by Chloe Joel
“A large number of boy children were born during this period of warfare and at the time, we needed more men to fight. Now we need women to further our race and the number of Titan females has dwindled considerably.
Titans share a common ancestry with humans and our king found it viable to take human mates. So the king set forth the first of this order and all the High Generals were tasked with finding human mates. I found you by chance and we have force between us. Here that means we are soul mates.”
“So yes, I took you from Earth to be with me here on Titus as my wife. As a High General’s wife, you would be treated as a queen. I have a large amount of land I oversee as well as being apart of the Titan army. My responsibilities are vast. You are supposed to be my reprieve, my mate, and as such we must consummate and act on the force between us.” Kota could feel the beginnings of a sore mind take hold on his temples. He had not intended to argue with Vanessa, much less give her a history lesson about Titus.
“So you brought me here because you think we’re soul mates and all I’m supposed to do is serve as an outlet for your need to have sex every once in a while.” Vanessa’s tone was bored and Kota grew offended by her utter disregard of his culture.
“Yes and of course I’d care for you as my wife. It is not as shallow as you make it out to be,” Kota argued.
“That’s how you made it out to be. Where I come from, women have more purpose than to serve their husbands. They also marry for love not…lust. If you think you can just kidnap me and I’m supposed to go by everything you say then you’re wrong. I can’t look at you right now, is there another room I can go and…digest all of this in?”
Vanessa was dismissing him? Kota stared at her in shock for a moment before he stood and walked towards the library that would lead him out to the rest of his home.
“You can stay here, I will be the one to go,” Kota said crisply before turning his back on Vanessa and leaving the room. How could Kota have foreseen that Vanessa would be so…so…strong willed? He wasn’t sure he would get used to Vanessa challenging him and that would become a problem. Kota needed to find a way to tame Vanessa.
Kota walked down the curving hallway that led to his old room. The one he grew up in before his parents passed. This was ludicrous, he should be slaking his lust from Vanessa, not banished to his room. Kota paced around the smaller room in frustration. He wouldn’t let Vanessa get under his skin.
Kota found some clothing he still had in this room and dressed quickly. Kota would simply go to the tavern the High Generals usually frequented, perhaps they would have some advice. Kota wondered if all the females from Earth were the same.
Kota palmed his transference device and set it on the floor with the Southern Tavern in mind. Kota opened his eyes once the familiar sounds and smells of the tavern surrounded him.
“Kota! Our brave and mighty warrior!” Kota turned at the sound of his cousin’s voice; Jaramye was seated at a small table towards the back of the crowded room with two other High Generals.
Kota greeted his cousin, Generals Taris, and Baratheon before he sat amongst them. A pint of ale was served to Kota as soon as he sat.
“What brings you here Kota? Shouldn’t you be with your newly wed wife?” Taris asked Kota with a sly quirk to his brow. Kota growled and drank deeply of his ale before answering.
“Tell me, are all of your human wives…” Kota struggled to find a well enough word to describe Vanessa.
“Independently minded? Yes, my wife won’t let me touch her. All she wants to do is talk, which is fine since she has come to terms with Titus being her new home. She just wants to learn all about it instead of learn all about me,” Taris said with a waggle of his eyebrows, the men laughed and Kota simply took another drink of his ale.
“My wife is wonderful, I would swear she grew up in true Titan fashion. We’ve acted on our force eighteen times since our marriage. That and she runs our household beautifully, the servants adore her.” Baratheon boasted about his good marriage, both Taris and Kota glared at him.
“Well my wife is a curious little thing really, she still hasn’t gotten over the shock of being here. She’s taken to exploring our lands and the countrymen have reported she is a wizard in the markets. Helping merchants sell their goods. It’s all well and good for our tax quota, but I wish she’d take care of me just as magically. I could use her curious touch,” Jaramye grumbled half to his pint of ale and half to himself.
“So Baratheon, how did you get your wife to behave so favorably?” Kota asked him and Baratheon shrugged.
“Just talk to them, they like that sort of thing. Tell them about yourself and include them in your daily routine. That seems to keep my Christine happy.” Baratheon stated as if it would be so simple.
Kota did not think Vanessa was the type to look after his household and wait at home for him to return each day. “Oh, and listen to them when they tell you things. It shouldn’t be hard if they are your true mates, you will soon enjoy their conversation.” Kota simply took another drink of his ale.
This was not what he expected in the slightest. Kota’s parents spoke to each other, yes, but Kota’s mother was content in running his father’s household and raising Kota. Why can’t Kota’s wife be like Baratheon’s?
“So…how long was it before you were able to consummate with your wife Baratheon?” Jaramye asked and Kota paid special attention to his answer.
“It was the day after we were married. I took Christine around, showed her my country and her new home, explained things to her and that night after an intimate dinner, our force carried us away.” Taris and Jaramye both groaned at their seeming shortsightedness.
“So you had to woo her when she was already your wife?” Kota asked incredulously and Baratheon nodded once.
“Yes, I took into account her culture on Earth and used some of what I observed to assimilate Christine into her new life and role. It helped that where she came from females met many of the same expectations they do here.” Kota sighed, he supposed he could adopt some of Baratheon’s methods. It couldn’t hurt and Vanessa was already angry with him so Kota had nothing to lose.
Vanessa
I paced around the room beyond frustrated with the entire situation I was in. How was I going to get back home? What did Cass think? Did she even know I was gone? What if Kota did some alien memory eraser thing on her and she forgot I even existed!
The more I paced, the more worked up I got as it all sank in. I was on another planet! I was abducted like in some random sci-fi movie! An alien who thought we were soul mates had abducted me!
I plopped down on the chaise across from the fireplace and buried my face in my hands. What if I really couldn’t get back to Earth? What would I do here? I couldn’t be some alien’s housewife!
Never mind that it’s a sexy alien with a real alpha male complex—what was I thinking? I was already getting Stockholm syndrome!
“Vanessa.” His voice always seemed to caress my senses, no matter how maddening he was.
“Are you fatigued?” Kota had walked around the chaise and was studying me closely. He was wearing comfortable looking tan pants with an elegant white and gold robe covering his torso. Though I could clearly see that his chest was bare under the robing.
“No…just frustrated. I really can’t get back to Earth, can I?” I was truthful with Kota and his golden green eyes continued to study me for a moment. This guy was so strange; I couldn’t even fathom what he was thinking.
“No, I’m afraid not. You are my wife now Vanessa, can you accept this?” Kota’s tone was less commanding this time; he was trying to reason with me.
“It’s difficult Kota…Just yesterday…or whenever the party took place, I never knew Titus existed.” Kota took my hand and pulled me up from the chaise.
“I could show you a bit of it. Titus is a large place and the lands I govern over are vast, but I could show you the estate grounds.” He actually sounded tentative.
I sighed
and then nodded for him to lead the way. I might as well start getting used to this place. Maybe I could even find a hospital or whatever it was called here to work at. I wondered briefly if Titan anatomy was the same as human anatomy.
“Would you like a tour of our home first?” I stifled my sigh at the fact that he was already calling it ‘our’ home.
“No, I’d like to go outside. I think I’ll benefit from some fresh air,” I told him blandly. Kota didn’t stifle his sigh like I did. I wondered how this ‘marriage’ would ever work if we couldn’t stand each other—and he called us soul mates. Yeah okay.
“Let’s exit through the balcony here then.” Kota kept his hold on my hand and led me into the library just on the other side of the fireplace. The wall of glass continued into the adjoining room and there was a balcony on the other side.
Kota pushed a glass panel back so we could step outside. It was cold there, the breeze carried a winter chill and I felt my nipples pebble under the thin nightgown I wore.
“I apologize, I did not realize you would be so susceptible to the weather. Here…” Kota draped his robing over my shoulders and I couldn’t help but burrow into its warmth.
I glanced up at him and bit my lip while taking in his bare torso. He was gloriously defined and had an intricately designed leather strap crossing over his chest.
“What’s that?” I pointed at the strap and Kota reached over to his back to pull out a stainless steel hilt. That’s all it was though, there was no blade attached to it.
“It is a holster for my weapon.” Kota actually handed it to me and I wrapped my hand around the heavy hilt. Almost instantly, an incandescent blade was suddenly visible. I almost dropped it from being startled.
“Careful, this can cut through anything.” Kota took his weapon back and as he was returning it to his leather strap the blade became invisible once more.
“Can it cut through steel?” I asked as Kota led me down the balcony steps to an intimate cobble stone path that ran along the edge of the cliff Kota’s house was situated on.
I was distracted by the view of the beach below and the ever-present double moons in the night sky. They seemed to be a constant reminder that I wasn’t on Earth and wouldn’t be returning…quite possibly until I died.
“Yes it can, why do you ask?” Kota was puzzled at my question and I gestured to the seemingly harmless holster.
“It’s in a stainless steal hilt.” I wondered if Kota was actually a bit dense. Kota chuckled, laughing at me I guessed.
“It is not steel Vanessa. This is the strongest metal in the galaxy, valerium.” Right, of course it’s not steel. Why would it be? Its not like the planet I had been abducted to was Earth where one would find normal metals and ores.
“Can we go down to the beach?” I looked up at Kota while pointing to the sand. I had this morbid curiosity to see if the sand was actually sand.
“Alright…but you would have to trust me with your life.” I looked up at him in dismay. Why would he say a thing like that?
“The only way to get down there is to jump,” Kota said simply. If I read his expression correctly, I’d say he was enjoying my reaction.
“We’ll both die Kota,” I said it as if it was painfully obvious…because it was. The cliff we were on was at least fifty feet high.
“No, I will carry you and jump down. It is nothing really, I am built to last.” Was he actually joking with me now? Kota smirked at me and then scooped me into his arms before I had time to protest. He cradled me against his chest before simply stepping out into thin air.
My stomach flew out of my body and I scarcely had time to scream before Kota landed lightly in the sand. He put me down and I held onto his arm, staring up at him wide eyed.
“You—you just…that was…” I stuttered over my words not knowing how the hell to respond to what just happened. The sandals I was wearing didn’t even fly off.
“I cannot fly, but I am not scared of heights by any measure.” Kota was wearing a full on smug grin and I simply stared at him in shock. I really had to prepare myself for more shock, because I was sure I’d come across a two-headed pelican or something. I definitely wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
I took a deep breath and turned towards the sound of the waves gliding onto shore and retreating back into the ocean. The water was really quiet and calm. I took off my sandals and sank my toes into the soft white sand. It really was sand.
“What interested you so much about the beach?” Kota picked up a seashell and I took it from him before he could chuck it into the water.
“I just want to find any differences from Earth.” Kota almost pouted at me because I took the shell from him and I hid my smile as I studied the seemingly normal looking seashell.
“There are not many, but the differences there are tend to be glaringly obvious.” Kota wasn’t lying; the fact that there were two moons and he was able to hop down from a fifty-foot cliff spoke volumes.
“So Kota what do you expect me to do with my life while I’m here.” I gestured to the general area, encompassing his house and the two moons.
I did a double take when I glanced back at the house. It wasn’t a house at all it was a freaking compound. Like one of the cool modern homes you’d see in California.
“You have a gigantic house! You were just living there by yourself? How could you possibly clean a house that big?” I thought I had prepared myself for more surprises, but clearly that was in vain.
“Don’t be ridiculous Vanessa. There are homes on Earth this size. I have servants who cook and clean and keep the grounds in order. My house serves as both my home and a place where I meet with other generals if need be…where I listen to concerns of my countrymen. I conduct business here more than I sleep.” Vanessa decided to overlook the slight tinge of arrogance in Kota’s voice. This was a lot to take in at once.
“So you basically run a country as well as serve as a High General to your king?” Kota tilted his head to the side as he thought about this.
“Yes precisely…only he’s our king now. Not just mine.” Oh right, of course he freaking was. Vanessa didn’t even know the king’s name.
“Why do you have such a look on your face? Why can’t you come to terms with this already?” Kota’s true frustration bubbled to the surface and I looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“Why can’t you be more considerate? Then maybe we’ll get somewhere Kota. God you’re so infuriating!” I wanted to yell at him some more, but I didn’t really want to get into an argument with him again.
“Me? You are the one who is infuriating Vanessa,” Kota bit back. I gasped, shocked that he would say that after he kidnapped me. I wanted to just piss him off for the hell of it then…the arrogant, entitled…dork.
“My lord! My lord! There are Zathuran pirates breaching the first quarter! Soon they will storm the beach my lord!”
A man came running up to Kota from absolute thin air. He was just a bit shorter and leaner than Kota and was wearing an armored vest with gold colored plates. His armored pants were also white and he wore durable boots to match the uniform. His dark brown hair was cut short and just barely framed his handsome face. Were all the people on Titus attractive?
“Have the men from the first quarter pull back and call for reinforcements to the beach. We’ll let them think they’ve surprised us and crush them here.” Kota was implicitly in control; his voice didn’t even change as he gave orders.
“Yes my lord.” The guy actually bowed to Kota with a fist over his heart and then he turned and sprinted up the beach, running faster than he should be in the sand with boots on. Soon the guy disappeared altogether.
“Come Vanessa, I need you safely inside.” Kota pulled me up into his arms then he was jogging back towards his house and the path we walked on. Kota crouched low once we were near the bedroom balcony and leapt into the air.
He landed just as agilely as before. I didn’t say anything, I just let Kota usher me inside and followed him into t
he closet on the other side of the bathroom.
“We’re under attack by those intergalactic pirates you were talking about?” I finally asked him, more curious than scared. Kota seemed not bothered that the beach right outside his house was about to be under siege. His army must have been that badass.
“Yes, it is nothing we cannot handle. I assure you the battle will not last longer than ten minutes. You can watch from the balcony if you wish.” Kota was cocky too, what a surprise. It matched the rest of his personality.
I watched as Kota dressed similarly to his soldiers. The only difference was that Kota wore what looked like a white gold circlet around his thick bicep. It seemed to have it’s own inner light and made Kota seem bigger and scarier than he was already.
I pulled his robe closer around me and followed him back out onto the balcony. I could see figures emerging from small crafts in the water. They looked like a cross between speedboats and small submarines.
There were no Titan soldiers out on the beach and I wondered if that guy had delivered Kota’s orders yet.
“I must go now, I sense my men getting ready to strike,” Kota turned to head down the balcony steps, but he turned back around at the last second. Kota took one long stride and pulled me against him for a kiss. His lips were soft and insistent against mine. The strong need for him that always took me by surprise stretched to the surface and I found myself pressing tighter against him.
Kota broke the kiss abruptly and then hopped over the balcony’s edge and then again down to the beach. His men became visible and I couldn’t deny that Kota was right to be a little cocky about his warriors.
They crushed the pirates in a flurry of illuminated blades, arrows, and daggers. The Titan’s had fancy gear but fought old school. They used no firearms though the pirates packed gun-like weapons.