WED TO THE ALIEN WARLORD ACCIDENTAL ALIEN BRIDES
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JANUARY BELL
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Wed To The Alien Warlord by January Bell
Published by January Bell
www.januarybellromance.com
Copyright © 2022 January Bell
Cover by Natasha Snow
Edited by Belle Manuel
Illustrations by Lucielart on Instagram
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact: [email protected]
Created with Vellum
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CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Epilogue
42. Wed To The Alien Prince Sneak Peek
Also by January Bell
About the Author
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CHAPTER ONE
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NIKI
The thing they don’t tell you in training, in the endless exercises, in the years of yes, sirs and no, sirs, is that you never feel ready for first contact, not really. At least, I certainly don’t. I blow out a breath, inhale again, and hold it. Rinse and repeat.
“Five minutes. Landing gear deployed,” an automated voice says overhead.
I want to move, to roll my neck, to do anything but sit here, strapped in. My palms sweat, but I don’t dare wipe them off. My crew is watching me.
It’s not my first mission, it’s not even my tenth, but it doesn’t matter.
It’s the first time humans have been allowed in Suevan space, and everything is riding on this mission. Earth’s hopes are with us. I inhale again, trying to calm my pounding heart. We pull this diplomatic mission off, and we’ve got an interplanetary defense system that will stave off any more alien incursions.
Humans might not survive the next one. Especially if it’s like the last. My mind swirls, bile rising as an image of grey-skinned aliens tears through it, smoke churning through the streets, the screams of the survivors still ringing in my ears.
“Three minutes. Brace for impact.” The automated words cut through the decades-old memory, and I inhale, pushing it down.
The ship likely won’t do more than bounce a handful of times, but I grip the overhead roll bars out of habit. The safety netting stretches against my chest. I’m not going anywhere.
“This ship’s such a fuckin’ drama queen,” Bex says, rolling her eyes. “All right, Captain Jacks?”
“Don’t bother her,” Gen says, half her lips curling up in a cocky smile. “Can’t you see she’s trying not to have a panic attack?”
Gen’s our weapons specialist, and my best friend, and I probably let her get away with more than I should, even for second in command. She’s like a gun that’s always cocked, safety off. Probably not the best choice to take into potentially hostile space, but this isn’t a normal mission. Not by a long shot.
“Insubordination,” I say in reflex, but smile nonetheless. A light laugh goes up from my crew of seven, breaking some of the ice. I might let a little too much insubordination fly with this group.
We’ve been in space long enough that a lot of the shine of my superior officer status wore off a few months ago. We’re a small team anyway, and we work well together. Once we’re back planetside, though, I suspect the informality will fall away.
Not only are we the first humans allowed in Suevan space, but we’re also the first female-only mission in Earth Federation history. No pressure. Our alien hosts insisted on it, and considering what’s on the line for Earth, the Federation was only too happy to oblige.
Not that we saw any of that communication, and the little we did was redacted so thoroughly it wasn’t even readable.
The ship rocks as it hits a thin atmospheric layer. I grit my teeth, but Gen’s grin only grows more feral.
All I’ve got to go on is what the Federation crammed down our throats during our mission briefing.
From what little we know of the Suevans, they’re a warlike race, seemingly barbaric, mostly living pastorally in small settlements throughout their jungle planet. Very traditional. At first look, they seem almost primitive… until you see their warships. Until you see the footage of them in action. Their weapons and knowledge are centuries ahead of where we are on Earth, and if we want Earth to stay free of some of the nastier alien civilizations out there, we need to catch up.
Fast.
“Landing initiated,” the ship chimes.
My ears pop for a fourth time, and we all raise up on our toes, letting the impact roll through loose knees and hips, the kinetically charged safety webbing absorbing any additional energy. We’re landing in one of the numerous Suevan settlements, and we need to be ready to hit the ground running. We don’t have time for landing sickness, so I’ve got my crew standing, strapped in and kitted out. Just in case.
“Get ready.” I grin, adrenaline starting to pump through me, excitement at finally being here after so long in space. Faster than we thought possible, though, thanks to the tech the Suevans have already shared with us through their simple communications.
Bex smirks at me, pointing at the ridiculous ‘monster fucker’ sticker on her helmet. I bite my cheeks to keep from laughing. At least she’s excited about meeting the aliens.
“No extracurricular activity,” I tell her.
“What if I told you I had a whole bucket of candy under my bunk for you to look the other way?” Bex bats her eyelashes, and I snort.
“I’d confiscate your candy and write you up anyway.” Jesus. Now all I can think about is my own candy stash, which will be waiting for me when we get back to the ship tonight.
I will have fucking earned it.
“Don’t forget the briefing.” Our xenobiologist, Carmen, pats her curly hair, her eyes wide. “They’ve written that they’re willing to embed the translators for us, but we have to partake in the welcoming ceremony. They consider their spoken language sacred, so this is a really—”
“Big deal,” the rest of the crew says in unison.
“We know, Carmen,” Gen says, grinning at her. “We’ll be on our best behavior.”
“It’s you she’s worried about,” I tell her.
“This face?” Gen flutters her eyelashes. “They can’t get mad at me.”
Bex snorts. “The fucking ridiculous thing is she’s right. They never see Gen coming.”
Gen’s so gorgeous that if she wasn’t hilarious and tough and loyal, it might make me sick.
