Kidnapped by the Alien Barbarian

by Ella Mansfield

  "So teach me some endearments." He held still inside of her, looking into her green eyes. "I could call you grass eyes."

  "Grass eyes? Because my eyes are green?"

  He nodded. "I kind of like that."

  "I don't." She shook her head. "No, we need to come up with something else." She thought about all the names she'd read and heard for endearments, and really? There weren't that many. The compounds on Earth may seem like a good idea to some, but she could see how much they had limited her. "Darling, dear one, dear, honey, sweetheart? Do you like any of those?"

  He shrugged. "I like grass eyes better."

  "I don't."

  He frowned. "You're becoming more difficult the better I get to know you."

  "I don't mean to be difficult, but I don't like the sound of that. It makes me feel ugly."

  "Well, we can't have you feeling ugly. How about sweetheart?"

  She nodded happily, burying her face in his neck. It felt so good to have him inside her that for once she didn't feel the need for him to start thrusting. She was just happy to have him in her. "Let's stay like this for a while. Can we?"

  He nodded, pulling her face away from his and kissing her softly. "I would like that. Just stay still inside you, right?"

  "Yes, please." Why it felt so good to just stay that way, she didn't know. They were always in a hurry as soon as they touched each other, so it was nice not to be in a frenzied race to release. She sat up straighter, feeling him go deeper inside her. "What did your father say?"

  He tried to concentrate on her words and not the feel of her squeezing him deeply inside her. "He's angry. We've made a plan to beef up security for the planet. He's going to send a missive to Htfld about Tylr being left down there. We know we'll still be blamed, but at least we're holding out the blahserni branch."

  "What's a blahserni branch?" she asked, her hands exploring his chest.

  "It's what you hold out when you want peace. You don't say that on Earth?"

  "No, we hold out an olive branch. I'm going to need to learn your language. I mean, everyone in the palace that I've met speaks English, but I need to know your language as well."

  "I have lessons that can be played while we sleep. You'll know the language within a week. Reading it is harder, but I don't think that's as important for now."

  "No, I don't either. Would you start playing the lessons tonight?"

  "Of course. Father insists that you need to learn the language quickly."

  "Was he angry you married me?" she asked, worried that even though her mother-in-law had seemed to like her a great deal, her father-in-law would hate her.

  "Not at all. He's pleased. He said he'd worried none of his boys would ever find their fated mates, and he wants many grandsons."

  "How many boys are in your family?"

  Drrrl caught her hips and lifted her up once and brought her back down quickly, closing his eyes at the pleasure the action brought him. "Just four."

  "Just four? Why does it seem like so many more when you talk of them?"

  He shrugged. "I have no idea."

  Lela began moving so that he was sliding out of her and then she pulled him back in deeply. She moaned softly. "I sure hope your parents' room is far from ours."

  He laughed. "They are on the other hall. Now, my brothers, on the other hand, will hear us tonight and beg Father to let them kidnap their own brides from Earth tomorrow. I bet they'll spend all night in their beds masturbating to the sounds of our lovemaking."

  She leaned back a bit, looking into his eyes. "Are you planning on making love all night?"

  He laughed. "That's always the plan, sweetheart."

  *****

  At dinner that evening she met all the brothers, and the young bride who would be her new servant. "Where are the young brides coming from?" she asked Drrrl as they walked back to their room together.

  "From the female slave trader. He comes around often with different women who have been banished from Warden and other planets for various reasons: murder, industrial espionage, and just about anything else you can imagine. I couldn't force myself to choose from one of them, but as the crown prince, I really didn't have to. Some of the others do."

  "So the one who's my servant? Do I need to fear her?"

  He shook his head. "She chose to leave the planet. Her mother was a Mcy, and she wanted to join us, so she asked Lvn for a ride. Occasionally that happens, but it's very rare."

  "Her mother was a Mcy, and she had a girl? So it is possible?"

  "Her mother was adopted into the Mcy family. So she was never truly a Mcy."

  "Oh." Lela had always liked the idea of having a daughter, and now that it was out of her reach, it made her sad. Once she'd known she'd have a daughter with a faceless, nameless man somewhere. Now she desperately wanted a daughter with the barbarian who walked beside her. No one else.

  "Do you want a daughter?" he asked, his eyebrow raised.

  "Yes, I do. More than anything. Maybe we could kidnap one from Earth."

  He shook his head. "No, I promised Father I would kidnap no more females from Earth. My brothers didn't make the same promise. I know they're planning to leave for Earth soon."

  Lela laughed. "I don't know if that's the answer, but I wish them well."

  "They are all a little in love with their new sister-in-law. They think they can find princesses of their own on Earth."

  Lela smiled at that. "Truly, if they are going back to Earth, they should choose another compound than the one you found me at. My compound will have strengthened their security."

  He nodded. "That makes sense. Were there ever any disappearances from your compound?"

  "A little girl was lost a few years back. She'd fallen into the stream behind the dormitory, and the stream was immediately drained. Now there are fences around it. It was one of my favorite places to sit. I loved just watching the water." She turned to him. "What's your planet like? The palace doesn't have any windows?"

  He smiled at her. "We'll go for a walk in the morning, and I'll show you. I think you'll like it here. If not, you can stay indoors."

  Lela shuddered at the idea. She knew she'd never be content staying indoors all the time. It wasn't what she was meant to do. "A walk would be lovely."

  Chapter Ten

  Lela woke early the following morning, reaching for Drrrl, but he was already gone. Her servant was sitting beside her watching her sleep, her face odd.

  "I didn't realize I wasn't alone," Lela said, pulling the covers to her chest.

  "Drrrl asked me to sit with you until you woke. He didn't think you should wake alone in a new place." The servant continued to watch her. "I'm Kty."

  Lela nodded. "I remember. Where is my husband now? He said we could go for a walk this morning."

  "I was supposed to marry him, you know."

  Lela blinked, trying to follow the conversation. "Who were you supposed to marry?"

  "Prince Drrrl, of course. That's why I came to this awful place. Instead, my Jck saw me and claimed me for his own. I told him I was meant to marry the crown prince, but he didn't listen or care."

  "I didn't know that, Kty. I'm sorry things didn't work out as you planned."

  Kty shook her head, her dark hair moving wildly about her shoulders. "Oh, it wasn't just a plan. It was my destiny. From the time I was old enough to listen to stories at my mother's knee, she told me about my destiny to marry the crown prince of the Mcys. And now I'm married to a Mcy, but he's the man who cleans the toilets, not the crown prince." The girl stood up from her chair and started pacing the room. "It's your fault, you know."

  Lela had sensed more than a little insanity in the other woman's eyes. "How is it my fault?"

  Kty frowned at Lela, as if she was surprised the other woman didn't see her reasoning. "If you hadn't come, I could have killed Jck with no problem. No one would miss him, and then I would catch the prince's eye. But now, I have to kill you both. It will be harder, and the fated mate of the crown prince
will surely be missed." She pulled a long knife from her pocket. "No matter. I'll say I came to see you and a man with blond hair was sneaking out the window. It's always so easy to blame everything on the Htflds. The Mcys will fall for anything if the Htflds can be blamed."

  "Drrrl cares for me. If you kill me, he'll spend a long time mourning me."

  "He'll mourn your body, and he'll need another. Once the Mcy men discover the pleasures of sex, they never want to be without. No, he'll turn to me, newly widowed Kty."

  "Or he'll go back to Earth and steal another woman. He does have a thing for Earth women." Lela had no idea what to do other than keep the crazy woman talking. She wondered if the connection she had with Drrrl would work both ways. Could she send an image of Kty and the knife to Drrrl? Would he understand what she was trying to tell him?

  She closed her eyes and did her best to send to Drrrl the sight of Kty standing across the room brandishing a knife. She had no idea if it worked, but she tried. That was what mattered, right?

  Lela sat up in bed staring at the servant, keeping the sheet covering her breasts.

  Kty laughed. "You're so modest, even as you're about to die. There's no way he'd want another prude like you. Earth women couldn't be appealing. No, he'll want me."

  Kty took a few steps toward Lela, and Lela realized this woman towered over her as well. Why did she have to be so small in proportion to the women of this world? She was used to being the one so much taller than others that she'd felt like a freak of nature.

  "I don't think so. He liked that he was my first and I was pure for him. You can't say the same. You've been married."

  "I've only been with my husband. Jck isn't even a good lover. No, Drrrl will recognize that he needs me, and I need him. It's obvious."

  "Maybe in your eyes, but I don't think it will be obvious to Drrrl."

  Kty raised her voice for the first time, screaming like a shrew. "He will understand! He will take me as his wife, and I will rule over the Mcys at his side! It was destined!"

  Lela frowned. "I can see that now. It makes sense that you want to kill me. Would you mind if I took a bath first, though? I feel dirty, and I don't want someone to find my body dirty."

  "That's crazy. No one cares if they're dirty when they die."

  "It must be an Earth thing, but we all want to be found clean. Please, this is the only thing I'm asking for. On Earth prisoners who are about to die get to choose their last meal as well, but I won't ask for that."

  Kty shook her head. "You wouldn't get it either. Fine. Take your bath. I don't care."

  Lela walked into the bathroom, quickly shutting the door and locking it. She knew it wouldn't hold the other woman off for long, but hopefully Drrrl would be able to save her before Kty realized she was just trying to delay the inevitable. She almost laughed at that last thought. Who'd have thought she would expect to be saved like a damsel in distress? That was definitely not her personality. Not usually anyway.

  She ran the bathwater, wishing there was a window in the room she could climb out. She would even forgo her modesty if she could find a way out of her predicament. Obviously Drrrl had no idea Kty was a raving lunatic, or she wouldn't have been the one to be assigned as her servant.

  *****

  Drrrl was talking to his father when he saw an image of Kty, the servant assigned to Lela, with a knife standing in his bedroom. "Father, have you ever heard of the fated mate of a Mcy being able to transmit images into the mind of the Mcy?"

  Stnl looked at Drrrl, confusion on his face. "No, I haven't, but we're dealing with an Earth woman, and I have no idea what could happen when one of ours mated with one. Why?"

  "I think Lela's in danger. I just received an image of Kty standing over her with a knife in her hand."

  Stnl's eyes widened. "Take a guard with you. Don't go rushing in there like a crazed man. I can't let you get hurt!"

  Drrrl ignored his father, running in the direction of his bedroom. He was across the palace from her, and he only hoped he wasn't too late. He could hear footsteps running after him, and he could only assume his father had sent someone else to help out. He didn't care. He had to save Lela. She was his fated mate!

  When he reached his bedroom, he opened the door to find Kty lounging in his bed, the knife in her hand. She smiled at Drrrl. "Oh, Drrrl. Thank you for coming to rescue me. Lela tried to kill me with this knife, but I took it from her."

  Drrrl shook his head. He could see the insanity in the woman's eyes, and wondered how he had never seen it before. It was so clear now.

  "Is she hiding in the bathroom?" he asked softly. "Afraid that I'll punish her for trying to hurt you?" He just needed to know she was all right. There was no sign of blood, so perhaps Lela had gotten away before Kty could hurt her.

  "Yes, she's hiding. She knows you'll be angry with her for trying to hurt a Mcy. She thinks you'll send her back to Earth." Kty's eyes met his. "You will send her back to Earth, won't you?"

  Drrrl nodded. "Oh, yes, of course I will. That's the only way to deal with a woman like this. Send her back where she belongs."

  Kty walked to him, her hips swaying seductively. She handed him the knife, and he took it. The two guards took a step forward at his nod, each taking one of Kty's arms. "Take her away. She'll be tried for her crime against my wife."

  Kty turned and stared at him in shock. "My crime? What about her crime against me?"

  Drrrl ignored her and walked to the bathroom, hoping his sweet wife would be all right. When the door wouldn't open, he pounded on it. "Lela, it's Drrrl. Kty's been taken away. I have the knife now."

  Lela opened the door and flew into her husband's arms. "Oh, thank you for saving me! I knew you'd come!"

  He smiled, stroking her hair. "Of course I'm here. I wouldn't let you get hurt for anything." Drrrl took her hand and pulled her from the bathroom, sitting on the edge of the bed, and pulling her down beside him. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner. I didn't know it was possible for you to send images to me."

  "I didn't either, but I had to try something. I was so frightened!"

  "I know, sweetheart. Did she say what the problem was?"

  "She was told from the time she was small that she was destined to marry you. She had planned to kill her husband, Jck, and she knew you would marry her immediately. But then I came along and ruined all her plans so she would have to kill me and Jck. She told me it was my fault, because I was standing in the way of her destiny."

  He shook his head. "She's crazy."

  Lela smiled. "I do realize that. She helped me realize something that I didn't know before, though."

  He looked at her. "What's that? That you don't like knives?"

  She shook her head. "No, not at all. I realized that I love you. You see, when we met I went along with everything, because I really had no choice. But today, when she talked about killing me, I realized that I hated the idea of you marrying anyone else. Of you having relations with anyone else. I want you for myself, and that's all there is to it."

  He chuckled softly. "Of course you feel that way. It's part of us being fated mates. I hope you realize I love you as well."

  "How could I know that when you've never told me?"

  He smiled. "I've told you through my actions a million times. I love you, Lela. You are the only woman in the entire universe created just for me, and I will cherish you all the days of my life."

  "Truly?"

  "Of course."

  Lela felt a bubble of happiness inside her, but it took her a minute to recognize it for what it was. In her entire life, the most she'd ever hoped for was contentment. She was being forced into a career she didn't want, to marry a man she didn't want, and to live a life she didn't want. Now, though, she had everything she wanted. Well, except for children of course, but Drrrl was doing his best, so she couldn't fault him for that.

  "I'm happy here with you, Drrrl. I can't wait to have your children. I will live here forever."

  He smiled, leaning down and touc
hing his lips to hers. "I'm glad."

  *****

  Much later that night, they walked along the ocean outside, and talked of their planet and the future. "The makeup of the world is ninety percent ocean and only ten percent land. That's why no one wanted this planet, but we love it. We have a few floating homes on the ocean, and the people who live in them come into the palace when there's a storm. For the most part, though, we have a few islands with rocky shorelines and we have oceans."

  Lela shrugged. "I love water. As long as I have permission to walk along the rocky shorelines, I'll be happy."

  "Of course, you do. We want you to be happy here. Content."

  "I'll be happy anywhere, as long as I'm with you, Drrrl."

  He smiled, leaning down to kiss her sweetly. "I'm so glad you finally figured it out."

  "It didn't take me that long. I've still only known you for a week."

  "It felt like forever."

  Epilogue

  Bnjmn used the view screen on the ship to watch the human colony. He wasn't going to be like Drrrl and descend on the planet's surface with no idea who he'd take. No, he wouldn't bother with the surface of Earth at all. Instead, he'd choose the one he wanted and simply teleport his future wife onto the ship. He'd brought the third brother in line for the throne, Kvn, along with him as the captain. If his lovely bride insisted on marrying before he bedded her, he would be ready.

  Watching the way the women interacted with each other had been fun for him. He'd been doing it for four days now. He had his bride narrowed down to two women. There was a fiery haired red-head, who seemed like a warrior goddess to him. She ran around helping others with everything she did.

  And there was a quiet soft-spoken blonde, who sat off to the side with her books, reading all the time. He couldn't get a good view of what she was reading, but he had a feeling they were books that weren't approved of by the women running the compound. No, she was a quiet rebel. He thought he liked her best, but he'd take a day or two before deciding. He had to find her alone before he could teleport her anyway. They couldn't risk alerting Earth's authorities.