Alien's Innocent Bride: A Sci-Fi Alien Paranormal Shifter Romance (Mail Order Human Book 1) by Sue Lyndon, Sue Mercury Page B
Authors: Sue Lyndon, Sue Mercury
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chattel by the half-Harivlian had distressed her. She wanted to be a wife and have a happy marriage, like her parents. She hoped the alien who paid her bride price saw her as more than a female to bear his children.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. She joined the other women in the massive sleeping quarters for a few hours, claiming a top bunk and pretending to sleep for a while. The soft mattress soothed her aching muscles. In town, she had toiled cleaning houses and chopping firewood, and the exhausting physical work had taken a toll on her body.
Conversations drifted around her. Some of the women were overjoyed at being selected, while others were more pessimistic. Tara thought it best to keep to herself and not join in the chatter. Soon the ship would depart Earth and each woman would be delivered to her new mate. She had heard the trip from Earth and amongst the ten planets inhabited by the Zaxxumians, Aceppans, and Harivlians took a total of three weeks. Better to not make friends when she would only end up losing them. She huddled under her blanket until the lights blinked. All conversation ceased, and she peeked her head out to see the women were lining up near the doorway.
Summoning her bravery, she left the comfort of her bed and took her place in line. The same woman in red silks from earlier scanned each woman with a handheld object she assumed took a picture. The line moved quickly, and Tara was thankful they didn’t have to remove their clothing, though she suspected it was because the odd looking camera could penetrate their attire.
As it turned out, Tara’s town was the last stop on Earth, and the ship disembarked later that evening. The departure was announced by speaker and the ship gave a slight shake before all went still again. She wished the sleeping quarters contained a window. It felt strange to be leaving Earth without actually witnessing the planet growing smaller and smaller.
The woman on the bottom bunk didn’t speak to Tara or anyone else, and aside from a few short, meaningless conversations with women while she ate meals in the cafeteria, she didn’t interact with anyone. A week passed and she grew restless. It bothered her that there were no windows in any of the areas the women were permitted to venture on the ship. She felt caged in.
A booming voice came over the speakers and announced each stop, and Angeline would arrive to collect the women who had reached their destination, the planet where their new mates lived. Tara’s heart raced each time Angeline listed the names. She wanted to hear her name, but at the same time she wanted to stay in her top bunk, curled up under the covers for all eternity. It felt safe there, and it was nice to be able to sleep without one eye open for a change.
But after a week and a half into the journey, the woman in red silks announced Tara’s name. She shot up in bed and peered at Angeline with wide eyes. Somewhere on the mysterious alien planet they’d just landed on, a male alien had paid her bride price and was waiting for her to disembark the Starship Matchmaker .
“Come down from there, Tara. Bring your belongings. You are the only woman being delivered to this planet.”
Tara glanced around the sleeping quarters. Over half of the women were gone. A blonde seated on the bunk opposite of her shot her a sympathetic smile.
As if in a trance, Tara threw on her best shawl and collected her things in her backpack. She crawled down from her bed and straightened her dress and her hair, then met Angeline’s expectant gaze.
“I’m ready.” But her hands trembled and worry clouded her thoughts. She didn’t feel ready. Nor did she feel hopeful. She followed Angeline off the ship, her shoes clanging on the ramp. The sight that greeted her nearly made her swoon, and as she gawked at the alien landscape, a sense of regret washed through her. Perhaps she should’ve taken her chances with Magino’s men. This world looked nothing like
The rest of the day passed in a blur. She joined the other women in the massive sleeping quarters for a few hours, claiming a top bunk and pretending to sleep for a while. The soft mattress soothed her aching muscles. In town, she had toiled cleaning houses and chopping firewood, and the exhausting physical work had taken a toll on her body.
Conversations drifted around her. Some of the women were overjoyed at being selected, while others were more pessimistic. Tara thought it best to keep to herself and not join in the chatter. Soon the ship would depart Earth and each woman would be delivered to her new mate. She had heard the trip from Earth and amongst the ten planets inhabited by the Zaxxumians, Aceppans, and Harivlians took a total of three weeks. Better to not make friends when she would only end up losing them. She huddled under her blanket until the lights blinked. All conversation ceased, and she peeked her head out to see the women were lining up near the doorway.
Summoning her bravery, she left the comfort of her bed and took her place in line. The same woman in red silks from earlier scanned each woman with a handheld object she assumed took a picture. The line moved quickly, and Tara was thankful they didn’t have to remove their clothing, though she suspected it was because the odd looking camera could penetrate their attire.
As it turned out, Tara’s town was the last stop on Earth, and the ship disembarked later that evening. The departure was announced by speaker and the ship gave a slight shake before all went still again. She wished the sleeping quarters contained a window. It felt strange to be leaving Earth without actually witnessing the planet growing smaller and smaller.
The woman on the bottom bunk didn’t speak to Tara or anyone else, and aside from a few short, meaningless conversations with women while she ate meals in the cafeteria, she didn’t interact with anyone. A week passed and she grew restless. It bothered her that there were no windows in any of the areas the women were permitted to venture on the ship. She felt caged in.
A booming voice came over the speakers and announced each stop, and Angeline would arrive to collect the women who had reached their destination, the planet where their new mates lived. Tara’s heart raced each time Angeline listed the names. She wanted to hear her name, but at the same time she wanted to stay in her top bunk, curled up under the covers for all eternity. It felt safe there, and it was nice to be able to sleep without one eye open for a change.
But after a week and a half into the journey, the woman in red silks announced Tara’s name. She shot up in bed and peered at Angeline with wide eyes. Somewhere on the mysterious alien planet they’d just landed on, a male alien had paid her bride price and was waiting for her to disembark the Starship Matchmaker .
“Come down from there, Tara. Bring your belongings. You are the only woman being delivered to this planet.”
Tara glanced around the sleeping quarters. Over half of the women were gone. A blonde seated on the bunk opposite of her shot her a sympathetic smile.
As if in a trance, Tara threw on her best shawl and collected her things in her backpack. She crawled down from her bed and straightened her dress and her hair, then met Angeline’s expectant gaze.
“I’m ready.” But her hands trembled and worry clouded her thoughts. She didn’t feel ready. Nor did she feel hopeful. She followed Angeline off the ship, her shoes clanging on the ramp. The sight that greeted her nearly made her swoon, and as she gawked at the alien landscape, a sense of regret washed through her. Perhaps she should’ve taken her chances with Magino’s men. This world looked nothing like
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