I can’t bring myself to look at Rasulus as he takes my hand and leads me to his brother’s chambers. I feel like I’m getting whiplash from the way he changes from moment to moment. When we were kissing in the alcove, my soul was flying out of me to meet his. Now he’s turned into a pawing frat boy. I want to crawl out of my skin.

I can still feel the courtier’s eyes crawling over me, and I shudder. I want to go back and shout at him, but I have a feeling I missed my chance. When we are back in our chambers, I can tell him in no uncertain terms that I won’t put up with that shit.

I’m too proud to want to be known as a shrewish wife not even a week into our marriage, but I know pride won’t hold my temper for long. I’ve already had a lifetime of being humiliated. I won’t take it again.

When I heard that we were going to Crucis’ chambers, I imagined a small, intimate occasion with food and a few other courtiers. I don’t know why. After we move past the guards stationed at the door, we walk into a dim room filled with at least fifty people.

Rasulus’ rooms are comfortable and spacious. Crucis’ are enormous. A smoky haze covers everything and makes my head feel full and stuffy. Somewhere, a band plays soft music on stringed instruments and a flute.

I freeze at the entrance as a half-dressed young woman sprints across my path. A heartbeat later comes a large bearded man, utterly naked and chasing after her. I think I hear her laugh when he catches her. I look at Rasulus for an explanation.

There’s a glimpse of apology in his eyes before he grins that damned stupid grin at me. “It’s a party, dear wife. Don’t worry, stay close to me and all will be well.”

He drapes a heavy arm over my shoulders, leaning down to nuzzle my cheek. The smell of alcohol still makes me flinch, but this time I am grateful for his show of possession. I can feel the gazes of the men around me crawling over my skin. The last thing I want is to look like I have no protector in this terrible place.

Rasulus keeps his arm around my shoulders as we start to do the rounds. He stops and talks with people. There is nothing for me to do besides nod and watch the people around me.

Arietans are tall and good-looking, but when I look more closely, there is something tired in the faces of the people around me. While some are simply glutted on the pleasure and wealth, most seem weary deep in their souls. They watch Rasulus and I pass with an emptiness shaking me to my core.

Almost worse are the ones who give themselves over to their senses, desperate to feel something. Rasulus speaks with an older man who looks as uncomfortable being here as I am. I can’t help but watch an Arietan woman’s ass as she bends over a short table. Her partner, a significantly older man, bares her rear and pulls a few woody stalks from a flower arrangement nearby. I catch my breath when I realize what he intends to do, but I am still not ready when he swings the stalks back over his shoulder and brings them swishing through the air toward her unprotected flesh.

Her face is turned toward me, the man behind her, and I can see the look on her face as he beats her. There is a terrible and burning intensity there, the need for some kind of feeling or any control. The pain is a shadow of what she really wants. She lifts her head to meet my eyes almost by accident.

I cannot keep looking at her. Even more frightening, I think I understand her. When there is no escape, sometimes the pain you choose is a relief.

It is only when she starts to sob that her partner drops the switches. He takes his place behind her, hands on her hips as he pulls her toward him.

I am grateful when Rasulus moves on. It gives me a chance to pull away from the woman as well as the peculiar restlessness the scene woke in me.

I am less appreciative when I realize we are approaching Crucis. The wave of hatred that comes over me when I see Rasulus’ brother takes my breath away, but I force myself to keep my face still. The man commands life and death on Arietus. My safety depends on my ability to keep my emotions hidden.

Crucis sits on an opulent throne in the midst of all of the revelry. He is fully dressed, but the young woman on his lap is utterly naked. When she sees Rasulus approach, she starts to get up. Crucis pinches her nipple, drawing a cry from her lips and making her sit down again. She gazes at the floor. Crucis likes the subservience as much as he would like her smiling and willing to fuck.

“Brother! I see you have finally decided to join us tonight. Your wife cleans up well!”

“I could not hope for a better woman.” Rasulus has a grin on his face while he is speaking, but his arm over my shoulder has me in a firm grasp. Although I am close to Crucis and in the middle of a dark celebration, I feel safe next to him.

They speak of things I do not understand until Crucis stands, dumping the girl carelessly off his lap. “I have some business that I need to discuss privately with you, brother. My words are for your ears alone. There are a few people I want you to meet as well. Let your wife make some new friends. She is at home here, after all.”

“I don’t like to let such a gem out of my sight. You are friends with too many poachers, Crucis.”

“Perhaps you are right.” Crucis turns to the girl on the ground, prodding her with a booted foot.

“Take my sister to one of the private rooms. She’ll be safe until he comes for her again. Perhaps she’ll even lose that sour look.”

I feel Rasulus’ arm tighten around me, and I have a terrible feeling that he is going to argue with his brother. I have only spent a few awful minutes with Crucis, but I know the last thing he wants is someone questioning his authority.

Deliberately, I shrug off Rasulus’ arm and step closer to the girl. She flashes me a look of gratitude.

“I’ll be waiting for you,” I say before following the girl into the crowd. I hope I can feel Rasulus’ eyes burning into my back, but I decide I can’t bear the disappointment of turning around and being wrong. Instead, I follow my guide toward the side of the large room, weaving around anyone in our path. One or two reach out for me. More grope at her. She seems relieved that she can ignore them in favor of a higher task.

“Here’s the room, madame.”

She leads me in, and I look around with a faint hint of unease. There is an enormous bed at the center, pristine and still made. Along the wall are hung various instruments I’m afraid to inspect too closely. This room was designed with fucking in mind. I deliberately take my seat in the chair in the corner rather than the bed. I glance at my guide.

“Do you want to stay with me? You didn’t look too happy out there.”

She sighs quietly. A wry smile crosses her face.

“I want to, but I really shouldn’t. Some men said they were looking for me. I know they were disappointed when the king found me first. There’s a line for this body.”

“You don’t have to. You could hide with me instead, even if it’s only for a little while.”

“I wish I could. You are lucky. You are married and to the prince. He’s not so bad, compared to the alternatives. I need to find a protector of my own. Someone has to buy me out of the harem before I grow too old to interest anyone.”

“What will happen then?”

She shakes her head, unable or unwilling to think about her future. She flashes me a smile, and then she vanishes, closing the door behind her.

I am alone again. Dressed in the light silk, I cannot stop myself from shaking. This wasn’t the promise of TerraMates. The real terror of an alien world is beginning to manifest itself. Distantly, through the walls, I can still hear the Arietan courtiers, laughter, and moans. There is a dark part of me that wants to surrender to the pleasures they feel, while another part, the part keeping me safe, tells me it is a dangerous poison.

I curl up in the chair, letting my eyes drift shut. I’m still beat. A moment to myself without anyone making demands on me feels refreshing.

My mind drifts to Rasulus. Where is he? The sensation of his mouth on mine in the alcove earlier woke up a restless hunger in me again. It’s something I have never encountered before. When I am in his arms, everything is simple. The pleasure and heady passion could carry me away from the entire world. When we’re apart, doubt sets in, and I wonder if I have made a mistake.

I can’t help but recall how he had pinned me against the wall, kissing me as if I was the only thing that mattered to him. Could he kiss another woman like that? I doubted it. I imagine his hard cock against my thigh, and what might have happened if the courtier hadn’t passed by. I liked his hand on my breast even as I felt mildly repelled by how crude it was. I wanted more. Whatever he would give me.

I squirm slightly thinking about it. I must have moaned too because I hear an answering chuckle in the dark.

“Please, darling. Don’t stop the show for me.”

For a moment, I think it is Rasulus. But it’s someone else’s voice. A hulking shape steps toward me, and I rise out of the chair, passion replaced with fear. He steps directly in front of me, reaching up to touch my face.

“Don’t touch me!” I say sternly through clenched teeth.

“Damn it, girl. I’m not trying to hurt you!”

“You have a funny way of showing it. If you’re so interested in my well-being, get the hell out of here!”

I strike him as hard as I can, trying to land a blow on his solar plexus, but he pulls back and seizes my wrist. I can see him clearly now—there’s no way that I could mistake him for Rasulus. He’s enormous, and a hint of white accents his hair and short beard. Like some of the other Arietans, he’s only wearing a kilt. I try to pull away from him, but the grip on my wrist tightens. He’s not going to release me.

“Let me go! Do you know who I am? I’m married to Prince Rasulus.”

“So what? Prince Rasulus needs to remember to keep an eye on his toys if he doesn’t want other men playing with them.”

“I’m not a toy.”

The alien is no longer interested in arguing with me. When I flail away at him with my free hand, he catches that one too. With my two wrists secured in his fist, he is free to do whatever he wants with me.

“You’re a pretty young thing, aren’t you? Wasted on Rasulus, in my opinion. All you need to do is stay quiet. You’re going to have a good time.”

I hold my breath as he slobbers a kiss over my neck and shoulder. I need him to drop his guard. If he looks away for a moment, I’m sure I can work myself free.

The door flies open, and a roar fills the room. The man relaxes his grip when a new figure lands a heavy blow on his shoulder, forcing him to spin around.

Rasulus snarls. “Get your hands off her.” He turns to me. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll live.”

He comes to stand at my side, helping me up to my feet. His hands run over me, looking for injury. I can tell he is also trying to reassure himself that I am safe.

“Moon’s blood, Rasulus, what’s got you so excited? I wasn’t going to hurt the girl.”

“She’s not a girl. She is my wife, Seyonn. If you touch her again, I’ll kill you.”

“Those are big words for a fancy brat of a prince.”

Seyonn pulls himself up to his full height, towering over Rasulus and a few curious onlookers who have filtered into the room to stare. He looks like every bully I have ever seen on Earth. He needs to be knocked down a peg.

“Watch yourself, Seyonn.”

“You know something? I would if there were a threat here worth facing.”

He lurches toward me. I step aside and glare at him. I refuse to shrink back against Rasulus. Something tells me that if my husband is here, I will not come to any harm.

“Anyway, I think your little wife liked it. She needs a real man to look after her, not a pretty boy.”

I stare him down as he reaches out a hand to touch my face again. He’s just saying harmless words, for now. I can feel Rasulus coiling behind me like a serpent.

The moment Seyonn’s fingertips graze my face, Rasulus strikes. In one fluid motion, he pulls me behind him. His fist comes up to land squarely on Seyonn’s chin. The large alien roars and pulls back, blood sprouting from his split lip.

“So, the puppy can bark.”

“I’ve had enough of you, Seyonn. I challenge you to a duel.”