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finally free. It was a light touch but she could feel his heat against her cooler skin. She traced the divot above his lip then along the seam of his mouth to his chin. His eyes blinked open and he looked first at the ceiling before slowly turning his gaze toward her. The shadows hid his eyes when he looked at her until a hint of gold pierced the darkness. He’d shifted his eyes into that of the dragon.
    “Thank you for saving me from them,” she whispered. She moved her hand to his neck. The intimate moment seemed natural somehow. The crystal glowed brighter, casting his shadowed features into light.
    “What did they want with you? Why were they tracking you?” he asked.
    She liked the sound of his voice. It was low, almost gruff, yet soothing. She couldn’t bring herself to answer. Her eyes searched for the tracking unit, finding it broken on the floor where she’d left it. The truth was too humiliating. How could she say her father had signed her over to a casino to cover a gambling debt? She knew her father loved her, in his way, but he’d lost her in a game of chance. A game. “They made a mistake, but no amount of protesting seemed to make a difference. I’m sure you know how those types of companies operate. They are too large and the departments don’t talk to each other. My protests were ignored. They thought they had the right to bring me here as a bride. It doesn’t matter. They’ve left thanks to you. It’s finally over. I don’t think I can ever repay you for your kindness.”
    He rolled onto his side. The move forced her fingers to fall across his collarbone onto the bed. A hand came for her and he touched her as she had him. Lightly, he traced her nose and mouth, dipping over the curve of her chin to her throat. His finger paused by her pulse, as if gauging the pace of her heart as it beat a rhythm in her neck. “You are safe with me.”
    “You have already done so much, I hate to ask for one more thing.” She was well aware of his touch. Her heart quickened and she felt herself leaning closer to him. “Can you help me find a ship willing to give me passage to the X Quadrant? It’s important.”
    “What is in the X?”
    “My home. I don’t have anyone else I can ask.” She covered his hand with hers, holding him against her neck. “I give you my word that I will pay you for your trouble once I get back. I don’t have much, but I am good to my word.”
    “I cannot send you to the X. I’m sorry.” He moved his finger along her jaw line.
    “I understand.” Kendall tried not to let her disappointment show. She would just have to find another means of travel. It was quite possible this man didn’t have the funds to lend her the passage fare to another quadrant. It would be an expensive trip. This wedding ceremony probably cost the participating men a great deal. The plate of chocolate alone could easily equal the price of a flight off world. Knowing Alek would not have a bride to show for it, she felt sorry for him.
    “I have a good home,” he offered.
    Kendall covered his mouth before he could say more. She knew what he would offer. This was a bridal ceremony after all. His whole purpose in participating would be to find a wife. Really it was sad. These poor men had to settle for whoever would have them because fate had taken away their female children. What a horrible way to find a partner. She could just imagine some of the nutcases who agreed to this. Actually, she didn’t need to imagine. She had seen them on the ship. Riona, the degenerate gambler always making wagers on the most mundane things. Olena, who acted more like a pirate than a bride. Gina, with her enormous breasts and nauseatingly horrific laugh. Trinia, a woman constructed of biological plastic.
    “What are you thinking?” He touched the center of her forehead where her brows had furrowed together in concentration.
    “Of how I’m going to find a way home,” she said.
    “Everything will work out the way it is