“What makes you think that?” She runs her arm around my waist and leans into me as if she’s feeling weak.
“Did you start to feel bad when we got on the ship?”
She nods and looks down. “My head is beginning to hurt again.”
With a sigh, I say, “When we get to Euthenia a medic can run you through a scanner and find anything that’s wrong or has been placed inside you. We can get you all fixed up when we get there.”
She smiles and squeezes me. “Finally, a plan.”
For her, yes. For my father, no.
CHAPTER 5
Kataline
Little by little after I returned to the ship, the pain is coming back in my head and now the sounds of voices are seeping in. Kerr is sleeping next to me.
He was holding me tightly to him and I fell asleep easily. I suppose he got uncomfortable while we slept and he moved away from me. I think that’s when the voices began.
There’s something about Kerr and his touch that keeps the craziness at bay. But he’s sleeping fitfully, upset about his father no doubt.
The King is a man with many secrets I am sure. There is probably a very good reason whoever it is that’s taken over Euthenia wants him dead.
I can’t help wondering why I do, though. I think he’s arrogant, egotistical, a control freak, and a pompous ass. But I don’t wish him dead.
But some part of me does. The part I’m not completely aware of. The part that has me doing things I never knew I was capable of. The part I have no real control over.
I sit up on the bed and look over at the pink drink on the table and hold out my hand. It comes to it and I hold out my other hand and the little glass that sat beside it comes into that one.
After taking a small shot of the liquid which quells the pain in my head. I try something new. Sending the empty glass back to the table and it goes right back with ease. The pink drink filled decanter is heavier though and I’m unsure about it.
I concentrate on it and it lifts out of my hand. As I look to where I want it to go, it makes its way back to the table. It’s amazing to me that I can do this.
What’s more amazing is I never knew it before. Kerr tosses violently and his hand hits my side as he does. He’s mumbling and his face is pinched.
I lean over and kiss his cheek. His eyes fly open.
“What are you doing!” he asks in a harsh tone.
“Kissing my sweet husband. Do you know where he went?” I ask as I run my hand over his cheek.
He blinks a few times then shakes his head. “Sorry. I was dreaming. And nothing nice.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” I ask as I lean back and pull him to me, cradling him to my chest and stroking his hair.
“I don’t know what to do Kataline. I have to protect my father. But in doing that I’ll be putting my life on the line and I have you and our baby to consider now. It’s just too difficult to know what the right thing is to do.” His hand runs over my stomach in gentle trails.
“I wish I had the answer.” I leave a kiss on top of his head.
“I wish you did too. I wish someone had the right answer.” He sits up and looks at me. “What if I dropped my father off on another planet? I wonder if that would get us back home with no bloodshed.”
“I’m not sure, Kerr. You said they told you not to defend him. That is a form of defending him. It’s hiding him away. That might be considered treason to whoever the new ruler is.” I take his hand and kiss his knuckles. “You should talk to your father about trying to plead for mercy.”
“It doesn’t sound like he’ll be given that chance. I was told to make sure he couldn’t leave the ship after all.” His fingers trail over my collarbone then up to my lips and he traces the cupid’s bow of my top lip. “Damn it, woman, you take my attention from all things, including my father’s predicament.”
I smile and pull his finger between my lips and suck it. His eyes light up and he tosses the blanket back and reveals his excitement for me.
My fingertips touch the tip of his erection and I lick my lips then look up at him. He gives me a nod of approval and I lean down to taste my Prince.
My mouth glides over the massive member as it fills my mouth entirely. His moan of pleasure has my insides quivering. Moisture pools inside me as I pull him into my mouth as far as I can then push myself to take him all in.
His hand on the back of my head presses a bit and I push him past the back of my throat. His moan grows louder and his hands run through my hair and he fists it as the moan turns into a low and steady growl.
I wrap both hands around it, to move up and down him as I make long, slow strokes, taking him in deeper than ever before. The way he feels in my mouth is a mixture of hard and silky and it intoxicates me.
He moves my head faster and I taste a little bit of him as he starts to climax. But he pulls me away from him before that happens. I’m nearly breathless with excitement when he pulls me up and tosses me to my hands and knees.
His long fingers grip my hips and he holds me still while he thrusts his hard and long cock into me. I moan as he fills me entirely. “You like that, Baby?” he asks with a snarl to his deep voice. “You like how I stretch you to fit me?”
“Um hm….” I moan as he moves in and out with slow, but deep strokes.
His hips touch my ass when he moves into me and it tingles with energy where he touches it. Everywhere he touches me sends sparks shooting through me.
The slapping of our bodies fills my ears as he thrusts harder and harder into me. Little eruptions begin inside me and get harder and harder until I’m screaming his name and falling apart around him.
With one loud groan, he slams into me one last time and sends his heated juices into me. Our panting is now all I can hear as we both catch our breaths.
He eases me down and lays beside me. His hand runs over my back. “I love you, Kataline.”
“I will always love you, Kerr.”
I roll over to lie on my back and turn my head to look at my husband. His eyes are clear and full of love. The worry in them over his father is gone. For now, anyway.
How I wish I could help him. Take away his pain and anguish over his father. I close my eyes as a pain stabs my brain and the voice which is always the loudest fills my head.
“You will do as I tell you to, Kataline. You will kill the King!”
“Please stop,” I murmur.
Kerr’s hand moves over my temple. “Shh. Rest, Baby.”
“You will kill the King on my command!” the voice tells me. “Or you will be destroyed, Kataline. I have the power to destroy you.”
Perhaps I should allow that.
Perhaps I should be destroyed.
CHAPTER 6
Kerr
With Kataline sleeping somewhat peacefully, I leave her locked in our room and go to talk to my father. We have limited time to figure out what can be done.
The days have passed and we are but one day out from Euthenia. In the courtroom, I see Bet setting out a decanter of fresh spirits. Safe to drink I hope since Father hasn’t been around to spike them.
“Hello, Bet. Nice to see you here.”
“How is she doing, Sire,” Bet asks. Her eyes are dark and drooping. Her face so worn and worried.
“We have a plan for when we get back on Euthenia to have her scanned and then we’ll know what can be done to help her. The poor thing is under attack in her mind. It’s pretty awful, but I have her sleeping now.” I pour myself a drink and go and sit, looking out the window until my father decides to join me.
The soft sounds of his feet padding across the floor have me looking back and he’s there, wearing a white robe and looking as tired as a man with the weight of the universe on his shoulders.
“Kerr, what has you out of your room?” he asks.
“You and what we should do to save you.” I take a sip and find my hand is shaking a little. I take another sip to try to steady my nerves.
“I think I’v
e come to a conclusion, Kerr.” He pours himself a drink and takes a seat on the overstuffed chair he likes so much more than the others for some odd reason.
“I hope it’s something I can agree with, Father.”
He nods and looks up at the ceiling. “I think I will take what I have coming to me.”
My heart stops. “No. Father, your death will settle nothing. Whoever this new ruler is cannot be allowed to take over and kill you. That’s just not acceptable.”
“Kerr, I am no innocent man.” His words do not surprise me.
My father is a secretive man. I had no idea he even had a brother until I was ten years old. His bloodline was not a thing to be talked about as if just not speaking of it made him one hundred percent Euthenian.
Not that it even matters to me or my mother and we should’ve been the only to care. It was more of a thing he wanted to hide away from all. For no good reason, save he doesn’t like to be looked down on for any reason.
“So what have you done that is so awful you deserve to die for it?” I take another drink and look at my father who is looking everywhere but at me.
“I’d rather you never know, Son. It’s best for you just to know, no matter who it is who has taken over my reign, they must know what I’ve done that’s so awful. The fact they have not told all as of yet tells me they may never tell and that would be best.” He gets up and stands in front of the large window.
I sigh and go to stand beside him. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I say, “I cannot let you die just because of something you did. No matter what it was. There is nothing you have done which is so heinous you should die for it.”
He turns to me and sorrow fills his eyes. “I have done something that heinous, Son. I will accept my punishment like a man. I will not hide behind you. If you learn anything from this, learn no bad deed goes unpunished.”
I shake my head. “No. I won’t let you just take what one cares to dish out. I simply won’t, Father.”
“You must. I will have it no other way.” His hand claps on my shoulder. “Bet told me the news a little while ago. You impregnated the Earth woman. Do you think that was wise, Kerr?”
“She is my wife. What would be unwise about such a wonderful thing?” I walk away from him as I truly hate this part of him.
“She is going mad, Son. Her genetics are faulty. You know we don’t breed people who have faulty genetics. It’s not how we got to be the people we are today.” He follows me and presses his hand to my back. “You could end it before she gets too far along. You know that, right?”
“Do not suggest that again, Father.” I walk away from him again and go sit down. “I don’t think there is any real problem with Kataline’s genetics. I think she’s been implanted by her people with something which they have activated inside her to perform these great feats.”
He sits again and looks me over. “And why would you think this?”
“The way she acts. When we’re off the ship she’s fine. I think there may be something which was planted on the ship which is communicating to her through perhaps a chip inside her. She hears voices and when she sleeps she speaks out loud.” I stop myself as he’s frowning at me.
“She says she wants to kill me in these voices.” He smiles. “She would’ve killed me the other day if you hadn’t stepped in. Is that how I am to die? At the hands of a damn woman? An Earthling at that? What an ironic thing, don’t you agree?”
His laughter fills the room, and it turns into a fit of laughter until he coughs and sputters and finally he stops. His cheeks are red from his little fit and I find he looks a little insane.
“Father, I will not let her kill you. When she’s awake she never says she wants to kill you. I won’t let that happen to either of you. Kataline is not a killer. Something inside her may be. But she is not one. I do not want any death on her innocent hands.”
Just as I glance out the window, I see one of our moons setting in the lower part of the pane. We are growing much closer to Euthenia. We are running out of time.
“How are you to stop her, Kerr? Please enlighten me.” His eyes also travel to the moon.
“When I hold her, she becomes quiet and controlled. I somehow overrule the voices inside her. I will continue to use that to keep her from harming you. Once I have the medic scan her this will all be dealt with and she will no longer be a threat to you.”
“Except, you will not get the chance to do that. You see, I overheard you talking and I know you are to lock me away in the ship and leave me in here alone and the ship will be destroyed by some secret weapon. She must be their secret weapon, Kerr.”
I stop and think about what he’s saying. If that’s the case, then what am I to do?
Allow my wife to use her powers to kill my father and stand idly by because of what someone who has taken over what is ours has said to?
My head hurts from my troubles and I have no idea what to do. I have no want for my father or my wife to die, yet it seems if what he’s thinking is true, I will have to choose.
I was told not to defend my father. If I kill my wife and choose him, I will surely die as well. If Kataline is their weapon, she will not be all they’re depending on to get the job done.
I overheard the lead voice come out of her sleeping mouth say if she did not kill the King then it had the power to destroy her.
I guessed that meant the device which is surely planted in her would cause her death. Another thing I cannot let happen.
If there was a way for me to find that thing in her and get it out of her then so much could be avoided. Even if it means the entire Armada goes to another planet to live out our days.
But if my wife will be destroyed with that action I would never be able to live with myself.
I turn to my father. “I need to know the worst thing you’ve done. So I can justify things, Father. I have to know. What was the worst thing you’ve done in your entire life?”
“Hurt you, Son.” His face goes ashen.
My brows furrow. “Hurt me? Father, you have never hurt me. I mean, you’ve pissed me off with your hatred of my wife. But you have never hurt me.”
“I have. You just didn’t realize it was me who hurt you.” He gets up and his shoulders are more slumped. “Let this old man die, Kerr. Take your new bride and live a happy life. Hopefully, the new ruler will see fit to allow you to maintain your rightful place in the hierarchy.”
I watch my father walk away with the death sentence dangling over his head like a hangman’s noose. My heart is filled with dread and it aches deeper than I knew possible.
After tossing back the remainder of my drink I notice Bet has come back in. She looks timid and I wonder if she wants to tell me something.
“Bet, would you like my permission to speak freely with me?”
She nods. I hesitate for a moment. Not sure I want to hear what she has to say with all of the other things straining my brain. But my curiosity wins out. “Go ahead.”
Bet steps closer and looks down the corridor to make sure my father is gone, I’m sure. “You cannot let your father die. Your mother would never forgive you, Kerr.”
I nod. “I know that. She loved the man more than life itself. I have no idea what I should do.”
She sits down next to me and places three, little, brown pills in my hand. “These will keep your wife in a deep sleep. If you can keep her asleep until we arrive and you can get her scanned, then there is hope she’ll not be able to kill your father. If it’s true she is being programmed to kill him, like he thinks.”
I take the pills and place them in my pocket. “But whatever is inside her could destroy her if she doesn’t complete the task of killing him.”
“I know I’m just a genetically damaged woman, Prince. But what if the two of you took the small emergency shuttle and got to Euthenia before the Armada? It has a cloaking device and you could get in undetected. Get her to the medic and get the thing out of her before we even land. That would keep her and your father sa
fe. Then your father will have a chance to plead his case.”
The little woman is on to something. “Or perhaps I could sneak into the palace and find out who our enemy is and stop him once and for all. The reign would revert immediately with their death and the Armada could land safely. All passengers, including my father, would stay alive.”
I pat her on the back and she smiles. “Glad to be of help, Sire. As your sweet mother’s hand-maiden, I still have a deep loyalty to the woman. To stand by and watch the love of her life be struck down is not a thing I can do. Not without trying everything I can think of to stop it.”
With a pretty good plan now, I feel a hell of a lot better about the outcome. I kiss Bet on the cheek, making her blush and giggle.
Alien Romance Box Set: Alien Former: Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Books 1-5) Page 88