Free Alien's Princess Bride by Sue Lyndon, Sue Mercury Page B

Starship Matchmaker disembarked.
    Another guard gestured for them to enter the dull gray corridors of the ship. Fiona gave Elizabeth a reassuring smile just as they reached a doorway that opened with a whoosh. The guard followed on their heels.
    “Your private quarters, Princess,” the guard said, his tone mocking. He jerked his chin at Fiona. “Say your goodbyes now. The ship will be leaving soon.” He stepped back into the hallway, but didn’t take his gaze off them. Through the visor of his helmet, his eyes glittered an otherworldly shade of purple.
    “I’m going to miss you, Fiona. I can’t thank you enough for hiding me all these months. I know you put yourself at risk, especially after I escaped the mob in Scotland…” Her voice trailed off and her throat closed up with sorrow, almost choking her with its intense burning. She swallowed hard and forced a smile.
    Fiona’s face crumbled and she drew Elizabeth in for a hug. They clung to one another, uttering heartfelt goodbyes until the guard began making impatient noises in his throat. A sharp vibration rattled the ship.
    “Goodbye, my sweet princess,” Fiona’s eyes sparkled a vivid blue for the first time in weeks.
    “Goodbye, Fiona.”
    Elizabeth kissed her cousin on the cheek and then watched her disappear down the corridor, the guard escorting her out.
    She entered her private quarters and the door zipped shut behind her. The large bag she had packed sat against the farthest wall. A tiny oval window rested above a small bed. A chair was bolted to the floor, and a partially open door revealed a bathroom.
    Though there was nothing luxurious about her surroundings, she felt a stab of guilt, knowing the other women would be housed in one large room, sleeping in bunk beds and sharing a bathroom for several weeks. Fiona had thought it smart to barter for private quarters, just in case any of the women aboard the Starship Matchmaker recognized Elizabeth and thought to harm her.
    As it turned out, bartering was easy when you had royal jewels hidden away. Five diamond necklaces had afforded her this tiny room, for which she was grateful, but the realization of how alone she would be during the journey to Sepkar tore through her. She missed Fiona more than ever, and her cousin’s children and husband too.
    She sank down on the bed and stared at the dirt caked beneath her fingernails, holding her breath as she awaited takeoff.
     
    * * *
     
    Zarr watched five women disembark the Starship Matchmaker , his heart racing and his nerves increasing. He had awaited this moment for months, and he gazed at the women and wondered which one was his bride.
    Elizabeth .
    He thought her name sounded lovely and anticipated staring into her eyes for the first time.
    The women approached the five waiting Sepkarian males on the landing site, a tall alien clad in black ushering them away from the ship. The alien delivered each girl to her respective mate after calling out their names. He called Elizabeth’s name last, and Zarr eagerly stepped forward to claim his wife.
    The bluest eyes he’d ever glimpsed stared back at him. Wavy golden hair flowed past her shoulders and freckles dotted her cheeks and nose. Her skin was pale and delicate, and his fingers tingled with the urge to caress her feminine softness. Though she was slender, her hips flared wide. Perfect for childbearing, he noted. And, ah, what full, plump breasts. Perfect for…other things.
    Though normally calm and confident, Zarr’s voice failed him. Not only could he not think of anything to say to his beautiful new bride, but his throat momentarily closed up on him. She stood before him and sat a bag down at her feet, then peered at him with worry clouding her gaze.
    Was she as nervous as him? Did she find him pleasant to look upon?
    Finally, he cleared his throat and reached a hand out to her.
    “Human girl, Elizabeth. I am Zarr of the planet Sepkar.”
    Is that all he could think of saying? He felt his face