Alien's Bride Book Two by Yamila Abraham

“Husband…she’s suicidal.”
    He tsked with genuine sympathy.   “It’s a pity.   Nayjoor has no trouble telling me what he’d like to see change, but he rails against all my suggestions to bring about that change.   Younger Dak-Hiliah—they may have the chance to adopt new thinking.   This stubborn old fool?   He’ll stomp away and claim the situation is impossible before making the slightest attempt.”
    “Then let’s switch.   Let me go talk to him and you listen to her for a while.”
    Elentinus made an exasperated smile.   “That would be so awkward for him I almost want to allow it.   But, Maritza, I couldn’t speak to Inga alone.   I would only give her false hope.”
    Now the tears flowed out.   “I’m still going to try.   We at least have to get that Rolf-Tem under control.”   I sniffled.   “And maybe make sure Lord Nayjoor gives her that drug when they sleep together.   She says he hurts her every time.”
    Elentinus soothed my hair and embraced me.   I clutched him.
    “Oh, my sweet Maritza.   Your compassion will be the end of you.”   He leaned back and looked at me.   “If all we can give her is a short reprieve you must accept that.”
    “I still have to—“
    “Shh.”   He touched my lips.   “I seldom make demands of you.   Isn’t that true?”
    I nodded, but only slightly so his finger could stay on my mouth.
    “This is one demand you must obey.   Don’t let this girl shift her suffering onto your shoulders.   She has no control over his situation—and neither do you.”
    The way his words stung my insides…it made my cheeks hot and my legs weak.   I wished I could pull out the arrow my husband had just shot into me.  
    I’d turned away from him without thinking about it.   Elentinus put his hand on my chin and made me look at him.
    “You’ll obey me—won’t you, Maritza?”
    “Yes, husband,” I said, without thought or hesitation.  
    Elentinus closed his eyes and let out a shuddering sigh.   “I love you so dearly, Maritza.   You prove yourself an irreplaceable treasure again and again.”
    I swallowed.   “I love you, too.   I’m grateful I got a wonderful husband like you instead of someone like Lord Nayjoor.”
    He laughed and hugged me again.   “We’re a perfect match.”      
    I headed back to Inga and Elentinus made a fast stride back toward the far end of the lobby.
    I’m a very obedient wife.   No doubt about that.   Elentinus was worthy of my obedience.   Being obedient was part of the deal here, even though my husband was usually too nice to assert his authority.
    But…
    I said, ‘Yes, husband,’ out of instinct, not because I was actually going to give up on this poor suffering girl.   Father knows best when it comes to Dak-Hiliah stuff.   Dealing with human girls fell squarely into my territory.   She wasn’t leaving here with her life as broken as I found it.   I may not fix everything, but by God, nothing would stop me from trying.
    I went back to the couch and sat beside her.   Inga took my hand.
    “What did he say?   Let me guess—he didn’t like you disabling my shock collar.”
    I felt stricken.   “No.   He’s not like that.”   I took a deep breath.   “He said he was trying to convince Nayjoor not to be such a jerk to you and he wasn’t listening.”  
    Inga scoffed.   “Of course not.   So what?”
    “So I’m planning on talking to Nayjoor the first chance I get.”
    “What do you think that’s going to do?   I don’t mean to be insulting, but are you fucking stupid?   He’s not going to change.   Even if he says he’ll change it will all be bullshit when we get home.   Especially with that asshole Rolf-Tem.   The first thing he’s going to do is get a new control unit.   He’s going to hold the fucking shock button down until his thumb falls off.   That’s what I have to look forward to.”   She shook her head and her lips started quivering again.