Chapter 26

Knowing Xan’s mother did not want her by his side was certainly a blow. It also made things exceedingly uncomfortable when it came to events in the palace. Their interactions had stopped. Sloan couldn’t tell who made that decision, Venu or Xan, but she was grateful for it.

Sloan was slowly getting used to the idea that she would be Xan’s queen. It was a hard decision, not because of her feelings for Xan but because Sloan felt like she had no idea what a queen was meant to do. She didn’t want anything she messed up to impact Xan negatively. Being a captain, she could handle. There weren’t many rules, and the ones she had were mainly ones she’d made herself. If the situation called for it, she could improvise and change things up. When you were following protocols and there are expectations beyond keeping people safe and paid, the weight of that was a lot more to handle.

They’d had one diplomatic dinner since Xan had given her the ring. It had been an unmitigated disaster. Sloan didn’t know where it went wrong, but it felt like everywhere. To begin with, the attire she’d worn was apparently the enemy colors for the ambassador and his family.

The silence that had hit the room when Sloan walked in was her first clue that things had gone wrong. Red. Everyone was in red. Sloan had spent a lot of time going through her closet to find something that would fit well and would be appropriate. The pale-purple pant suit that accented and flattered her figure was the choice she’d made.

Xan crossed to her, perhaps feeling her unease as she walked in.

“It’s fine, it’s okay,” he murmured against her head and hugged her tightly to him.

“Why didn’t you tell me not to wear purple?”

“It slipped my mind. It seems I’ve fallen back into my old knowledge and didn’t think to tell you. I am sorry.” He took her hand and led her into the room. Sloan dug her heels in.

“Let me go back and change,” she said quietly enough that only Xan would hear.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll smooth things over.” He gave her a wink. And he did. Xan worked his magic, and before she knew it, everyone was once again relaxed and enjoying their time together. Then it came time to eat, and plates were put in front of them. Sloan knew not to take her first bite before Xan and Venu. They kept the pre-dinner conversation to a minimum, taking their first bites quickly.

Sloan followed suit, breathing in the delicious aroma of the soup, she’d dreamed about all day. That was when silence descended over the group again. Apparently, this specific ambassador was to take the second bite; only then was the rest of the party to follow suit. Again, Xan was required to smooth everything over, and Sloan felt like an idiot. She was making mistake after mistake. She didn’t miss the smirk on Venu’s face as the dinner continued.

Sloan had requested some help with protocol and other items that needed to be taken into account. She asked Yaris, who said she would request someone through Venu, but Sloan’s needs were ignored. She hadn’t wanted to bother Xan with those requests and let him know.

“Xan, can I have someone to prepare me for protocol and things like that?” She sat on the edge of the bed, removing her heels.

“Of course! I thought my mother had already arranged that. I was there when Yaris said you made the request,” he said, sounding surprised.

“I did ask, but so far I haven’t heard anything. Hence the mistakes I keep making.” She put her head in her hands. “I hate feeling like I’m completely embarrassing you and your family.” She took off her jacket and top.

“You could never embarrass me.” He kissed her bare shoulder, sending a shiver through her. Xan ran his thumb over her shoulder and down her collarbone. Sloan tilted her head to the side to give him better access to her neck.

“And I thought you looked wonderful in that purple outfit.” He continued to kiss her neck. “Frankly, I think the ambassador is far too caught up in rivalries of the past. Maybe I should have you wear purple to every meeting with him.” He chuckled.

“Xan, be serious.” She tried to push him away but moaned instead as Xan sucked on her pulse point.

“Who said I’m not being serious?” He breathed heavily, giving her a nip on the neck that caused her to jump.

“Do you promise me that what happened tonight won’t cause any issues?” she said, staring at him. He held her gaze.

“There will be no problems at all. Now come to bed,” he said, pulling her back into his arms. And Xan showed her all night long just how much he wasn’t upset by anything that had gone wrong at the ambassador’s dinner.

After her request to Xan, Sloan had been given a protocol adviser and someone to help her get dressed and prepared for other visits. The upcoming ball would be her first foray into Xan’s world with proper preparation. The makeup artist was putting on the finishing touches when the outer doors were opened and Venu walked through. She quickly dismissed the designer, her assistant, and the makeup artist with a pointed glare, then set her sights on Sloan.

“Well, hello to you, too, Venu.”

Venu visibly flinched at Sloan’s use of her name this time. “We don’t have time for pleasantries, Captain Sloan.”

“I think we both know that time passed when you tried to have me escorted from the palace without Xan knowing.”

“Well, what’s in the past is in the past, but I must speak to you now. There are certain expectations of the wife of the king, of a queen.” Sloan could imagine the type of woman the job required, and she was on the fence as to whether she could one day fit the bill. She was certain that Venu knew she was not queen material. “Your job is to ensure that this system runs impeccably by smoothing the rough edges between powerful families. Graciousness, unflappability, and poise are all required.”

“Listen,” Sloan interrupted and earned herself a daggered glare from Venu, but she pushed on. “I know I’m not what you envisioned for your son, but I love him. I love him more than I ever thought possible, and he loves me.” Sloan sat uncomfortably in her court dress, wishing she were back in her jumpsuit. It was a lot harder to fend off an attack like this when she felt so out of her element.

Venu stood still as a statue in the small dressing area. “You saved him from that hell, and for that I owe you a debt that can never be repaid, but that doesn’t mean I don’t continue to want the best for my son and need the best for this system. I’m willing to make a deal with you that I believe will be best for everyone.” Venu stopped directly in front of Sloan. Her eyes bored into Sloan’s. “I’m offering you two million credits to end this relationship with my son and leave the sector.”

Sloan gaped at Venu in disbelief before the calm of the hunt settled over her. “So, your son’s unhappiness is worth only two million credits? I would have thought a woman like you would have placed more value on that after all he’s been through.”

“Fine, five million credits. For the security of this kingdom and the future happiness of my son when he realizes this never would have worked.”

“And what will you tell him happened to me?”

“That’s your job. Make it convincing and depart quickly.”

“I never said I was taking your offer. I can’t even believe you would present me with this offer. Of all the selfish—”

“You think I’m selfish for wanting to protect my son?”

“I think you’re selfish for believing there is only one way for your son’s life to look. It has to be your way or no way at all. I love him, he loves me, and we will be together. There’s nothing you can do about it.”