Mail-Order Bride [Taos Wolven Mates] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Tianna Xander

whitish-green color. She leaned against the far wall, her knuckles white as she gripped the handrail.
    “The feeling will wear off. You’ll be fine in a minute.” Tarin moved to help her as she looked unsteady on her feet.
    “Please, do not touch me, sir.” She held up her hand, palm out. “I cannot abide your tendency to be so familiar with my person. I don’t even know your name.”
    Tarin held his hands up, palms out. “My apologies, ma’am,” he said with a slight bow. “I am Tarin Harunis, and I just wanted to help steady you. You looked ready to fall over.”
    Dana took a deep breath, wiped her hands on the front of her jumpsuit then frowned. “I hate this thing. I have no apron to wipe my hands upon and…” She stopped, her eyes growing wide. “My money! All the money I had in the world was sewn into the hem, and your Captain said he burned it!” Her discomfort and questions forgotten, she began to pace the small space. “I told Mr. Matthew Harker that I had at least a pittance of a dowry. Two hundred dollars was better than the nothing I have now, thanks to your Captain.” She brought her hands to her mouth, her eyes filled with tears. “What am I to do?”
    Tell me you didn’t really burn her dress with her money in it, Lorcan.
    Of course not. I had it scanned to be certain that she had no valuables in it. I removed her money from the hem and it is safe with her jewels.
    I don’t believe you really burned it.
    “I don’t know why,” Lorcan said when the multi-lift doors opened just outside the mess hall. “The thing was ugly and stank of something akin to cow shit.” Though I didn’t really burn it. I shot the fucking thing out into space.
    Tarin wanted to laugh, but had the feeling that Dana knew exactly what Lorcan was talking about. He was not about to incur their mate’s wrath.

Chapter Eight
     
    Dana couldn’t believe it. Here the miscreant was, talking about her dress. She just knew that was what the man meant when he spoke of such horrible odor.
    “It may have smelled bad, Captain , but it was not yours. You had no right to burn my dress.”
    Lorcan stared down at her, his expression one she could not read. Was that arrogance or anger that had his mouth turning down at the corners?
    “I had every right.” Reaching out, he grasped her upper arm and pulled her from the closet-like…thing and through a wide door.
    “You have no right!” Dana jerked her arm from his grasp and stepped away. She turned to Tarin for help, but his expression was just as implacable as his friend’s. “I am engaged, sir! I have a life. I was on my way to be married.” She waved her arms wildly, finally losing the tenuous hold she had upon her temper. “I demand you take me to my affianced. It’s obvious you have a way to deliver me.”
    Lorcan grinned. The expression frightened her. Looking to Tarin, Dana found his countenance to be just as terrifying. It was almost as though they wanted her to demand they take her home.
    “Is that what you want, Danabella Worley? You would like us to deposit you in the presence of one Matthew Harker?” His brow rose as if in challenge.
    Looking around her, Dana noticed the room with its tables and chairs, just like the restaurant on the ground floor of Goody’s hotel. Several people sat staring at them as though what they said was most important. She didn’t care. All she cared about was getting home and fulfilling her promise to Matthew.
    “Yes.” She raised her chin into the air, doing her best impression of Amelie as she looked down her nose at the two men. “I demand that you deliver me to Matthew Harker.” It wasn’t until after she agreed that Dana realized they shouldn’t have known the name of her husband-to-be.
    “Then rejoice, Dana,” Lorcan said as he spread his arms wide. “Welcome to your new home, for Tarin and I are the man you know as Matthew Harker, and you have agreed to marry us.”
    “M–marry you?” Her gaze bounced between