by Lisa Lace
“Change of plans, Desiree. We’re going home. Again.”
“Can you hold it open for me?” I sprinted toward the heavy glass door, waving wildly at the doorman.
“I’m sorry, Miss.” The face of the heavy doorman frowned in mild annoyance. “We’re closed. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.”
“You don’t understand.” I held onto my chest, wheezing from the unexpected run. “This is urgent to me. We’re talking about a life-or-death situation. If you’ll just talk to someone, I’m sure they will understand.”
“Ms. Blackwood?” I recognized the voice. A woman with blonde ringlets appeared on the other end of the door. “Let her in, Herbert.”
I nodded at Trina gratefully and slipped into the lobby. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bother you after office hours, but I was halfway across the galaxy. I came here as quickly as I could.”
“I understand, Ms. Blackwood. Today must be your lucky day. One of my superiors is working late tonight. I’m sure she’ll be happy to assist you.” I followed Trina to the back and ended up in a dimly-lit office.
“Ms. Perkins – Ms. Blackwood is here to see you.”
The older woman in a grape pantsuit looked up from behind her desk, beckoning me closer. “We were expecting you.”
When Trina left the room, I sat in the chair across her. “Thank you so much for seeing me. Now, let’s get to the bottom of this insanity.” I reached into my backpack and started pulling out documentation. “What do you need from me to shut this thing down? I’ve only got my license on me, but I have copies of other things that I think might help.”
“Oh dear. Ms. Blackwood, I’m afraid there has been a terrible misunderstanding. It is too late to back out of anything now. The transaction has already cleared.”
I felt my voice raising against my will. “No, the only ones who don’t understand things are you and TerraMates.” My face was starting to become hot. “How is this even possible? I have never consented to anything!”
“Please use your inside voice, Ms. Blackwood.” Ms. Perkins pulled out a thick folder from her drawer and laid out the files in front of me. “Here are all the consent forms and contracts. As you can see, they are all signed and notarized.”
I could do nothing but gape as I leafed through the files. There were three copies of all my identification, a dozen headshots, and a sappy four-page bio of myself printed on pink stationery. The signatures on the contracts were almost identical to mine. In fact, they were so close that I would have believed them to be legitimate if I didn’t know that I had never signed them.
What made my blood freeze over was the power of attorney form stapled to the front of the contracts. The signatures were penned in the same flowery cursive and read ‘Meredith Mae Blackwood.’
“Ms. Blackwood? Is there a problem?”
“Yes, to put it mildly.” The door behind me swung open.
“Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Blackwood, but your husband-to-be is here to see you.”
Before I could react, Axl strutted into the room.
Chapter Fourteen
AXL
The pouring rain hit the top of my head like bullets. My hair was quickly getting wet and falling limp over my forehead. I pulled up the hood of my coat and raced after her. She bolted across the street, narrowly missing two honking cars, and slipped into an empty alley. I leaped over the hood of a passing vehicle and kept pursuing her. I couldn’t look away from her black leather jacket.
“Ms. Blackwood. Christine. Wait!”
The closed walls of the winding alleyway amplified my voice. To my relief, Christine finally slowed down. I stopped a few feet away from her, resisting the urge to bend over and hold my sides.
“You are fast. I’ll give you that.”
She looked at me slowly. My head started racing, but I could tell that it wasn’t from the thrill of the chase. The raindrops ran in small rivers down her forehead and pouting scarlet lips. Wet hair was gathered around one side of her neck, framing her glowing face. For a moment I was lost for words. Even now, she looked stunning.
“Now that I have your attention,” I began. “I have something to discuss with you.”
Christine lunged at me with both hands and pinned me to the wall.
“Listen, you need to get a hold of yourself.”
In a swift motion, Christine drew her weapon and jammed the triple-headed barrel of a plasma pistol against my chest.
“Okay, maybe you have a hold of yourself already.” I raised my hands carefully. I should have seen this coming. “I understand. You are upset.”
“Are you kidding me?” Christine screeched and dug the pistol into my ribs. “Upset doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m livid. I’m appalled. Give me one good reason not to blast a hole through these stupid pecs right now.”
“I hear you.” I glanced at her unsteady finger looped around the trigger. “I have a proposition for you, and I think we’ll both be happy with it. If you can just lower your weapon, I’ll share the details.”
Christine glared up at me, clenched teeth visible behind a curled upper lip. Her eyes darted from side to side as she contemplated her next move. Finally she lowered her weapon and slid it back into a concealed holster.
“Thank you.” I smoothed out the puckers on my coat. “This was the last thing I wanted to do, but you left me with no other options.”
“How could this even happen?” Christine ran a hand through dripping hair, tugging at the ends. “Everything happened too quickly. Walk me through the process.”
“You signed up for the Quick Mate service, didn’t you?” I frowned, studying the perplexed look on her face. “You had the Ready to Wed tag, and you were open for auction. We had a merry bidding war among my team, but I won. I requested TerraMates to keep my identity a secret until the wedding day.”
“Can you stop calling it that?” Christine moved under the shelter of the emergency stairwell above us and began to pace back and forth erratically. “Where is everyone else, anyway?”
“They’re back at the starship. I’m here alone. I just want to talk.”
“Go ahead. No one’s stopping you.”
“You know what I want. Hand over the pillar. We can return to the office tomorrow morning and stop everything.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Christine snorted, leaning over and wringing water out of her hair. “Why would you want me to do that? So you can hand the pillar over to the Makroid? How much are they paying you? If you think this is all it will take for me to give it to you, I’ve got news for you, pal. I could marry a hundred ugly aliens and still keep everything I own.”
“The Makroid?” I pressed my lips into a tight frown. “Why would you think I am working for the enemy?”
She tapped the Magnum crest on my chest. “You’re not part of the Urwanian military. I did some research of my own. There are several articles about Magnum and their clashes with the imperial government. In particular, between you, the founder and chief of operations, and Empress Angkora. Judging by your financial profile, you’re clearly a for-profit enterprise. It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots.”
Christine appeared winded from saying all that in a single breath, but she looked at me defiantly.
“Those are some shrewd observations, but I’m sorry to say that your conclusion is mistaken.” I folded my arms but didn’t break eye contact. “We are not part of an insurgency. The Empress currently employs Magnum. While it is true that we do not see eye-to-eye most times, unusual things are happening. Urwan is in danger and we are on the same side, for once. We have set aside our differences to track down the pillar.”
Christine tugged at the skin on her elbows, visibly deflating.
“A likely story.” Her voice began to tremble. “This could be a ruse. I won’t be thrown off that easily. I need to see proof.”
I pulled out the contract from inside my jacket, showing her signatures and an unforgeable Imperial seal. “Is this enough for you?�
�
“Mm.” Christine gulped, her face falling. She still fought stubbornly. “Why would the Empress choose Magnum out of all the other acquiring companies on Urwan?”
“That’s easy to answer. Because we’re the best.”
“Apparently you’re not.” Christine stuck out her tongue at me. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I was the one who found a lost artifact.”
“Terrific! I didn’t bring confetti with me, so we’ll have to postpone the celebration. The pillar, if you please?”
“Not so fast.” Christine took a step back as a sly smile crept across her lips. “I refuse to believe you accepted the mission out of the kindness of your heart. You never answered my question. How much are you getting paid for this?”
“That’s beside the point, don’t you think?”
“No.”
I sighed. “One and a half million.”
“You’re talking about full credits, not microcredits, right?” Christine gasped, eyes going round with avaricious glee.
“Yes. Will you listen to me now?”
“I propose a change of plans.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I’m going back to the palace with you. We’ll split the pot ninety to ten.”
“Are you mad?” I laughed darkly. “There is no way in hell am I giving you ten percent of anything.”
“Great, because I’m not the one taking ten percent.”
“That settles things. You are certifiably insane.”
Christine cut me off, shaking a finger in my face. “Think carefully about what you’re going to say next. I might end up calling the cops, and you’ll never find the pillar that way. Better yet, I could head to the palace by myself and take one hundred percent.”
I paused. “I am willing to give you fifteen percent.”
“Not even close, pal.”
I exhaled roughly, reluctantly adjusting the amount in my head. Magnum wasn’t going to like this. “We’ll go fifty-fifty. Don’t push your luck.”
Christine paused, drumming her fingers along her cheek as she did the calculations. “Very well. You drive a hard bargain.”
The slash in profits stung, but I would figure out how to sell it to my crew. I extended my hand once more. “Hand me the pillar. I will transfer you the credits when the Empress pays me.”
“Do I look stupid to you?” Christine didn’t move a muscle. “This isn’t my first rodeo. I’m not going to let you accidentally lose my contact information. I’m going to the palace with you. As much as it pains me to say this, I’m going to need some leverage. We’ll have to stay married for a while.”
I began to protest, but she cut me off.
“Look at it from my point of view. I’m going to need a way to make sure that you don’t ditch me in the middle of our agreement. I guess this stunt you pulled has its merits, after all. Once I get my cut, we can come back here and get this thing annulled.”
“You are bloody insatiable,” I muttered, shaking my head. “Fine. We will do it your way. Do you have any other requests?”
“Nope.” Christine beamed and shook my hand energetically. “I’ll meet you in front for our wedding ceremony.”
“Right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Christine grabbed a piece of wood and held it over her head, running out into the rain.
“I’m heading back to my ship. Don’t follow me!”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I hollered back. “I have better things to do!”
Chapter Fifteen
CHRISTINE
“Welcome aboard. Don’t make yourself at home. You won’t be here for long.”
I pulled off the plastic tiara and veil set from my head and tossed it straight into the trash. Axl strolled up the ramp and entered the ship, holding his hands behind his back as he looked around him. Suddenly, I felt shy and reluctant to start a conversation. I kicked off my pumps and smashed the square red button next to me. The ramp slowly lifted off the ground, humming softly.
I shrugged off my jacket, peeking at Axl in the floor-length mirror next to the bathroom. He didn’t know I could see him, but I noticed him rummage through the garbage. He picked out the wedding garments from the trash and stuffed them into a pocket. After he was sure I hadn’t seen him, Axl leaned his head back to check out the upper deck of my ship, scratching at his freshly manicured beard. He wore a smooth cream coat perfectly tailored to fit his broad shoulders. Under the jacket, he had tucked a pressed dress shirt into his pants.
Damn it. I loathed how good-looking Axl was. All the same, my eyes could not keep themselves from lingering on the promising bulge between his legs.
“Do you live on your ship?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Is that a problem?”
“It was just a casual observation,” said Axl coolly. “You have a nice place. I especially like the kitchen. Is the counter made of spirewood?”
“I wish. It’s an imitation.” I grabbed a clip and started fixing my hair up in a bun. “Remember to put your copy of the marriage contract somewhere safe. I don’t want any problems with the annulment.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t lose it.”
“You can get yourself something to drink from the refrigerator if you must.” I headed into the cockpit and started preparing the ship for takeoff. “But don’t snoop around. If I see anything an inch out of place, you’ll have to answer to me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Good afternoon, Christine. I sense an unauthorized alpha male presence on the ship. Please proceed with extreme caution. Shall I alert the authorities?”
“Alpha male. Thank you.” Axl chuckled.
“No, Desiree.” I punched in the coordinates for Urwan and activated the auto-pilot, rolling my eyes. “The entity you refer to as an alpha male is a guest.”
“Very well. Activating auto-pilot mode. Please remain seated and keep your seat belts fastened as we prepare for takeoff.”
As I settled into the pilot’s seat, Axl picked up the bra haphazardly thrown over the passenger’s seat and flung it over his shoulder.
“Hey, watch it!” I tutted disapprovingly, buckling my seat belt. “That’s one of my good bras. They’re called delicates for a reason, you know.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have left it lying around.” Axl made himself comfortable next to me.
The floor quaked as the ship’s engines engaged and we lifted off the ground. I put one hand on the yoke, ready to prevent any mid-air collisions as we entered the upper atmosphere. Axl fastened his seat belt and looked ahead like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“I still don’t understand why you’re hitching a ride with me.” I had to raise my voice so he could hear me over the rumbling of the engines. “I can make my way to Urwan by myself. I’ve been there before.”
“The Magnum starship is in Barthan’s capable hands. And I’m not worried about your ability to get to Urwan. I’m worried about you never showing up at Urwan. I don’t want to risk a case of cold feet. Of course, there’s good company, too. Consider this a honeymoon.”
“Uh-huh.” I released the yoke as it tightened in my hands. “Yuk it up, buddy. I’m already counting down the days until I finally get to sign the annulment papers. And you better not bail on me.”
Axl grinned. Instead of relenting, he decided to pick at my scab. “I’ll be there alongside my blushing bride. I’m not going anywhere. I’m more afraid of you falling madly in love with me and having a change of heart.”
“Keep dreaming.” I rolled my eyes and laughed. “You might be a dick, but you’re a hoot, I’ll say that much.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to run my mouth if I were you.” Axl scooped up his leg and rested it on his lap, bouncing his foot. “You claim that you wanted to get the ceremony over with quickly, but you worked hard fixing yourself for the occasion.”
“It’s just a little makeup.” I tried to reply smoothly, but I could feel my cheeks starting to heat up. “It’s not for yo
u, anyway. It’s for the folks at TerraMates.”
“Really. I would have thought that TerraMates sees dozens of brides every day, and couldn’t tell one from the other. What about all the hand-holding and hair stroking you wanted? Was that all an act, too?”
“Well, of course.” I sniffed, lifting my nose in the air. “I was playing a part. I didn’t want any of them to get suspicious.”
“You did a good job.” Axl raised his eyebrows. “You were very convincing to me.”
“That was the idea. What’s your point?”
“I guess I don’t have one when you put it like that.” Axl’s laughter subsided. He glanced at me quickly before looking out the window in front of him. “You looked beautiful.”
Chapter Sixteen
CHRISTINE
The sun slowly set beneath the horizon, dimming the skies over the beaten-down jungle. The formerly rich bed of grass and soil beneath our feet was now dead, crumbled rock, covered in scorch marks, heaps of fallen trees, and crunching black leaves. A small stream running through the jungle was greasy and dark, polluted with dead plant life and the corpses of exotic wildlife.
“Look at this place,” I mumbled, stepping over a giant log in my path. “It’s heartbreaking.”
“I agree.” Natya walked alongside me. “This was home to the kalabaza, a rare and endangered fish. Environmentalists managed to collect what was left of the species and bring them back to a sanctuary, but there was too much damage to the population. It won’t be long before the kalabaza are extinct. My brother is a preserver, and I hear about these problems all the time.”
“That’s a shame.” I wrapped a hand around the strap of my backpack, easing the strain on my shoulders. “I have nothing but the utmost respect for preservers. When I was in university, I thought about choosing it as a profession. I decided it wasn’t for me, but I make it a point to only source my tools and weapons from reputable traders. One of my go-to guys is an Urwanian preserver. Jovine.”
“Jovine Fanuan?”
“That’s the one. Do you know him?”
