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

by Aana Celestya

  "But before I destroy your planet," Orestes moved towards her with the liquid grace of a predator, and she could see his resemblance to his brother in the set of his shoulders, the grace of his motions, but nowhere in the cold flash of his merciless sadist's eyes, "I'm going to kill Hestian in front of you. I want to see what your face looks like as he dies because of you."

  Astrid lashed out in a fit of rage, managing to tear her arm free of the bride holding her and strike Orestes hard across the face. He came back at her at once, snarling like an animal as his hands closed around her throat. She scrabbled at his fingers as her vision went black, gasping wordlessly, until at last he dropped her. As her vision blacked out, the last words she heard were his.

  "I am going to enjoy taming you."

  Chapter Eleven

  She wasn't sure how much later it was when she woke, sitting in a literal cage within the tent that housed the portal. The war brides were at work across the tent, finishing the device. Outside, she could hear a commotion of men moving and shouting, the clash of metal and the animal sounds of their riding beasts.

  "What's happening?" Astrid called out, her voice rough from choking, "What's going on out there?"

  "Prince Hestian has done exactly as Prince Orestes said he would," One of the wives, a thin bespectacled woman with long, powder blue tendrils in place of hair, replied without taking her eyes off her work, "He has brought the full army of the Shining City to bear against us. The men prepare for battle."

  "We should be out there," One of the other wives grumbled, the red head who had taken Astrid down, "I should be out there. Our chance for glory is being denied us in favor of this women's work."

  "Hey, I should be out there too," Astrid said, deciding it was worth giving it a shot, "Let me out and we can go together."

  The red headed woman scoffed, not dignifying that pathetic attempt to escape with an answer.

  "Why are you all helping him, anyway?" Astrid asked, gripping the bars of her cage as she searched for a way out, "He's clearly a lunatic."

  "Hey!" The red head snapped, offended, "He's finally letting me do what I wanted to do all my life! No more being cooped up in the women's quarters studying and strategizing."

  "Most of us have no choice," The woman in the glasses replied, "We were given to Orestes willingly by our people as symbols of their alliance with him. We have nowhere else to go."

  She said this so matter-of-factly that for a moment it almost sounded reasonable and not like tragedy it was.

  "That's terrible," Astrid agreed, "But it's no reason to be helping him. I'm certain Hestian would take you in and protect you if you asked."

  "I don't WANT to be protected," The red head interrupted angrily, "And I'm not the only one! Orestes is the only one who's ever let me fight!"

  "Only because he does not value you as a person," The one in glasses paused her work to look at the red head seriously, "A woman should be allowed to choose whatever path suits her, but Orestes does not offer freedom, only replaces the shackles of the women's quarters with a soldier's brand because he considers us expendable. You must learn not to be so short sighted."

  "I don't see you complaining to Orestes about your treatment!" The red head hissed, "You've been fighting next to me since I got here!"

  The other woman shrugged.

  "I examined the situation and determined cooperation was my best chance at survival. That does not mean I prefer it. Or that, now that the chance has arrived to change my circumstances, I will not take it."

  The red head's eyes widened, and the other women looked up from their work to stare at her as well.

  "Go and fight," She said to the red headed wife, "Do as you desire. And I will do what I desire as well, which is to leave this machine unfinished and go to join Hestian's army while I have the chance. Any of you that would care to join me are welcome."

  Of the three other women in the room, two put down their work at once, expressions of mixed anxiety and excitement on their faces. The last wavered in indecision, then shook her head, returning to her work diligently. The red head, standing alone, looked down in grim frustration.

  "I won't fight women," she said at last, "Not even for him. But you had better run right past the Shining City and down towards the coast. When Orestes defeats Hestian and takes the throne I would not want to be among his enemies."

  The spectacled woman bowed to the other bride formally.

  "It was an honor to fight beside you."

  The red head bowed back, stiff and uncomfortable, and then she turned quickly and rushed out into the noise outside. The other three women began gathering their things and preparing to leave. The leader came to Astrid's cage, unlocking it quickly.

  "You should come with us," The woman said, "Your presence is likely to influence Hestian to be merciful with us."

  Astrid stepped out of the cage, a debate raging within her. Logic told her she should use the portal to go home immediately and ask the women to destroy it after her so that Orestes could never follow. But her every other instinct cried out for her to go to Hestian. This was her fault for trying to run. If he lost, if the throne was given to Orestes instead, she would not be able to forgive herself.

  She wavered for a moment, looking at the portal. Home was so close, after so long trapped here. But finally she shook her head. She had a responsibility here first. To make sure Hestian won, if only so Orestes would never again be a threat to earth. She tore her gaze from the portal only with painful effort.

  "Let's go."

  Outside, the noises were dying down as the army of Orestes moved out to meet Hestian. Astrid and the war brides took advantage of the camp's sudden emptiness to sneak through it towards freedom. They headed towards the stables, planning to steal mounts, when Astrid paused, staring at a line of strange silver machines.

  "What are those?"

  "Skates," One of the women replied, "Inventions of one of Orestes's off world allies. They fly through the air. Such machines are banned by the Accords, but Orestes has been gathering them anyway, for off world conquering."

  "Can you fly them?" Astrid asked immediately, "I have flight training, but I don't know if it would apply here."

  "Yes," The bride confirmed, "He intended us to fly them."

  "Then let's fly them," Astrid said with a grin, "I can't think of a better way to make sure Orestes loses this war."

  "But the accords-"

  "To hell with the Accords!" Astrid snapped, "Orestes has done nothing but exploit them to his advantage since I got here. Clearly they need a rewrite."

  The women looked uncertain for a moment, before the one in glasses nodded.

  "We stand a far better chance of getting around the armies and away from this place safely in one of those than we do riding. And a few strafing runs will not hurt our chances."

  The matter settled, Astrid hurried towards one of the ships. They were sleek, silver bullets, all but featureless from the outside. At a touch of her hand a section folded away to reveal the cockpit and she climbed in behind the lead bride, watching intently as she adjusted the bright holographic display, lifting them vertically into the air a moment later, as smoothly as standing up.

  A second later it shot off like a bullet in the direction of the two armies, followed by two others in close formation. They zipped over the icy plain, the blue white sky rushing past behind the bruise purple shadow of the mountains in the distance. Though the ship had no windows, Astrid could open a screen with a single gesture which looked out of the ship from any angle, as though the machine were transparent and Astrid was just soaring through the air unsupported.

  Soon Astrid could see the two armies below her, just about to meet. She strained to spot Hestian in the mob of men rushing towards each other, but they were too far away to distinguish one from the other. And then the bride pressed a button and a hail of laser fire poured from the belly of the ship and rained down on Orestes's army.

  Astrid flinched at the cold efficiency of it
as they cut swathes from other army, the other two ships doing the same. This was not a method she would have chosen to deal with this situation, but Orestes had left them few choices.

  As the two armies met in the center of the field, one still whole and energized by the unexpected help from above, the other scattered and frightened, the bride’s ships fell back to continue harrying the enemy army from behind, forcing them forward into Hestian's spears. Orestes's forces, though they outnumbered Hestian's, quickly fell into disorganized panic. Astrid watched from above, shocked at how quickly the tides had turned.

  But they wouldn't stay scrambled for long, Astrid realized, as someone began pointing the laser lance canons upwards at them. Astrid flinched as a blue spear flashed past, inches from them.

  "What happens if one of those hits us?" She asked nervously.

  "We go down," The bride said bluntly, "These light aircraft aren't built to withstand laser fire. Just hold on tight."

  It was not a reassuring thing to hear and Astrid gripped her seat tightly, watching as more spears sailed towards them.

  "Should we set down?" she suggested warily.

  "That would be a wise course of action," the bride replied, sounding a bit nervous herself, "I believe we have done all the damage we need to."

  The ship signaled to its two companions and they banked sharply, sweeping away from the oncoming spears and out of range as they passed over Hestian's army.

  "Send the other two back to the Shining City," Astrid suggested as they scanned the battle field for signs of either prince, "They can share strategic information with the Hesperides."

  "Should we not go with them?" The bride asked, "I believe there is little we can do here at this juncture."

  Astrid shook her head, lips pursed tightly as she looked for Hestian.

  "You can if you want. I need to find Prince Hestian. He needs to know Orestes doesn't still have me."

  The bride seemed doubtful of Astrid's logic, but she complied anyway and signaled the other two before pin wheeling down towards the army below like a maple seed falling through the air.

  "There he is!" Astrid realized she was half laughing, half crying with relief as she spotted Hestian near the front of the charge, unharmed but for a few scratches, chasing Orestes's men back into their camp.

  As the ship spiraled down near him the combatants cleared in a rough circle around it, clearly confused. As soon as it had soil beneath it, Astrid opened the hatch and leaped out, running towards Prince Hestian. His shock at the sight of her quickly became joy and he caught her as she reached him, swinging her up into the air before pulling her close for a passionate kiss. Every part of Astrid felt like it was glowing. She hadn't even realized until now just how much she had missed him. What had she been thinking?

  "Your highness?" One of Hestian's men cleared his throat, gesturing at the enemy only a few feet away, still eyeing the ship warily, "Perhaps now is not the best time?"

  "Right," Hestian agreed and set Astrid carefully down behind him, "Charge on! Drive them all the way back!"

  His men rushed past him while Hestian stayed beside Astrid, ready to defend her.

  "I'm so sorry for running," Astrid said, shouting over the sounds of battle, "I wasn't thinking. I just wanted to get home so badly."

  "It's all right," Hestian waved off her apologies as he led her after his men, "It was wrong of us to keep you here. It was only natural you'd try and get away. And thanks to what you did with those ships, I may finally see my brother defeated."

  "Not in this lifetime!"

  Astrid shouted a wordless warning as Orestes appeared from nowhere, bloodied and wild but whole. He threw himself at Hestian with a furious snarl, colliding with him and knocking his laser lance away. Astrid stumbled back, shocked, as they grappled in the dirt, clawing at each other ruthlessly with every clear intention of murdering each other with their bare hands.

  She looked around for help, but both armies were well ahead of them as Hestian's men drove the enemy back. Astrid scrambled to grab the laser lance Hestian had dropped and swung it at Orestes wildly as soon as she could get a clear shot in between him and Hestian. She heard the sizzle as it burned him and he leaped back with a pained shout, a fresh burn scar searing on the copper skin of his chest.

  Hestian rolled quickly to his feet and Astrid tossed him the spear, standing beside him as he pointed it at the seething Orestes, mad with fury. He pulled a knife from his belt and Astrid had no doubt he was almost as dangerous with it as with a lance.

  "Don't be an idiot, Hestian," Orestes growled, circling slowly, "It doesn't have to be this way. Give up now and I may just exile you the way you exiled me instead of killing you."

  "I'm fairly certain I should be the one saying that," Hestian raised an eyebrow, gesturing at his brother's retreating army and lack of a weapon.

  Orestes laughed, a cruel, bitter sound.

  "Idiot, I've already won!" Orestes crowed, still taking slow, careful steps, trying to our maneuver Hestian, "You've broken the Accords! The Hesperides will never allow you to rule!"

  "Your information is out of date," Hestian smiled, reaching out to take Astrid's hand, "That's what comes of relying on brides who despise you. Astrid is my destined mate. And the Accords cannot protect you from the kidnap of a destined mate."

  Orestes's eyes widened and his furious glare switched to Astrid, hate seething in his eyes. He gave a furious war cry and threw himself forward, rolling to snatch a forgotten laser lance out of the dirt, dropped by some fallen warrior.

  In an instant, he was at Hestian's throat again, but now Hestian was ready for them. Astrid got out of the way as they flew at each other in a flurry of graceful, leaping motions Astrid almost couldn't follow. It was nothing like the brutal, efficient fighting style she'd seen them use when fighting an army of soldiers. This was by far more elegant and practiced, a dance they'd been learning since the first day they were old enough to hold a weapon.

  Before this, Astrid had never really thought about the fact that they were brothers. She'd never imagined them growing up together, playing and learning and practicing together. She remembered her own siblings suddenly and the horrified gut reaction she felt at the thought of fighting them this way was enough to make her recoil at what Hestian must be feeling right now.

  As he spun in a graceful arc, swinging his lance at Orestes's throat, she wondered if Orestes felt that pit of guilt as well. Did he regret the choices that had led to this deadly confrontation with his brother? Or was he too far gone down this path of power hungry madness to care anymore?

  Whatever their feelings, neither prince was holding back. Every swing and lunge opened a new wound, most of them shallow, for the both seemed as skilled at evading as they were at striking. But still they were soon both drenched in blood from a million tiny cuts.

  Astrid watched, having never felt so helpless, but knowing if she interfered now it would only make things worse. The Princes of Nibiru spun forward and back, blood flying from the tips of their spears with every ferocious slash, the raw power coiled in their muscles fairly humming in the air.

  And then, so suddenly Astrid didn't even have time to gasp, Hestian's foot slipped in the blood soaked snow. She saw his eyes widen as he stumbled and Orestes pounced at once, lunging forward recklessly, aiming to spear Hestian through the throat. Astrid's breath caught, the beginnings of a scream welling up within her, but before it could even find her throat, Hestian's wide eyes had hardened.

  The foot that had slid beneath him gripped soil again at once and Hestian moved, fluid as the flicker of a candle flame, his 'slip' revealed as the clever bait it really was. He moved under Orestes's spear and past the other man, his own blade opening his brother up from collar to navel across his chest.

  Hestian readied himself again on the other side, but there was no need. Orestes fell to his knees in the snow with a choking gasp, blood pouring from the wound to dye the frost scarlet.

  "No," His voice wheezed and gurgled th
rough the blood he was choking on, "No, it won't end like this."

  "It's over brother," Hestian was panting with exertion, weakened by the brief but ferocious fight, "Put down your weapon. Let us treat your wounds. Return to exile with honor. Whatever else has happened between us, I don't want to see you executed."

  Orestes coughed, sputtered, spraying blood on the ice, and after a moment Astrid realized he was laughing.

  "Did you really think it would be that easy? Defeat me in single combat like the heroes of legend and I would bow to your superior skills?"

  He turned, bloody and pale but his eyes still glittering with hate as he fixed them on Hestian.

  "Never."

  Sound like a thousand trumpets blaring filled the air and shook the ground like an explosion. Something massive was rising from the camp behind them, pushing up out of the ground beneath it. Hestian's eyes widened in shock as a massive craft the size of a zeppelin rose into the air, the magnet hum of its engines so loud it made Astrid's ears ring.

  She didn't need Hestian to tell her it was some kind of flag ship, a carrier, as silver attack ships poured from it like insects from a hive, spilling down towards the battlefield to rein unholy death down on Hestian's army.

  One zipped towards them before Astrid or Hestian could react and scooped Orestes into its cockpit without even stopping, flying him away back towards the massive ship. The fight, Astrid realized, had been a feint all along, buying time for this ship to be ready. This ship and... Horror dawned on her as she saw the ships turn away from the fight and towards the center of the camp.

  "The portal!" She cried, clutching Hestian as the kind of existential horror only felt when witnessing the imminent destruction of your own planet washed over her, "They're going to flee to Earth!"

  Chapter Twelve

  Hestian's eyes widened and he whistled for his mount, which charged out of nowhere to join them. He swung on to its back and pulled Astrid up behind him without a second thought. They charged across the blood strewn battlefield, but they could never hope to keep up with the airborne carrier, which gathered its silver spawn in and around it and turned towards the portal.