Who can you trust?

 

What would you do if your father had arranged to marry you off to an old, fat, rich man on the promise that your child by him would inherit an Empire? And your dad hadn't discussed it with you first?

It happened all the time in the past, especially between noble families. It even happens today. I wonder how many of those women – in the past and in the present – were happy about the match?

That's the opening premise in A Matter of Trust. Princess Amira is not happy about the arranged marriage so she runs for it. She find herself looking around for people she can trust not to sell her out to her suitor's agents and some she thought she could trust in fact - she can't.

I've used Midjourney to produce portraits of the main characters for me.

Admiral Ul-Mellor - the Demon Admiral

Princess Amira

Here's a snippet where Admiral Ul-Mellor and Amira meet again.

Brom gestured toward the two officers. "You met Admiral Ul-Mellor at Christoph's funeral, do you remember?"

How could she forget? The white uniform almost shimmered against his ebony skin, the gold rank insignia on his epaulettes gleamed in the soft light, his red eyes were as intense as she remembered. The only Jort she had ever met. Her heart beat a little faster. She'd thought of him many times over the months since the funeral.

 "It's wonderful to see you again in happier circumstances, Admiral. I so much enjoyed the short time we spent together after Christoph's funeral."

"Our visit to the catacombs was memorable, Your Highness, an occasion that lingers in my memory. I am delighted to see you again." Taking the hand she offered, he brushed her knuckles with his lips.

Amira quivered, and hoped no one had noticed. He'd even remembered her name. Or maybe Brom had mentioned she was here?

 Will the Demon Admiral protect her from her family?

Princess Amira is ready to start a new life after the death of her husband, but that doesn’t include marrying the man her father picks out for her. Pursued by his agents, she races across the galaxy in a desperate search for a safe haven. Amid simmering tensions at the edge of the Empire, Amira renews her acquaintance with Imperial Admiral Ul-Mellor. Although his detractors call him the Demon Admiral,  Amira finds him intelligent, articulate, and very attractive.

But Ul-Mellor is not human and Amira is a princess – far above Ul-Mellor’s status on his home world. He and Amira will have to overcome a gulf of cultural and class differences if they’re to turn their mutual attraction into a relationship. And what will Ul-Mellor do when faced with a choice – Amira or his hard-won commission?

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Amira and Ul-Mellor appear in several other Dryden Universe stories - but this is their initial romance with the requisite HEA. I hope you enjoy it.

Cheers,

Greta