Bri tapped on the office door and pushed it open when Erin called out in welcome. She stepped inside to see the two people who’d been abducted from one of Earth’s mirror universes and brought here to be the new Matchmakers. While that was the real reason they were in her life, she’d come to think of them as a gift from her dead parents. She and Sheena both now thought of them as family.

“Now that’s what I call a uniform,” Angus said happily, rising to come hug her. He held her at arm's length, then pulled her close again for another one. “Ya look like someone named ‘Commander MacNamara’ ought to look.”

“Let her go, eejit. My turn to see.” Erin pushed Angus aside and made him chuckle. She inspected the jacket, the sash, and the pins adorning it. “Ya look amazing, Bri. That jacket brings out the deep color of yer eyes.”

“Thank you. I know I need a haircut though. That’s why I’m here,” Bri said.

Erin laughed merrily. “Goddess…ya don’t want me snipping on it. I was a teacher where I came from. I paid a local girl to keep my locks from getting unruly.”

“Matthew and Evan said I was not allowed to use the ship’s barber. They said he would cut my hair like Nate’s because that’s all he knows how to do.”

“Got to agree with the fellas on that one. I barely kept my manly locks from his shears. Fella’s a good man—that barber—but fixed in his ways after serving with Nate,” Angus said. “Best we try to get ya someone who knows something about cutting women’s hair.”

“They suggested I see if any of the women in the bride program used to be a stylist.”

“Goddess be, now isn’t that the perfect example of divine intervention,” Erin said happily, clapping her hands.

“Yar thinking of Prudence, aren’t ya?” Angus asked the giddy love of his new life.

Erin smiled and nodded. “Yes, I am. Poor lassie needs something productive to do. It’s time Prudence starts making her way back to the land of the living.”

“You lost me,” Bri said, her gaze going between them. “Try a literal explanation for Brianna’s benefit. Who’s Prudence and where is she?”

“Prudence Sheffield. Her bride number hasn’t come up yet, which is a good thing because I would have shoved her file in a drawer and asked for another. She’s nowhere ready for more change in her life. Her healing’s not even begun.”

Bri nodded. She knew asking more questions would only delay things, so she waited until Erin stopped musing about the Prudence woman and returned to the real explanation.

“Ya two have something in common, Bri. There’s a price on Prudence’s head. Her da did something that sent a criminal group after his entire family. They killed all of them but her. That’s why she’s here.”

Bri’s jaw hardened. “With the limits of our population, wiping out a person’s whole family is essentially erasing them from the planet in the worst way. That’s why I feared for Carlton and Elsa. I knew Sheena was protected by Novus Prime.”

Angus grinned. “More like yer sister’s protected by those giants she calls her ‘boys’, who she tells me run on batteries inside those guts of theirs. Big strapping lads like them being metal on the inside? It’s beyond my thinking. I’ve wanted to get a close up look at one, but haven’t managed it yet. I’m biding my time until she offers to educate me, which I feel sure she will because she loves doing it so.”

Bri laughed at Angus having so quickly learned how to get around Sheena. “How do I find this Prudence person and talk to her?”

Erin made a sound of sympathy. “That’s all too easy. Prudence is the one staring out the portal window. She was already grieving hard when I came here. Now she’s a shadow of the woman I met. They barely get her to eat. Mia—the match we just finished—was the only one who had any luck getting through to her. Mia’s with Jax now, as she should be, but poor Prudence is fading away without a friend.”

Sighing because the women signing up to be alien brides were her responsibility too now, Bri gave Erin a reassuring smile. “We won’t let that happen, Erin. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Wonderful. I think asking her to cut yer hair is a bonny start to helping, Brianna.”

Basking in their approval, Bri left their office and looked around. Sure enough, a light mocha-skinned female stood at the portal and stared out. She was beautiful but hadn’t been doing much for personal maintenance. Her hair was unkempt and her clothing was wrinkled, but that may have been because everything she wore was too big for her skinny frame.

Bri started across the floor, ignoring the quiet stares she was getting from those hanging out there. They’d been told about her assignment as commander, so she guessed it was her face chains and piercings that caused their gazes to lock on and never waiver.

She stopped behind her target and cleared her throat. “Prudence Sheffield?”

The tall woman turned and looked at her, eyes dropping to her outfit, before resting eventually on her name tag. “Yes… Commander. Just call me Pru,” she said tiredly.

“Okay, Pru. What was your job before you joined the Alien Abduction Services bride program?”

Pru shrugged. “I had my own hair salon.” She winced as the memories poured in. There was no keeping them away. “The people after me came into my work and killed my four employees after I’d left early to check on my younger sister. I don’t know how I missed the killers everywhere I went, but somehow I did. I kept finding dead family members and friends though. I found plenty of those. I wish now I’d been there when they killed the people in my salon. That would have been fairer.”

Bri nodded. “I know why you feel that way and I know what it’s like to feel unworthy of surviving. Killers were after me too when I came here. I have to stay because there’s a price on my head and probably always will be. Lots of days it would be easier if I didn’t have to live this particular life, but I do. So here’s what I believe about this shit—you missed your killers and they missed you because it was not your destiny to die by their hand. Sometimes there just isn’t any other explanation.”

“I don’t want to live without my family. This is not a life.”

Bri held the woman’s hurt gaze and firmed her jaw. “The universe obviously wanted you to be here and here you are. The question is not why were you spared, but rather, what the hell are you going to do with the life you have left?”

“Why me though? Why did only I survive?” Prudence demanded, the question hurting as much as it ever had. “I’m no one special. I cut hair for a living. My father was a scientist. My brother was a banker. My sister… my younger sister was still in college. She would never have harmed a soul. She was going to be a schoolteacher.”

Bri shrugged her shoulders, pleased when the jacket flowed with her movements. “I have no idea why bad things happen to good people. All I know is that I could use your help today… if you’re willing to help me.”

“My help?” Prudence asked, confused. “With what?”

“Keeping me the fuck out of the airship barber’s chair. I hear he’ll make me look like the Admiral.”

Bri felt a glimmer of hope when the woman’s eyes finally got a spark of humor in them. It was small, but it was a beginning.

Pru shook her head. “You’re a woman. Why are you not in the program? I thought this place was run by men.”

“It has been for several hundred years, but that’s recently changed,” Bri said. “This is my first official day on the job, and trust me, I’m not your typical woman.”

Looking around, she found a small metal table. That would do to make her point. She walked to it and lifted it in front of her chest. She folded it twice and then wrapped the legs around it until it was a big awkward metal ball. The other females in residence gasped at her actions. Bri ignored them and walked back to Prudence, whose eyes were now nearly as wide as the window she’d been staring out. Bri tossed the metal ball onto the floor at the woman’s feet and watched it roll.

Pru swallowed nervously as she stared at the reformed table. “You’re right. You’re not typical.”

Bri nodded. “No MacNamara is.”

“MacNamara? Like the Matchmakers?”

“Yes. I’m their daughter,” Bri said, stating the lie they all had to live. She smiled at the woman. “So will you cut my hair?”

Pru shrugged. “I guess I could, but… I have no tools.”

Grinning, Bri motioned for Prudence to follow her. “We’ll borrow the barber’s tools. I’m the commander. He has to do what I tell him.”

A disbelieving snort was the only answer she got to her bragging.

* * *

It turned out the barber shop had three chairs, and the man actually seemed pleased to let Pru use one of them. Of course, after a hundred or more years of working alone, the elderly man was probably glad to have different company of any kind.

Bri had to remove her jacket to let her hair be washed, but she held onto it with both hands the entire time. Soon she was sitting in the chair with a cape around her, staring at her wet image in the mirror. Pru took turns looking at her in reality and turning toward the mirror to see how her image appeared.

“What kind of hair cut are you wanting?” Pru finally asked.

“If that’s your diplomatic way of saying my previous style sucks, you’d be right,” Bri said. “I haven’t had a haircut in years that I didn’t do myself or have a friend do. However, my hacking isn’t going to match my uniform. So whatever you think will look professional. Just don’t make me…”

“…look too feminine?” Pru finished. She touched the metal chain swinging from Bri’s eyebrow to her nose. “This tells that story for you. Haircut isn’t going to matter as much.”

“I’d like to keep some length though. If it’s too short, I’ll look like…”

“… a man?”

“Yes,” Bri said. “You’re making this fairly painless as far as confessions go.”

“That’s something stylists, bartenders, and priests have in common. I’m thinking some layers. You need something you could shower quickly, shake to dry, and go out with that would still look nice if you wore a dress.”

“The only time I ever wear a dress is if I’m having dinner with a man I’m planning on sleeping with. Last time I wore one was a couple years ago. Now you know more than my sister does about me.”

Pru’s smile was rusty, but it was there. Bri grinned at the woman in the mirror.

“Your secrets are safe with me, Commander.”

“Good,” Bri said. “I’d sure hate to have to kill you myself after all you’ve been through. I’d probably go soft and lock you in the ship’s brig below deck instead.”

“This ship has a jail?” Pru asked.

“Spent my first few weeks here in it,” Bri said.

“And now you’re commander?”

Bri made a face. “I suppose that is a bit hard to believe after the jail part. It’s still true though. I never lie unless I’m being paid to do so or there’s the possibility of sex in it for me.”

Pru’s soft laugh made Bri proud of herself… until she heard the growl behind her.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Bri said, swiveling out of Pru’s hands to glare. “What your problem now? I’m just getting a freaking haircut.”

Darcone’s eyes narrowed at her belligerent tone, but they shifted quickly to show panic when Toorg walked around him. The handsome blond guard loomed over Prudence who, scissors still in hand, stared up at him in awestruck wonder… or total shock. Both looked the same to Bri. Both made her grin too. Looked like Pru had an ardent admirer.

“I am Toorg,” he said proudly, giving Pru his best smile.

Pru nodded numbly. “I know. I see you all the time.”

Her statement had Toorg beaming in pleasure. Bri rolled her eyes over his happy reaction and then snorted at the anxious expression on Darcone’s face. Her wicked chuckle earned her an intense glare from him, which she ignored without a single twinge of guilt.

Bri looked between the two aliens. “We’re a little busy here, guys. Don’t let us keep you from your important work.” She fought not to laugh at the look on Darcone’s face when he heard her dismissal. Her favorite alien looked like he was about to pounce on Toorg and eat him. No wonder Darcone scared everyone else.

Toorg held Pru’s gaze and touched his chest. He bent a little so he wasn’t so much taller than she was. “I am Toorg,” he said softly.

He reached out and oh so lightly touched Pru’s chest, causing her to nervously inhale. “Pretty,” he said.

Pru backed out of his reach, which made Bri want to laugh. Pru wasn’t afraid of the alien—she could tell that. Pru just seemed stunned by the very masculine attention of someone so handsome, which Toorg certainly was. Toorg and Berg were two of the most handsome aliens on the ship.

“Uh… thank you… Toorg,” Pru said.

His nod and smile were for no one else but her. Bri chuckled at Toorg’s love-struck expression.

Darcone reached out and tapped Toorg’s arm firmly. “Go now,” he said gruffly.

Toorg nodded. “I am Toorg,” he said again, turning to follow. At the door, Toorg turned back once more. He bowed at the waist like a prince in a fairy tale. “Pretty.”

Straightening to his full height, he looked at Bri and nodded once respectfully. Bri smiled as she nodded back. Then she turned to see Pru watching Toorg’s fine athletic ass move seductively inside his uniform slacks.

“Looks great from the back too, doesn’t he?” Bri commented, ignoring the barber’s eye roll. The man sat in his client chair, thumbing through a portable while he waited for his next victim. When Pru didn’t answer, Bri poked her with a finger. “Pru?”

Pru shook off her thoughts and rubbed her chest where Toorg had touched her. “This place is crazy. He’s good looking and all, but he talks like a four-year-old. I can’t believe I’m supposed to pick one of them. I miss my boyfriend. He was a cheating asshole, but at least the man was normal. And did you see that other one with him?”

Bri caught her wrist when Pru lifted the scissors over her head. “Are you calm enough to do this, Prudence? Don’t let these piercings fool you. I’m not that much a fem. I expect to see hair left on my head when you’re done.”

Pru snorted and yanked her wrist away. “I’m a true artist. I could cut your hair if the world was exploding around me.”

Bri let go and settled back into the chair, refastening the protective cape around her neck. “I doubt it will ever come to that. This ship is the most boring place I’ve ever been.”

Pru ran a comb through Bri’s hair. “Why did the scary one growl at you?”

Bri shrugged under her cape. “You kiss an alien once and he thinks he owns you. He better get used to disappointment where I’m concerned.”

“You kissed him? The one with all those sharp teeth?” Pru demanded, staring into the mirror to meet Bri’s gaze. “Why would you do that? At least the stupid one looks normal.”

Bri grinned, her smile lifting all the metal. There were a lot of things she could have said to the woman about those sharp teeth, but she didn’t want Darcone’s lovemaking abilities to get around.

“I’ve known Darcone since I was a child. He doesn’t scare me. And Toorg’s far from stupid. He’s actually brilliant for a clone. His creator tweaked his brain in vitro to limit his speech capabilities so his mind could focus on more important things. His pal Berg was created the same. Darcone is in the program and available as a mate, but the clones aren’t. I don’t think they know it though, and it doesn’t seem fair to either of them. Toorg obviously likes you, so please don’t tell him.”

“Berg. Dark-haired guard. Nice shoulders. Also normal looking.”

“Yes. That’s the one. Most aliens appear normal to human sensibilities, but each one in the program has his own planetary quirks.”

“Quirks? What kind of quirks?” Pru asked.

Bri thought for a moment, trying to think of the least shocking ones. “Tails. Scales. Disappearing appendages that only come out when needed.”

“And women still pick those aliens for husbands?”

Bri chuckled. “The alien males who come here study human lovemaking and sexual behavior for years. Mom told me once that she never heard a woman complain about the sex, no matter what kind of other compromises she made. The women might be afraid of leaving Earth, but they were nothing but pleased with their choice of male.”

“I don’t know. I’m pretty squeamish. I’ll have to have a pretty normal one. Any of them look exactly like us?”

“They’re all terran and appear humanoid. That’s because we only get aliens from similar star systems to ours. Biology developed pretty much the same on most planets with a single sun—hence the humanoids.”

“What happened to the one with the sharp teeth and cold eyes? His planet must have developed a lot differently.”

Bri watched Pru snip, snip, snipping. Giving up her concerns, Bri reminded herself that her hair would grow back eventually. Damn Darcone and his scary ass. If she came out of this haircut bald, it would his fault.

Sighing, she answered the question, grateful to be distracted by their conversation. “Darcone’s people are the biggest exception to the appearance thing. They live about as far away as any alien race can travel to us. Ironically though, it was his race that came to save the Earth. His people knew how to fight the ancient enemy who invaded us. Darcone feels the same about the way we look, by the way. He thinks we’re kind of ugly overall. Thankfully that didn’t stop his people from helping us. That’s half the reason I like him so much.”

Pru snipped away quietly after that. Finally she sighed. “Guess I’ve been so caught up in my own problems, I hadn’t looked around me. How come you know all this about the aliens? Did you have to learn for your job?”

“No. I often stayed here with my parents when I was younger. Bored with ship life, I studied all the aliens when I was a child. Frankly, they fascinate me. Also, despite the whole abduction thing most of them insist on enacting, in reality, they treat females with the highest regard. Earth has only valued reproduction for a few centuries. Alien cultures learned that lesson long ago. On most planets, women are revered because of childbirth. By comparison, Earth humans are just starting to figure things out.”

Pru shook her head as she kept on snipping. She walked around the chair and worked on the other side for a couple minutes. “This has certainly been the most exciting day I’ve had in a while.”

“How would like a job on the ship? Every day might be this exciting.”

Pru stopped snipping and chuckled. “A stay of alien bride execution, Commander?”

Bri shrugged under the cape. “Maybe. I’m just thinking the women might appreciate getting out of the common area once in a while to get their hair done. Or maybe we could set up shop in there. Think about it. Let Erin or Angus know if you’re interested.”

Pru walked in front of Bri and finger-combed the hair backward. She did that several times, trimming ends occasionally. “Okay,” she said, stepping away. “What do you think?”

Bri looked at the spiky ends framing her face. The style looked pretty great actually.

“If I had some gel,” Pru began, turning at the tap on her arm. The barber handed her a tube of styling cream. “Oh. Awesome.”

She laid down her shears and squirted a dab in her hands. “Just a little is all we need.” She worked it through with her fingers, pulled out the feathered ends. “Nice. This is going to dry great. Your hair is very well-behaved. Lucky woman, you.”

When she finished, Pru undid the cape and pulled it off.

Bri stood and turned her face right and left. “I like it.”

Pru nodded. “That will be fifty thousand credits please.”

“You’re shitting me,” Bri said, stunned at the amount. “Is that what you charged?”

Pru shrugged. “It’s what video stars who thought they were hot shit were willing to pay, so yes, that’s what I charged.”

“That’s five times what I earn in a month.”

“For you, it’s free. But you have to tell your parents to hook me up with a normal alien, not one of the weird ones. No tails or pointy teeth.”

Bri chuckled and nodded. “Deal,” she said.

And now she knew that people really did believe that Angus and Erin were her rejuvenated parents.