Read The Star Princess for Free Online Page A

respected guild that had existed for almost eleven thousand years. Royal women were expected to remain cloistered virgins until they married.
    Ugh. Hypocrisy in action and enough double standards to make her blood boil. True, her family was busy trying to initiate changes in the patriarchal Vash society, but it would be a slow, careful process, taking years if not generations. As it stood now, only Rom's home world of Sienna didn't require royal women to live by the old rules. There, Ilana's mother was an active pilot, commander of the space wing. But everywhere else, Jas put up with the Vash games out of love for her husband. Ian, too, respected his adopted culture. But then, he was an outsider preparing to take over Rom's role as king— he couldn't afford to appear too eager to dismantle the system.
    Although her family reassured her that the Vash supported Ian, privately Ilana still worried, even feared for his life.
    She frowned. The Vash Nadah reminded her of a pack of snarling dogs. That jerk Klark had been the worst of them. Lucky for him, the dude was locked up light-years away from where she could get her hands on him.
    Ilana hopped down from her stool and walked to a wide window overlooking a sun-drenched parking lot in downtown Burbank. Even after five months, memories of the day her brother was attacked still unsettled her. Klark Vedla's arrogance had made her skin crawl. And yet, it was an image of Klark's older brother Ché that remained stuck in her mind all these months. Stuck, like a splinter in her foot.
    Eons of arranged marriages— powerful warrior-princes joining with beautiful women— had given Ché high cheekbones, a long straight nose, and hair and skin in a striking warm bronze that made it look as if he'd overdosed on sunless tanning cream. But unlike what Ilana had seen of Klark, a self-aware, almost tolerant quality mellowed Che's supreme confidence. And curiosity, too. About her. She'd seen it when she'd met his piercing pale gold eyes.
    The curiosity went both ways. What girl wouldn't wonder what such a tall, athletic, broad-shouldered body looked like without all those silly capes?
    Hell. Ché was just another tight-assed pretty-boy prince. Ilana wanted nothing to do with him, or with any of the spoiled rich of the galaxy's royalty; their rampant snobbery and class awareness, their grating, suffocating attitudes on the subject of monogamy and commitment, which she'd learned long ago was a dangerous proposition for any sane woman.
    That's right.
    She hunched her shoulders and shoved her fingers into the pockets of her jeans. Her mother would disagree with her attitude, of course. Tee'ah would, too. And now, apparently, so would Slavica, if that engagement ring was anything to judge by. But Ilana was happy with her life the way it was, and she intended to keep it that way— where she held the reins of control, not a man.
    Someone had to wear the title of black sheep of the family. It might as well be her.
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Che rubbed his hands together. Ilana Hamilton had appeared to be clever, from what he could remember, her reputed unruly spirit aside. Surely, understanding his rank and position in her adopted culture, she would assist him once he arrived on Earth. If not, he supposed, he would find his own way.
    He turned around, triumphant at the idea of traveling to Earth. The council members and Hoe stopped speaking to stare at him, hopeful smiles forming on their startled faces. His sudden change of mood must have unbalanced them.
    Inhaling deeply, he strode across the balcony. "I must be off to other duties. Good day, gentlemen."
    He walked through his bedchamber where a lone maid attended his rumpled bed. Passing his clothing repository, he snatched a clean Bajha suit, shoes, and a case containing his sens-sword, then continued on into the morning hush of the palace corridors.
    Before he reached his destination, footsteps sounded behind him. Hoe. "I'm going to see Klark," he