The Ambassador's Accidental Marriage (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) by Rachel Clark Page B

way to make sure I either can’t defend myself or that I come off as some sort of liar.”
    The doorbell to their suite chimed, and Cindy jumped at the noise. Annoyed at the interruption and the fear that Cindy was feeling, Eric sent an electronic signal to his royal guards to be on alert. Earth protocols had made certain that his guards were unable to bring their weapons off the ship, but they were highly trained men capable of doing great damage if the situation required it. Half expecting some sort of attempt to take Cindy into custody before the results of the hearing were announced, Eric opened the door with an expression on his face that would have scared the hell out of anyone back home.
    Fortunately it worked on the delivery kid as well.
    “Communication d–disc d–delivery,” the young human managed to force out as he thrust the electronic gadget into Eric’s hand. “T–Touch the screen, p–please.” Eric touched the screen with his thumb, absently wondering how humans would deal with a species that didn’t have individually unique fingerprints, and then closed the door in the kid’s face.
    He handed the disc to Cindy who immediately pushed the small circle into a type of handheld reader. Her expression faltered, and the color drained from her face.
    “What is it?” Eric asked, trying not to take the device and attempt to read it for himself. He’d studied the human languages a long time ago, but he doubted he would be able to read the language well enough to understand it fully.
    “Just some legal bullshit,” Cindy said, trying to hide how much the news upset her. Fortunately, both he and Loukie were well aware of her ability to hide her reactions.
    “Explain,” he said, unwilling to let her hide information that might be pertinent to her case.
    “Just the results of the medical tests I had done the other day.”
    “And?” Loukie asked, looking as frightened for Cindy as he felt.
     
    * * * *
     
    Cindy couldn’t look at the two people she loved more than life itself and see the disappointment on their faces. Surely this news would be the final blow to a relationship that should never have started. But she needed to tell them so that they could get on with their lives. Dread, like a deep ache, settled in her bones, and she had to force the words past lips gone dry.
    “They…um…confirm the claims that I’m infertile.”
    Eric and Loukie were quiet for what was probably less than half a second, but it was enough to shatter the illusions she’d built around the three of them. Even if they loved her, royal protocols would demand that she be set aside so they could find another woman who could provide them with heirs.
    But it was the fierce embrace from Loukie that had her heart stumbling to a stop.
    “I don’t care,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “We love you. Nothing else matters.”
    “Of course it matters,” Cindy said, trying to be brave, but when Eric’s arms came around them both she couldn’t hold back the disappointment that shattered her heart.
    “I want a second opinion,” Eric said decisively.
    “Technically, this was the second opinion. It confirms the allegations that I lied about my fertility. Even though I never actually made the claim, this will be enough to convince the judge of my duplicity.”
    “Then we leave tonight,” Loukie said vehemently.
    “Agreed,” Eric said as he strode from the room.
    “We can’t,” Cindy said urgently. She turned to Loukie when it seemed Eric was going to ignore her objections. “Surely you can see the diplomatic damage this would cause. You need human women to ensure your race’s survival. Without the IGAC recommendation it’s unlikely that the government of Earth would allow emigration to your planet.”
    “I thought you said humans were free to make their own choices.”
    Cindy nodded. “They are, but without the government’s endorsement few will choose to leave. And if they go against the