Read Parallel Desire for Free Online Page B

That his sworn servant—his very own Madjin protector—was given to him as … as what, Thea? As his bondservant? I live to serve that man." He gestured toward the closed meeting room door. "Following him is all I ever trained for. If he learns the truth"—he shook his head remorsefully—"then I am no more. All that I am crumbles to dust."
    She took hold of his face, cupping it in her hands. "What are you so afraid of? Tell me. Please just tell me."
    Marco pressed his eyes shut, fighting the throbbing headache that battered his senses. "That he will forbid me to serve him. That he will cast me away."
    "Cast you away?" Thea cried. "What sort of man do you take him for? Don't you know him at all? His kindness and fairness?"
    Marco dropped his head, burying it in his hands. "No, baby, not that he'll reject me … that he won't accept my service. And I have to serve him." He cut his eyes, determined to make her understand his heart. "Don't you see that if I'm not his Madjin protector, then I have nothing? I am nothing."
    She pressed her face close to his, drawing in a long inhalation of his scent, then kissed him softly on the cheek. "You've sworn your life to our king, but now you need to trust him—at least just a little."
    Oh, trust, such a beguiling thing, Marco thought, as the migraine reached a maddening crescendo inside his mind and spirit. Such an easy word, but with so many difficult and far-reaching complications.
    "Let me think on it," he whispered, but in his heart he knew that he could never breach the barriers of class and service that Thea was suggesting.

Chapter Three

    K elsey Wells lay naked in the king-sized bed that she shared with her king-sized husband—a thought that made her giggle despite the seriousness of the day ahead. In the five months since she'd bonded with, and married, J'Areshkadau B'net D'Aravni, exiled king of Refaria, she'd often found her new lot in life more than slightly amusing. Twenty-eight years old, she was now carrying Jareshk's unborn child within her womb; and at slightly more than four months into the five-month Refarian gestational cycle, she had begun to realize that the surreal quality of her new life had only just begun.
    Jared moved about their quarters, a master suite in a lodge nestled high in the Tetons of Wyoming. Today was perhaps the most important day in their shared lives—at least since that first day they'd met as teenagers some fifteen years earlier. That was if you didn't count their soul-bonding, or the creation of the unborn baby girl who kicked and moved within her belly.
    Today her father would meet her alien husband for the very first time. Today she would share all the facts of this strange alien war with him as well.
    " Fliishki ," Jared muttered from deep within their walk-in closet.
    "What's wrong?" She wrestled to sit up in bed, holding one palm against her swollen belly. Five months, my ass , she thought, feeling the skin across her abdomen itch and the baby give another tumultuous roll. This baby's coming any day now.
    "It's been far too long since I've had my dress uniform on." Jared appeared in the connecting doorway to their large bath area. "It looks ill fitting on me. I've gained muscle since last I wore it." Jared grimaced, casting a glance at the floor-length mirror on the far wall. "And I dare say I've gained weight since mating with you, sweet love."
    Funny, all she could think was that he looked absolutely stunning in the formal uniform of all black, what with his ebony eyes and gleaming dark head of hair. He'd grown it some since they'd mated, allowed it to fall loose about his shoulders, except on days like this one. Today he'd pulled it into a short ponytail, a smooth sheen of raven black hair streaked with silver.
    He tugged at the jacket in irritation, adjusting it where it fell along his hips. "Why I couldn't simply wear my usual uniform, I am not even sure."
    "Because this is probably the single most