I walked over to the small Christmas tree in another corner and pulled a brightly wrapped package with my name on it out from under the tree.
“I didn’t get anyone anything,” I said apologetically.
“You weren’t expected to,” Jacinda said.
I opened my mouth to apologize again but was interrupted by all the screens in the house clicking on.
The familiar tones of the Bride Games jingle sounded throughout the room, and we all froze.
“Seriously?” Mandy muttered. “They’re going to ruin Christmas with this shit, too?”
Vos Klavoii’s familiar green face popped up, filling all the screens. “I am coming to you from the Khanavai Warrior Bride Games,” he announced, “bringing you a brand-new holiday special.”
I had to agree with Mandy. This was obnoxious.
Still, I watched, rapt as the game-show host began drawing names.
“Only three this time?” Roya murmured as he moved on to tell us about the grooms.
But I was frozen in place, unable to say anything, or even tear my eyes away from the screen.
His face had just popped up on the screen.
Wex Banstinad.
The green son of a bitch who testified against me in my hearing, making the prosecution’s case against me rock-solid.
I’d watched in the courtroom as he had repeated my words back to the attorney.
Glaring at the screen now, I found myself fighting the same dual responses of fury and lust, just as I had in the courtroom that day.
Just as I had the day the Khanavai had come looking for Amelia and Wex had spoken to me in the parking lot.
He was still gorgeous. He still made my knees go weak—even just in a vid. And he was still the green alien bastard who had sent me to prison.
I supposed this was his reward, getting to choose a mate of his own.
“I feel sorry for her,” I muttered.
“What’s that?” Frannie asked.
“Nothing.” I smoothed my suddenly damp hand down the side of my jeans. “I can’t watch this. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go back up to my room. I can open this later.”
Roya gave me a sympathetic look. “Take it with you. You might be able to use it.”
I fled back up the stairs. Once in my room, I opened the gift to find a new wristcom unit—one of the fancy ones with all-channel vid access.
Roya had tucked a note in with it.
Now you can watch vids when we’re debating, it said.
It was a thoughtful gesture and said a lot about Roy’s character that she had noticed—and had not tried to push me to join in their discussions.
I strapped it to my wrist and set the display to hover over my bed, forgetting briefly that the Bride Lottery had taken over every possible channel.
When Vos’s face leaped up in front of me again, I hurriedly shut off the com.
As I rolled over onto my side with a sigh, I realized there were actually two reasons I didn’t want to watch the Bride Lottery.
First of all, I didn’t want to see that smug green bastard, Wex.
But even more than that, I had to admit that deep in my heart of hearts, what I really couldn’t stand was the thought of watching Wex choose a bride.
One who isn’t me.
Chapter Eight
Wex
I can’t believe I’m being forced to participate in the Bride Games when Deandra isn’t here.
I knew the games were corrupt, subject to Vos Klavoii’s machinations and manipulations. But I had planned to use that fact to my benefit, not end up on the wrong end of them. I scowled at the screen in front of my chair in the first meeting of the grooms who would be participating in Vos’s grand experiment, where a picture of Lola Richards stared back at me.
I have to choose her.
I can’t choose her.
What would Vos do to me if I simply walked out of this farce of a game?
No. I would simply have to make sure someone else matched with her. I would not walk away from this vulking “Holiday Special” with a human mate.
Deandra Casto is my mate. Even if she doesn’t know it yet.
Maybe I could engage another Khanavai male’s protective instincts?
“What do you think of Lola Richards?” I asked the room at large.
From the other side of the room, a purple warrior stood halfway out of his seat and growled at me.
Yes! Another male wants her!
I burst into laughter and held up my hands in surrender. “So that’s how it is, huh? She’s all yours.”
One of the other warriors, a pink Khanavai male, said, “I liked her answer in the interview. And her scent is nice enough.”
I kept my eyes on the purple male. His fists clenched in rage, but he slowly sat back down into his seat.
He’s passionate about her, yet he has control. That’s good for her—but I’ll need to see what I can do to provoke him…and irritate her.
Relieved to have a plan in place, I tapped on her image and added her as my chosen mate, even though it sent a pang of anxiety through me to do so, even as part of a plan to make certain she ended up with another.
Even if Lola didn’t choose the purple warrior, he could court her under the rules of this particular game. I simply had to push her toward him.
When he returned moments later, Vos announced the matches.
I watched the purple warrior carefully.
“Valtin Valenox and Lola Richards have chosen each other,” Vos announced.
The purple warrior—Valtin, apparently—closed his eyes in relief, joy flashing across his face. I was certain I saw him mouth the word “mine.”
Excellent.
I could make this work.
“And finally,” Vos said, “Wex Banstinad has chosen Lola Richards.”
Valtin shot a glare in my direction and I smirked at him in return. The more I could provoke him, the harder he would fight to gain Lola Richards’ affection.
He jerked in his seat, clearly fighting himself to remain sitting, not to jump up and attack me right here and now. But he managed to keep his
