“I…” Kiahn starts, rubbing at his horn again. “Do you like it? We can make alterations if you don’t. It should fit you perfectly. I insisted that the collarsmith triple-check your measurements since she’s used to making collars for Xaviann brides.”

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe out, taking a step closer and then walking around the plinth in absolute awe. “It’s…” I look up to Kiahn over the collar now between us. “This can’t possibly be for me. This looks like something a queen would wear.”

Kiahn’s hand falls from his horn and he gives me a lop-sided smile. “I hate to break it to you, Niska, but-” he holds up a finger and twirls it around, indicating at… everything. “… well, you’re a Xaviann prince’s bride, and will be treated accordingly. This is for you. This is yours to show everyone that you are mine.” My eyes leave the gorgeous piece of jewelry to meet with Kiahn’s across the plinth. He clears his throat before adding, “… for a time, at least.”

We’re both quiet after that. Maintaining eye contact seems ‘too much’ somehow, so I go back to assessing the collar, admiring the play of light on the jewel-encrusted piece.

And this is mine.

I mean… it’s as equally stunning as it is ostentatious.

I will feel like a queen wearing something like that. But I’ll also feel like someone with a giant, neon, flashing sign announcing very publicly that I’ve agreed to be fucked by the prince.

And a small, deranged part of me finds a thrill in that.

Hesitantly, I reach out, brushing my fingertips over the details of the piece. It really is a work of art, and it feels like I’ve been granted access to the crown jewels or something equally precious. My touch barely ghosts over the cut stone that looks like the most dazzling opal you’ve ever seen, and instantly the thing starts to glow, lighting up from within. Pulling back, my breath hitches. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a pretty jewel.

“Those are called glowstones,” Kiahn supplies, clearing his throat. “They are rare and ethically sourced from a conservation planet somewhere in the fifty-fourth sector.”

I raise my brows. “Sounds expensive.”

Stepping forward, Kiahn carefully picks up the collar, and with his other hand, he makes a twirling motion with his finger, indicating that I should turn around. “You will need to get used to receiving such things from me, Niska,” he says, lowering the collar to my neck and fastening it at the back as I hold my hair out of the way. To my surprise, the collar gives a little electronic beep at the nape of my neck once it’s secure. “As my contract bride, you should expect me to provide expensive things for your pleasure and enjoyment.”

Turning, I stare up at him. “Is that your kink or something?” Kiahn’s brow furrows. “You love talking about all the things you’re going to buy me whenever we get a bit… carried away… so I thought… maybe… you get off on spoiling women?”

Kiahn goes incredibly still, his gorgeous green gaze boring into me. “Not women,” he grunts. “You.”

* * *

After fitting the beautiful collar around my neck, Kiahn had made me grip the large, dangling teardrop shaped stone, and explained that it’s not a jewel at all. In fact, it’s a piece of technology that is used to read my finger prints among other things. Once I’d curled my hand around the not-stone for five seconds, I felt the thing gently vibrate twice in my hand, apparently indicating that it had been activated and the collar will now only open to my touch.

Kiahn had explained that throughout the history of these strange breeding contracts, there have been instances of males being so driven by their instincts to bite, that they would rip the collar from the female. So, even though the thought of my whole neck being encased in this golden cage felt a little stifling at first, it soon started to feel like a piece of armor.

Wearing the collar around the palace is another new experience. Before, when Lois, Jaya and I had been exploring, we noticed the various Xavianns we’d encountered had done double-takes at seeing humans, and some had seemed curious, though they’d remained polite.

But, walking around with this big neon sign that I’m their prince’s ‘bride’? They damn near snapped their necks to come and introduce themselves to me, offering everything from their eternal friendship, to use of their vacation planet.

“You’ll find everyone will want to curry favor with you, now,” Vel grinned after I’d explained this new attitude the people had toward me now over dinner. “The thinking is that if you manage to please the prince’s bride, then you please the prince.”

“And everyone wants to please K, though not many do. Isn’t that right, brother?” Az teases as he leans back on his dining chair. He is -for once- wearing a shirt, but it’s more of a vest, and with the way he raises his arms behind his horned head as he gleefully grins over at Kiahn, he may as well be shirtless. I glance to Lois beside me, catching the way her spork hovers mid-way to her mouth, her gaze fixed very decidedly on the bulging biceps of the alien she definitely doesn’t have a thing for. She only allows herself a few seconds of gawking before her cheeks bloom pink and she busies herself with the rest of her meal.

Kiahn clears his throat. “Actually, I think you’ll find I’m quite easy to please,” he says, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with an intricately embroidered napkin. “Just because you two deeply unpleasant gelikliks have never achieved it, doesn’t mean it cannot be done.” He finishes his words while looking at me before he reaches over for a cut-crystal decanter, topping up the sweet fruit drink we’ve all been enjoying.

Lady Zalora mutters something about name-calling at the dinner table but it goes largely unnoticed. What doesn’t go unnoticed is the way Zann isn’t eating. Instead, he sits at an angle in his chair, his elbow on the table as he studies his big brother.

“What?” Kiahn asks.

Zann snorts. “Nothing, it’s just…” he gestures toward the both of us. “Who knew that all it would take for you to lighten up a bit was a little human woman with pretty eyes.” He picks up his silver spork and stabs a purple-colored steamed vegetable, popping it in his mouth and chewing with an open grin. “If I’d have known that, I would have bought you one myself years ago.”

“Boys,” Lady Zalora grinds out, the warning falling on deaf ears.

Kiahn glares at his brother down the table. “Who says I’ve lightened up at all?”

“Because if this whole thing with Xoe had come out before you got your gorgeous little gift here -said with all due respect-” he adds, casually pointing his spork in my direction, chewing as he gives me a wink “-then I’m pretty sure you’d have forced me into a contract by now… or exiled me.”

“Don’t fucking tempt me, Zannador,” Kiahn growls. “I’ve promised father that you will be making amends to Xoe and her family, so don’t get too comfortable.”

Zann lifts his glass and downs the dregs before reaching for a decanter for more. “So I’ll buy her some pretty baubles the next time I’m in the capital.”

Kiahn shifts in his seat, sighing. “I do not think pretty baubles will cut it this time.”

Zann stares at his brother, but neither of them seem to be backing down. His tongue pokes at the side of his mouth as he seems to be thinking of his next words. Glancing at his aunt, he must see that neither of them are going to relent, or allow him to get off easy with making amends for what he’s done. “You do know that if you force me into a contract I will just refuse to lay with Xoe for the duration. She will go along with it, she’s got her eyes on some males from the Western Principality anyway. She wanted me for fun, not to sire any children. And really, who could blame her?” He says, snorting into his refilled glass.