Free Alien's Bride Book Three by Yamila Abraham

fiber of my being.
    We focused on the article a few minutes more.   It said that Elentinus must be relieved to finally know how his first wife had been taken.   I didn’t read anything that should cause Elentinus humiliation, but I could tell this came from a propaganda machine.   They weren’t going to say anything that would shame their leaders.   Elentinus’ colleagues would be experts at reading between the lines.   I’m sure Nayjoor boasted to ensure Elentinus’ shame.
    “I queued up something more you should read,” Whore said.
    Elentinus moved it to the next screen.   This looked more like an email.   Pakpo was outraged over news that some men were using the force-field collars to discipline their wives.   It was a long rambling letter that I had to struggle through to eventually get to the point:   shocking brides was now forbidden.
    “Oh thank God,” I said.
    Elentinus smiled.   He moved on to the next screen.
    My face had been cut out of our wedding photo and blown up to illustrate another article.   This one took a moment for me to decipher.   The square characters weren’t Dak-Hiliah writing.   I still found myself able to read it.
    The title was:   ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Traitor.’
    I groaned.   Either the Aquars or one of their allies had decided to write a hate piece on me.   They were quoting facts from the first article we read, but painting me, Elentinus, and the entire Dak-Hiliah Empire as villians.   I was the worst of them all because I’d sold-out my home world.   Elentinus clicked off the tablet before I could read the whole thing.
    “They’re petty, vindictive little worms,” Elentinus said.   “All the Alliance worlds agreed to respect our surrender agreement.   They happily fail to mention they violated this.”  
    “I saved their asses.”
    Elentinus laughed.   “That you did.”   He glanced at Whore.   “Anything else?”
    “Just Inga, master.   How soon before we can get rid of her?”
    “Yeah,” I said.   “I want it to go back to just the three of us.”
    Elentinus mussed my hair and then leaned back to yawn.   “I’ll call the colony later today.”       
    “You’re not going to give Nayjoor a replacement bride from there, are you?” I said.
    “No.   He lost the privilege of having a wife.”
    I snuggled against him.   “Good.”
    Whore rose with a cunning look on his face.   “I’ll leave you two alone.”
    Elentinus winked at him.   I laughed.
    Physically, I still felt beaten up by everything that happened.   Mentally, I was deeply embedded in my happy place:   safe with Elentinus.   Yes, I was a traitor to Earth.   That would be my cross to bear now, no matter what my reasons were.   Yes, my husband was the king of an evil alien race.   People from the outside could see it as black and white as that.   I was in the thick of it, deep in the grey area.   Every time I questioned whether I was allowed to love someone like Elentinus, he proved he was good and he was worthy.   This was never going to be an ideal situation.   At least I was able to nudge things in the right direction at my husband’s side.
    This was where I belonged.  
    E * P * I * L * O * G * U * E
    I put my hand against the gestation tube and squinted.   “It doesn’t look much bigger.”
    Elentinus gave me a dubious look.   “Of course not.   It’s only been fourteen days.”
    I pouted.   “Oh.”
    He put his arm around me and led me out of the infirmary.   “Speaking of which, you should be ovulating again any time now.”
    I glanced at him just in time to catch a lascivious little brow lift.  
    “Ah, geez.”  
    He put a hand on my butt to push me down the corridor to the elevator.   I’d been trying to get him to hold out longer between sex sessions.   For a while I managed to cut down to every other day.   Yesterday was my first try to get him to wait two days.   I guess I was pushing it.
    He threw me on the bed, ripped