He looked at her quizzically.
“It means don’t worry about something that’s already happened. If we discover I’m pregnant, we’ll deal with it then. Right now we worry about keeping what we have a secret. I don’t want Raette and Rex in my head and heart like you are, but if it’s the only way, we do it.”
He pulled her close and took a deep, calming breath. She ached for his pain and worry. She began to run the cleansing stone over his skin. Each tender touch helped him pull himself together. At this moment, they were safe, he had friends willing to help him, and he would protect his woman, she knew it.
He turned off the water and wrapped her in a large, fluffy drying cloth. He dried her body completely before using it on himself. They went out to the main room, and he handed her a tunic. She was now dry and dressed, and she knew he felt much better knowing she was content. Knowing he needed to care for her made her heart do a funny little flip. He quickly dressed and then took her hand.
Jul brought her to a kitchen chair and grabbed a bowl of fruit. He sat down next to her. “You’re hungry, eat.”
“I’m tired and—”
“Eat, I want you strong.”
She did as he asked, and she could see how much her compliance pleased him.
“I’ve never felt this need to care for another’s well being.”
She heard his thoughts and knew they were honest.
“That’s a very primal human response to love. We’ll be all right if you can keep it together. If anyone sees you acting like this, you’ll give us away for sure.”
She’s right. I need to stop being so human and remember I’m a respected Alburion male who shouldn’t shamelessly tend my slaves in such a needy manner. Knowing she’s a slave makes me ill. I feel as if we are one.
Realizing he’d forgotten she could hear his thoughts she replied, “I understand. I don’t feel like a slave anymore.”
He frowned. “You know, you being able to read my mind is a little unnerving.”
She chuckled. “As creepy as this is it’ll prevent any miscommunication between us.”
Chapter 7
Suddenly, the door flew open and Rothgorg and Raette came running into the house. “We have to hurry. Grab your identification and deni, take whatever will be valuable off-world,” Raette ordered.
“What is the matter with you, Rae, and why do you have my slave?”
“I’m so sorry, for both of you. I wanted to be with you, this wasn’t my doing.”
“What are you talking about? Slow down and make sense.” Fear caused Jul to be gruff with his friend. He’d never seen her so upset before.
“Rex, he wants the business, all of it. He told me he could buy a whole harem of human resonates once he’s sold your shares of the mines and other enterprises. Your winged slave, she’s gone to witness with him. They’re meeting with the king now. Rothgorg found me, and I confronted Rex before he left. He told me to stay out of it, but I can’t let this happen.” Tears sparkled on her lashes.
“Thank you, Rae. You’re a good friend. Here.” Jul went to a drawer and pulled out a document. He quickly filled it out and signed it. “This makes Rothgorg yours, and my house. Now you are an independent woman, no longer in need of your brother’s protection. Do you still have that private charter set for the jewels? Rex told you to have it ready today.”
“Yes, it’s waiting for shipment,” Rae told him.
“Help me with the crate in the corner. I’m so glad I didn’t part with this when we became a success,” Jul said.
“You’re brilliant.” Rae wiped her tears away.
“Get in the box, Meekra. I’m sorry, but this is my only option. We must leave.” He knew she understood, but the fear in her eyes didn’t go away. Suddenly she understood the word of endearment, it meant ‘most esteemed love’, an important endearment to his people and not used lightly.
“Why would Uika do this?” Raette questioned. “Rex is greedy, but Uika seemed so devoted.” Her honest confusion was clear.
Madison answered the other woman in a quiet, angry voice. “She loves Jul, and if she couldn’t have him no one can. I’ve seen her type on Earth, bitch is a universal attitude.”
“I wish I could stop Rex. We can get you off-world and keep you alive, but Rex will still have the whole company once you’re an outlaw.” There was a wistful quality to her words.
Jul’s smile was sinister. “You can, that paper not only gives you the house and Rothgorg, it gives you my shares. Even though you’re a woman, that is fully legal and you own two percent more than he does. Give him hell, Rae.”
She looked terrified then elated and finally sad. “What will happen to you both?”
“I’m going to get the woman I love to safety. From there, who knows, but promise me you’ll make Rex regret everything he’s done.”
“I promise.” Rae looked determined.
Rothgorg had placed blankets in the crate and he’d collected clothing and the valuables in the house. He helped Madison get in the crate; it was as full as they could have it without hurting Madison. He quickly sealed it shut.
“Will she be able to breathe in there?” Worry sparkled in Rae’s eyes.
“She’ll have several hours of air, but I’m getting her out as soon as we are in the air and too far away for the pilot to return us.”
Rae took off her many pieces of jewelry and handed them to her friend. “Take care of her. These are worth a great deal, take them. I truly wanted to be with her. Rex told me you’d planned to have the four of us bond in order to protect her. I would’ve given my life for that. I’ll never forgive Rex.”
“With the money you’ll have, especially after you sink Rex and take his shares, you’ll be the one with the harem of humans.”
“Yours is special, and you know it.”
Jul smiled. “Yes, I know it. Thank you, Rae. I’ll never forget you.”
She hugged him. “Now hurry up and get the hell away from here. I envy you so much right now.”
“Come with us, Rae.”
“As much as I want that I need to stay here and make sure Rex pays for what he’s done.”
Rothgorg helped Jul carry the crate down to the street. A transport was there in moments. Jul got on after they’d put the crate on board. Jul was consumed with overwhelming terror, his human emotion overload couldn’t be happening at a worse time. The driver gave him a strange look.
“This shipment is important to a wealthy buyer. I need to get it on a ship immediately. I’ll tip you handsomely if you get us there with haste, but without breaking any laws in the process.”
The man nodded, then the transport took off, much more quickly than what was the norm. He just hoped they didn’t attract unwanted attention.
By the time they reached the port he was sweating and flushed. Anxiety made the escape even more risky. He knew he should calm down. He felt Madison reach out to him, doing her best to calm him. Just feeling her helped and he breathed deeply, wiping the tell tale perspiration away. His people had very defined behaviors, and he didn’t want to lose the woman he loved because he couldn’t be Alburionian convincingly enough.
He found the pilot and worked out the details quickly. The man didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, and Jul thanked the great mother as he watched the crate carefully brought to the cargo hold. He paid the pilot the extra deni to board and fly with his crate. Relief filled him; they were going to be all right. He felt Madison’s relief and love pouring over him. A smile even filled his face, but then he felt the pain—terrible, burning pain.
Putting his hand to his chest, he felt the slickness. Shakily he brought the hand up to his face, and the blood was unmistakable. A bullet had entered his back and it’d penetrated his chest. Jul fell to his knees. He could feel Madison’s horror, she felt everything even if she couldn’t see it, and it made him sad. “I love you.” He did his best to block her from feeling his death. Having her in his mind was a comfort; she wrapped herself around his t
houghts, holding him without corporeal form. His eyes slid shut, and he heard Rex shouting somewhere far, far away as death came for him.
Chapter 8
Madison screamed, desperately pounding on the metal box. The man she loved was hurt, and somehow she knew if she could get to him in time she could help him. Then he died. Screaming even louder, sobbing, she pounded until her arms hurt.
She heard a voice. It was the bastard Rex. “Open the crate. His Majesty’s gift is inside.”
Blinking as light filled the dark space, Madison looked up to see Rex and several unknown Alburion grinning manically down at her. One of them grabbed her, and she swung her fist at him, hitting him in the face. He laughed. In her still weak condition, she was no match for the large, angry brute.
“Let me go. I need to touch him, please.” As they carried her forcefully off the ship she saw Jul lying in the dirt, orange blood pooling around him. She screamed, hitting and kicking at her captor. The man looked annoyed and stopped.
“Take her, Rex. She’s your gift to give, not mine. Damn, she’s a handful.”
“You son-of-a-bitch, you killed him. He’s your friend, and you killed him for money.”
Rex didn’t seem fazed by her tirade; the insult didn’t translate into their language correctly. He didn’t even bother to look remorseful.
As the annoyed barbarian handed her off she managed to wriggle free. Rushing to her fallen lover, she touched him. Jul was dead, and her heart broke.
“No, no, no, no.” She threw herself over him and sobbed. Rex tried to pick her up, but she lashed out at him.
One of the other men spoke quietly. “You killed her man, let her cry. Humans feel more than we do. Just let her cry and when she’s exhausted, she’ll be easier to carry to the transport. The king will reward us greatly no matter what time we arrive. There’s no rush.”
As much as she hated this group of men, she was grateful that this one saw the reason in letting her mourn. She knew she might never get another chance to say goodbye. It was doubtful that whomever she’d belong to would allow her to attend whatever ceremony these people did to intern the dead.
She pulled back and looked at Jul’s handsome, ashen face. When she’d first seen these people she’d thought of them as creatures, but now it was different. Jul was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. Her heart felt crushed. Seeing his terrible wound, she thought of Rothgorg’s throat. She’d healed him, could she do the same thing now? A crushed throat was less serious than death, but whatever it was about this world that gave her power, pushed her to try. It was as if a voice in her head kept whispering to cover his wound with her hands and heal him.
She put her hands over the hole in his beloved body and closed her eyes. A quiet peace settled on her. Jul sat up gasping. She fell back, dazed.
The men who’d come with Rex shouted and ran away, terrified. Rex gasped, but didn’t run. When she looked up at the evil man, he looked angry and confused.
“How did you do that?” His voice held a menacing tone that frightened her. He raised his arm, as if to strike her.
Jul spoke, his voice gravelly. “Don’t you dare touch her.”
Rex lowered his arm.
The pilot, who wasn’t Alburionian, came out of the ship with his crew. “Hurry, we’ll take you if you hurry.”
Jul looked at the man. “Why?”
Chuckling, the pilot replied, “I hate this rock. Nothing personal, but your world isn’t the friendliest place in the galaxy. I don’t know what’s going on, but it looks like you could use a ride. Your lady has power, good power. My gods won’t forgive me turning my back on someone in need that’s been blessed with a gift like that. I don’t like coming here anyway.”
“Thank you,” Madison breathed with relief.
Rex pulled out the weapon he’d used to kill his friend. “You aren’t going anywhere.”
Rex grunted and fell. Rothgorg stood behind him with a heavy pole. Rex lay sprawled on the ground, the gun next to him. Madison stood and kicked it away.
“I want to go home.” Rothgorg’s longing laced his sad tone.
Jul looked at the pilot. “I’ll pay his way.”
“It’s settled then, everyone’s getting the hell off this rock. Come aboard.”
They quickly complied. Rothgorg helped Jul stand, and Madison did her best to help the big man get Jul inside the ship. They hurried as fast as they could up the ramp and a moment later, the doors closed behind them.
“Strap in.”
They sat in the tattered seats and followed the pilot’s instruction. Madison felt the force as the small ship rose, leaving Alburion behind them forever.
Epilogue
Madison looked out over the crystal clear pink sea. The soft, salty breeze ruffled her hair and she pulled the fluffy, white robe more fully around her. Only days earlier, she and Jul had welcomed their son into the world. The baby made a soft sound, and she glanced down toward the cradle to see that he was still sound asleep. She smiled at his beautiful little face before turning back to experience the peacefulness of the new day.
Looking into the beauty of the morning, Madison thought contentedly about how things had worked out. They’d gone with Rothgorg to his home planet and been welcomed as heroes for returning the prince to his people. At first, she’d been terrified when she found out how much power the man had, but he quickly put both she and Jul at ease, assuring them he held no ill will against Jul. Without Jul’s kindness, his fate on Alburion would’ve been far worse. Madison had healed him, and he rewarded her with a wonderful seaside estate. Jul soon found his entrepreneurial spirit wouldn’t go to waste, and Madison watched him quickly return to prosperity with a little help from Prince Rothgorg.
“Meekra, what are you doing out of bed? The doctor told you to rest.”
“I had to watch the sunrise. They’re so amazing here.”
“I agree, but I think any sunrise would be amazing with you standing in front of it.”
She blushed, even after all this time he affected her so strongly.
“I was just thinking about how lucky we are.” She turned to look out over the water again.
“I would have never thought I’d want to thank that traitor, but I do. I’m glad you’re my wife and that you were willing to stay with me instead of returning to Earth. I think I would’ve died if you’d gone home.”
She turned back to look at her husband. She felt his love wash over her in waves. “Silly man, my home is wherever you are. I love you, Jul.”
In only a few powerful strides, he was next to her, picking her up, and taking her to their large bed. After laying her down, he whispered so quietly she wondered if he’d only thought the words she heard so clearly.
“A lifetime will never be enough with you.”
Grinning, he leaned down and kissed her with a depth of passion that still amazed her. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He might have declared her a free woman, but as far as she was concerned, she was a slave to his every desire.
About Ashlynn Monroe
Ashlynn Monroe is a busy wife and mom. She’s been writing since she was a teenager for her own pleasure, but in her thirties she decided it was time to share her stories. She enjoys writing about anything and everything paranormal or fantasy related. When she’s not lovingly raising her young family, she’s dreaming up her next tale of romance.
Ashlynn’s Website:
http://ashlynnmonroe.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
oks on Archive.
Slave to His Desires Page 5