I blinked. Then blinked again.
He couldn’t have been much more than a meter high, with pale green skin that had a slightly translucent quality, like he was made of jade lit from within. His eyes were enormous opals, he possessed no visible nose, just two small slits above a wide mouth that was pulled taut.
I smiled at him. “I think you might be in the wrong room?"
The alien looked me up and down with those enormous eyes, his head tilting to one side in a way that reminded me of a bird examining a particularly interesting insect.
"Nope," he said, his voice tart and clipped. "Right room. You're her, aren't you? The human?" He waddled past me toward the dining table, dumping the fabrics onto the surface. “I’m here for you."
I shook my head, confusion making me feel slow and stupid. "Me?"
“You heard me, sweetie. I’m Woo-Ben. Woovian refugee who lived on Meridian until very recently.” He flapped a hand at the wide wall of glass. “Apparently my affiliation with the governor made me an Imperial target.”
“Just for knowing the governor?”
He shrugged. “I might have helped him resist the Zagrath, but I’m Woovian. What did they expect? We’re a very rebellious bunch.”
I knew nothing about the Woovians, but I loved the idea of a race of small green aliens with a rebellious streak.
"It's nice to meet you," I said, moving closer. “So you’re new here too.”
“Brand new, hon.” He winked at me. At least, I thought it was a wink. One of those enormous eyes closed briefly. "I hear you're no fan of the Empire either."
How did he know about me already? Who was this guy?
“They briefed me,” he said, as if reading my mind.
“Who briefed you?” I asked, feeling like I was missing a vital detail. “And why were you briefed about me?”
“Another reason I was brought onboard the warbird was that I possess a skill the Raas of this horde values. It was the first officer who found me. Apparently, my reputation as a dressmaker precedes me.” He took a quick breath. “Skaz brought me up to speed on your dress, but now that I see you in person, I’m thinking an emerald green would work better with your coloring. Of course, it’s not his fault. The poor Vandar is stuck making battle kilts all day. The only issue with this whole enterprise is the timing. They haven’t given me much time to finish the dress and prepare you for the ceremony.”
My amused befuddlement shifted instantly to alarm. "What?"
"Your. Bridal. Gown." He enunciated each word carefully, still circling, occasionally reaching out to pinch fabric at my waist or shoulders. "For the ceremony."
"I—yes, I know what a bridal gown is," I managed, my brain trying to catch up with what was happening. "But what's the rush? We're on our way to Lexxona to save more rebels from the Empire. The ceremony can wait until after?—"
"Oh no, no, no." Woo-Ben stopped circling and looked up at me, shaking his head. "The Raas plans on having the ceremony before we get there. Honestly, I suspect that’s the main reason I was brought onto the ship with Governor Aldric. So let's not waste any more time, sweetie.”
The room tilted slightly. "Before we get there?"
"Oh, yes." He was measuring my arms now, muttering numbers under his breath. "You'll be a Raisa by tonight."
Tonight. Tonight??
I actually swayed on the spot, my hand reaching out blindly for something to hold onto. I found the edge of the table, gripped it hard enough that my knuckles went white. It had been okay when the reality was in the unspecific future, when I could push it aside to worry about later. I was in no way ready to get married now. "But I—we just—I thought?—"
I couldn't form complete sentences. My thoughts were spinning too fast and crashing into each other, refusing to cohere into anything.
"Breathe, doll," Woo-Ben said, his tone amused but not unkind. "You look like you're about to pass out. That wouldn't be good. Can't fit a gown to an unconscious person. Well, that isn’t entirely true. I’m sure I could.Shouldn’tfit a gown to an unconscious person is more like it."
Woo-Ben tugged me gently toward the table, toward those piles of beautiful, terrifying fabric. “From what I know of Vandar fashion, if we can call it that, they prefer draping, which works in our favor…”
His voice faded into background noise as the reality crashed over me. I was getting married. Tonight. To an alien warlord I'd met only a few days ago. A Vandar Raas who'd kidnapped me and who I'd sworn I'd never forgive. A warlord who'd also saved my life, who made my heart race and my knees weak, and who was risking everything to save the people I loved.
I had absolutely no idea if I was terrified or thrilled. Maybe both.
Definitely both.
