Alien Romance: RAYER: Space Warrior's Mail Order Bride (Space Beasts Book 2) by Alyssa Ezra Page A

clothing. 
                  Cole could imagine women finding this other man to be particularly attractive with his lightly tanned skin, and seemingly toned frame. It was difficult to be sure with the multiple layers of brightly dyed silks draped over his frame.  The man had his straight chestnut hair cropped in layers that didn’t quite brush his shoulders.  His straight regular features seemed to have been arranged with precision, but were in no way devastating as Rayer’s were.  His most commanding feature was his dark eyes.  The contrast between the inky black eyes and his golden skin and hair was quite dramatic. 
    He was an attractive specimen of the Sii, but there was something about the twist of his lips and the way his black eyes bore into Rayer as he straightened and passed through the rest of the bodies that had occupied the shuttle to stand front and center before the royal couple.  Farth had claimed that Rayer took after his mother, but Cole didn’t agree.  If the couple at the top of the stairs were his parents, than Rayer resembled neither of them.
    “Father,” Rayer greeted with a deep incline of his head.  “Montala, Graith…” the other two were afforded a single, barely imperceptible tilt of the head.
    That is definitely not his mother – I would bet money that she is a stepmother…I wonder if that is what they call them here…
    “Rayer, my son,” the King spread his arms as he descended the steps slowly.  “I believe you are even more commanding than when you departed.  Your Prime has afforded you quite a presence.  I trust that you have returned with a mate, yes?”
    “Of course.” Rayer turned his body and extended a hand in Cole’s direction.  Farth gave her a sneaky push, forcing her to step out from behind Rao, toward the prince for her official introduction.
    *
                 

 
     
     
     
     
    Blast!  I should have asked Rao about her full name…It has to be better than calling her ‘Cole’ to my father.
                  Cole’s hand slipped into his own and he pulled her forward to stand at his side.  Rayer noticed the subtle widening of his father’s eyes, and had to fight the urge to cuff the older man when his father’s gaze slid down, assessing Cole’s bountiful figure.  If he had to guess, Rayer suspected that his father had expected him to return with a hag, not an attractive woman.
                  “The small world called Earth appears to be home to a uniquely exotic treasure,” the High King Balkar practically cooed to his son’s new mate.  “And what do we call you?  I can’t go about referring to you only as ‘my son’s mate’ – he will take exception with me.”
                  Cole rewarded his father with a soft laugh, instantly charming the old man.  Rayer forced his face to remain expressionless – if Montala and Graith hadn’t been in attendance, Rayer could honestly claim that he would have allowed his disgust to show.  However, they were not to be trusted.
                  After the mating rites, I will have to tell Cole to be very careful with them.  Montala will try to manipulate and squash her.  Rayer refocused on the matter of introductions, but as he prepared to handle the matter, Cole’s smoky voice stopped him.
                  “Coletta Moore Harper is my name, but I prefer to be called Cole.”
                  Coletta.  Coletta – it suits her.  A strong sounding, yet feminine name.
                  “It is a pleasure to see that my reserved son has selected a woman who might have a hope of complementing his silence.  I am sure that you would like to rest – but preparations have been underway, and everything is ready for the Rites Exchange Ceremony.  It would be best to get that done today.”
                  “Father…” Rayer began but stopped when Balkar’s luminescent, lavender gaze