“Do you favor dresses like…” Skaz hesitated, flicking his hand at my garment, “or would you consider trousers. Or perhaps a battle kilt of your own?”
I wrinkled my nose at the idea of wearing heavy strips of leather like the Vandar. “The Vandar kilts don’t look warm or comfortable, but I wouldn’t mind pants.”
The Vandar grinned. “I think you could pull off leather pants.”
Did the Vandar wear anything that wasn’t leather? I drudged up a smile. “I’ll leave it up to you.”
He walked around me, his eyes narrowed. “Yes, yes.” He tapped one finger on his chin. “Do you mind if I measure you?”
I shrugged. Most of the clothes I owned had been my mother’s or had been purchased ready-made and big enough to grow into. I’d never been fitted for a garment.
“Arms out,” he said, but it was a gentle command and nothing like the orders from Raas Wrexxon that sent shivers of unwanted pleasure down my spine.
I complied, holding my arms out as he ran a length of string down one side of my body then whipped it around my waist and my hips. He measured my bust from behind, not even feathering a finger over my chest. When he was done, he stepped back, turned to the bag over his shoulder, and produced a swath of fabric that was shockingly not leather.
“What do you think about this shade for your Raisa gown?”
It was a lovely shade of slate blue, but I could barely focus on the color when his words confused me. “Raisa gown?”
“The gown you’ll wear for your bonding ceremony that will officially make you the Raas’s Raisa. I suppose in your language it would mean queen. I don’t typically craft dresses, but I was asked to show you fabrics until we can find a dressmaker.”
I stiffened. Being told you were being taken as a war bride was one thing but being measured for a dress for a ceremony that would bind you to the ruthless warlord known as The Scourge was another thing altogether. Despite what he’d said,I’d believed the concept that a war bride was political. Even if there was truth in the Raas’s possessive claims, I hadn’t thought it would be soon.
“Is this ceremony taking place at the Vandar hiding spot or colony?”
Skaz frowned. “Not that I know of.” Another jerk of his shoulders. “But they rarely tell me where we’re going.”
I studied the fabric more intently, but my mind was unable to focus. “I…I don’t know.”
“It’s a big decision,” he mused.
All of this was a lot, but I couldn’t take another step without knowing that he wasn’t going to ship me off to some Vandar hiding place.
“I need to ask Wrexxon,” I blurted before softening my voice. “My fiancé. I need to know if he likes it.”
The Vandar’s startled look eased into a smile. “I’m sure he will.”
“No,” I snapped, then forced myself to modulate my voice. “It’s important to me that I please him. Can’t we just go find him and ask?”
Skaz blinked hard then blinked again. “You want to track down the Raas?”
I didn’t want to, but I had a sinking suspicion the Vandar was about to make me his queen, fuck my brains out until I could barely think straight, and then dump me at the Vandar stash place while he gallivanted off to save more rebels. “I think it would be best.”
He exhaled loudly. “I can assure you he will not welcome either of us on his command deck, but I can request his presence in my workshop.” He turned and waved for me to follow. “Come with me.”
I might have lost a few of the battles when it came to the Vandar warlord, but I hadn’t yet conceded the war.
Chapter 28
Wrexxon
Ignashed my teeth as I made my way into the bowels of the warbird, swinging from steel railings and leaping from one floating platform to another. What was I doing trekking down to the innards of the vessel when I should be with my officers discussing the strategy involved with extracting the rebel governor?
I’d never been summoned by the ship’s tailor before, although I suppose this was what I got for requesting a wardrobe for a human female when he was accustomed to fashioning battle kilts and body armor. Not that I would mind seeing Jasmine in a battle kilt. The thought of her shapely legs peeking between the straps of animal hide spurred my heartbeat. The idea of her going bare chested, like Vandar warriors did, made my cock twitch restlessly to life.
“Tvekme.” I pushed down my cock with one forearm, as I raced across an open-air metal bridge that swayed in reaction to my speed.
I still held my tablet in one hand, since I’d been summoned while being briefed by my battle chief about the upcoming missions.The new target list from the encrypted communication still glowed on my screen. That reminder, and the knowledge that it came from a spy risking their life to provide us information, was enough to douse any desire.
