Devil In Exile: A Scifi Alien Mates Romance Novel (Warriors Of Elysius Book 1)

by Fiona Jayde

  “Chancellor Derwag himself stated the female was handed over by the humans for study. If the female’s body shows signs of distress, we will remove the young, all but one, and put them in synthetic wombs.”

  What the actual fuck? Is that even possible? I try to speak, but my mouth feels like cotton, and I can’t get anything out.

  An alliance would suggest a foundation of trust, and these assholes have done nothing but violate me. My lower abdomen begins to sting, and then I’m hit with a pain so intense I can’t hold back my scream.

  ※※※※

  I don’t know if I blacked out from the pain or if I was given another sedative, but I’m fighting for consciousness again with no way of knowing how much time has passed…and no way of knowing if I’ve been impregnated with some random Elysium’s sperm. I crack my eyes open just a tiny bit and look around the room. It looks like a futuristic lab right out of a horror flick. I’m clothed, so that’s something, and my restraints have been loosened somewhat.

  A large Elysium stands beside me, checking my pulse. He notices that I am stirring and puts his hand on my wrist to still it. He leans close to my ear and whispers, “It is all right, Ada. I stopped them from performing the procedure. Kyllell is coming for you. It won’t be long now.”

  I don’t know how this is possible, but I cling to the idea and pray this guy isn’t shitting me. I try to hold on to consciousness for as long as I can.

  I’m not successful. After a moment, I find myself spiraling back into blackness.

  This plan of yours has gone to shit,” I say to Tarian as we hurriedly move along the busy streets of Korath, attempting to blend in with the surrounding crowds in our misshapen cloaks. The streets are filled with our warriors, citizens, and Derwag’s guards.

  It is complete and utter madness.

  “I had not counted on them taking Ada. I had no idea you would find your bond mate on that godforsaken planet,” he hissed. “We need Ada. The council can no longer uphold Derwag as chancellor, but he still has leverage if he has your mate. We can’t move forward without her.”

  “Derwag isn’t our only worry. Someone else is whispering in his ear.”

  Tarian speeds down a filthy alley, beckoning me to follow. “So you noticed our current chancellor isn’t quite the strategist he appears to be.”

  “What is really going on here, Tarian?”

  “Everything I told you is the truth. I saved your life the day I convinced Derwag to have you exiled. I’ve slowly wrought dissension within the military’s ranks, thus putting pressure on the council and causing a situation where the alliance is at risk if you are not returned. They thought you were here to swear fealty to them and reunite the military, but I fully intended to have you reveal Derwag’s misdeeds and take over the role of chancellor as soon as possible. The details have slightly changed, but the outcome is still the same. Unfortunately, Derwag is not the brains behind the council. He is the front man. I can place you in the chancellor’s seat on the council, but we will be dealing with a traitor, possibly more than one once you rise to position. The goal, however, is to get you into position first. We can root out the evil among our ranks afterward. Step-by-step, brother, we will make this right. ”

  We cross to the sick med building, doing our utmost to remain casual and unassuming as the sliding doors fold back and allow us entrance.

  “I cannot believe we are simply walking in here with no plan,” I say. “I also cannot believe there are no warriors here waiting for us to rescue my mate. Derwag knows this is the first place I would go to find her.”

  Tarian’s grin is filled with wicked excitement. “He is a bit preoccupied. Do you really think I would have allowed Ada to be taken here if I didn’t already have men within these ranks working for me?”

  I shake my head, recognizing for the first time that my brother really is a born strategist. His skills will be very useful to me as my second on the council.

  As we hurriedly make our way through the sterile building, down blindingly bright hallways, and past more rooms than I can count, I begin to feel that tug between my mate and I grow stronger.

  “You need to explain the bond to Ada, Kyllell. She has no idea your auras are now linked.”

  His words nearly stop me in my tracks.

  “What do you mean she has no idea? I explained what it was. I told her both parties had to accept it.”

  “You must have failed to communicate something because as far as she is concerned, the bonding never happened, and she thinks she needs to allow you to seek out your options within the mating program the alliance has set up.”

  “That is never happening,” I say as my horns burn in agreement. I can already feel them unfurling at the thought of Ada refusing the bond.

  Tarian stops and turns to face me. “She doesn’t know, brother. She has no idea she accepted the bond. She didn’t understand the process well enough to know what she was doing. Did you tell her you were going to attempt the bonding? Did you give her any warning?”

  My heart sinks as I realize how we miscommunicated. I was focused on nothing more than claiming her before any other male had a chance to. I curse my rash behavior and my own stupidity. She didn’t knowingly choose this, and my independent Ada is not going to be happy when I tell her what happened.

  “She may not know her own head, but her heart has already chosen me. The bond is proof of that. I will explain it, and she will accept it because I will take no other mate but her.”

  He looks satisfied with my response, and we continue on.

  Then I begin to doubt my own convictions. I have already failed to protect my mate once, and this situation could quickly devolve into more bloodshed. Is it better to send Ada back to Earth despite the bond if it means keeping her safe?

  But at what emotional cost to her? It is one thing to be separated within a city for a period of time, but to stretch the bond between planets, possibly galaxies—I have no concept of Earth’s location in relation to my own—could cause untold damage to her aura and mine. If I am to stay and become chancellor, unite my people, and save these alliances, then I cannot be incapacitated by an impaired bond, and I will not be able to abandon my people and travel to Earth with Ada. Of course, if she wishes to return to Earth and refuses to acknowledge our bond, then it isn’t as if I will have that option.

  My thoughts swirl at the complications of this situation.

  Goddess, how could I have bonded with her without her knowledge? Without the bond, the situation would be clear. I would send Ada back to Earth, give her up to keep her safe, though it would kill me to do so. Yet now our bond might do her more harm if she leaves.

  The fine thread of that very bond, caused by distance, is now thickening, growing stronger until we turn a corner and rush into a small room where an Elysium is cradling her in his arms with a worried look on his face.

  I nearly snarl at the sight of her in another male’s arms, but I recognize Llykketh at the last moment and resist the urge to strangle him.

  “I arrived here and took out the scientists the moment you called me, Tarian, but I wasn’t here fast enough. They had already begun doing tests on her.”

  Tarian’s growl is just as loud and agonized as my own.

  “What did they do?” I ask, striding forward and taking her from Llykketh’s outstretched arms.

  Her head lolls to the side as I pull her tight against my chest. The paleness of her skin against her normal olive complexion is alarming.

  “They took tissue samples and began invasive surgery to determine the compatibility of her reproductive organs. It looked as if they had already retrieved some of her eggs, planning to fertilize them and impregnate her. I managed to stop the procedure before they could implant the eggs. I forced them to seal up the wound to her abdomen. It is healing, but she isn’t reacting to the medications like a normal Elysium female.”

  Tarian lets out a frustrated growl as I place Ada on the bed and check her abdomen. There is a slight pink
line, but no other damage that I can see. That doesn’t mean she couldn’t be suffering from something far worse. What exactly were they able to accomplish before Llykketh arrived? Then I check her pulse and her breathing, growing increasingly worried when I notice her pulse is faint and her breathing shallow.

  Guilt floods my being. She will be a target as long as I stay here on this planet, and it is clear that I am unworthy, incapable of protecting her as a true Elysium mate should.

  “I’m going kill every last one of those scientists,” I say.

  Llykketh grimaces, showing severe signs of distress. “I already rendered the staff unconscious. It pained me to do that since some of our healers were present and clearly against the procedure. They were merely under orders, after all.”

  I nod and scoop my mate into my arms.

  “We need to find someone who can determine whether or not she will recover.”

  My brother ponders for a moment. “I can think of only one healer who is still practicing the old ways.”

  “Glaoch,” I say.

  Tarian swiftly turns and leads us out of the room with Llykketh following closely behind us.

  “We’ll have to take the back way out,” Llykketh says. “I’ve already received comm orders from Derwag to arrest you on sight. The few warriors who remain loyal to him will most likely be here any minute.”

  “Then we better be gone by the time they arrive,” Tarian says.

  I glance down at my mate, worry gnawing at my insides as I stare at her pale, sunken cheeks. I have failed my bond mate already, and I will never forgive myself.

  ※※※※

  Ada

  When I wake up again, I’m not in the bed any longer. It only takes me a moment to smell the warm, masculine scent of Kyllell. We are running. Well, he is running. I’m just being held and protected. I snuggle closer and breathe him in. He found me.

  I can feel him all around me, that aching in my chest no longer present.

  Kyllell finally stops running and crouches down as if waiting for an opening to move on. He cradles me in his lap.

  I cough a little, and Kyllell’s face drops close to mine. He whispers soothing sounds against my cheek. He clucks like a hen—a noise I am surprised to find very calming—and then covers my face with kisses.

  I’m out of it for sure, but one thought rises above all others: I love him. I don’t want to be without him. I feel his love, fierce and final, in every touch on my too-hot skin. I don’t know what to do with this overwhelming emotion, but for now, I let myself bask in it, loving the affection he gives me.

  “Who’s that?” I hear Tarian say.

  “Where?” Kyllell asks.

  “That way. I heard footsteps.”

  “Someone in this alley looking for Glaoch?” comes a creaky voice from some distance away.

  “Yes,” Kyllell says.

  “And who are you?”

  “Kyllell, son of Koath.”

  “Impossible!” the voice says, moving closer. “Can it be…?”

  “Hello, old friend,” Kyllell responds. “It is good to see you again.”

  I blink my eyes, trying to focus in on the bent, cloaked form moving toward us, but the inky darkness of the night makes it difficult to pick out any details.

  “And you,” Glaoch replies suspiciously. “But I see we are not alone.”

  “I am here as a friend,” Tarian says.

  “I remember a time when that was true,” Glaoch replies. “But I do not know if I believe it now.”

  “He can be trusted, Glaoch. I swear on my father’s resting ground,” Kyllell says.

  Weird. This is all very nice and formal. Now where in the world are we, and what is our next move?

  Most important question of all. Am I pregnant? Because I cannot be pregnant right now. Really bad timing…I won’t even know…who the father is. Fuzzy thoughts. I have lots of fuzzy thoughts.

  “I will not question your judgment, then. Though I must say, strange rumblings and rumors have reached my ears. The majority of our military and our citizens are up in arms against the council. They’ve rallied around the Central Assembly of Elysius, demanding Derwag’s execution and Kyllell’s placement as our new chancellor.”

  This is definitely news to me. I stare up at Kyllell in shock.

  “Why the hell does all the interesting stuff happen when I’m unconscious?” I’m seriously pissed I wasn’t in on all this action.

  Kyllell and Tarian let out easy chuckles as this older Elysium moves closer and places a hand on my forehead. I find his touch surprisingly gentle and soothing. I turn my head, trying to rest my cheek in his palm. “And who is this?”

  “Your new patient,” Kyllell says. “Please. My mate needs your help.”

  I do?

  “Your mate?” Glaoch says with astonishment. “The great Kyllell has taken a mate?”

  Tarian chuckles. “I know, it is a surprise to all of us. She won’t have him right now, though. She needs more convincing.”

  “Oh, does she?” Glaoch replies, laughter in his voice. “Even though they are already bonded? Sounds like she has already had him.”

  Already bonded? Since when?

  “We can discuss this later,” Kyllell growls. “She’s ill.”

  “And she is human. Very surprising, indeed. I did not realize our negotiations had already brought females to our planet.”

  “They haven’t. That is a story for another time.”

  “I can help her. I have worked with humans before.”

  “You have?” Tarian says, sounding surprised. “When…?”

  Huh. That is a surprise.

  “This is a story for another time,” Glaoch says, as he begins to poke at me. “Tell me what happened to this human.”

  Tarian retells the events of the last few days. I’m too tired to think about this anymore. I let the voices wash over me. I think about falling back to sleep when I hear Tarian say, “The sedation hasn’t worn off, and her pulse is weak. We worry she is having a strange reaction because she is human.”

  Glaoch makes a “hmmm” noise. He takes my wrist to feel my pulse. A finger touches my top lip, checking for breathing, I assume.

  “I’m impressed you convinced her to bond with you. Humans are tricky. They can be resistant.”

  “I have not bonded with anyone,” I slur my words.

  “Yes,” Kyllell grumbles, “I have experienced this resistance firsthand. It would seem the sedation is making her forget just how much she wants me.”

  “But they are also very sensitive once bonded.”

  “Who you calling sensitive, asshole?” I mumble.

  Tarian laughs. “We had guessed as much. She is quite a tough little thing.”

  Glaoch chuckles. “Every day will be an adventure with this one, my friend.”

  “She will live?” Kyllell’s voice is wavering as he asks the question. I feel my heart skip a beat.

  “Yes, Kyllell of Koath. She will live.”

  Glad to hear it, I think to myself, and I let sleep consume me.

  ※※※※

  Kyllell

  I carry Ada through dark alleys, staying out of the way of any foot traffic. Glaoch is with me, giving me instructions. I listen carefully. They seem simple enough. If he asks me to stand on my head while Chassaks shoot quills at me, I will do it if it means keeping my Ada alive and well.

  “I will take you to a place where you will stay for the next rotation,” Glaoch says. “For now, stay close together. Never apart; do not go outside for any reason.”

  Tarian rolls his eyes at that. I imagine he’s thinking that will not be a problem, and he is right.

  Of course, Ada will have other ideas. After an entire rotation, I imagine she will be begging for some space. My fierce, independent female does not tolerate being contained very well, but we will handle that problem when we come to it.

  For now, I will hold her. I will let others figure out how to keep us hidden. As I gather her in my arms
, I hear Tarian bargaining a price with Glaoch. “Three creeva,” he says.

  “Five creeva,” Glaoch says.

  “Four creeva, and no more.”

  Glaoch must agree, because he and Tarian clasp hands. My brother comes back to me as I shift my mate in my arms, attempting to make her a bit more comfortable.

  “It should be safe for you and Ada to remain here until the council is ready to bend to the wishes of the people. I will be facilitating this transition now and return with the details. Still, I would not go out in public until the edict has been decided and a proper date for your induction has been set. We do not want one of Derwag’s men to assassinate you before you officially become chancellor.”

  “Thank you, brother,” I say, putting my hand on his shoulder. “I am sorry I doubted you.”

  Tarian shakes his head. “You had good reason, but you should know that I will always be on your side and Ada’s side as well.”

  Glaoch gestures for us to follow, and we go down a long, narrow alley. I hear ships and railcars in the distance, but we see no sign of Derwag’s guards. He stops in the middle of the alley and faces the wall. Then he opens a small door I had not noticed before. He gestures for us to follow him inside.

  Tarian touches my shoulder. “I will leave you here for now, brother. I have a rebellion to oversee. Just know that your part will need to be played very soon. I’ll return for you later.”

  Glaoch clears his throat. “We must enter. It is not safe to be out here so exposed.”

  I acknowledge him with a nod and turn back to Tarian. “We have things to talk about.”

  “I look forward to it, brother.” He grins at me. “Being mated has certainly changed your battle lust. You wouldn’t normally be so willing to sit out a fight of this magnitude.”

  “Perhaps I trust in my brother’s cunning strategy to ensure our victory.”

  His ready grin falters as his eyes grow serious. He swallows down some heavy emotion, which is not something I see very often. He’s generally all playful charm, always entertaining and charismatic.