(First and second scenes were posted yesterday)
“Oh, that’s your shop that sells the Earther merchandise? I had no idea. What sorts of things do you sell?”
Iliana maintained her pleasant smile for Clan—was it Otap? Or Opat? She’d forgotten as the parade of hopeful Kalquorians continued, with no end in sight.
It was wearing, but it could have been worse. Thus far, it was as painless a night as she might have asked for, without a pushy clan in the bunch. When she asked for their contact information and thanked them for their time and attention, they readily accepted her moving on. It was the request for com frequencies that did it; a hint that perhaps they’d hear from her again that allowed for a graceful exit. Only a hint, no promises.
Clan Whatever was every bit as agreeable as the rest. Handsome faces, attractive bodies, intelligent, courteous…worth a second look from a woman hoping for love. Something Iliana wasn’t capable of. She couldn’t imagine liking any clan well enough to spend her life with.
Where romance was concerned, that ship had sailed long ago.
After ten minutes…not too short so she appeared rude, not too long so she sent the wrong signals…Iliana asked for their contact information since she needed to speak to a few others. They happily complied, and she drifted away from Clan Nopax. Boy, had she been wrong about the name.
Iliana slunk between groupings without seeming to slink. She worked to avoid the next encounter as long as possible. Had she really only been there for half an hour? It felt like an eternity.
As she skirted a clan and an unsmiling Earther, one of the men took a sudden step backwards, nearly bumping into her. “Oh, excuse me, Matara.” He reached to steady her. His hand froze an inch from her arm, and his gaze widened in recognition. His clanmates were similarly startled.
“Dramok Rykbi.” Iliana all but groaned the name. Of all the worthless creatures to run into, it had to be the clan she’d originally been slated to join. And had adamantly refused. Just looking at Rykbi made her hackles rise. “Still searching for a daughter to raise?”
He managed a brief bow, his face red. “You appear well.”
“Quite well, thanks. Oops, you scared off another one.” Their distraction had allowed the woman they’d been talking to the opportunity to slip away. “Still treating potential Mataras like brainless children instead of intelligent beings? Never mind. I don’t want to talk to you.”
Off she went before they could respond, happy to have had the chance to tell them off again, though not as powerfully as she had the first time. Some guys needed to be reminded often of what jerks they were. She felt she was the other Earther’s savior and actually smiled at those she passed, though she didn’t slow down for them to corner her in conversation.
The night was in a downward spiral, however. She caught sight of another clan she’d had a bad experience with: Clan Bas. Damn it, they’d spotted her too, and from their smiles, they still weren’t taking the hint she was unavailable.
She whirled and spotted an open doorway a few yards off. Weaving like a running back, she rushed to escape.
A myriad of plants greeted Iliana as soon as she crossed the threshold. Large potted trees offered hiding places, but Clan Bas had no doubt noticed where she’d gone. Perhaps she could use the foliage as cover to double back into the main room while they searched for her.
She was halfway across the room, just about to dive behind a tree with pink-hued flowers, when a voice called. “Matara Iliana!”
No, no, no. As Iliana rushed forward, she caught sight of two clans in a corner, engaged in what appeared to be an intense conversation. She headed towards them, setting her sights on the rescue she couldn’t believe she was about to ask for, all in the name of avoiding a scene.
Another young woman slid out of the surrounding foliage ahead of her. She aimed for the clans Iliana headed for. Of course it was the friendlier-looking trio that warmed to her approach. They broke off from their companions to surround the potential girlfriend who joined them.
Iliana plowed on as her name was called again. She refused to stop despite the second clan’s grouchier, unapproachable expressions. They caught sight of her, and she waved frantically, as if they were a mile distant instead of mere feet.
“There you are! I’ve been searching all over for you!” She practically galloped up to them.
Selbi blinked and glanced at his clanmates. He’d never met this Earther before, but she greeted them as if they were old friends.
“Where have you three been hiding? I was getting the idea you were avoiding me,” she gushed.
Her coloring was hectic, and she was out of breath. Yet she was gorgeous. With long, black hair framing her fine-boned features, startling blue eyes that matched her simple gown, and a lithe figure, she brought Selbi’s thoughts to a stop. His clanmates were similarly stunned into silence, but he wasn’t sure if it was from her abrupt approach or her breathtaking appearance.
He’d have remembered meeting her before. There was no doubt about that.
“I’m sorry, Matara.” Selbi recovered speech before the others. “You must have mistaken us for another clan.”
He noticed Deefa entering the conservatory, behind a clan he vaguely recognized but quickly discounted. Deefa was alone, Clan Syno nowhere in sight. He nudged Hanvel, whose expression brightened.
“Could you excuse us, please, Matara? There’s someone we have to talk to.”
“No, I won’t excuse you. Give me a damned moment to get rid of those assholes.” Her order was delivered in a snarl between clenched teeth as the Earther grabbed Cosdas by the wrist. The stunning smile reappeared, and she laughed as if Selbi had something funny. She glanced at the clan heading their way, the three men that Selbi knew he recognized from somewhere.
“Oh, you are hilarious. Don’t think you’re pulling this stunt now.”
Recognizing a female in distress, Cosdas and Hanvel broke into friendly smiles. Selbi followed suit an instant later. They crowded around her even as their glances darted to both Deefa and the nearing clan.
“Name?” Cosdas whispered.
“Iliana.” Gratitude filled her expression.
“Matara Iliana, you have to give these other Earthers a chance. The instant you appear, they no longer exist.” Hanvel’s gaze skittered nervously to Deefa, who’d moved within earshot. He kept up his smile, however. A woman in need of assistance couldn’t be ignored. He pretended as if he’d just noticed the clan Iliana was trying to escape. “Dramok Bas. Did you require something?”
Clan Bas. Selbi should have recognized them immediately, but it had been a couple of years since they’d been expelled from the private club Clan Hanvel belonged to. A high-ranked clan, but known for less savory activities, such as drinking too much, losing most of their money gambling, and cheating, whether it be clients of their investment firm or at games. No wonder Iliana was desperate for help.
Bas and his clanmates Nobek Kothat and Imdiko Teg barely accorded Clan Hanvel bows, their attention greedy on Iliana. “Matara Iliana promised months ago to take a trip with us so we might acquaint ourselves better. It’s time we set a date for that, my lovely.”
Selbi had been brought up in a political household. He worked as an aide and campaign manager to Hanvel, a member of the capital city’s council. He knew how to read faces to learn the truth.
Even those without a near-instinctual ability to see beneath a polite façade would have recognized Iliana’s furious denial of Bas’ claim. Her blue eyes widened and snapped. She swelled with indignation.
Cosdas was as adept at reading people as Selbi. The former Royal Guard stepped between Iliana and Clan Bas. “We took the liberty of informing our lovely friend of your past behavior. The trip is off.”
Hanvel joined Cosdas, his expression challenging. “The lady has found a better clan to spend her time with. My clan. Find someone else to swindle.”
Nobek Kothat growled and inched towards Cosdas. Selbi took Iliana’s arm and tugged her out of the way, should Kothat be drunk or reckless enough to think he could take on his clanmates.
She smelled good. Her skin was soft and warm. His fingers tingled where he touched her.
Clan Lathen alerted to the situation, the Matara they’d been speaking to having disappeared. Usbek stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Cosdas and spoke with fatherly reproach. “Tell me no one’s starting fights at a Matara acquainting party. Certainly not Clan Bas, when they’ve worked so hard to restore their honor and reputation.”
Kothat stepped back, rethinking the situation with two former Royal Guards glaring at him. Bas glowered at Hanvel, but he dismissed him to bow to Lathen instead. “Iliana hadn’t informed us of Clan Hanvel’s interest in her. Our lovely little shopkeeper knows where to find us when she’s done playing second fiddle to promised women.”
At that, Selbi checked to see Deefa’s reaction to the confrontation. She was just leaving the conservatory, an insulted glare cast over her shoulder at them before she disappeared.
Clan Bas also made their exit, their bald glances similar enough to Deefa’s to jar Selbi.
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Their agreement
didn’t include falling in love. What happens when a ruse becomes reality?
Iliana Rossi’s reluctance to join a Kalquorian clan comes from a terrible loss that leaves no room in her heart for any men. Dodging the alien three-man clans eager for a Earther mate is a full-time job, and she’s running out of patience with those desperate to change her mind.
Hanvel, Selbi, and Cosdas pursue Matara Deefa, a rare unclanned Kalquorian woman. She’s everything they could possibly want. But her parents have promised her to another clan, and Clan Hanvel can’t seem to convince Deefa that love is more important than rank and family approval.
When Iliana meets Clan Hanvel, the solution seems obvious. They embark on a fake courtship that satisfies societal and family pressure; a relationship that requires no love, no commitment, and no responsibilities to each other.
But when passion wakes for the reluctant foursome, they have a choice to make: loyalty to the impossible past or a chance for love they can keep.
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