A Bride For The Alien King (Protectors 0f Svante Book 1)

by Roxie Ray

Nils pushed down on my wrist, and I felt my fingers give way. He smashed his fist into my face, and I wheeled around, but recovered my bearings almost immediately. The stars in my eyes danced away, and I focused on Nils again. He was rushing towards Rosa with new fear in his eyes. She was reaching for something, but I didn’t bother trying to see what. I jumped onto Nils’ back before he could reach her and forced him to the ground.

  He turned immediately, pushing me to the side and roaring with anger. I could see stress written across his face. It was starting to dawn on him that he might lose this fight. And losing this fight would certainly mean death. He turned his dark eyes on me and bared his teeth.

  His fist came at me again, but I managed to block him this time. I scrambled to my feet and Nils did the same. We circled each other like rabid beasts, and I could smell death in the air already. The only question now was, was it my death I smelled, or his?

  “Surrender now, reveal to me the Sives’ plans, and I may let you live the remainder of your miserable life in the dungeons of Svante,” I said. “Continue with this path and I will kill you.”

  “You think I trust your word?” Nils spat.

  “It is the word of a king.”

  “You are no king of mine,” Nils roared as he jumped at me and aimed a kick at my gut. I stumbled backwards but managed to remain on my feet.

  I blocked his next two attacks, but the third kick had me seeing red spots. I managed to land a few punches of my own, but even when they hit him he seemed not to notice. It was like desperation had destroyed his ability to feel pain.

  My body started to feel the ache of battle, but I persevered. I managed to get him in the face, and Nils landed on the forest floor with a thud. He moved to a standing position almost immediately, but he brought a handful of dirt with him and flung it in my face.

  “You have no honor!” I yelled as Brags kicked me to the floor.

  I could hear him laughing, taking advantage of my blindness. I tried to blink through the thick dirt that coated my eyes, but it stung so badly I was forced to rely on my other senses. His legs rained down on me with kicks, and the sudden and panicked thought that I might actually lose started to weigh on me.

  “Over here!”

  Rosa? My mind scrambled with panic. What was she doing? I had no doubt she would sacrifice herself for me. How could I have let this happen? I should have been the one to protect her, not the other way around.

  I heard a strange zooming noise and saw a flash of red through my closed eyelids. There was a gasp and a grunt, and then I heard the sound of a bulky weight hitting the ground a few feet away from me. Leaves crunched as I rubbed the dirt out of my eyes and blinked them open slowly. Everything was blurry, but at least I had my vision back.

  Nils was lying by my feet. His whole body shook in a fit-like state, and his eyes stared unblinking at the pockets of sky above us. I turned my head and saw Rosa standing there, holding the current gun. It was massive, and she dropped it with relief before running straight to me.

  The purple bruise on her face made me want to weep, but she seemed completely unaware of it as she knelt in front of me and cupped my face in her hands.

  “My love,” she said, using my endearment for her. “Are you okay?”

  I reached up and cupped the right side of her face. “You saved me.”

  Rosa smiled. “Sorry it took me so long,” she said. “I was trying to figure out how to work the damn thing. And then it took some effort to lift and aim.”

  “You are a true warrior.”

  “I learned from the best.” Rosa smiled.

  To see that smile again was like waking up to sunlight after a century of darkness.

  “What are we going to do about him?” Rosa asked, jerking her head towards Nils.

  Before I could answer, my protectors burst forth from the trees and came to a grinding halt when they saw Nils lying in the underbrush, incapacitated from head to foot.

  “You’re too late, Protectors,” I said, smiling at Rosa. “My queen saved me.”

  Vuks moved forward and stood right over Nils’ head. He spat at him in disgust, and I saw Nils’ face contort into fury that couldn’t crack through the veneer of pain the gun had caused.

  “What of Terrox?” I asked. “And Luxor, Comadin?”

  “All back to normal,” Vuks informed me. “The healers had an antidote to remove the effects of currents. No permanent damage was done.”

  I nodded and got to my feet as Rosa did the same. She sunk into my chest, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

  “Thank you, my love,” I said. “I will ensure you are fitted with new warrior’s garb. You are truly deserving of it.”

  Rosa smiled, but I saw her eyes flit to Nils every few seconds. I turned to Vuks. “Will you escort Queen Rosa back to our chambers and inform the healers to tend to her there?”

  Rosa looked up at me with a frown. “Aren’t you coming with me?” she asked.

  “I will be in our chambers soon,” I promised her. “But I have some unfinished business I need to tend to.”

  Rosa’s frown deepened, and then she turned slowly to Nils. Realization dawned on her face, but all I could see was the soft purple bruise that the bastard had given her.

  “Quatix —”

  “I don’t want you to see this, my love,” I said, stroking her face.

  “You can send him to the dungeons,” Rosa said.

  “The dungeons won’t hold him for long,” I said. “It must be done.”

  Rosa’s eyes clouded over for a moment, but I could sense the slow acceptance through our bond. She nodded once and stepped over to where Vuks stood. I waited till she and Vuks had disappeared through the trees, and then I stepped up to Nils and looked down at him.

  A menacing growl escaped my lips as I bent down. “You are a traitor to your kind and your planet,” I said. “But I can forgive a lot. I might still have let you live. But that bruise you left on Rosa’s face… that I cannot forgive.

  “You may have succeeding in robbing my planet of the Gnosees, but you have not won anything yet. Svantians are warriors through and through. We will rid the world of those cursed Sives and we will get back our bounty. Rest assured of that.”

  Then I leaned in and wrapped my hands around Nils’ throat.

  27

  Rosa

  “My Queen, you are glowing.”

  I smiled at Meri-Dana as she brushed out my hair. I felt the fluttering of butterflies in my stomach, but it was more excitement than nerves. Today was the day of my official mating ritual with Quatix. Of course, the soul bond ritual was purely ceremonial, but the part where we became husband and wife wouldn’t be.

  “Thank you, Meri-Dana,” I replied.

  I heard giggling reach me from the other side of my wardrobe, and I smiled at the four other handmaids that had been assigned to me for the wedding ceremony. They were young girls, two were Mana and two were Balidory, and all had been fitted with the same ivory sheath gowns for the ceremony. Only Meri-Dana was set apart. She wore a worked gold belt and several bracelets on her arms to highlight her position as my personal handmaid.

  Meri-Dana rolled her eyes. “Will you little birds stop twittering so,” she said. “Go and bring the wedding dress in. Your queen is almost ready to dress.”

  The girls disappeared into the room on the right, and I shook my head with amusement.

  “They’re sweet girls,” I said. “But I look forward to some quiet around here after this ceremony.”

  “As do I, my Queen,” Meri-Dana nodded fervently, and I suppressed a laugh.

  “Your hair has been especially luxurious these past many weeks,” Meri-Dana said, with a small smile.

  “Thank you,” I said. “I think I’m just excited.”

  “Indeed.” Meri-Dana nodded.

  She was working long strands of my hair into intricate little braids that she was arranging around my head, leaving the rest of my hair loose and waving softly around my shoulders. Once the
braids were done, she took out a special carved box that had been one of bride gifts from Quatix. He had given it to me early so that I could wear it today.

  The box held a collection of intricate silver and bronze bells, each of which had been carved on the surface so that they represented something different. Quatix had explained each one to me only two nights ago.

  “This one means beauty,” he told me. “And this one means grace. These three bronze ones represent charm, good fortune, and love.”

  I ran my fingers over each bell and nodded to Meri-Dana to start weaving them into my hair. Once the bells were added, I stared in amazement at my reflection. They did make a world of difference, and I noticed that these bells shone ten times brighter than the everyday ones I usually wore.

  “They’re so beautiful,” I said, moving my head to the side to hear their delicate melody.

  “They’ve been made from the finest Svantian bronze and silver, my Queen,” Meri-Dana told me. “They are more valuable than some homes in Svante.”

  My eyes went wide. “Really?”

  Meri-Dana smiled and nodded. “You are a queen. It is fitting.”

  Just then the handmaids appeared with my dress, and I felt that familiar flutter again.

  “Oh you look so beautiful, Your Grace,” Dinae tittered. The green of her scales glowed with excitement as her eyes fell on the bells in my hair.

  “Your wedding bells are gorgeous,” Ru-anna sighed. “You will make a beautiful bride.”

  “Come, it is time to put on your gown,” Meri-Dana said.

  I stood up and disrobed. I wasn’t wearing anything underneath but a thin, sheer camisole. Then I stepped into the dress and Meri-Dana, Arissa, and Daneel pulled it up the length of me. They fastened the intricate buttons at the back, one by one, while Ru-anna and Dinae fussed with the skirts and made sure everything was in place.

  “Do not fasten the corset too tightly,” Meri-Dana told Arissa. “Once you are finished, go and get the veil. Daneel, find the wedding slippers, and you two, go to the solar and make sure the Protectors are informed that the queen is almost ready to descend.”

  Once they had finished coiffing me up, I turned to the full-length mirror that was set in a bronze frame.

  I took a deep breath, admiring the gown’s elaborate beauty. Everything about it, from the worked corset to the black jewels to the seed pearls woven into the gown’s sheer hemline, was extravagant yet subtle.

  My handmaids fussed over me in high voices, and I smiled and blushed and thanked them. Then Meri-Dana clapped her hands and reminded them that she had set each one a task. Casting dark glances her way, the four handmaids disappeared, and I chuckled under my breath.

  “I feel like a queen today,” I sighed.

  “Perhaps you would like to eat something, my Queen,” Meri-Dana suggested. “Before we descend?”

  “Oh, I couldn’t eat a thing just now,” I said.

  “Are you sure?” Meri-Dana asked with concern. “What about the baby?”

  I stopped short and looked at her in surprise. “What?”

  Meri-Dana smiled. “You are with child, are you not, my Queen?”

  I flushed, but I didn’t bother denying it. “How did you know?” I asked.

  Meri-Dana laughed softly. “Your hair has been quite lovely these past few weeks,” she replied. “And you’ve taken a special fancy for Ciracha, and I noticed that you haven’t touched any meat in the last week. It is not showing yet, though; that is good.”

  My hand fell across my belly instinctively. “It was a surprise,” I admitted. “But King Quatix and I couldn’t be happier.”

  “All of Svante will rejoice at this news,” Meri-Dana said. “A little prince to grace our people.”

  “Or princess,” I pointed out.

  Meri-Dana’s smile faltered a little. “Svantian genes don’t run strongly to females, my Queen,” she said. “It is most likely a boy.”

  “Well, this baby will have human genes, too,” I pointed out. “Perhaps I am carrying a girl.”

  “That will truly be a blessing,” Meri-Dana said, and her eyes lit up.

  “Excuse me, Your Grace,” Arissa said, sticking her head through the door. “The Protectors are ready to escort you down.”

  Meri-Dana squeezed my hand and we walked out into the solar. I slipped on my wedding slippers, and my veil was fastened in place with two more pin bells, and then we were off, down the elevator and into the grand hall where the ceremony was to be held. We would be taking our vows at the base of the Grand Aren.

  The doors of the grand hall were pushed open, and I walked in to the most spectacular sight. The room had always been impressive, but now it looked like I had entered another kind of fairytale. Massive turrets of flowers roped around each pillar and tiny little bulbs were hidden amongst the leaves and flowers. They blinked like fireflies in the dusk, casting their subtle light on the white carpet that ran from the entrance of the space right up to the base of the Grand Aren.

  Meri-Dana stepped away, moving my handmaids to the side as Terrox stepped up to offer me his hand. Traditionally, it would have been the duty of the groom’s closest family member to escort me down the aisle, but as Quatix had no brothers, the honor had fallen to Terrox. He looked very handsome in his formal Svantian attire.

  All the Svantians present were wearing trousers in dark colors. They wore shirts with deep necklines that displayed their muscular chests and part of their abdominal muscles. Over their shirts they wore large, embellished belts, some of them embroidered and others studded with fine stones and gems.

  Terrox bowed and extended his hand out for me. I took it and we started the walk down the carpet. There was a massive arch that had been constructed of thick vines and natural flowers from the jungle. It stood at the base of the Aren, framing the high priest. I knew Quatix was supposed to be there, but I couldn’t see him.

  “You look beautiful, my Queen,” Terrox whispered to me.

  I smiled. “Thank you, Terrox,” I said. “I hope to attend your wedding one day soon.”

  Terrox’s smile was small, but I knew it wasn’t in his nature to be too expressive. “I intend to make a trip to Earth in two moons for that very purpose.”

  “How wonderful,” I said.

  It would be nice to have another Earthling in the castle with me. My heart ached momentarily for all the people that couldn’t be here today. I spared a few moments to think of Sophia, my parents, and Sara.

  “Did Brags show up?” I asked.

  Terrox shook his head. “I’m sorry, my Queen.”

  “No, it’s okay,” I said. “I didn’t really expect him to.”

  The guests in attendance bowed as I walked past them. I gazed up for a moment at the open section of roof where the sky peered down upon us. The Aren’s great branches rose high like reaching hands toward the setting sun.

  When I looked back down, I saw Quatix step under the arch, next to the high priest. My breath caught as I gazed at him. He looked so incredibly handsome, and the smile on his face made the fluttering feeling in my belly burst to life.

  He was wearing black trousers, but he was the only one present with no shirt. The belt he wore was magnificent, however. It almost completely covered his torso and was encrusted with fine gems of blue, green, black, and ivory. They glittered every time the light fell against the belt.

  He wore a large medallion engraved with a bunch of symbols that were still unfamiliar to me, and his arms were half covered in a series of war cuffs. His biceps had been painted in the traditional Svantian custom, and there were even a few markings near his collarbone. Never had I seen him look more impressive than he did just now. He looked a true king.

  His eyes settled over me, and I felt our soul bond pull me closer. I could feel his uncontainable love for me, and I tried to answer him in kind. Who would’ve thought that my sorry, drug-infused childhood would lead me to this moment? I blinked back tears, and my hand flickered over my stomach for a moment.

&
nbsp; As we stepped up to the arch, Terrox transferred my hand into Quatix’s, and he leaned down to kiss me tenderly.

  “You look breathtaking,” Quatix told me.

  I smiled, and a tear slipped free. Quatix seemed amused as he brushed away the tear with the back of his hand.

  “This is no time for tears, my love,” he said.

  “They’re tears of happiness,” I assured him.

  The high priest stepped toward us and had us take each other’s hands. We went through the rituals that would bind us together as husband and wife, but I had a hard time concentrating on his words. Quatix’s ice blue eyes had never looked so warm, and I felt like I was falling into them.

  Once the words were said and the prayers were done, the high priest bound our hands together with a piece of silk. It had been Sophia who had explained the whole process to me. Her death was almost three months old now, and while acceptance had pushed out denial, it still hurt to think of her, especially now.

  “Before the Gods, before the skies, and before your people, you are hereby bound for eternity and all the eternities that follow.”

  Quatix’s gaze was intense as he bent down and kissed me lips. I heard cheering and laughing and clapping, but all I was really able to take in was how Quatix’s tongue ran over my lower lip before he pulled away. Then he took my hand and we turned to the cheering crowd. I lifted my hand and waved ,and they all bowed in unison. I felt as though my heart was going to burst with joy.

  “How are you feeling… my wife?” Quatix asked.

  I laughed. “I’m your wife now,” I said. “Till death do us part.”

  “Not even death will part us,” Quatix said emphatically. “I will follow you wherever you go… even to the starry infinity of the afterlife.”

  “Sounds like an adventure.”

  Quatix bent down and kissed me again, his hand lingering over my stomach, and I saw the bright excitement in his eyes when he pulled away.

  “How are you feeling?” he repeated, but this time I knew what he was really asking.

  “A little tired,” I admitted. “But very happy. The baby’s very comfortable.”