Never Blamed: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Chosen Narratives Book 1)

by Sabrina Kade

  I stare at the Sidyth for a moment, still trying to process his strange words. What he’s talking about is crazy. Sidyths are not supposed to concern themselves with finding someone they genuinely care for. They only care about furthering their name and status. So to hear Chimase talk about his disgust with Vydeka wanting his families name is almost treacherous. But of course, I don’t say that.

  “Just the same… uh, Wolband Etansyl—”

  “Chimase,” he interrupts, still looking at the bars over my door. “You humans and your sirs and misters. Calling me Wolband is just as insulting. Call me by my name.”

  “I rather not.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes,” I grumble, trying to keep my wits about me. “That’s so. Just the same, I think you should go. Soh won’t be happy to see you here and—”

  “Sohmac Tendalson will not be coming.”

  My heart stops. I feel my hand grip the sheet more tightly as a cold sweat hits the tip of my nose and the top of my lip.

  “Y-yes… yes, he is,” is all I can manage.

  “No. I am afraid that he is not.” There’s a ruffling of papers, but I can’t lift my head to see what Chimase is doing. “I’m afraid he transferred your ownership documentation to the hospital. They were going to take you to the auction house—”

  “You’re lying!”

  Without thinking, I push myself out of bed and snatch the papers from his hand. Soh wouldn’t. Soh wouldn’t do this to me. After everything we’ve been through, Soh wouldn’t do this to me. He wouldn’t abandon me. He loves me. He said he would Choose me if he could.

  My eyes water as I realize that I can’t read the paper very well. I can speak Sidese, and I can write it, but the paperwork is all in technical terms and most of the words aren’t very familiar. Plus, my vision’s starting to blur.

  “He wouldn’t,” I gasp. “He wouldn’t just abandon me here. I can’t go to the auction house. Not again.”

  I know what happens in those houses. They’re practically brothels. I’d be sent to the highest bidding alien. He’ll get a romp with a human and leave me broken and bruised until the next buyer comes. That’s what happens to most humans. Many are drugged so they can’t feel pain. Some Sidyths like it rough. Some want to punish human females so they can feel strong without the state backing them. And some simply hate how we look and want to beat on one for a few hours.

  “You must calm yourself—” Chimase starts, leaning forward in his chair, but I slap his hand away.

  “Don’t tell me to calm down! You have no idea what I’m going through, Wolband Etansyl.”

  His hand pulls back. He doesn’t say anything, and I snarl triumphantly. I’m not sure where all my sass comes from. Usually, I would never speak to a male Sidyth like this, but something about Chimase gives me the courage to be like the woman I was on Earth, not the submissive baby I’ve had to become to stay alive. Still, I’m surprised when Chimase doesn’t slap or grab me. He doesn’t call for assistance to calm me down. And this in itself, forces me to relax, sniffing heavily.

  “I can’t read the paperwork,” I admit in a low voice. “Did he really turn over my ownership papers to the hospital?” Chimase doesn’t answer right away, but when I lift my head and look into his eyes, it’s all the answer I need. I bury myself back into the blanket as the tears come again.

  Shit. I’ve lost the only good thing about this terrible situation. I’ve lost Soh.

  “Why couldn’t you just leave me alone?” I mutter into the heavy fabric.

  “I’m sorry?” Chimase sounds perplexed, but now my sadness is shifting into anger.

  “I’ve lost my home. My partner. My friend. I’ve lost everything because of you.”

  “Let me explain—”

  “Fuck off,” I grumble, standing from the bed. The space is tiny enough that I can barely move to the barred doorway without bumping into the alien sitting there, but I manage and circle my fingers around the bars. “Can someone please come down here?” I shout in Sidese. “There’s been a mistake. May I use the voice comm?”

  “What are you doing?” Chimase asks from behind me.

  “I need to talk to Soh. I’m sure if I explain this to him, or if you tell him this is your fault, then maybe this can be salvaged. Can someone please come down here and let me call my owner? He’s my owner! I need to talk to him!” My eyes grow hot and prickly as I continue to cry out for anyone who walks past my room, but hardly anyone looks at me. The only person who does respond looks past me to Chimase and asks if he’s okay. I don’t turn to see his response, but the nurse looks satisfied enough as she moves along.

  “Come back here!” I roar. “Now! Let me call him. Please just let me call him...”

  “He is gone.” I hear Chimase standing up, the metal chair grinding against the floor as he moves, and I grip the bars more tightly, shaking them. “He has left, Hollis. Your papers are here. With me. Soh is no longer your owner.”

  The words sting as I press my forehead against the bars. “This is all your fault. If you would have just left me alone. If you and your little partner would have left me alone.”

  “I’m sorry for what Vydeka did to you. But you needn’t worry. Such actions will not be repeated without consequences from now on.”

  “Yeah.” I scoff against the bars. “Because now I’m going to be a true sex slave.”

  “You will be no such thing.”

  “Of course.” I bark out a laugh, hardly noticing Chimase’s hand against my back. I want to swat him away again, but I’m scared because Soh isn’t here to bail me out. I’m ownerless. I belong to the hospital, and they’re taking me to the auction house as soon as my health is cleared. “Didn’t you hear? I sure did.”

  “You will not be going to an auction house. I bought out your contract. Legally, you belong to me.”

  A different wave of panic washes over me. I grip the bars more tightly. “Great.”

  “I may have bought out your contract, but I do not want to be seen as your owner. Or master. Or whatever nonsense that Sohmac made you believe.”

  I snarl, not sure what kind of game he’s playing. “Soh was good to me.”

  “Sohmac Tendalson was good enough to you.”

  I sniff hard and turn over my shoulder, meeting Chimase’s golden eyes. Despite his low, kindly voice, he’s enormous, and I have to tilt my head pretty far back to meet his expression. His eyes are slightly hooded, his lips parted. A few stray, pale hairs have escaped from his orderly do, giving him an almost romance novel like appearance. I don’t like what his physical presence does to me. I’m trying to be mad, but now I’m also trying not to get turned on. He’s got to be at least twenty years younger than Soh, and though he’s more built, he’s less thick. He’s more streamlined. The fabric over his chest pulls slightly, and I swear to God, something’s happening in his pants.

  Is he hard?

  “What’s wrong with you?” I can’t help muttering, hoping he thinks I’m talking about the situation in general and not the tent situation happening in his trousers.

  He seems surprised by my question, taking a step back. It feels odd not to have him so close. I need to get my shit together. Just because he doesn’t look like an alien version of someone old enough to be my daddy, doesn’t mean I should throw all caution to the wind and get excited.

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean.”

  “You,” I say in a low voice, making sure others can’t hear us. “You do realize I’m human, right?”

  He smirks. “I’m very much aware.”

  “So why are you doing all of this? Watching over me in the hospital? Buying out my contract? Does your family do human charitable work or something?” He shakes his head. “Then what? I’m sorry, but I don’t understand why you’re so interested in what happens to me.”

  “Why?” His lips press together as though he’s trying to think of an answer himself.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  His eyes loc
k on mine. “I suppose that in simple terms, your fascinated me.” He lifts a hand and punches his chest with enough force that even I feel winded. “You felt like… a spar. That’s never happened before. I became interested if seeing you again would cause the same reaction.”

  “And?” I can’t help asking.

  “Still fascinated.”

  A fierce blush hits my cheeks without permission. My eyes widen, and I spin away so he can’t see how he’s made me react. I don’t feel anything for this dude. Or at least, I shouldn’t. He’s an alien. He’s a Sidyth. He’s not Soh. There’s no way he’s serious. This is all some sort of game. I feel a hand start to move over my shoulder again.

  “Stop.”

  The hand freezes and I take a deep breath.

  “Stop. Whatever you’re doing, I don’t like it. I know that you guys view us as toys and animals, but I swear to God, humans aren’t that stupid. I don’t like being toyed with.”

  “Is that what you believe I’m doing?”

  “I know that’s what you’re doing.”

  “Your reaction earlier tells me that what I said to you was welcome news.”

  I spin around and face him, resisting the urge to slap him across the face for his brashness. “I can’t help how my body reacts! You said something nice! It’s only natural for me to blush.”

  “Is that what it was?” He leans in slightly, lifting his hand before his eyes meet mine with a questioning expression. “May I?”

  I swallow hard. “What are you going to do?”

  “I am not going to hurt you, but I also do not want to frighten you. That rush of pink across your cheeks? That is called a blush, yes?”

  Frowning when I don’t answer, he leans in closer, hand still raised. I pinch my eyes shut for a moment, convinced that something awful is about to happen, and of course there’s nothing I can do about it. Shockingly, rough finger pads lightly brush against my skin. He finds my cheekbone and keeps his fingers there for a few seconds, silent as he touches the area.

  “You were pink here. That is where you blush?”

  My face grows hot.

  “I suppose I don’t need an answer,” he says with a smile in his voice. “I see it quite clearly now. And this blush? This is good, yes? Or is it bad? Am I hurting you?” I slowly open my eyes, and I’m shocked by how close Chimase’s face is to mine. But he’s not trying to kiss me or steal pleasure. His attention is locked on my cheek. “This does not mean pain, yes?”

  “It doesn’t.” I’m barely able to get the words out as I feel Chimase’s hand relax against my skin. He’s so gentle. It’s odd. Even Soh was never this gentle. He was rarely openly cruel, but never so soft.

  Soh. My eyes start to water again at the idea of losing him.

  Chimase’s hand disappears in a flash.

  “That blush does mean pain!”

  “It doesn’t,” I say quickly, brushing stray tears away. “I swear it doesn’t. I was thinking about Soh.” Chimase snorts. “I’m sorry, but he’s still my first and only owner. He treats me well. He taught me to speak. He gave me a voice here that not many humans have.”

  Chimase seems to consider this, and as much as I want to ask him what he’s thinking about, the words don’t come. I swear I can’t get a good read on this guy.

  “I’ve got some work ahead of me.”

  His words leave me even more confused, but I don’t ask him to clarify. I’m afraid what he’ll say.

  “Look,” he says instead. “If you come with me, I will try to see if I can work something out with Sohmac, okay? You want to see him again, don’t you?”

  “I want to go back home to him.”

  He shakes his head as though disappointed. “That will not happen.”

  I sigh loudly.

  “But if anyone will be able to give you the means to contact him again, it is me. I don’t think you’re getting a bad deal, Hollis. Come with me. I have bought your contract, but I do not own you.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.” I snarl.

  Chimase doesn’t seem concerned. “Whatever you must tell yourself. Truly, if you want to stay here to be given to the auction house, I suppose that is your choice. I will not take a female without consent. That would make me no better than a rutting female. Besides, I am not looking to kidnap a human.”

  I blow a raspberry at him, ignoring his shocked expression. “You’d seriously just let me go to an auction house?”

  “If that’s truly what you desire.”

  “What I desire is Soh.”

  “Then your best chance is with me.” He shrugs and leans closer. “Am I so terrible an option? Would you rather go to the auction house or with me? I will let you decide.”

  “This doesn’t make sense. Sidyths don’t let humans choose things. I’ve been here for almost four years, and you’re the first one.”

  “But Sohmac—”

  “Seriously, what’s wrong with you?”

  Again, he seems to consider my question. Intense, golden eyes lower as he takes a step back to lean against the wall and crosses his arms. Briefly, I wonder if I’m making a huge mistake. Soh isn’t an option. Chimase is. And while he’s not Soh, he hasn’t done anything terrible yet. I’m alive because of him. Vydeka wanted to kill me. I can’t ignore those facts.

  Plus, even though I haven’t pointed it out to Chimase, I heard him say to a nurse that I was his.

  She’s mine.

  I can’t ignore that either. It didn’t sound like he was claiming property.

  That alone makes me step closer to him.

  “I’ll go with you. On one condition.”

  “Oh?” He seems amused. “And what condition is that? I promise that I won’t seek pleasure unless you want—”

  “I want to see Soh.”

  Chimase’s expression shifts. There’s a trace of annoyance in his face. But I can’t force myself to take the request back. I have to talk to Soh. I have to see him. I have to explain that this was all one big misunderstanding. And if he sees me and hears what I have to say, I know he’ll take me back. Maybe we can move someplace else. Someplace where people don’t know us. Someplace with fewer families of influence. We could be happy together if I can see him again.

  “If you promise I can see Soh again, I’ll go with you. You’ll be my new owner.”

  His frown deepens, hissing slightly. “I bought out your contract, but I have no desire to own you—”

  “Do we have a deal or not?” I thrust my hand towards him, fingers outstretched. Chimase uncrosses his arms and stares down. “It’s a human thing,” I explain. “We’re making a deal. It’s like a contract. If you take my hand and shake it, we’ll have a deal. I’ll come home with you, and you’ll let me see Soh.”

  “This is a formal contract?” He keeps staring hard at my hand. “And this works on your homeland?”

  I nod, not wanting to elaborate. I need Chimase to understand that he’s making a promise to let me see Soh again. A commitment to let me explain myself to my former owner. Once he shakes my hand, I’ll feel so much better.

  But will he keep his promise? Can I trust a male Sidyth with so much influence?

  He could be lying.

  I pull my hand back for a moment.

  “You understand what I’m saying, don’t you? If you take my hand? If you shake my hand? Then you’re going to have to let me see Soh at some point. He’s my owner. I care about him deeply. I want him to at least know that I didn’t try to humiliate him.”

  “These sentiments could be passed without physical interaction.”

  I shake my head. “No, they can’t. Soh needs to see me. I need to see him. Once he knows what happened—”

  “And what did happen, human? Don’t tell me you’re still trying to steal my mate?”

  My eyes widen, and I jump away from the bars, practically stumbling into Chimase who holds me steady against his firm chest. He’s chilly, and I quickly scramble away so I can see the owner of the voice.

  A wo
man with a grin like a python and sky-blue scales on her forehead leers back at me.

  “Go home, Vydeka.” Chimase sounds irritated beyond belief.

  “What?” She attempts and fails to sound innocent as she loops her long, slender arms through the bars. “I wanted to see if the little human was okay.”

  “She is. Now go.”

  “I think I’ll stick around.” She grins again, showing off an impressive set of fangs, but not before Chimase steps up to the bars.

  “You will go home. And you will cause this female no more problems.”

  “Oh? And why’s that?”

  “Because she’s mine. And if you damage any property belonging to the Etansyl name, I can assure you there will be a problem not only for you but your family. I may not be cruel enough to report you, but someone of name watching this, may.” Vydeka flinches. “You will leave her be, Vydeka. Is this understood?”

  I bristle slightly, but Vydeka’s entire body shakes with anger. Her tongue darts out several times and she releases a few menacing hisses that chill me to the core. I’m partially afraid she’s going to rip off the bars of my room only to rip out my throat. Her almond-shaped eyes land on me and she hisses at me directly. Her forked tongue darts out from her lips several more times and her fangs look more prominent against her feminine lips. She would be a supermodel and a snake if they had a baby as far as I’m concerned.

  I back further away from the bars.

  This isn’t good.

  “L-look,” I say in a trembling voice, all but flinching when she hisses at me again for speaking. “You’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

  “Then say your little speech, human. I’m sure Sohmac trained you well.”

  “I’m not looking to steal your Chosen mate. I’m human. That’s ridiculous. But I’ve been abandoned by my owner. He left me, and Chimase has been kind enough to buy out my contract.” I stop for a moment when Vydeka lets out another terrifying hiss but quickly gather my nerves so I can keep going. “But he’s going to try to send me back to Soh. And once I talk to Soh, I’m going to convince him that we should move far away from here. That’s something you want, isn’t it?”