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“No!” Paige cried out.
The door burst open and Jamen filled the opening. He grabbed the tail of the whip, coiled it around his hand and yanked on it. Nillson stumbled straight into Jamen’s fist. The force of the punch propelled Nillson backward and he crashed against the chair, immediately incapacitated.
Paige stepped between them. The fury on Jamen’s face was richly deserved but it would not help to have him beat Nillson to a pulp. “I’m okay,” she said firmly. “Don’t waste your energy on him.”
He lowered his gaze down to hers and the fire in his eyes weakened. “Yes, you’re right. We got it all, Paige. Every last word out of his mouth.” He dropped the whip and drew her tight into his arms. “Never again, my sweet Paige, will you fear for your life. And you know I don’t break my promises.” He referred to the ruse they’d concocted together. A plan to convince Nillson she was abandoned by everyone and the lie had been perpetuated while she slept in stasis. Jamen never broke his promise to her.
She melted into Jamen’s embrace while all about her officials swarmed over Nillson, dragging him out of the room and through the club, where his downfall would be witnessed. By tomorrow, the news would report his indictment for murder, blackmail, and corruption. Nillson was finished, whereas she and Jamen were just beginning a life together.
Chapter Twenty-Two
She smoothed down the dress and gave a twirl. “It’s a little tight around the hips but—”
“You look very pretty,” Jamen said quickly, intercepting any hint of doubt on her part.
Adjusting a loose strand of hair, she finished inspecting her reflection and turned to face Jamen. He wore the traditional suit that generations of men on Earth used for weddings—a silvery gray morning suit with a red silky cravat necktie. His shoes were polished into a mirror and if he flexed his biceps, his shoulders might split the seams. He looked stunning.
“Do I look like a best man?” he asked, picking at his shirt collar and grimacing. “It itches.”
“Definitely. Absolutely. But you mustn’t outshine your brother,” she warned. Weddings between humans were often unpredictable, but one involving aliens was especially fraught due to cultural differences and pesky protocols.
“There’s no danger of that,” Jamen grinned. “He’s more than capable of commanding a room. He’s a judge, remember.” He ceased fiddling and dropped his arms.
Paige took one last glance in the full-length mirror and nodded her approval.
The marriage of Galen and Zara was a fortuitous event that coincided with Paige and Jamen’s arrival back on Earth. Paige pointed out the importance of the ceremony and that it would be rude not to go, especially as they were actually on the planet. So, instead of returning straightaway to Halos, they stayed an extra two weeks.
The fallout from Nillson’s capture continued to rumble on. She made statements, so did Katie, then others chipped in with their grievances and finally, City Hall began to purge itself of corruption. Poor Raphael’s body had been exhumed from his grave in the desert and his family had given him a decent burial.
As for Paige’s parents—they came down and visited the hotel she and Jamen used for the duration of their trip. At first, cautious, then with generosity they welcomed Jamen into their family with a meal, served by Gustave, and this time there were no awkward conversations about sex, undercooked steak, and spying.
The extended stay on Earth provided Paige with the opportunity to further her scheme to rescue Halos’s endangered species. With Ramirez’s support, she managed to persuade the EDC to lease a strip of protected land in Baja that could be turned into a zoo. A very special zoo—one for extraterrestrial animals and birds. With the animals contained by force fields—the technology of the Vendu put to better use than shields and barriers—they would be able to roam free as if on Halos. The activities of the creatures would be recorded and the images beamed around the world, demonstrating the cooperation between Halos and Earth.
The project was in its infancy, but it meant she had an excuse to live on Halos, and visited Earth from time to time. The arrangement was exactly what she wanted.
Jamen took her hand. “We should go. The ceremony is in one hour.”
His delight in punctuality was going to suffer if Zara followed the tradition of the bride arriving a little late.
Paige had enjoyed meeting Zara, with whom she compared notes, as she also did with Freya, another human with a close attachment to the Vendu. The trio met again outside the registration office of New Phoenix and waved at the small crowd who had gathered to witness the event, including Katie and others from the City Hall.
“When’s it going to be your turn?” Zara asked Paige, smiling for the photographers.
Paige blushed the same shade as the roses she carried in her posy. “I don’t know…” she stuttered. “He’s thinking about it, probably.”
“He’s trying to work out when to do it, more likely,” Freya suggested. “It’s not that they can’t be romantic, just that it doesn’t come naturally.”
“I suppose,” she murmured. “He’s very practical. He’s arranged for me to have my own little office on Halos where I’ll work on my conservation project.”
“You should be proud of yourself, Paige. I don’t think I could have gone to Halos and achieved what you’ve done,” said Zara.
“Foolhardy, more like it!” Paige laughed.
“Ladies, we’re ready for you,” the court official called from behind them.
Paige followed Zara inside the building and when the moment came, she stood next to Jamen and listen to Zara and Galen exchange their simple vows with a warm glow in her heart. Would she say yes if Jamen asked her to marry him? She had known the answer to that question for some time.
She didn’t have to wait too long. He watched her dance, eat the delicious cake, then when the lights grew dimmer and the guests were sleepy with alcohol and food, he led her out of the hotel’s reception and onto a balcony overlooking the c
