It had been almost a year since her divorce and she wondered when the nightmares would end. A throbbing headache was beginning at her temples. The nightmares were becoming recurrent and she wondered why. That fateful night, he had beaten her up so badly that she had run away from home and spent the rest of the night on a bench in a park. It was a routine matter. He would come home drunk and beat her. And that night he had gone completely crazy when she told him she was pregnant. She thought he would be happy to hear that they were having a baby, but her already breaking heart shattered that day. She had loved him. She had done everything to make him happy and he had never cared. She lost the baby the next day.
She couldn’t go to the police. There were no longer laws on Earth against domestic violence. The authorities considered it ‘a personal matter’. Divorce was the only option. She just wanted to be away from him - far, far, away. So she didn’t lose another minute when she received the letter for the new job opening. She got on the next spaceflight, Andromeda 13 as her destination, shutting out her past and leaving everything behind.
Taking a deep breath, she reached over and pressed a button on the bedside table. The blinds covering the huge sealed window slid open silently. She got out of bed and stared outside at the numerous stars that seemed stationary against the void of dark space. She was here on Andromeda 13. She was safe. This was real. She saw her own reflection in the glass: a woman with sad brown eyes and an ashen face stared back at her. She was far, far away from Earth, away from him, on this gigantic space station in the far-off galaxy of cosmos Redshift 7, light years away from Earth. This was her new beginning.
Chapter One
Earth Year 2560
Kara Frost gazed doubtfully into the sapphire blue eyes of the beautiful Argarian woman standing before her.
“Nariya... I... I don’t know, but please think again before you leave,” Kara said as she was fumbling with the communicator that she still used to understand and learn the Argarian tongue. She stared at the beautiful alabaster skin and ice blonde hair that glistened in the sunlight that was coming through the huge windows.
“Oh, Kara! You think too much,” Nariya said as she took Kara’s hands in her own and squeezed them. “I’ll be fine. Rezurn is a wonderful man,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
They were in Nariya’s chambers at the residence of the Argarian Ambassador. The Argarians were a race of ancient warriors inhabiting the planet Terrgius. A sophisticated race, they were modern and traditional at the same time. The Argarians and humans had been good allies for centuries now. The Argarian King had even taken a human as his Queen.
“How long have you known this man? Only a month?” Kara said, concern visible in her soft brown eyes. “Don’t you think you should get to know him some more before you run off marrying him?”
“I know him enough. And we’ll have the rest of our lives to get to know each other! This is my one chance to elope with him. Rezurn is waiting for me in a space ship nearby. I don’t know when he’ll be able to visit Terrgius again. He’s my mate, Kara,” she said resolutely.
“Listen, Nariya, marriage is not easy... You shouldn’t jump into it on a whim. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s been ugly,” Kara tried again. “Think about your father. He’ll be furious when he finds out you have eloped with a Klai warrior.”
“I know, but Father will eventually understand,” Nariya said with a smile as she walked gracefully toward the huge bedroom windows. She wore a long, flowy pale green gown with intricate gold threadwork. She looked so young, ethereal, and other-worldly—all of which she was.
Kara felt her stomach turn to knots. Nariya had been friends with her since she started working a few months back and in the little time she had known her, Kara had learned she was a kind-hearted and simple woman. She felt Nariya was making a rash decision. She didn’t have a very good feeling about this barbarian Nariya was about to marry. The Klai had a notorious reputation.
Nariya had already packed her bags and was ready to go. Kara bit her lower lip and sat down on the chaise lounge. She wore a figure-hugging dark blue bodysuit that showed off her slender physique. Her long, dark hair was tied in a neat chignon. She was thinking long and hard. What was she going to do? She was the Assistant Coordinator to the Argarian Ambassador at Andromeda 13. She had trained extensively to earn the position and didn’t want to lose it at any cost. The Ambassador had assigned her the task of escorting his daughter, Nariya, to Andromeda 13 for an intergalactic meeting. Kara had reached Terrgius the previous night, and since the morning had been trying to persuade Nariya to drop the plan of eloping with the Klai warrior and go to the meeting instead.
“And what am I supposed to do about your meeting with the Vllar Commander?” Kara asked her. She would lose her job if she canceled the meeting. The Ambassador, Erzhun Dyadjin, insisted that it was a ‘very important meeting.’ The Commander of the Elite Galactic Force was a Vllar, a race of warriors from planet Agrion and the Argarians were forming an alliance with them. The Vllar were skilled fighters and merchants. Their planet was known to be the best in trade. Their most prized product was the Sirrallion, a rare form of metal native to Agrion. This meeting was something that could not be delayed or missed.
“You will go,” Nariya said coolly.
“What? No–” Kara began.
“You will go disguised as me. Here, take these robes. These are the finest that I have,” Nariya said as she took the robes from her wardrobe and brought them to Kara.
“But that’s impossible! They will know I am not an Argarian!” Kara said. She was starting to panic now. This was ridiculous. The Ambassador would surely kill her. “Plus I don’t even know the purpose of the meeting!”
“You can do this, Kara,” Nariya cut her off. “You just have to be clever. And don’t worry about my father–he won’t fire you.”
“I... I could represent you and make up an excuse–” Kara started.
“No. You will go there as Nariya Dyadjin. Make the deal, whatever they want, and let me know later,” Nariya said as she approached Kara. “Please, I know you can do this... You have the perfect looks. Just hide your ears,” she said, gazing into Kara’s worried eyes. She had ivory skin, long dark hair and soft brown eyes. Some of the Argarians were like her. But her human ears would give her away. The Argarians had ears that swept slightly upward, giving them a pointed look.
There didn’t seem to be any way to persuade Nariya. Kara couldn’t shake the feeling that Nariya was headed toward danger, but she was too stubborn and in love to listen. Maybe pretending to be Nariya at the meeting would be better than canceling it altogether. There might be a chance for her to keep her job. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. “Okay, I’ll go,” Kara said, giving in.
Nariya walked up to her and hugged her. “I’m gonna miss you,” she said.
“Take care of yourself. And let me know when you get there,” Kara said as she took the robes. Nariya caught the sadness in her soft brown eyes.
Ten minutes later, Kara stepped outside and into the open field. Her mind whirling, she tapped the panel on her wrist and punched in the commands. “Computer: begin transport,” she spoke into her wrist. A second later, small glowing particles enveloped her as she vanished into thin air and reappeared on the Agrarian starship stationed above Terrgius’s atmosphere.
Once inside the ship, she settled into the cockpit and set course for Andromeda 13. Her heart raced madly in her chest. She braced herself for whatever was to come as the ship went into warp drive.
Chapter Two
Space Station Andromeda 13
Arazor Galather Vafiel, Commander of the Elite Galactic Force of the Agrion Kingdom, docked his ship at the designated port on Andromeda 13. He took one final glance at the holographic screen in front of him, checked his schedule, and then got up to leave. He just wanted to get this meeting over with.
“Captain, I’ll contact you after the meeting is over,” Arazor said in his deep, cold voice.
; “Yes, Commander,” the captain said as he tapped in instructions on the holographic screen. He hesitated and then asked cautiously, “You’re sure the Argarians can be trusted?”
“They are known to be loyal. The king wants us to make this alliance. It’s our only hope. The Klai have already broken through our atmospheric barriers. We need to strengthen our forces if we want to avoid an invasion,” Arazor said quietly, a slight frown creasing his forehead. His intense gray eyes were cold and calm like the sea before the storm. The only thing that marred his handsome features was an old faded scar that ran across his right eye.
“And marriage is what they want to seal this deal with?” the captain asked.
“Yes, it is a necessity. The Argarian Ambassador is of the view that, in this case, it’s the only way,” Arazor said. He wasn’t happy with the marriage part of the deal. In his earlier meetings with Erzhun Dyadjin, he had tried to talk the idea out of the Argarian Ambassador’s mind. Yet, the Ambassador made it clear that he would only form an alliance if he, Arazor, would marry his daughter. He was the one responsible for Agrion’s security. He had no choice.
Arazor loved his independence. As an orphan, his fate was sealed centuries ago to be a warrior of the Elite Galactic Force. He was part of a race of warriors who were trained to become devoid of emotion. Emotions weakened warriors. They could mate only once in their lifetime, and only to produce offspring. Emotional attachment to a mate was not only stupid–it was shameful. In his world, concubines were for pleasure: no strings attached. And now he had to get married in order to close the deal. A desperate measure, he thought.
“Agrion’s safety is of the utmost importance, Captain. We need to focus on that for now,” Arazor said coldly.
The door to the ship hissed open and Arazor walked down the walkway, heavy boots clanking on the metal ramp as he adjusted his breathing filter, a tiny device attached to the bridge of his nose.
As a Vllar and the Commander of the Elite Galactic Force, he wore the traditional dark leather pants and a dark shirt with intricate gold patterns. A royal crest made of gold and copper embellished his right arm, and he wore a dark coat that cut off right above his knees. His sword, the blade of which had drained the blood of many different races in the arena over the centuries, was slung over his back. Taking a deep breath, he entered his designated quarters at the Argarian Embassy.
“Welcome to Andromeda 13, sir. We hope you enjoy your stay here. Would you like a drink?” The computerized voice of a woman flooded the room as he entered. The walls of the room were a silver gray and there was a white sofa and a white oval table in the corner near the large glass window.
“Yes, please. Make it strong,” he responded as he sat down.
A glass of dark blue wine materialized on the table near him. He picked it up and took a swig. He really needed a drink. The sooner this is over, the better, he thought.
***
It wasn’t long before the computer announced the arrival of Nariya Dyadjin. He drained his glass and stood as the doors to his chambers hissed open and a woman entered. She was petite, and he couldn’t fully see her face as it was partially hidden by the hooded crimson cloak she wore. She walked ever so slowly, gracefully, toward him, standing in front of him at a respectable distance. Her dark crimson gown accentuated her slender body. She looked up at him, pulling back her hood a little.
Warm brown eyes met his cold gray ones, and, for a brief moment, he was struck by how beautiful she was. Her ivory skin, delicate features, and beautiful eyes... He never knew Argarian women were so attractive. A few silent moments passed as he gazed into her lucid brown eyes–so expressive that he felt he could see right through her. And then she blinked, looking away uncertainly. Strangely, his chest constricted and he was suddenly unnerved by this feeling. He didn’t want to go there. Get a grip, Arazor. Focus, the voice inside his head admonished him.
“I am Arazor Galather Vafiel, Commander of the Elite Galactic Force of the Agrion Kingdom,” he said in a formal tone.
Kara looked into his gray eyes. They had suddenly gone cold. For a moment, she was entranced by his intense gaze, feeling her blood heat up as her heart thudded against her chest. His handsome features were expressionless. His eyes betrayed him, but only briefly. He had dark blonde hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck, revealing strange dark markings. Despite all she had read about the Vllar, she didn’t know they looked so strong and were so handsome. What was wrong with her? She needed to calm down and focus on the matter at hand or he would know she was not Nariya.
“I... I am aware. The Ambassador has sent me. The agreement is to be made today,” she said, tearing her gaze away from his as she clasped her trembling hands in front of her. Focus... Focus Kara... She waited for him to say something. She had no idea what the agreement involved. Erzhun hadn’t told her.
“Good. Then we can seal the deal. A small gift to form the alliance with the Argarians. It’s a tradition in my world,” Commander Arazor said as he took out a solid gold bracelet from his coat pocket. Then, taking her small delicate hand, he clasped it around her wrist. The bracelet had runes engraved on it.
“Oh...” she gasped, surprised, as the bracelet changed shape and adjusted to her size. The strange runes traveled down her wrist like a shadow and imprinted on the inner skin of her wrist. She wondered what that was all about. A strange gift, she thought.
Kara was still gazing at her bracelet when, without any warning, Arazor pulled her into his strong arms and claimed her mouth in a forceful and demanding kiss.
Startled, she pushed him back with a great deal of effort. “What are you doing? That was incredibly inappropriate!” she said, her voice hoarse as she struggled to catch her breath.
Arazor looked calmly at the woman before him. The way her body had responded to him when he had kissed her told him she wanted him... So why was she resisting? There was something strange about this woman.
“Inappropriate? How?” he asked mildly.
“Commander Arazor, you kissed me - which was highly unnecessary. I don’t understand your customs, but we consider this behavior inappropriate,” Kara said indignantly as she pulled back her hood so he could see her full face.
“I have sealed the contract by claiming you as my bride,” Arazor returned.
“What...? No... This is a misunderstanding,” Kara began. He saw fear and shock in her eyes.
“The bracelet you wear now is a symbol of our marriage. It is a custom in my world that when a man gives it to a woman, she becomes his mate for life,” he said, showing her a similar gold bracelet he wore around his wrist. She could see runes on his wrist as well. “Your father made this deal. The alliance would be formed after I married you.”
“No, no, no!” Kara cried. Tears started to rapidly fill her eyes. She struggled to remove the band, but it wouldn’t come off. “I’m not Nariya Dyadjin! This is a horrible mistake!”
“Excuse me?” Arazor said. She saw his eyes suddenly grow cold as ice. “Who are you? Where is Nariya?”
She shuddered at his tone. He would surely kill her. And if he didn’t, Erzhun would. “I... I am Kara. Kara Frost.”
“What are you doing here, Kara Frost?” he asked her and she winced once more.
“I work for the Ambassador. Nariya couldn’t come today, so she sent me instead to finalize the deal. I–I’m sorry... I didn’t know...” Kara stumbled as she fidgeted with the bracelet. “Why won’t this thing come off?”
“Because you’ve been bonded with me for life. You can’t take it off,” Arazor said. He was clenching his teeth and his breaths were becoming shallow. “Not unless I want you to. And even then, nothing changes. You will still be my mate.”
He clenched his fists and gave her a death stare. She could see fury surging, cold and stark, in his gray eyes. “Erzhun has betrayed me. You are not even an Argarian. He sends a human instead of his own daughter. This is a disgrace to my people.”
“Look, it’s not his fault. He doesn�
�t know his daughter has eloped with another. Nariya persuaded me that I go and attend to whatever the deal was about,” Kara said quietly. “It’s all a misunderstanding...”
“You call this a misunderstanding?!” he roared as he grabbed her by the shoulders and glared straight into her eyes. “I wish I could kill you, but I can’t.” She gazed back at him defiantly, her fear now replaced by rage.
“Get your hands off of me,” she said in a calm voice. “If I had known, I would never have married you. In fact, I would take divorce right away. Take this thing off and it will be over!”
“Divorce?” he laughed and let her go. “Sweetheart, it doesn’t work that way. At least not in my world... Computer, I want another drink,” he said as he raked a hand through his hair and strode toward the sofa.
“Don’t call me ‘sweetheart,’” Kara said, but he didn’t seem to hear her.
“I was supposed to bond with an Argarian woman, not some human. Now I’m stuck with you,” he said, seething.
“There must be another way to end this,” she said quietly. This entire situation was too ridiculous to be true. She was sure there was a solution.
“Our law states that under very rare conditions, the marriage can be annulled. But since I have been bonded with you, we must wait three months. Nothing can be done before that.”
Kara stood there, speechless. The seriousness of the situation was starting to sink in. She was married to this arrogant man who clearly hated humans. Suddenly overcome with tiredness, she sat down on the sofa, making sure there was a considerable distance between them.
Arazor took a long swig from his glass. Kara stared at him and heaved a deep breath. She had really screwed up this time. If the Ambassador wouldn’t murder her when he found out what happened, he would definitely fire her and deport her back to Earth.
Doctor’s Fake Fiancée Page 36