Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson Read Free Book Online Page A

the Bridefight, with first choice of mate…our good Prince Damon!”
    â€œWhat’s he doing now?” Lois asked, puzzled, as Damon darted toward her then, with one bound, was standing beside her and pulling her out of her chair. “How’d you do that? We’re ten feet off the arena floor, at least. I swear there must be something in the water…”
    â€œI choose—the Lady Lois!”
    Thunderous applause.
    She blinked. “What?”
    â€œBy the law of our land, the winner has chosen, and we are mated!”
    Even more applause. My, my, the audience couldn’t get enough of the old banging-hands routine.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œAll hail Princess Lois, she-who-will-be-queen!”
    Pandemonium. Cheers. A few people jumped out of their seats, transformed in midair, and ran around the arena on all fours, yowling ecstatically.
    â€œAh, now you will be my daughter,” the king said, sighing contentedly.
    â€œHere comes that noise again,” Maltese said, squinting wistfully up at her from the arena floor.
    â€œAaaaaaaggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Chapter 7
    â€œN o.”
    â€œBut it is the law.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œBut, my good princess…”
    â€œStop calling me that!”
    They were in Damon’s— Damon’s! —bedroom. It was slightly smaller than the queen’s, which was to say, the size of her apartment times two. He’d pulled her out of the arena, away from the rejoicing crowds, and now they had a modicum of privacy so she could rip him a new asshole.
    â€œLois, it is a great honor to be first chosen from the Bridefight, and—”
    â€œHow could you marry me without even asking?”
    He didn’t say anything.
    â€œI didn’t have a clue what today was about and you know it! It was a sneaky, nasty trick and you—”
    â€œMy princess shames me with her truthfulness.”
    â€œI’m not finished,” she snarled. They were nose to nose—well, her nose to his collarbone—and her fists were clenched at her sides. She kept them there. She was afraid if she didn’t keep control of her hands, they’d load her gun and start pulling the trigger. The way she felt right now, that would be just fine. “You should be ashamed! I drop out of the sky yesterday, and today you fix it so we’re married. Married! And if you think I’m gonna meekly trot off to your bed and be your princess and—and—”
    â€œGive me heirs,” he prompted helpfully.
    â€œDamn right! Well, forget it. Y’know, where I come from—”
    â€œYou are there no longer.”
    â€œShut up! I know that, you think I don’t know that? Where I come from, the ladies get something called an engagement. For the benefit of the terminally stupid in this room, I will explain—”
    â€œWe also have a handfasting, but—”
    â€œI…will…explain. An engagement is time to get used to the idea of getting married and, oh, I dunno, plan the wedding maybe? I mean, that was it? My wedding? You making a declaration in front of a bunch of strangers and we’re hitched? That blows!”
    She was doing fine, working herself up into a real fury, but everything rose up and hit her all at once, like a blow. She was married in a strange place, to a stranger who could turn into a puma, and one of these days she was gonna have to be queen. So if she stayed, she had to tolerate that, and if she went back home, what in the world—worlds—would she be returning to?
    She burst into tears. Damon looked distinctly alarmed and raised his arms as if to hug her. She kicked out at him, nearly breaking her bare toe on his shin. “Get out,” she sobbed. “Get out of here and leave me alone. I hate you.”
    He opened his mouth.
    â€œGet out!”
    He slowly turned on his heel and left. This was a perfect opportunity to do what she’d wanted