Myla paced the length of the room. Once, twice and then again. Why wasn’t he here yet? Her father had set up everything for her and Naglan to have some time away from everything. Myla still wasn’t convinced this was a good idea, but her father had given her no choice. She had to do this for her people. And for herself. She needed to find out if she could ever care for Naglan the way she cared for Dwaain and Lewan.

She paced and watched the clock. She had been waiting over thirty minutes. Something had to be wrong. Naglan was never late. Myla checked her communicator again, still no message. What could be keeping him? It was over an hour later when Naglan finally made an appearance. He stumbled into the small suite Myla’s father had rented for their weekend at a resort on a nearby planet. “Hey, beautiful,” he slurred as he pulled her into his arms.

Myla stiffened in his embrace. She could smell the alcohol on him. It was almost as if he had bathed in it.

“Naglan,” she said as she pushed away. “I’m glad to see you are unharmed. I’ve been waiting.”

“Well, I’m here now. You don’t need to wait any longer.” He stalked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck.

“I think we should talk,” Myla said, pushing away from him again.

“Talk, talk, talk. That’s all you ever want to do. Where’s your passion, Myla? Why don’t you ever want more with me?”

Myla was surprised by this. Naglan had never been anything but proper with her. At the events they had appeared at together, he was attentive, but polite and almost cold with her. He had never shown her passion.

Nothing like the way Dwaain and Lewan had treated her.

Naglan pulled her into his arms again and pressed his lips against hers. “Is this what you need from me? You’re always so cold around me, Myla. What will it take to warm you up?” He roughly pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers. “Kiss me. Kiss me like you kissed them.”

Them? Who did he mean? Did he know about Dwaain and Lewan? Was that who he was talking about? How could he know of them? Myla pushed against Naglan trying to get away. He only held her tighter.

“Naglan, let me go. What do you think you are doing?” Myla pushed against him harder in her struggle to get free. Naglan wasn’t as big as Lewan and Dwaain, but he was still several inches taller than she was and physically stronger. “Please let me go.”

Naglan held her tighter and walked them over to the bed where he pushed her down. “Is this what you want? Me to take you forcefully?”

Myla freed one arm and slapped him. “What do you think you are doing? Stop now! If you don’t stop, I’ll scream and call the guards.”

Naglan let her go and pushed himself to his feet. Myla scrambled towards the other side of the bed, pulling herself into a ball.

“Oh Gods, Myla. I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” he asked sitting on the edge of the bed far away from her.

Myla took stock of her body. She felt abused and bruised. “I’m fine. What were you thinking? Talk to me.” She made sure there was still plenty of space between them.

“I don’t know. I heard about you and those men on the planet. What they did to you. What you did with them. Why? Why them and not me?”

Myla didn’t know how to answer him. “Naglan, I…I didn’t know you felt that way about me,” Myla said looking down at her hands.

“Myla, you’re beautiful and intelligent. You also have the gentlest heart of anyone I know. Everyone who knows you loves you. It isn’t that I don’t love you, but my heart is given to another.”

“Who? Who is it you care for?” Myla reached and touched Naglan’s shoulder. She’d never thought about him caring for another.

“It doesn’t matter. It can never be. My parents have already promised your planet that we will wed. I cannot let the people down.” He sat with his head in his hands for several minutes. Then he turned to her. “We have been given this time to get to know each other better. We are to be bonded shortly. Let us take this time and talk. Plan for our future. It is what our parents want.”

“But it’s not what we want. Truthfully, Naglan. I think you are a wonderful man, but you are right. My heart is given to another. Two others to be exact.”

“The men you were stranded with. They have claimed you publicly, but your father denied their claim.”

“He did what?” Myla was outraged. She had no clue that Dwaain and Lewan were even still interested in her, and now she found out that her father denied the claim they had made. “I need to talk to my father! Immediately!” She ran for the door. Before she could open it, Naglan stopped her with one arm around her waist.

Myla turned and batted at him. “Let me go. You can’t keep me here.” As she was pounding and hitting at Naglan, the door opened. A member of the royal guard stepped in.

“Is there a problem, princess?” he asked blocking the door with his body.

“I wish to see my father.” Myla twisted free of Naglan and stood regally in front of the guard.

“Your father has left instructions that you are to remain here for the weekend and nothing is to disturb you.”

“I am disturbed and wish to see my father.” Myla fisted her hands on her hips and stared up at the guard. It reminded her of Dwaain and how she had to look up at him. That made her even more determined.

“I will transmit your wishes to the king.” The guard turned and walked away. Myla heard the sound of the door locking behind him.

“OOH!” she screamed as she pushed Naglan out of the way and began pacing the room again.

“Myla, calm down. I’m sure we can figure this out between us.” Naglan tried to calm her down. “You’re making me dizzy pacing, and it’s not helping anything.”

Myla glared at him and sat abruptly in the closest chair. She beat her fisted hands against the cushioned arms and let out another scream of frustration. “Why? Why would my father deny their claim without speaking to me?” As furious as Myla was with her father, her heart warmed knowing that Dwaain and Lewan still wanted her. Wanted her enough to claim her. Knowing that Dwaain and Lewan had claimed her made Myla even more determined that she was going to end things with Naglan and do what her heart knew was right.

“You have to help me get out of here,” she looked at Naglan. “There’s no reason we shouldn’t be with the people we love. You deserve to be happy, Naglan. Tell me about the person you care for.”

“He’s really special. I’ve known him forever, but we were never serious about each other. He understands that I have a duty to my people and expects me to fulfill that duty.”

“Why can’t you do that with him by your side, supporting you? We both have wonderful people in our lives that will support us and help us to be the leaders our planets deserve. Shouldn’t we be happy?”

“I could have been happy with you, Myla, your strength and beauty would bring balance to my people. I’m sorry you don’t feel you could be happy with me.” Naglan lowered his head and took a deep breath.

“Naglan,” Myla said, reaching for his hand. “I didn’t mean that I couldn’t be happy with you, but I want more. I want passion and fire. Something I don’t feel for you. Can you honestly say you feel that for me? I can tell by looking in your eyes that you reserve that for your special person, as it should be.”

“I would be willing to make it work. I have to think of the people first. It’s my responsibility.” Naglan clasped his hands behind his back and paced the floor.

“I also need to think of my people. How could they respect me as a leader if I’m living a lie? I know that my parents and your parents both had their bondings arranged, and it worked out great for both of them, but I think it’s time to change things. Time for us to step up and show the people how a true leader rules.” Myla stood and gave Naglan a gentle hug.