Alien Romance Box Set: Alien Former: Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Books 1-5)

by Ashley L. Hunt

  Eons, I thought to myself. Apparently, one eon was only about a year on earth. How old does that mean that Luke really was? I thought to myself that even though I knew his real name was Arias, I would never be able to call him that. I associated it with Arias the Angry, the wrestling Carnie, not the unbelievable warrior that I saw on the screen.

  I was fascinated by the different kinds of weapons that were used in battle. Not only were there guns that shot laser bullets, but there were also swords made of light, curtains of vaporous gasses, hover crafts carrying hundreds of soldiers, and bombs that went off in clouds of translucent dust.

  “Is he going to be okay?” I asked the Corin general standing beside me.

  “He’s always alright.” He replied. “He’s the best.” He added with confidence.

  The fighting for the day concluded when the majority of the Krill were defeated in the valley and the rest retreated. It was the most successful day of battle that the Corin had seen in a long time.

  Luke

  “There he is!” One soldier said to me as our troops returned to headquarters, triumphant.

  “The Krill have been over-confident in my absence,” I said, my face beaming.

  I hoped that Candice wasn’t terrified by the kind of glee I got from the battlefield. I felt like a child with a new toy. Even though I had been in grave danger, I couldn’t wait to go back for more.

  Before even dropping my weapon, wiping the blood from my face, or taking a drink of water, I walked to Candice and took her face in my hands, kissing her forcefully.

  “I thought of you the whole time,” I said, my blue eyes almost glittering in the radiance of her face. “You’re to thank for all of this.”

  “Luke, that was so dangerous, you—“

  “If this is the girl responsible for bringing you back to us, then we’re going to make her our Queen!” A soldier cheered.

  “We better leave the happy couple to themselves tonight, so that Arias will be ready for battle tomorrow.” Another one teased.

  “Hey, leave her alone, now.” I teased back and hold her hands in mine. If someone didn’t watch themselves, they were going to get their ass kicked.

  And then, by some sudden impulse, Candice ran from the room. Perhaps she was afraid that she was going to break down in tears in front of all of those men? Maybe watching all the fighting was too much for her? She seemed like she wanted to be alone, but I couldn’t let that happen.

  “Candice—“ I called out as she ran through the door. Although not sure whether she wanted to be followed or not, I had no choice but to try and comfort her.

  I saw her go into our room and close the door behind her. She propped herself against the door, which I could hear from the outside. She had better let me in.

  “Candice,” I called from behind the door. “Let me in.”

  “I just need to be alone for a bit, Luke.” I heard that she was crying, and that upset me.

  “I said, let me in.” I was not going to be refused access to her, not now, and not anytime from here forward.

  I pushed the door, and it easily gave way.

  “What’s going on?” I said.

  Candice was fully crying by now, in a little heap on the floor. I knelt in front of her.

  “I’m sorry, I just—“ Candice wrapped her arms around herself. “I feel so stupid.”

  “Why?” I asked.

  “The Krill. They look like they’re right out of my worst nightmare from childhood. I can’t watch that again tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “I mean, I can’t watch it ever again. I can’t stay here.” She said, looking into my eyes to show that she meant what she said.

  Now my face had changed. It was as though my image was fading, like I was slipping away or disintegrating.

  “Luke?” She asked.

  “Damn,” I said, looking down at my hands that were fading from the present. I could still see Candice, but she was getting fuzzy.

  “What’s going on?” She asked.

  “I’m slipping back,” I said. “I had a feeling this was going to happen.” There was nothing I can do to fight this.

  Candice instantly looked like she was filled with regret.

  “What can I do?” She asks.

  “Just kiss me,” I said with a painful expression. If there was anything that could bring me pleasure at this moment, it would be her sweet lips.

  Candice didn’t even stop to think about it. She quickly kissed me passionately, and it was exquisite. This kiss was different from any that we had shared before. We explored each other’s mouths with our tongues, and finally, I lost control and began to kiss her neck. Candice moaned as I placed my mouth on her skin. The sound was incredible. Already I could feel myself coming back.

  From where I was sitting, I pulled Candice on top of me so that she sat on my lap, straddling me.

  Damn, I’m getting hard.

  “I don’t want you to do this if you don’t want to,” I said between kisses.

  She must be willing.

  “I do want to.” She replied. Her hands held onto my arms and shoulders and the muscles flexed under her soft grasp. Yeah, baby, those arms had the strength of all six Krill arms combined.

  Slowly but surely, I returned to solid form. It was true, after all. My theory. When I felt the bliss of Candice’s presence, I returned to my true self, and when I felt the pain of her absence or any pain, I was sent back to my prison: being Luke.

  Although I wanted to fuck her right now, I had to wait for her consent, and she didn’t seem ready.

  “You don’t have to watch tomorrow if you don't want to. But I must fight.” I said, holding her in my arms.

  “I don’t have the strength.” She said, collapsing into my arms.

  “It’s because you haven’t eaten since you got here,” I said, getting to my feet while still carrying her in my arms. “Come, we’ll have a meal with the soldiers. You’ll like them.” I said conclusively.

  I was not quite sure that a meal with the soldiers was such a great idea, although it would be good for her to get to know the Corin better. They were strange but quite kind.

  “Do you remember that time in the Kilarie?” One particularly enormous soldier said. He was eating his meal with full appetite and drinking a Corin wine known as Root. His name was Peterionicol, but the soldiers called him Pete. He wasa man that I knew well. “You almost got your ass handed to you, Arias!” He was laughing so hard he was crying.

  “That is NOT true!” I fought back. “That Krill son-of-a-bitch only had the upper hand at one point, till I knocked him on his ass and began celebrating. You weren’t invited.” I had had many glasses of Root already, and I was feeling boisterous. I loved joking with the guys.

  Perhaps now Candice could understand why she never saw me eating much food at the Southwest Diner. The food on Hecate was some of the most beautiful in the universe, and it tasted like a dream too. Everything was in hyper-color - gem-tones, scarlet reds, and even fluorescent food - all with flavors that she had never experienced before. I could tell that she liked it because she finally had an appetite. It was probably why she had that emotional outburst tonight. She was hungry. It happened to women.

  Although it was true that the Corin liked to drink their Root, they were also very civilized creatures. All the soldiers were very polite to Candice, and they were smart to be so.

  Underneath the table, my hand was resting on her thigh, not just to help her feel calm, but also to claim my territory. I became aware of the fact that in a room of other soldiers, Candice was a great source of attention.

  But sorry guys, she’s all mine.

  “Are you enjoying yourself?” I leaned over and whispered in her ear. She had been quiet during most of the meal.

  “Yes, very much so.” She replied.

  “Wait till you see the dessert,” I said with a grin.

  I was fucking happy, truly back in my element. Back on Earth, I felt bored and lo
st. But here, on Hecate, holding onto Candice’s thigh, I felt like I could conquer the world.

  Sure enough, when the dessert was brought out, I saw Candice’s mouth drop open. It was a large cake that shone under the lights, almost like it was encrusted with prismatic diamonds. It was the gleaming color of the frosting. Dazzling to look at, the cake was even more magical to taste. But I could safely say that it didn’t taste as magical as her neck.

  “Can I show you something?” I said after dinner was over.

  “Okay.” She replied.

  I led her outside, where the night sky was a blackish-purple. The air was cool, and the stars weren’t just white, but every color imaginable.

  “Look up there,” I said, pointing to the sky. “Orion is a far superior galaxy to the Milky Way.”

  “You’re a snob,” Candice replied, rolling her eyes. She was asking for it.

  “I’m not. I’m right. You remember that. I’m always right.” I said with finality.

  “Uh huh.” She replied, teasing me. This goddamn human female drove me crazy in all the right ways.

  “Don’t make me wrestle you,” I said, raising my eyebrow.

  “I’m not afraid. Some crazy carnie taught me a thing or two. I could hold my own.” She replied.

  That’s it.

  I couldn’t help but take her teasing seriously, and I tackled her to the ground with such force that I hoped I hadn’t hurt her.

  I hoped she regretted teasing someone in that way, who was the best soldier in the galaxy. She should think twice about it next time.

  I raised her hands above her head and pinned them there, savoring the opportunity to again consume her neck.

  “This isn’t fair,” Candice said, wiggling from side to side.

  “Stay still,” I said.

  “I can’t. I’m ticklish.” She said with a laugh.

  “Oh, you should not have told me that,” I said with delight.

  The two of us wrestled for a bit, rolling over one another. Finally, Candice managed to get me on my back and sit on top of me.

  Delicious.

  The playful atmosphere between us changed, and we went silent. There was a weightiness to the moment. I slowly put my hands on her hips. Candice’s breathing changed.

  “Have you done this before?” I asked. I could sense her fear, and that there was something she had not told me.

  There was a long pause. I searched her eyes to try and figure out what she was thinking. Could it possibly be true that she had never fucked before? Maybe she had, but she was hurt by someone. The thought instantly filled me with rage. Who the fuck did I have to kill?

  “Did you understand what I asked you?” I said after she was silent for too long.

  “Yes, I did.” She finally replied. “And no, I haven’t.”

  Holy shit.

  CHAPTER 7

  Candice

  In my dream, I was standing on a hillside of Hecate. I was a warrior bride, staring down at the troops that were fighting a bloody battle down in the valley below. I stood imperiously, watching the carnage but not moving an inch. Laser fire shot through the hazy sky, aflame with poisonous gasses and curtains of deadly radiation.

  The Krill aliens loomed over the Corin, using their six arms and swords of light to execute deadly blows. One Corin was run through with six swords at the same time, bleeding his golden blood.

  From the dismal cloud of the battlefield, Luke stepped forward. On his face, there was not the confidence that I remembered the last time I saw him fight. He appeared to be on his last leg. This was his final battle.

  “Luke,” I said under my breath, incapable of doing anything to stop what was about to happen.

  The Krill general stood before Luke, his terrifying, imposing form nearly eclipsing Luke’s. I saw Luke’s breathing rise as he came before the general - the one alien that he always wanted to kill the most. If the creature before him wes to perish, Luke would finally be free. It was the key to restoring peace in the galaxy of Orion, and it was the key to lifting his curse.

  Before Luke could even raise his sword, the general lifted his six arms with his sharp claws. He was like a beast from a horror film. A blue fluid was dripping from his fangs as he picked Luke up off the ground.

  I closed my eyes. “Noooooooo!” I screamed.

  All I could hear from where I stood on the hill was the ripping-apart of Luke’s flesh.

  “Candice, get up,” I heard. I was pulled from my dream. My own flesh felt like it was ripped in two, just as Luke’s had been in my dream. I was covered in sweat.

  Luke

  What’s going on?” She asked, startled.

  “They’re coming towards the dome,” I said urgently. “We don’t have much time.” She managed to get up, throw on her clothes, and run out the door in an instant.

  That’s my girl.

  “Can they get inside?” She asked, running down the corridor.

  “Of course, they can. We have to get you on a spacecraft as soon as possible.” I put on my uniform as we ran.

  “What about you?” Candice asked.

  “I have to stay here and fight. That’s what I do.” I said, not looking at her.

  “What if I wanted you to come with me?” Candice said.

  “Don’t do this right now, Candice. You know that I’m a fighter. It’s who I am.” I said, clenching my jaw.

  “Then I’ll stay and fight with you.” She said, stopping dead in her tracks.

  I stopped and looked at her. She had gotta be kidding me right now. Why did this woman have to be so stubborn?

  “Don’t be a fool,” I replied.

  “I mean it. I’m not going without you.” Candice said, not moving.

  “Listen to me,” I said, pushing her against the wall. “This is what is important to me. But — ”I ran my hands through her hair and considered my words. “—I care for you, and I need you safe.” I hated having to admit that, but I had no choice.

  “I need you to be safe,” Candice said, pleading.

  God, she was beautiful and thoughtful. “I will be. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Luke, I can’t be a part of all this. I had a dream last night.

  ….you were being hurt—” She tried to go on.

  “We don't have time for this, Candice.” I grabbed her hand and walked quickly, but she teared away.

  What the fuck?

  “Listen to me ! I can’t do this. I’m not going to be a part of this.” She wouldn’t move. I looked down to the ground silently.

  “I can’t listen to this right now. Don’t you understand what this is going to do to me?” I said.

  “I’m sorry, Luke. I have to go home now. I….cannot see you anymore.” Candice said. My heart was ripped to shreds. Was this because of that stupid dream she was talking about?

  “Candice.” I pulled her into me. “I need you. I need all of you. It makes me happy. It brings me pleasure and—”

  “And you need that so that you can fight your war. I’m telling you that I don’t want to be a part of it.” Candice slowly pulled away again. I couldn’t stand this. I was starting to feel violent.

  “So, you’re telling me it’s over? I can’t speak to you, I can’t touch you?” I looked at her viciously.

  “That’s what I’m telling you.” She gazed at me intently, and then it started to happen - the fading. I could feel my image becoming blurry like I was evaporating. “Luke?” I heard her say.

  “I’m not going to accept this. You need to understand…………..”

  In felt myself being ripped through the portal.

  CHAPTER 8

  Candice

  And now he was gone. Disappeared into thin air. I was frantic.

  “Luke? Luke!” I screamed, looking all around in some vain hope that he would appear. It was all my fault. He was gone.

  “Where is Arias?” Septimus asked from the end of the corridor. He was suited-up and ready for battle.

  “He….he’s gon
e,” I said softly.

  “What have you done?” Septimus instantly blamed me, and I thought, rightly he should.

  “I couldn’t be a part of all this,” I said, looking at the floor and wanting to cry.