Intergalactic Loyalties

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  “We’ll have a test done. You could be wrong. What if he just told you that you were pregnant as a way of keeping you by his side?”

  She sighed. “If you want a test, then do one, but I’m telling you the truth.”

  Cael placed a reassuring hand on her arm. “Whatever the results, I’ll take care of you, Lucie.”

  “I just want Dryxel.”

  “I’m sorry, Lucie. I thought I was doing the right thing. The Tarnans insisted you were being mistreated. Everyone knows the Tourmalanes are a warrior race with little compassion for their enemies. Women haven’t been part of their society in so long that no one knows how they will act around them.”

  “He’s a good man, Cael, and he cares about me. He doesn’t want me because I was conveniently in that hall. My blindness doesn’t bother him. You should have heard Ghel and Bynt that day. They called me ill, made me feel defective because I can’t see. Why would they want me if they feel that way? Or are they just so desperate that any female will do?”

  “I don’t know,” he muttered. “I don’t like that they call you ill though. There’s nothing wrong with you, other than your sight. And who’s to say that it won’t be cured in the future? We’re making strides in the medical field all the time.”

  “Cael, return me to Dryxel. I’ll explain to him that you thought you were helping me. He won’t harm you, I promise.”

  “I can’t, Lucie. Not only will the Tarnans not allow it, I have no idea where Dryxel’s ship is now. I doubt he’s in the same spot we left him, and we’re probably out of range for a transport. I used your tracker for my destination before.”

  She set her plate aside. “I’m not hungry.”

  “Lucie, please eat. I swear, I’ll do anything I can to protect you. If you’re truly pregnant, there’s no doubt your Dryxel will come for you. Even if you aren’t pregnant, if he cares, as you say he does, he’ll come. I would imagine we’ll wait until we reach Tarnan. We’ll be there by morning at the rate they’re traveling now.”

  “What are they going to do with me once we reach the surface?”

  “I’ll do whatever I have to for you to remain by my side. If I have to, I’ll get my brothers to help. Better yet, Ariana… you know the Tarnans would do anything for her.”

  “How is she?” Lucie asked.

  “Pregnant,” Cael said. Lucie could hear the smile in his voice.

  “That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for her and Bane.”

  “He’s driving her mad, I think. He hovers and won’t let her lift anything heavier than a plate of food. I’m not sure he even lets her do that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he fed her.”

  Lucie laughed. “I’m sure that’s going over well.”

  “I’ll have Ari visit with you while I get something from medical to test for pregnancy. I’ll just have to draw a little blood.”

  She watched him move across the room to the control panel on the wall. A moment later, she heard Ariana’s voice and knew he’d called her room. She hoped he wasn’t disturbing her and Bane. After Ari agreed to come sit with Lucie, Cael disconnected the call and returned to her side.

  “As soon as she arrives, I’ll slip out. I don’t want to leave you alone for too long, in case the Tarnans get it in their heads to move you elsewhere.”

  “They’re going to do much worse,” she said softly, knowing she needed to come clean.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know how Dryxel escaped.”

  He tipped her chin up. “How do you know that information, Lucie? You were safely tucked away in your room, locked in I believe. They still don’t understand how he got you out.”

  “Rebecca.”

  “What about Rebecca?” he growled.

  “She freed me. And she gave me the key to Dryxel’s cell.”

  Cael cursed softly. “You freed him, didn’t you?”

  She nodded.

  “This isn’t going to go over well, Lucie. If they find out, you’ll be punished. Maybe not as harshly as some because of your handicap, but they will punish you. I’ll see if Arko can sway Rebecca to keep silent. I’m sure her part won’t go unpunished if it were discovered so that will be incentive enough.”

  The door opened and she smiled as she smelled Ari’s unique scent.

  “Hi, Ariana.”

  “Hello, Lucie. How are you feeling?”

  “Sad.”

  Ariana sat on the bed beside her. “Well, you can tell me all about it while Cael runs his errand. I hear there may be good news. A baby is good news, right?”

  “Very good news. I’m not sure everyone else will see it that way though. They won’t harm my baby, will they?” she asked, suddenly frightened for her unborn child.

  “No,” Cael assured her. “Regardless of who the father is, the Tarnans would never harm a child.”

  That eased her mind a bit. She still wasn’t sure what her fate would be though. If they knew anything about Tourmalanes, they would realize she was Dryxel’s true mate. But if they didn’t know about that? What if they didn’t know only true mates could have children on his planet? Would they still force her to bond with someone, knowing her heart belonged to someone else? Would they even care? She’d thought they were wonderful, when she’d first met them. Now she wasn’t so sure. She supposed every race had their ups and downs, but she didn’t want to be caught in the middle.

  She chatted with Ari while they waited on Cael to return, telling her about Dryxel and the other Tourmalanes she’d met. She told her how she’d been cared for, treated with respect, and called their princess. Ariana expressed her happiness at Lucie finding someone to love, and she supposed her friend was right. She did love Dryxel. She’d thought she was merely falling for the big warrior, but the more she thought about it the more she realized she’d already fallen. Would she have the opportunity to tell him how she felt?

  Chapter Four

  When Dryxel entered his chambers, he knew something was wrong. Illuminating the space, he realized Lucie was missing. It was doubtful she would have woken and gone searching for him, not in unfamiliar surroundings, but just to be safe he would search for her. His gut was telling him she’d been taken, but how they managed it he didn’t know. They’d kept an eye on the transport chamber, expecting such an attack. It hadn’t been used since he’d brought Lucie on board.

  Gathering a few of his men, he did a sweep of the ship, not the least bit surprised when they came up empty-handed. He’d hoped he was wrong, that she had merely wandered off, but deep down he’d known she wasn’t on board. When he’d felt a pang an hour ago, he should have heeded it and checked on her, but he’d told himself he was imagining things. Now he’d lost his beloved, his other half. Without Lucie, he wasn’t whole.

  Addressing the crew, he tried to push away his anxiety and fear over her safety. He had to believe they would find her in one piece. If the Tarnans discovered she’d aided in his escape, he didn’t know what they would do to her. They would see it as a betrayal and might imprison her, or worse. What if they gave her to one of their warriors? The thought of another man touching what was his made rage pour through him.

  “Lucie has been taken,” he told his men. “If the Tarnans were smart, they hit hyperdrive and are nearing their planet even as we speak. It would be foolish to go after her right now, no matter how much I want to. We’ll return to Tourmalane and gather more warriors, more ships, then go after our princess.”

  “It will take us two days to arrive home and a good five days to reach Tarnan. Our ships aren’t designed to fold space to that destination. We’ll have to take the long way. What if something happens to our princess during that time? A week is too long to wait to strike,” Rylo said. “I fear for her and your unborn child.”

  “As do I,” Dryxel muttered.

  “What if we continue to travel toward Tarnan and call Tourmalane for backup? You could speak with your father, explain to the king what has happened and have him send more warriors to us. They could meet us at Ta
rnan,” Kilare said.

  Dryxel nodded. “That plan could work. We’d have to stay cloaked until the others arrived, otherwise we could have a war on our hands before we were ready.”

  “I’ll get King Razyr on the COMM,” Napir said.

  Dryxel watched the men return to their stations, each with a determined look in his eyes. He knew they would do whatever was necessary to retrieve their princess. They might not have known Lucie long, but they all liked her. He’d worried at first that they may not accept her because of her blindness, but he should have known better. His people were tenderhearted when it came to females, any females, regardless of whether or not they could see.

  He had high hopes that their healer would be able to help her once they reached Tourmalane. While it might not be possible for her vision to be perfect, ever again, he was certain they could improve it. One of their warriors had lost sight in one of his eyes two years before and their healer had worked tirelessly, trying to find a cure. Rybolt still couldn’t see out of that eye as well as he once had, but his vision was much improved. No longer able to be a warrior because of his loss of vision, the king had given him an honorary title and a position in the palace as an advisor.

  If Rybolt could see again, so could his Lucie. While he loved her just the way she was, he knew it bothered her to be so dependent on other people. He wanted to give back some of her independence, some of her worth. To him, she was worth all the gems in the galaxy, if not more, but he knew she doubted herself. They may have known each other a short time, but she had proven herself brave when she’d saved him, trusting when she’d given herself to him so easily, and kind when she’d greeted all of his men with a smile, despite having been brought into a world she didn’t understand.

  He stared out of the viewing screen at the vast galaxy before them. His Lucie was out there. Probably frightened. His arms ached to hold her once more, to tell her everything would be all right. He never should have left her alone, but he’d thought she would be safe. Never again would he take her safety for granted. She would have someone with her at all times. If not him, then one of his brothers, or a guard. Yes, he would assign a guard to her. She might balk at the idea of having someone follow her around, but he wouldn’t be swayed. Not after this. She was too important to him to take a chance on someone absconding with her again. Once she was safely back in his arms, he would take the proper precautions to make sure she never left his side again.

  Some might say it was because of the pregnancy that he felt that way, but he knew that wasn’t it. Yes, he was thrilled that they were going to have a child together, that his line would continue and the next ruler of Tourmalane would be born in five short months. He probably should have mentioned that part to her. His studies had shown that humans carried their young for much longer. Hopefully she wouldn’t be upset about it.

  Dryxel had no problem admitting that he loved his mate. Perhaps he should have told her sooner, but he’d thought she wouldn’t believe him if he confessed to such a strong emotion so soon after meeting her. Did they have love at first sight where she came from? When he’d seen her, his heart had recognized her. He would tell her when she was returned to him. He wouldn’t waste another moment with her; never would he keep something from her again.

  The men around him rotated as some left to sleep for a few hours, but he remained where he was. Sleeping wasn’t an option, not while Lucie was gone. There would be plenty of time for sleeping after she was with him once more. Until then, he would be ever vigilant, watching for the Lynten 12, not that he thought they were going to catch it.

  Napir came to him, a small COMM in his hand. “Highness, I have King Razyr on the COMM for you. I’ve explained the situation, but he asked to speak with you.”

  Dryxel accepted the COMM unit.

  “Father,” he said in greeting.

  “Son, I hear you have good news for me.”

  Dryxel shook his head. “Not so good right now. I found my mate, bonded with her, and then she was taken from me.”

  “Five more ships will be taking off within minutes and heading your way. Our top warriors are already on their way to the vessels. They’ve been briefed and know that retrieving the princess is the most important thing to do right now.”

  “I’ve failed, father.”

  The king scoffed. “You’ve not failed, Dryxel. Damn sneaky Tarnans are to blame, not you. You just bring my new daughter home to me.”

  Dryxel smiled. “Yes, Father. I’ll bring her to you soon.”

  He disconnected the call and handed the COMM back to Napir.

  “Your Highness, you should probably eat something,” Napir said. “I know it’s not my place to tell you such things, but you need to keep up your strength. The princess is depending on you.”

  Dryxel nodded. “Yes, she is, and I won’t let her down.”

  He headed to the galley for something quick to eat, stopping to speak to crewmembers along the way, all expressing their concern over the princess. It warmed his heart that they cared about her so much already. He knew that one day she would be a greatly loved queen, perhaps even more so than his own mother had been. Lucie had a fragile quality to her that made people want to protect her, but she had a backbone made of steel and could easily stand on her own two feet. He had no doubt she would show them all just how capable she was, once given the chance.

  Of course, he fully intended to wrap her up and keep her safe for the next several months, maybe until the babe was born. He didn’t think his heart could handle another abduction. Thankfully, they weren’t at war with anyone at the moment. Well, except the Tarnans -- now. He would give them a chance to hand her over peacefully. If they declined, it would all out war. He would shed the blood of every single Tarnan until she was returned to his side, and he would show them no mercy.

  He quickly ate the tasteless food and returned to his station. Eventually he would have to rest, if he wanted to be in full control of himself and his abilities, but he would do that later. The thought of lying in their bed alone didn’t appeal to him. It just made him ache all the more for his precious Lucie and their child. Soon. She would be by his side again soon.

  * * *

  Lucie growled at Cael in frustration. Her pregnancy test had come back positive, which she’d known it would, and ever since he’d been hovering. The Tarnans were not pleased by the turn of events and had let her know as much. They still didn’t know that she’d been the one to release Dryxel from his prison, and for that she was grateful. Ariana and Bane knew, as well as Cael, but the three hadn’t mentioned it to anyone outside of their family. Arko had spoken with Rebecca and insured her silence, by promising to put in a good word for her with the captain. Not that Lucie thought it would do any good.

  Ari was visiting with her after the noon meal when the captain stopped by to see her. She’d spoken to Sol on several occasions and had always thought him to be a kind man, but she figured having him stop by unannounced was not a good thing.

  “Ariana, may I speak with Lucie alone, please?” Sol asked.

  “I promised Cael I wouldn’t leave her side,” Ari said.

  “I understand. It’s just… what I have to say to her is rather personal. I thought it best to speak to her alone. I promise, I won’t leave the room with her. If you’d like, you may wait in the hall just outside the door.”

  Ariana seemed to hesitate, but Lucie was curious as to what Sol could possibly want.

  “Go, Ari. I’ll be fine,” she assured the redhead.

  “All right. But if Cael comes after me, I’m blaming you,” Ari said, pointing at Sol.

  Lucie watched her leave the room and listened to the door click shut. It was several minutes before Sol began to speak. She had wondered if he was ever going to say anything.

  “I know we haven’t gotten to know one another very well since you’ve been on board,” he began, “but I’ve noticed you from the very beginning. I figured with so many warriors buzzing about you, that it was best I give
you space.”

  “Why did you feel the need to stay away?”

  “As captain, I should stand back and let my men have first choice of the women we find, out of those who decide to settle on a mate before reaching home. Besides, you had so many wanting to bond with you, I figured you didn’t need one more.”

  Her stomach flipped. “I don’t understand.”

  “I think you do,” he said quietly. “I know you’re mated to your Tourmalane warrior, the prince no less, or at least you claim to be. I also know of the child growing within you, but I came to tell you that those things don’t matter to me. If you’re still seeking a mate, if you need protection while on my planet, I hope you’ll consider me.”

  “Captain --”

  “Sol,” he corrected.

  “Sol. I appreciate the offer, but the fact is I am mated to Dryxel and he will come for me. I admit, the thought of going to your world frightens me, especially now, but I can’t bond myself to someone when I’m already bonded. Would you ask me to cheat on my husband?”

  He chuckled. “Husband. I had forgotten about that human term. And no, I wouldn’t. If you are truly bonded, then I will stand aside. You do, however, still have my protection if you wish it.”

  “What I wish is to be returned to Dryxel’s side.”

  Sol sighed. “If only it were that easy. Perhaps if we knew his location, I could quietly return you, but he could be anywhere right now.”

  “Then what do I do? What happens when he comes for me? I don’t want there to be a war.”

  “No,” Sol muttered. “A war would not be a good thing right now. We’re trying to build up our society, not tear it down and lose even more lives. It’s bad enough there are so few women on our planet, but to lose seasoned warriors would be a crime right now. By all rights, those men should be thinking of starting families, not rescuing a woman who doesn’t want to be saved.”

  “Will you speak with your people? Guarantee Dryxel safe passage to your world and allow him to extract me?”