Free The Royal Mate (Space Wars) by April Zyon Page A

for the results that the marshal was bringing to them. When the marshal entered the kitchen she looked at each of them, and there was a pause in conversation. “It has been confirmed,” she stated simply. “The results have been publicly broadcast to all of our worlds, Imarian and Craegin alike.” There was a pause as the woman looked to her daughter and the man at her side before turning to Petr. “The claims are of course being refuted but they can’t deny the truth for too long. All data has been transmitted to the Imarian home world as well. Your leaders have accepted the fact that Markus is indeed the lost heir,” she said with a small quirk to the corner of her mouth.
    The admiral nodded. “Good,” he said. “They will be wary to begin with but once they see all the other evidence on top of this proof they will come around. There will be citizens who will question it, naturally, and then the elite of our society who will fight it any way they can. Especially given our laws in regards to taxes. With the ruling body, they got off light on the taxes if they donated to specific ruling body charities. ”
    “Well, they will be the ones to watch, then. Given they have the money to hire someone desperate enough to try to come at me,” Markus said. He didn’t look too worried, which had Paisley practically twitching. Reaching over, he slipped his hand into hers before turning to look at her mother. “Now what?”
    “Now you go back to your ship. The general has orders to take you into Imarian space first. You will meet with their leaders with the fleet admiral and his colleagues at your side. We are sending Bracken Kauller’s cruiser along with so that you have additional support should you need it,” the marshal stated. “First, however, you should pack my daughter up and purchase her some new clothing if you are taking her with you.”
    “Damn right she is coming along,” he said firmly. Then he looked over her way. “We will need to get you a few things for whatever hoops we need to jump through there. Maybe we should see if Adira could help since she knows the fashion better than I do.”
    “A few new things?” Paisley hated to shop. Her mother knew how much she hated to shop, too, damn her eyes. “And why is it I have the feeling that I’m really not going to enjoy this whole shopping for Imarian clothing thing?” She wasn’t so certain she was ready for this, at all. She wanted to hide away somewhere if that was possible.
    Standing up, he tugged her gently to her feet. “We should return to the destroyer with all our things, which I’m assuming have been loaded onto a tramp or shuttled up already?” That question he directed toward her mother.
    “It has. I will have Paisley’s things packed and set into storage.” In a move that surprised everyone, Paisley included, her mother moved to her and wrapped her up in a hug. “I will miss you, kiddo. You make sure that big beast of a man that’s yours takes care of you and makes you happy. I would hate to be the one to kill the man for making you cry.”
    Paisley laughed, then cried. She couldn’t seem to help it. Hugging her mom back, she nodded. “You got it, Mom, and I don’t think you have to worry about him making me happy. I have a feeling he would do anything to see me smile,” she said as she looked at Markus and got a wink from him.
    Pulling back, the marshal nodded and straightened her jacket. “Now, I have a fleet to rearrange so that you are all protected as you leave.” She turned to Markus and with a smirk that Paisley knew well, she heard her mom adding, “Sire.”
    “I am sure that was not easy for you to say,” Markus said, smiling. “Paisley, we should get going before I give in to the urge to yell at your mother for making you cry.”
    “It’s a good cry.” Paisley moved back into Markus’s arms, however, and gave him a huge squeeze. “I’m as ready to go as I’m going to get.”
    With a nod, he ushered her