by Fiona Jayde
Ada!
I turn my head sharply, calling out her name, immediately regretting my swift jump to my feet as wooziness takes over, leaving me feeling disoriented and a bit nauseated.
Tarian will pay for this infraction. Forcing me back to a people who would have me executed for treason is something I didn’t think even my own brother was capable of doing. I hear nothing beyond the room I am in, and I realize my brother has unceremoniously thrown me on his ship, which means Ada has been taken captive here as well. He will most certainly use her as leverage to get me to do his bidding.
I’ll not stand for this. I will overpower my brother, subdue him if necessary, and drop him off at the next godforsaken planet where he can procure his own way back to Elysius. Then I will take care of my mate and her needs.
I turn in a circle, surveying my surroundings. I am in what I recognize to be a shuttle. It’s meant for solo expeditions, and I can hardly believe my brother would have made this journey without his spacious ship and crew accompanying him. This shuttle is usually attached to a larger ship, ready for use as a back-up vessel should a risky situation arise. At the very least, I expect to see Tarian’s right-hand man, Dywrr, and his annoying visage. Just the thought of more males surrounding my Ada sends my horns shooting straight and tall. If my brother did bring a member of his crew, it will be more difficult to commandeer this shuttle, but I must get Ada away from the political upheaval Tarian wishes to bring me back to.
I move toward the shuttle’s entrance and find the door is firmly secured. Then I hear a rumble from the other side. It sounds like a different ship is powering up. With a sickening feeling landing square in my gut, I rush to the dash and activate communications, attempting to pull up Tarian on vid.
His smug face suddenly appears on my vid screen as he stands in the middle of his command deck with his three crew members. Ada is nowhere in sight.
“Brother, you charksis scum. What have you done? Where is Ada?” I say.
“Since you have refused to play along with all of my well-laid plans, I’m afraid you’ve forced me to take drastic measures in ensuring your cooperation.”
“You can’t do this, Tarian.”
His lazy smile turns serious. “You know I will not allow harm to come to your bond mate, Kyllell, but I will do anything to restore order and place you at your rightful position among the council. It’s what I’ve been fighting for ever since you left.”
I hear his ship taking off, and I curse him for his forethought. He knew I would not go willingly. He knew I would fight him and his crew until I got Ada off his massive ship. He also knew, even if I had gone along willingly, I would never be able to abide four males in such close proximity to her for such an extended period of time. It will take at least seven full rotations to travel to Elysius.
My horns burn with a fury I’ve never known before, and my vision turns indigo with rage. My brother has stolen my mate and placed her among other unmated males on his crew. She will be subject to their pull as well as his, and there is no telling if she will succumb. She has given me no promises other than promising to eventually leave me when Earth is located.
His manipulation tactics are beyond abhorrent, yet I know I have no other choice but to charter a flight in this shuttle and navigate myself back to my home planet.
And he’s taking her. He’s taking my Ada. He made no secret as to his interest in her. The thought of my mate in his arms is nearly too much for me to handle.
With a roar, I try to ram the door down, but the rumble of the ship fades as it accelerates more fully into the sky. I take a moment to calm myself. Although we have not yet performed the bond, I can feel the distance growing between me and Ada.
Tarian knows I will go after them. He knows I will have no choice. As I prepare to launch the shuttle, I note that he has equipped it for the journey. That absolute bastard. He has been many steps ahead of me, it would seem, and I wonder just how long he has been planning my return or how he thought he would get me to follow him if I had never found Ada in the first place. What if he truly did send me here to save my life, hoping to return me to my former position one day? I can forgive most things, but not the abduction of my mate.
No. In this my brother has gone too far.
The shuttle will move more slowly through space than the ship; he will land on Elysius, our home planet, about a day before I do.
He better enjoy it, I think to myself, because when I get there, I am going to kill him.
I wake up, feeling like a freight train decided to take a pass at me…repeatedly.
I blink my eyes, narrowing them into slits even though the lighting in the room is dim. Then I take stock of my situation. I’m in a bed, and I’m in my underwear, which is disconcerting to say the least. Looking around, I see the rest of my clothes laid out in a chair. I touch them and find they are still damp from the hot springs. Good. It hasn’t been all that long. The room is sparsely furnished with this single bunk, the chair, and a tiny water closet that I have absolutely no idea how to use. I decide I’ll relieve myself another time. I don the clothes in a hurry and start to leave the room, but I can’t figure out how to open the damn door.
I think back to the few Star Trek episodes I’ve watched, but I can’t imagine any technology we humans came up with is going to coincide with this disconcerting panel. I slap my hands along the sides, pound my fist against the top, and even throw out an “open sesame” for good measure, but I make zero headway.
Outmaneuvered by an alien’s bedroom door.
Pitiful.
Just as I consider administering several kicks in quick succession, the damn thing slides open with a whoosh, just like it would on Star Trek—go figure—and Tarian walks in, running right into me and catching me before I land hard on my ass. He seems surprised to see me awake. I quickly shrug out of his hold and move back into a defensive position.
“Ah, Ada, I was just coming to check on you.”
“Where’s Kyllell?” I say. I’m seriously not interested in any of his bullshit chit chat.
“He’ll be along soon, I’m sure.” He takes a step forward so I back up even further. I don’t like the feeling of being alone in this small space with him. He most likely disrobed me, which means he’s seen lots of skin. If I didn’t feel the lasting effects of whatever drug he injected me with, I’d be utilizing my extensive martial arts skills. As it stands, the floor beneath me feels very unstable.
“Why did you do this? It seems so...”
“Unnecessary? Aggressive?” He casually leans against the door, displaying zero remorse.
“Well, yeah, and violent. You poisoned me.”
Tarian raises his hands at his sides. “Not poison. Just a little something to help you sleep, and I’m sorry about that. It was clear that you would never leave Kyllell of your own accord, and my brother wasn’t going to come back with me willingly, so…” he shrugs, and it reminds me of Kyllell.
The urge to deck him across the jaw is something I have to work hard to not follow through on. He’s done so much damage to his relationship with his brother, and this latest manipulation takes the proverbial cake.
“There’s a special place in hell for people like you, you know.”
He looks surprised at that.
“Do you know what hell is?” I ask. “It’s a place where people like you go when they die; to burn away the pain they caused on Earth.”
“That sounds fairly uncomfortable,” he replies, giving me an easy shrug of the shoulders.
Asshat.
“How could you treat your brother this way? You exiled him. Who does that?”
Tarian stares at me blankly for a moment. “I’ve already tried to explain why I did what I did. And yes, I am the reason he was exiled, but I am also the reason he is still alive. I’m not as bad as you think.”
“If you wanted to save his life, why attempt to bring him back into a situation so dangerous? He’s still considered a traitor. Nothing has changed simply
because you’ve decided you can’t handle things on your end.”
“This has been the plan all along, Ada. I never meant for my brother to be exiled forever. I simply had to get him someplace safe until I could manipulate things on my end. My brother is a fierce warrior and leader, but he isn’t the best at strategy, diplomacy…or tact.”
I grimace. “Well, I can concur with you on the tact part. He wasn’t subtle in what he wanted from me.”
Tarian’s lips twitch in amusement. “No, Ada. I don’t imagine any male could be when it concerns a female such as yourself.”
I narrow my eyes at his appreciative once-over. “I get your motives, but I’m not a fan of your methods, and I sure as hell don’t trust you.”
“That is fine. I hope I can change your mind since you and my brother are clearly going to be together from now on.”
“We aren’t mated yet.” I definitely want to be, but I’m starting to worry that I might be a liability for Kyllell. I’m already being used as leverage here. What if this type of thing happens again with someone who doesn’t have Kyllell’s interests at heart? What if I’m his weakness?
I may be what he wants…for now, but am I really what he needs? And do I really want to wait around for him to realize that only to pull a Carl on me? I swallow down my doubts and insecurities, praying they don’t show on my face.
Tarian chuckles. “And just what does my brother say concerning your surprising refusal to mate with him? Most females would consider it an honor.”
I give him a scathing look, but it only seems to amuse him more.
“Come, little sister. Let’s find you some food.”
I want to dig my heels in and reject his offer, but the low grumble of my tummy makes that notion seem ludicrous. I’m absolutely starving, and I’m a total stress eater. I follow him out of my room and through the corridors of the ship, wondering what the odds are of finding an alien version of a Snickers Bar on the menu.
If I’d forgotten, somehow, that I’ve literally been abducted by aliens, the ship does nothing to remind me. No shiny surfaces, no beeping machines, no flashing lights. The walk to the mess hall is lined with rich textiles. Lamps on small tables provide light. It feels more like an old, dusty mansion than a ship speeding through space.
So bizarre.
Tarian walks close to me, his hand on the small of my back. It feels possessive, and that annoys me. I bat at his arm. “No touching, please,” I say. He laughs to himself, almost as if he is charmed by my dislike.
He stops outside a doorway and turns to look at me. “I feel I should warn you, little sister, my people are…fairly aggressive when it comes to females.”
Time for an eye roll. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
“Yes. Well, my brother and I are the least of your worries. My crew is eating in the mess hall right now. They’re a small group, and my most loyal men. They know that you and my brother are involved, but because you are not officially bonded they may try to put their pull on you.”
“I'm sorry, they might try to what?”
“Their pull…you know. They may try to sway you into an attraction and pull you to them with a mental bond.”
I blink in shock. “Is that what that overwhelming feeling of needing to be in your arms is all about? You Elysiums try to reel females in with an alien version of a siren song?”
“I don’t know what a siren is, but reeling females in is something my crew and I do best.” His grin is lecherous, and I find it strangely endearing, almost as if I should swat him for misbehaving like I would a younger brother. “Did Kyllell not explain? No, I suppose he didn’t. It's a rather awkward thing to explain. Just make sure you watch out for yourself.”
“No problem,” I say, pushing past him and smacking my hand against a tiny node along the wall…which opens the sliding door. Victory. Take that alien technology.
As it opens, the quiet chatter of voices stops. An overwhelming silence greets me as I enter the room. Three giant Elysiums sit around a table, looking at me like I’m their next meal. I’m instantly inundated by the feeling of mental pulls. I try to swat at them with my arms, which makes no impact, of course.
“I swear to every single one of you, and every God you’ve ever believed in, if you don’t cut out that invasive mental pull you’re trying to control me with, I will use every martial arts move I know and kick your ugly, green asses.”
Their eyes widen in disbelief for a moment before huge grins spread wide across their faces. Then everyone breaks out into gruff peels of laughter. They can laugh all they want, underestimate me all they want, but they won’t know what hit them if they keep this up. I feel one more mental pull from the Elysium on the right, and I give him a pointed glare. He keeps his grin, but the assault finally tapers off.
Tarian steps in front of me, laughing to himself. “Enough now, all of you. Let her eat.”
The males get out of their chairs and surround me, gently ushering me to the table with the sweetest expressions on their faces. I’m so overwhelmed by their collective presence and the chivalrous way in which they guide me to my chair, that I don’t even think to throw a punch or land a kick. I’m just along for the ride, it would seem.
One lays a plate of food in front of me while another pours me a drink. I taste it and find it tastes like a bubbly mead. The food seems simple, but it smells delicious, and I dig in right away. The men all return to their seats, and silence prevails until the one directly across from me finally has the courage to speak up.
“I’m Dywrr, the smartest male of this group and certainly someone you should consider as your potential bed partner if you ever find Kyllell as boring as the rest of us do.” The group laughs at something I’m assuming must be a bit of an inside joke, but I find myself smiling despite this rather unorthodox situation. Technically I’m a captive…so what exactly is my emotional obligation here? Is it normal to make friends with the kidnappers?
Ah, what the hell? Nothing about my life has gone according to plan in the last few days. Why should my abduction be any different?
“Wow. Do all of you Elysiums have such an engaging way with females or is having an enormous ego a cultural thing?”
“We’re Elysiums,” he says, leaning back in his chair. “Most females wouldn’t think twice about mating us.”
“That’s because you don’t give them a chance…what with your freaky mind pull.”
“Which you seem to be immune to.” Genuine curiosity shines in his gaze. “Is this normal for your females?”
“I have no idea. I think I’m the first human female to have ever been in the presence of an Elysium.”
“That’s not entirely—”
“Bodeth, care to introduce yourself and everyone else?” Tarian cuts in quickly.
I give him a questioning look, but his easygoing expression reveals nothing. Sneaky bastard.
Dywrr’s horns unfurl ever so slightly as his eyes linger on mine. I notice that everyone’s horns within the room have maintained their original color. No black horns in this joint. Guess Kyllell’s claim that I’m his bond mate is holding true.
Not that I really doubted him.
Bodeth, the Elysium sitting next to Dywrr, clears his throat and gives me a nod. “Dywrr is the muscle of our crew. He handles security.”
I imagine that means he busts heads like no one’s business. He looks the part; more rugged and dangerous, broader shoulders than I have ever seen on another living thing, and a face covered in scars. Still, his eyes are kind…and roving over me like he’d enjoy going down on me every day of the week.
Good glory. Human men could take a few lessons from these Elysium males in transparency when dating.
“I’m Bodeth, head intelligence officer, which makes me very interested in discovering just how you managed to meet our commander’s brother without going through the proper channels.”
“What proper channels?”
“I’m fairly certain I tried to steer us clear of that partic
ular topic,” Tarian says with no small amount of annoyance.
I look between Tarian and Bodeth, who is giving his commander a shit-eating grin. Awesome. Loose lips sink ships.
“Do you mean to tell me there are proper channels for a human female to meet an Elysium male?” I say, giving Tarian my best don’t you dare bullshit me look.
He sighs heavily. “We’ll get into that a bit later. Right now, I think we should just focus on introductions.”
I’m burning with curiosity here, but I let it slide as Bodeth indicates the Elysium on his other side.
“This is Laoth, our logistics guy, spy, and procurer of hard to acquire oddities.”
Laoth gives me a nod, but continues eating, barely taking a break in his chewing.
Acquiring oddities, huh? I raise my eyebrows because that doesn’t sound at all suspicious.
“Sounds like you guys dance a fine line between legal and not so legal.”
Dywrr leans across the table from me and lightly draws a retracted, black nail across my arm. “Why sweet little human, whatever gave you that idea?”
I notice his horns unfurling a tad bit more, red discoloration rimming the base of each. Interesting. This particular Elysium seems to be more taken by me than the others.
I lean forward until my lips are just a few inches from his, feeling satisfied when his eyes widen in anticipation. “Your horns are burning,” I whisper before pulling back. Dywrr’s mouth breaks into a wide grin as the rest of the males bust out into husky barks of laughter.
“It is astounding to discover a female who doesn’t immediately fall at your feet,” Bodeth says, giving Dywrr a punch to the shoulder. “You’ve lost your touch when it comes to conquering your females.”
“I suppose Kyllell’s horns do it for you more than mine do, huh?” Dywrr asks, taking his comrade’s good-natured teasing.
I shrug. “His horns are usually black and sticking straight in the air, to be perfectly honest with you.”
The room instantly goes silent, while Tarian’s crew gawks at me with varying expressions of shock and disbelief.