One of the event workers tried to call her back to pick up her cobra head from the platform but she ignored the man.

She could hardly wait to leave that stinky thing behind. At the very least, she was not about to bring it onto Slate’s pristine white transport pod.

Slate had changed from his crisp white shirt and slacks into the black combat bodysuit that matched hers.

His long black hair flew behind him as he jumped off the few steps and met her partway across the expanse..

The women all looked on with jealousy.

Although he was not the Crown Prince at the end of the Avgo Event rainbow, he was still the hot and sexy, drool-worthy Seventh Prince of Erenveil.

His gaze held deep concern and a touch of frustration that it had taken so long for the event to end but he said nothing as he took her arm and escorted her into the white hover pod.

Once the door of the pod slid shut and they had taken off into the sky, he pulled her into his arms and sank his face into her neck. His lips began nuzzling her and his hands gripped her body with the hunger and intensity of a starving man.

“Slate. No!” She protested and tried to pull away.

“Why not? You didn’t protest when I gave you a good luck kiss.” Slate grinned deviously. “This is just a congratulatory kiss.”

“Slate.” She pushed at his hard chest. “I’ve been rock climbing and fighting off snakes and cobras. I’m filthy and I stink of dirt, sweat, and snake blood.”

“Hmmmm. Dirt, sweat and snake blood. Why does that sound so tasty to me?” He murmured as he rubbed her back and head with gentle probing fingers.

“Maybe it’s because you’re a blood bat?” She suggested with a light laugh.

“Hmmmm. Maybe…” he murmured as his forehead touched hers. His nose began rubbing tiny circles on her cheeks.

“It doesn’t look like you’re hurt anywhere, but I’ll have to double check your entire body to make sure you don’t have lacerations or bruises or contusions anywhere.”

“I’m not joking, Slate. It was pretty intense for a bit there. I’m literally covered in gunk and snake parts.”

He sighed and crushed her into his arms.

“Candace, I’m a battle-hardened warrior who has gone through so many bloody gory battles in my life. Do you think a bit of ‘gunk and snake parts’ is going to turn me off?”

“But I feel really dirty!” She wailed.

“Oh you are going to be the death of me!” He growled and rubbed her head with a bit of roughness.

“I don’t care about how dirty you are. The fact that you pranced through this extremely tough event unscathed against all those vicious women is what’s turning me on, Woman!”

“Those women are fierce!” Candace grimaced.

“You scared me so many times today!” He muttered into her hair. “I nearly killed that fish woman. How dare she lay a hand on you!!!”

“Helene Cordera surprised me.” Candi admitted into his chest.

“She’s been banished from Erenveil.” Slate growled a guttural sound deep within his chest. “There was a royal decree from my brother that she is no longer welcome on this world.”

“Your brother?”

“The only brother I have who can issue a royal decree is Byron since he’s the only one working directly for the Crown.”

“Oh? Aren’t you working for Erenveil Empire as well?”

Slate stared at her for a moment and the shook his head.

“I am the Prime Warrior of Erenveil, but it is an entity that is independent of the Crown itself.”

“Why is it independent?”

“It’s part of a system of checks and balances. In the event that someone rises to the position of Emperor and turns into a despotic dictator, it’s my job to make sure no autocrat is allowed to destroy Erenveil Empire. I can’t do that if I’m part of the Crown.”

Candi nodded with understanding. If there was a Warrior Class of rulers in Erenveil, then the Crown’s job was most likely a political one.

“Are we heading back to the Royal Palace?”

Slate shook his head.

“Our Father has decided it would be better if you were to stay elsewhere since it would seem as if we are showing favoritism, allowing you to stay in the Royal Palace when Byron is the winning prize of the Event.”

“About that.” Candi pulled away. “I’m not sure how I feel about having to marry Byron if I take first place.”

Slate pressed his lips together.

“Erenveil is not a place that you could simply land on and decide you would like to live here. This is a world that only Erenveil citizens are allowed to call ‘home’.”

“Is that why the Earth delegates kept saying I was a defection risk?”

“Yes. After the Avgo event, everyone must return to their home worlds. The only one who is allowed to remain on Erenveil is the woman who will marry into the royal lineage.”

His brows furrowed as he continued his musings.

“Normally, that is something that is perfectly acceptable since Erenveil has plenty of visitors from all over the galaxy. In your case, it would not be good for you to return to Earth.”

“Yes, I know. Byron has told me that if I do not win this event, no one will be able to stop the Earth Ambassador from arresting me on all those trumped up charges.”

“Then there is nothing to discuss or debate.” Slate reached out and rubbed Candi’s head. “You MUST win.”

“Would that mean I have to marry Byron?”

Slate was silent for awhile. His blue eyes fixed their gaze on some distant object.

Finally, he sighed.

“That would be the assumption, yes. The prize is the Empress crown after all, and it can only be obtained by marrying the Crown Prince.”

Candi chewed on her lip as she weighed the possibilities.

Avoiding deportation and arrest by winning the Avgo competition marrying a Crown Prince. It was just the strangest thing she had ever faced in her life.

Both choices would tie her down in very different ways, but if she could remain in Erenveil, at the very least she would not be a convicted criminal.

But that would only happen if she could win.

“What if I don’t win?” She murmured, looking at the floor.

Slate leaned in and whispered into her ear.

“If you don’t win, I’ll just have to turn into a fugitive and escape with you across the Universe.”