my hand in marriage to our alien neighbors.
***
I was able to convince the council to spring for a ride to the spaceport. The trip was a long one, Stephanie was lulled to sleep by the gentle movements of the vehicle as it traversed over the terrain, so it was thankfully quiet.
I kept my gaze out of the window, watching as the rolling hills of the grassland passed by. Not much grew out here except that grass. There might be the occasional tree, but it was almost like a barren wasteland. There wasn’t much wildlife either once humans moved in.
In all honesty, I think it was better this way. If I had to make small talk for the duration of the drive, I might have broken down and told her the truth.
The spaceport itself was in the biggest city humans occupied on this planet, and we lived about fifty kilometers away on the edge of human territory in a rinky-dink town too poor for its own doctor. And with her illness, it would take far too long to travel any other way at this stage of her disease. Though it wasn’t like there were many other options to begin with.
Her disease was one of the worst cases that had been seen in recent years throughout the near colonies. It took seven years since her diagnosis for her to lose enough mobility that she had to walk with a cane. And she had turned seventeen only a few months ago.
It was no life to live. She was all but bound to the house because of the backwards thinking of our small community. They didn’t understand that it wasn’t like the common cold. Instead, it was tied to a person’s genetics.
To be honest, I was surprised I didn’t have it, but from what the doctor explained, it was because both of Stephanie’s parents carried the disease. We shared the same mother, but had a different father. Even so, I wasn’t a carrier so I didn’t have to worry about my children having it.
I got tested as soon as we found out about Stephanie’s grim diagnosis.
Not that it mattered anymore. After all, Friedreich’s Ataxia was a human disease and any child I might have—if even possible—wouldn’t be. Not completely, anyway. Because my husband to be was an alien.
The Striss would have to be somewhat compatible with humans or the peace agreement wouldn’t be on the table.
A human bride for the Striss Chief.
I had already undergone the communicator implantation in preparation for my delivery to the Striss. A rather unpleasant process that while uncomfortable was necessary. It wouldn’t do to not be able to communicate with my new people.
While we hadn’t come across many non-human intelligent life forms, there had been more than enough to warrant the creation of translators. Though, as far as we knew, there was just the Striss and us on this planet and they tended to keep to themselves.
The landscape slowly came into focus as the taxi slowed, passing through the Wall.
The gateway to the city.
With our destination looming overhead, I tried to wake my sister.
“Mmm.”
I nudged her arm, a small smile adorning my lips. “Come on, Sis. We’re here.”
“I’m up, I’m up,” she replied, still groggy. She’d been unable to sleep much the night before if the burnt-out candle on her nightstand this morning was any indication.
I sighed, shaking my head before returning my attention to the city outside my window. We still had a few more minutes so I decided it wouldn't hurt to let her get a few more minutes in.
The city was a sight to behold—buildings made of the strongest man-made materials, stories upon stories high—and it used to take my breath away once upon a time. In comparison, our little town was one poorly placed spark away from being consumed by flames. But since Stephanie’s diagnosis, we’d been here so many times in the last seven years, the city had lost all its charm and wonder.
With a sad sigh, I thought about the letter I had written to Stephanie that was currently resting heavily in my dress pocket. I toyed with the idea of sending it with her things so she’d find it when she got there, but I didn’t want to risk her finding it too soon and backing out of the agreement. It's why I didn’t slip it into her things before she left. I couldn’t risk her trying to stop me.
In it, I gave her the barest bones of information about what was going on and how things were going to be a lot different when she got back. And how I wouldn’t be there to help her navigate our world anymore.
I was going to be long gone, traded to the Striss for peace and a cure.
But I think I was finally coming to terms with my fate. It felt so real now. Stephanie was getting cured, and she had the option to not look back and start over. Along with that letter was a card loaded with both the credits I’d been saving for her medical treatments and payment from the Council for my sacrifice.
I briefly entertained the thought of selling the house for what little it would get, but decided to leave that up to Stephanie once her treatment was complete.
As the vehicle rolled to a stop in front of the spaceport, I renewed my efforts to rouse Stephanie.
“I need you to wake up, Stephanie. It’s almost time for your flight. We can’t be late.”
“I’m up.”
“You said that ten minutes ago, Steph. Come on,” I shook her shoulder, thankful the driver was already around back unloading her luggage.
“Okay, okay, fine.” She yawned, rubbing at her eyes.
I opened the door, satisfied that she was finally awake, grasping her cane to help ease her transition out of the vehicle.
Afterwards, I asked the driver to wait for my return. I carried her bags as she started for the entrance, not wanting her to overtax.
It didn’t take long to get to the line for her journey off-world, and I checked her two bigger bags for her so she didn’t have to walk as much. The smaller one I slipped over her shoulders as the line moved along.
“So this is it.”
I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes. It is, isn’t it?”
“Thank you so much for this, Mallory,” Stephanie began, her eyes watering with unshed tears.
I shook my head. “You don’t need to thank me, Steph. I love you so much, it’s my job to take care of you.”
“Still….” she trailed off, pulling me in for a hug.
“Next.” We pulled apart at the attendants’ interruption.
I took a step back, mindful of the passengers lined up behind her. “Safe journeys, Stephanie.”
She nodded eagerly, “I’ll try to write as soon as I can.”
“Good-bye.”
“Bye. Love you.”
I lifted my hand in acknowledgment as she passed through security and out of sight.
The tears I’d been holding back all morning finally fell at the thought that I would probably never see her again.
Coming Soon
The Exiled Alien’s Unlikely Bride
Her sister had married an alien. It hadn’t even truly registered with Stephanie Delour that Mallory was gone until she f
ound herself standing in front of their old home locked out.
She knew that Mallory had scrimped and saved where she could. But with the discovery that her sister had resorted to selling herself to an alien for enough credits for the treatment, she pushed herself through recovery.
Running off with the money wasn’t an option.
So, Stephanie decided to find her sister to, well, she wasn't entirely sure what she was going to do. She just knew that a life amongst the stars wasn't as appealing as it used to be. Not with Mallory's fate looming over her head. Not without Mallory by her side.
Qui’da had come to regret not giving his sister-in-law a chance all because she was a human. And now the entire flock, his family included, had turned their backs on him. Given the option to either lose his wings or work with the humans, he chose the latter.
Losing his wings wasn’t an option.
But forced into close proximity with the wingless rats wasn’t much of one either. Unfortunately for him, he would be finding himself forced to work rather closely with an infuriating woman traipsing across the planet to find his old flock.
Available for preorder here.
Chapter One
Stephanie
I tested my grip on the bag in my fingers, making sure it was secure before taking a step off of the platform. There was no one there to greet me, of course. Though I’m sure if Mallory knew that I was planet side, she definitely would have made an effort to meet me at the Spaceport.
But she didn’t know because I didn’t have any way to tell her that I was coming back. Not since she’d run off and married that alien man. The one letter I did try to send after receiving hers was sent back.
And rather than fret about it, I finished my therapies and endured my recovery so I could finally return planetside and tell her off for being such a self-sacrificing idiot.
She might not have said much in her letter, but I knew enough to read between the lines.
And ho-boy did I have words for her.
Undercover Secretary (Supernatural Society Book 1) Page 10
