Alien Romance: Seized By The Alien: Scifi Alien Abduction Romance (Alien Romance, Alien Invasion Romance, BBW) (Celestial Protectors Book 1)

by Aana Celestya

  "You are confined to the women's quarters," he said at last, his voice rough with emotion, "And from now on you will be under guard."

  "What?" Astrid shrieked, struggling to get out of his arms, "Didn't you hear what I said?! Take me home!"

  By now the ruckus had drawn guards, who looked at Hestian in startled horror when they saw the blood on his face. They took Astrid by the arms at the Prince's orders and Hestian escorted them until they reached the women's quarters. They tossed her in, and Astrid heard the lock click behind her.

  She kicked the door in frustration and considered going right back out the window again. But it was already well past midnight and her ears were still ringing from the blow to the head. She'd have a bruise tomorrow.

  With a huff of irritation, she slunk back to the room the Hesperides had given her, ignoring a curious looking Tara, clutching a glass of water, who watched her with wide eyes.

  Astrid fell into her bed, angry tears stinging her eyes, and tried not to think about the sight of Hestian tearing out that man's throat. A relatively easy task, compared to forgetting how safe and right she had felt when he'd held her in his arms.

  Chapter Six

  The next day, Astrid dined with the Hesperides on strange fruits and exotic wines. She'd protested at first on the basis that her human system wouldn't know how to process food from another planet, but they assured her the nanites would 'make the necessary adjustments.' She was too unsettled to ask if those adjustments would be to the food or her insides.

  Regardless, the food was delicious and the Hesperides, lively and intelligent, were excellent conversation. They asked no questions about her escape attempt despite the fact that Astrid was certain they knew of it. Old Kalypso watched her throughout the meal however, her milky eyes penetrating, and Astrid couldn't shake the feeling that the eldest Hesperidia was sizing her up and finding her value lacking.

  "Here, this will help with the bruise."

  Aiopis found her after breakfast and pressed a small pot into her hands. Astrid opened it curiously, the cream within smelling of rich vanilla.

  "Thank you," Astrid accepted the cream with a small, perplexed smile, "But I have to ask... Why are you all being so kind to me? They know I tried to leave, I'm sure they do, but they didn't even ask."

  Aiopis looked down for a moment, considering her reply. She pursed her full lips and sighed through her nose.

  "You know how few of us there are here," She said, "If we did not aid and understand one another, we would be doomed. No woman wants to feel trapped at the behest of a man. We cannot allow you to leave, but neither can we allow your stay here to feel like any more of an imprisonment than it already is. For as long as you are trapped here by the necessities of our wars, you are family to us, and we will do whatever we can to help you."

  It was an empty statement, Astrid knew, because they wouldn't help her with the one thing she wanted, which was to go home. But she found her heart warmed by the sentiment anyway.

  "Thank you, Aiopis," She said with a small smile, "I'll try the cream."

  She had just turned to go when a chime ringing through the halls made her pause.

  "Someone's at the door," Aiopis said.

  Astrid gave her a curious look and Aiopis continued.

  "Men aren't allowed past the doors, so we rarely have visitors unless one of us has requested an escort to take them somewhere. If it were an emergency decision that required our deliberation, they generally just send a message to the war table."

  Interested, Astrid followed Aiopis as she padded down the hall towards the door. As she reached it she pressed a detail in the scrollwork delicately and it opened into a small, letterbox window through which she could look.

  "Yes?" She called.

  "We're here to escort the offworlder at the request of Prince Hestian," Someone replied, "He has requested her presence at the arena today."

  Aiopis drew back with an expression of mild surprise which became annoyance a moment later.

  "You could have given us some warning. She isn't dressed. We thought she was confined."

  "He appears to have changed his mind rather abruptly."

  Aiopis rolled her eyes.

  "Give us a few minutes," She said, and closed the letterbox, turning back to Astrid, who was picking at the loose gown they'd given her and wondering if it really counted as undressed here.

  "Hurry, we need to find you something to wear," Aiopis swept past her towards the central room.

  "What for?" Astrid asked, "What does he want me for? He showed me the arena yesterday. Tried to scare me with the sight of warriors training."

  "I don't presume to guess," Aiopis's tone was careful and accompanied by a delicate hand gesture that implied she didn't really need to guess, "But the Prince is participating in a tchung hee tournament today. I can think of no reason he would invite you out alone in this fashion besides the obvious."

  "You think he's asking me on a date?" Astrid asked, her nose wrinkling in dismay, "No! Put the clothes down. I won't go."

  Aiopis had led Astrid to her room and was already rooting through a chest, lifting out handfuls of gauzy fabric.

  "What's this I hear about Astrid being asked to the tchung hee tournament?" Mermesa put her head through the open doorway, eyes sparkling.

  "Prince Hestian sent escorts to fetch her," Aiopis explained, still digging through her clothes, "She says she's not going."

  "Oh but you must!" Mermesa said, "Oh, let me go and get my paints!"

  She hurried off, leaving Astrid perplexed and irritated.

  "No I must not," Astrid flopped onto Aiopis's bed, arms crossed, "He's awful and it's because of him I'm stuck here!"

  "But he's a prince!" Aiopis said, pausing in her digging to pout at Astrid, "How could you not want to see him?"

  "Plus, you get to see the tchung hee tournament in person!" Tara said from the door, starry eyed, "I've always wanted to. Maybe I can go with you!"

  "You'll watch it from the console like we always do," Antheia's voice was businesslike as she appeared behind Tara, "It's safer. Now, what's going on?"

  Aiopis started to answer again but Astrid held up a hand to stop her.

  "Prince Hestian sent men to take me to some kind of tournament," Astrid shifted aside as Aiopis began lying outfits across the bed, "Aiopis is under the impression that he's..."

  She trailed off, waving a hand vaguely until Aiopis finished.

  "Courting. He's courting you."

  "Absurd," Antheia declared, "The prince is forbidden to take a mate until he's succeeded the throne."

  "Perhaps he doesn't intend to mate her," Mermesa suggested, pushing past Antheia with her arms full of small pots and palates, "Perhaps he merely wants to 'mate' her."

  She winked extravagantly. Antheia wrinkled her nose unpleasantly.

  "That would be extremely unwise."

  "Not to mention unwelcome," Astrid added, scowling, "He's an ass from another planet. I have no interest in being his booty call."

  "I am not familiar with this term," Nelisa appeared behind Antheia, her expression curious, "But if the prince has expressed an interest in showing public closeness with you, I would accept it."

  "Really Nelisa," Antheia looked scandalized, "I expected better of you."

  "You are not thinking strategically," Nelisa said, "If they appear to be growing closer, word of it will almost certainly get back to Orestes. His brother has stolen his war bride, and now intends to mate her? He will be outraged. He will have no choice but to attack for the sake of his honor."

  Antheia nodded in understanding.

  "I agree," She said, "Astrid, you must allow him to court you."

  "No I must not!"

  "Oh, a few dates won't kill you," Aiopis was busily arranging outfits with accessories while Mermesa paired them with makeup colors, "He won't try anything you aren't comfortable with. And the soon Orestes is defeated, the sooner you can return home."

  "I'm not comfortable with any
of this!" Astrid said with an impatient huff. But it was true if Orestes was defeated they wouldn't need her here anymore. If going to a few dumb sporting events with an arrogant prince was all it took to make that happen, she supposed she'd dated guys for less legitimate reasons.

  "Fine," She ran a hand over her face in frustration and sighed, "Fine, I'll go."

  There was cheer from everyone in the room except for Antheia, but she too looked pleased.

  Aiopis dressed Astrid in a gown of yellow and fiery orange and Mermesa painted her in shades of pink and gold while Tara wove glittering beads on delicate golden chains into her hair. They chimed every time she moved and threw shards of light when the sun hit them.

  Astrid felt fairly ridiculous, but the Hesperides assured her she was beautiful When she was ready, they pushed her through the doors of the women's quarters, where the escorts were waiting for her, their expressions carefully blank as they guided her down the hall to the arena.

  She could hear it before they reached it, the familiar sound of a stadium full of people cheering with all their strength. She was led down into the Prince's private box, which had a prime view of the field in addition to walls to shield her from the men in the audience.

  The game appeared to be a team sport. Two groups of powerful men, naked but for colored paint, one in orange the other in blue, raced across the field carrying the laser lances she'd seen them fight with. Two silver hoops about the size of Astrid's hand, each one fitted with lights matching their team, zipped around the field at the player's feet. The goal, if Astrid had to hazard a guess, seemed to be to throw a spear through the other team's hoop.

  She settled into her seat, watching curiously. She was close enough to see the player's faces and her eyes widened as recognized Hestian on the orange team. She tensed as he caught an opposing player in the gut with his spear, but the energy the spears were composed of seemed to have been lowered in intensity for the game.

  The man appeared stunned, possibly burned, but he hadn't been impaled. The orange team's score, indicated by glowing hash marks hanging over either end of the field, went up by several points and Hestian looked towards the box at once, grinning when he saw her. Astrid stared back impassively.

  Hestian threw himself back into the game with gusto and Astrid watched as he tore through the opposing team. It was clear he was skilled at this. There were other players larger than him, but none with his power or agility. He stunned opponent after opponent, clearing a path to the blue team's hoop, which two other members of his team were driving towards him. Hestian pulled back to throw his lance, only for the largest member of the blue team to break through the orange defensive line and collide with his chest. Hestian flew back, crashing near the box dramatically.

  Astrid stood, hurrying to the open window of the box to look down at him. He opened his eyes with a groan as the other man got off him, bleary. The opponent was reaching for a spear to stun him with, but as Hestian's eyes focused on Astrid's, a fire seemed to light in him. When the larger man turned back, Hestian buried his heels in the man's gut. He reeled as Hestian leapt to his feet, snatched up his lance again, and stabbed his opponent sharply in the chest.

  By now the blue team hoop was on the other end of the field. The two teams were fighting for control of it, assuming Hestian was down. But at the moment, the path between it and the prince was clear. Hestian glanced at Astrid and his chest swelled with pride. He pulled back and launched his lance across the field with a powerful throw. Astrid watched it sail over the heads of his opponents, straight and true across the length of more than football field, before striking the center of the hoop.

  A loud chime sounded and wild cheering erupted around Astrid. She gathered from the way his team rushed around Hestian and lifted him into the air that he had just won the game. He looked down at her, grinning widely as he was celebrated, as though he wanted her to be proud of him. Astrid looked back at him, unimpressed. She turned away too soon to see the look of puzzled hurt on his face.

  She was already leaving the box, wondering if she could make it back to the women's quarters alone without being harassed, when Hestian scrambled in through the window of the box. He hurried after her, huge and imposing as ever, following at her heel.

  "Did you enjoy the game?" He asked, "Many of my people enjoy tchung hee."

  "It was fine." Astrid refused to look in his direction, staring straight ahead as she headed towards the women's quarters.

  "I am one of the best players in the Shining City," Hestian boasted, lifting his chin proudly, "My accuracy with a spear is unmatched."

  "That's nice," Astrid was eyeing the windows along this hall, wondering if they might be a better avenue of escape than the one in the women's quarters considering how much further down the mountain they were.

  "Were you not impressed?" Hestian's voice was equal parts hurt and anger.

  Astrid sighed in annoyance and turned around sharply.

  "No, your highness, I was not impressed. I was rather preoccupied with the fact that I'm trapped on an alien planet, being held against my will, and my captor would rather play silly games than help me get home."

  "It's not like that!" Hestian tried to protest.

  "Oh I really think it is," Astrid cut him off with a raised hand and hurried away, leaving him standing speechless and frustrated alone in the hall.

  Chapter Seven

  She returned to the women's quarters, were the Hesperides were all surprised to see her back so soon and eager to hear how it had gone. Needless to say, they were disappointed with Astrid's brief reply.

  "I was seen with him," She said, "That's all you needed me to do, right?"

  Unfortunately, Hestian was not done with her.

  The next day the escorts were at the doors again, this time to take her to visit the royal hall of honor, were Hestian spent nearly an hour showing off his many accomplishments, including vast tapestries depicting his victories in battle. Later it was some kind of highly ritualized theater performance. Then a tour of the Shining City's finest armory. He barely spoke to her during any of these dates, and they were all highly public, the better that his brother might come to hear of what he was doing.

  When he was not taking her on these strange, staged dates, he was showering her in stranger gifts. Even the Hesperides were perplexed by the variety and sheer amount of curiosities that were delivered to their doors for her.

  At first they were the obvious things, rare flowers and glittering jewelry and sweet delicacies, all of which Astrid distributed among the Hesperides with very little interest. The more extravagant gifts she was less certain how to deal with. These included, among many others, exotic pets, elaborate furniture made of fine woods imported from the costal lands to the south, and stacks and stacks of books on more subjects than Astrid could count.

  The Hesperides seemed particularly excited by this. Physical books were a rare luxury in the Elysian empire, where trees were rare and wood prized. Digital data that could be downloaded directly into the mind was far more common. Apparently men could handle only small amounts of information at a time, while women were better equipped to download libraries.

  All the Hesperides had huge caches of information related to history and strategy in their minds, but Nelisa in particular was renowned for her abilities to store and access more information than anyone. She contained the whole of the Empire's Accords within her, every detail of governance and law, and could recall them again with perfect accuracy, to the letter.

  It was after the delivery of the books the Hesperides began to grow irritated with her.

  "Why won't you give him a chance?" Aiopis followed Astrid as she paced through the women's quarters in frustration after yet another delivery of gifts, "He's clearly trying to win your favor!"

  "He's clearly trying to goad his brother into attacking," Astrid corrected, "This has nothing to do with me."

  "How can you be so certain?" Mermesa asked, selecting a bon bon from a box addressed to Astrid,
"He certainly is going to a lot of effort."

  "He's making a big show is all he's doing. He hasn't once asked if I like or even want these gifts. He hasn't asked me anything about myself. All he talks about is how wonderful he is! I'm sick to death of him! I just want to go home!"

  She knocked an elaborate vase from the pile of gifts, shattering it on the floor in a fit of rage. Angry tears jumped to her eyes and she covered her face, shoulders shaking. The other women wisely chose to leave, letting Astrid have her space. A few moments passed before Astrid heard footsteps and opened her eyes to see Kalypso looking at the shattered shards of pottery with a placid expression.

  "What a mess," She said in a low, solemn rumble. It was the first time Astrid had heard her speak. Astrid knelt at once, scrambling to sweep the broken pieces into her skirt.

  "I'm sorry," Astrid's shoulders were still trembling as she scooped up the broken shards, "I didn't mean to lose my temper. I'm just so frustrated. All of this nonsense about dates and gifts while I'm being kept here, while people at home are probably worried, looking for me. God, I didn't even tell my Dad I'd be gone. He's going to be so scared..."

  A wrinkled hand touched hers and Astrid looked up through her tears to see Kalypso kneeling in front of her. The old woman took her by the shoulders and lifted her up to her feet gently. She touched Astrid's cheek, her smile gentle and comforting.

  "Are you going to tell me to give him a chance too?" Astrid asked, tears still in her eyes.

  "The boy has disrespected you," Kalypso replied, her voice warm and gravely, "He has disregarded your feelings and ignored your desires. He is a fool."

  She patted Astrid's cheek gently.

  "But love is often foolish," She said, "Especially when it's new. He has much to learn. It is not your responsibility to teach him. But you are here anyway. And may remain here for a long while, until the war with Orestes is resolved and we can reclaim your pod. Why not make your stay as pleasant as possible?"