Aydan (The Azziarin Series Book 6)
Page 1
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Epilogue
Prologue
Chapter One
Aydan
By
Hannah Davenport
Copyright © March 2017 Hannah Davenport
Title: Aydan
Author: Hannah Davenport
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.
Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
All characters and events in this book are not real and are figments of my imagination.
My family has endured endless hours of me sitting in front of the computer, living in an imaginary world. A world I can totally see in my mind as I try to show it to you. Their support means the world to me, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I would like to thank LS and AK for all their encouragement and support.
I would also like to thank Thais Peiffer, my beta reader, who helped put the finishing touches on the book.
Last but not least, thank you to my wonderful fans. Many have already signed up for my newsletter. (It only lets you know when a new book is released.) If you have not, go to www.hannahdavenport.com or follow my Author Page on Amazon. It’s that easy.
Description:
On war-torn Earth, I’m stuck raising my four sisters. It’s okay, I love them dearly. But there are days I long to be free. I always look straight ahead, never up at the stars. Earth holds so many wondrous sights. I want to see them all. But I can’t. Not only have aliens invaded, but my mother died of cancer, leaving me alone to raise my three-year-old twin sisters, along with ten-year-old Cassidy. Belle is sixteen and can take care of herself mostly. I never dreamed at the age of twenty-two I would become a mother of four.
One day while I was hunting for food, a shuttlecraft spiraled out of control. The smoke, the carnage…there’s no way anyone could have survived, but I searched anyway. Everyone lay dead, or so I thought. A gasp, a noise, and then I saw the rise and fall of his chest. I had to help. I can’t explain why, but I had to.
The computer blares a warning, and I curse the fates. A down-and-back trip to see Earth shouldn’t be too much to ask. I know I’m second in command, and they need me on the Victory, but it’s just a quick trip. What could happen? I smirk as the computer blares its warning. Now I will never have a family, give my mother young. She will be all alone. Of all the ways I could die, I never thought it would be in a fauk’n shuttlecraft accident.
My eyes pop open, and I can’t remember anything. What happened? Who am I? What am I? Why do these two younglings call me Kiddy and try to look at my teeth? I know I’m different. I don’t belong here. When I see myself in the looking glass, it confirms my belief.
When the Tureis kidnap Riley, all my memories come rushing back. The memories, the pain, it’s staggering, and I’m unable to help her, protect her as I should. With her gone, I must take care of her sisters and get Riley back at all costs. Her sisters need her. I need her.
Follow Aydan and Riley on their amazing journey. If you like adventure, humor, sadness, and a HEA, then this book is for you.
Warning: intended for mature audiences 18+.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Epilogue
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter One
Somewhere Above Earth
Kavvan, the new commander of the Victory, sat in the captain’s chair while a picture of Earth filled the view screen. As a most trusted officer, Zekke put him in charge of the Azziarin fleet. He’d earned the title through hard work, dedication, and loyalty.
The Tureis had attacked Earth, leaving it in shambles while they stole its natural resources. Its most valuable resource? Females sold on the black market. Prince Jakke, who’d commanded the Victory at the time, stumbled upon a distress signal from the tiny blue planet. He wasn’t interested in helping Earth, only destroying the Tureis. Every Azziarin held a deep hatred for the species—evil, ruthless scavengers across the universe. A lawless society.
When Takkeo, Jakke’s younger brother, brought Sidney aboard the ship, her presence started the mating fever. His hit hard and fast, all-consuming, although it affected everyone differently.
Several of Jakke’s brothers found true mates in humans, so King Mallik ordered a fleet to protect Earth. Protect the females and destroy the enemy.
Zekke, who mated Ava, headed back to Azziar. They were expecting two young, twins as Ava called them, and they needed the royal healer. He had more medical equipment at his disposal at the palace. With his absence, Kavvan now commanded the Azziarin fleet.
Kavvan sat at a round table studying insurgent reports. “Here are the latest reports, Commander.” Kavvan glanced up at Padda and accepted the holo-pad that detailed the latest information. They were gaining ground on the Tureis. The goal—to defeat the pasty gray monsters.
As Kavvan studied the holo-pad, he heard the hushed voices as someone whispered to Padda. The holo-pad temporarily forgotten, Kavvan turned his full attention to the voices. The look on Padda’s face as he came forward concerned him. He laid the holo-pad down, laced his fingers together, and waited.
“Commander, I’ve just received word that a shuttlecraft crashed.”
Kavvan pursed his lips, and information sifted through his mind. “What happened?”
“Not sure. The Alpha squad reported watching an object strike the vessel. It spiraled out of control toward the ground.”
Kavvan nodded and with a solemn look on his face. “Which shuttlecraft?”
“Three, commander. Shuttlecraft three.”
“I see.” Kavvan grabbed the holo-pad with trepidation, his features stoic. To show weakness in front of the crew was unacceptable, even though memories of Aydan flashed thorough his racing mind.
Aydan, a long-time friend and second in command, wanted to visit Earth, to see what it looked like from the ground. He and six others had bee
n onboard. A quick trip down and back, he said. Just this once, he said. Kavvan needed him on the ship but had reluctantly agreed this one time. What a nightmare!
“Did any survive?” He turned serious eyes on Padda.
“We have a team heading to the crash site.”
“Thanks, Padda.” With his chin raised, he turned to Nikkul. “Investigate the accident. I want to know what happened, what struck the shuttlecraft, who’s responsible.”
“Yes, Commander.”
As Nikkul left the meeting room, Kavvan’s nostrils flared as he thought about the situation. “I’ll be in my ready room,” he informed the crew.
After pouring a full mug of Fire’s Breath, Kavvan gulped a drink. He plopped down in his office chair, leaned back, and took another sip. Memories of himself, Jakke, and Aydan played like a reel as scene after scene replayed from the past. As younglings, they were always up to something, inseparable until training started. Even then they sparred together often.
As Kavvan sat at his desk, leaning back in his chair, he took another drink and glared at the window that showed an image of Earth.
Earth
Aydan
“Brace for impact! Brace for impact!” the computerized warning blared. The harsh female voice assaulted his ears, drowning out the shouts of others. Aydan could smell the fear mixed with the burnt smell of the navigation system. He instinctively tightened his harness and grabbed hold of the handle above his head. The rest of the soldiers did the same.
His first trip to Earth, and something had struck the shuttlecraft and knocked out the navigation system. There was no way to maneuver or guide the craft as it spiraled out of control, plummeting toward Earth.
He cursed the fates that brought him to the end. All the wars he had fought. All the enemy he had slain. And now he would die in a fauk’n accident. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the metal bracing bar tighter. Thoughts of his mother ran rampant. He was all she had left. Now she would be alone. Heartbroken.
Several standard years ago, his father died in a shuttle accident, a simple trade arrangement that went horribly wrong. There were no siblings, no aunts or uncles left. It was just him. When she heard the news, there would be no one there to comfort her. How would she deal with the news that her only male child had died? “Sish,” he growled in disgust and snarled his nose.
The thought of his grieving mother should have filled him with sadness. Instead, he slammed his fist against the chair in front of him. How could it end this way?
While the shuttlecraft hurtled out of control, he glanced hastily out the window. This is it, he thought as his free hand balled into a fist. The ground quickly approached. Trees loomed in the distance. He had a short time until the shuttle crashed and exploded on impact.
Closing his eyes, Aydan let out a slow, deep breath. He let go of his anger as forgotten dreams floated through his mind. The one thing he desired the most in life was a mate. He dreamed of filling his mother’s house with the sounds of laughter from his offspring. Growing up without siblings had been lonely. He’d had Kavvan and Jakke to play with, but it wasn’t the same. He wanted a family.
His parents were different from others on Azziar. They weren’t true mates, but his father loved his mother. He’d never desired consorts, not once. Aydan had asked his father about it at one time. He would smile and say, “I hope one day you understand.” Aydan never understood, and now he would never get the chance.
The shuttlecraft hit the ground hard and bounced several times. Deep gashes marred the ground as it scooted along the hard terrain. The metal groaned in protest, the stressed hull twisting at the seams. Parts flew everywhere as the craft tossed Aydan around, his head whipping back and forth. The impact was so great his harness broke and threw him hard. His head smacked the wall with mighty force, knocking him unconscious.
Chapter Two
Riley
Riley stalked the woods, hunting for deer when she spotted the out-of-control shuttlecraft as it fell like a rock from the sky. She tilted her head and studied the craft. It was different than the others. Her eyes followed it all the way down. Her breathing grew shallow; death loomed as her mouth froze in horror.
She covered her eyes, unable to watch as the impact thundered around her. She jolted with the force. She glanced up; black smoke rose high and thick from the carnage. Logic told her that no one survived, but she had to check. Riley gently laid down her bow and arrows and raced toward the wreckage. A mile or so, but not much more.
The smoke hung thick in the air, making her cough. Grabbing the collar of her lightweight blue jacket, she pulled the end up over her mouth. “Hello?” She stepped closer, not expecting an answer. Trepidation fueled her pounding heart. She licked her dry lips and swallowed hard.
Tiptoeing over shards of metal and glass, she looked for survivors. She also kept a keen eye out for anything that might be useful. There’s no way anyone survived this, she thought as she stared at the damage.
An empty space, an opening, loomed in front of her. It could be a door or a tear in the craft. She dropped to her hands and knees, careful not to touch the glass, and crawled inside. The gruesome sight made her gag a couple of times, but she never threw up. Her stomach continued to protest as she took her first look around. White-haired aliens lay dead, blood pooled around them from gashes, their eyes frozen open in horror.
Riley closed her eyes as a lone tear glistened on her eyelashes. The horror they must have faced, knowing they would not survive. The smell of death surrounded her, clogging her nose. The stench of burnt metal mixed with sweat and vomit didn’t help her queasy stomach. I’ve got to get out of here!
A low groan made her flinch at the noise. She scuttled backward, trying to get away. When the immediate danger passed, her rapid breathing settled, and she paused to listen. The absolute silence made her take an easy breath. She eyed each alien until she spotted the one who had made the sound. Slight movement of his chest induced her to slowly crawl over to him.
She tilted her head sideways and stared at his unusual, handsome face. Using her fingertips, she brushed the edges of his sharp cheekbone. Puzzled by the fact that she wasn’t afraid, she traced a finger over his brow, her thumb tracing his full lower lip. “There is just something about you…” A large lump on the side of his head drew her attention, breaking the trance. She raised an eyebrow as she studied the lump. It looked red, angry… painful.
The wrecked ship had broken chairs, torn metal. How did you survive this? She couldn’t leave him there. That would be a death sentence. Gazing back to his handsome face, she whispered next to his ear. “I’ll be back.” She stared at his handsome face for a mere second before tearing her eyes from him and crawling out.
As she hurried home, Riley thought about the odd attraction she felt for the alien. If she were smart, she’d leave him there. But something inside her tugged at her heart, and she felt a soul-deep desire to help this alien man.
She ran as fast as she could. Dodging trees and low-growing shrubs, she jumped over fallen tree limbs and roots. The smell of rotting leaves tickled her throat as she kicked the leaves and plowed on. Getting help was all she thought about.
As she neared the small house, she yelled, “Belle?”
The one-story family house looked more like a small log cabin nestled in the woods. Only two steps led to a railed porch. It wasn’t flashy, but it was home.
Arabella, her sixteen-year-old sister, hurried outside. Leaning against the porch rail, she swiped her sandy blonde hair from her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I need some help. Tell Cassidy to watch the kids and grab some old blankets. Hurry, we don’t have much time.”
Belle’s eyes widened as she vigorously nodded once and then hurried back inside.
Less than a minute later, Belle came rushing out carrying a couple of old blankets. “Okay, let’s go.” Riley met her on the porch and took half the load.
As they hurried back to the scene, Riley panted with exhaustion. Th
e run to the house and now hurrying back was more exercise than she had gotten all year. She had not exerted that much energy in a long time. She rolled her eyes when she glanced at Belle, who seemed fine.
The two of them trekked back to the shuttlecraft. Belle stopped short of the wreckage, her mouth gaping open; her ashen face lost its color. Since Riley had seen it before, it wasn’t as shocking. “It’s okay, Belle. Come on.” She tugged her sister forward.
They stepped around sharp scrap metal, not wanting to cut their feet. They both sported sneakers, but they were worn and not very protective, especially against sharp objects.
“What is this?”
Riley glanced at her sister. “It crashed, and when I looked around, I found an alien still alive.”
Belle halted her steps before turning fearful eyes to her older sister. She grabbed Riley’s arm with a trembling hand. “We can’t!”
Riley knew it didn’t make sense, but she had to help. Holding Belle’s fearful gaze, Riley’s voice boasted confidence. “Yes, we can. We are not leaving him here to die. Mom didn’t raise us that way.” With one hard swallow, Belle nodded slowly.
They found the alien exactly where Riley had left him. “You take that side, and I’ll take this one. Maybe we can pick him up.”
“There’s more blood over here, and I don’t want to step in it.” Belle twisted her face in disgust.
“Fine, switch sides with me.”
The two sisters tried to lift him, but he was too heavy. After several tries, Riley huffed out a tired breath. “Let’s try to roll him.”
It took every ounce of their combined strength to roll the alien on his side. But after a lot of pushing and pulling, they finally got the blankets underneath him.
They rested their hands on their knees, trying to catch their breath. Belle panted, “Jeez, his bones must be made of steel.”