Claimed by the Alien: A Scifi Alien Romance (Fated Mates of the Titan Empire Book 6)

by Tammy Walsh

Fiath waited for all my friends to be discovered before he announced the date of the ceremony. I could hear the roars of approval from the local townsfolk and the drums ringing out across the countryside.

  I counted down the days until I would see my friends again, until I could take them in my arms and breathe them in.

  The wedding would take place in the palace where we resided. It wasn’t traditional, but then nothing about our marriage was traditional.

  Least of all me.

  The Titan emperor was expected to marry for power. That was the way it’d been done for generations. Now, Fiath was to marry someone of low birth and from a planet that was only just getting its toe wet in the galaxy.

  The empire became obsessed with me and my home planet.

  Millions of Titans booked holidays to visit Earth and explore where their new empress had come from. I could imagine the local people in my hometown, wondering who these strange people suddenly turning up were.

  They would assume they were from Europe and would be grateful for the tourism and money they brought to the area. It hadn’t been the same since the mills shut down.

  Fiath had to pull some strings and change some laws to ensure he could marry me. There was little resistance. No one argued against the emperor’s wishes.

  Then it came to the day before our wedding. My friends would be showing up soon. I couldn’t sleep the entire night, I was so excited.

  It’d only really been weeks—weeks to me, at least, since I woke up from that pod—but it could have been months since they woke up.

  I wore one of my best new tailor-made dresses and waited on the largest balcony that overlooked the town.

  Fiath took me by the hand.

  “Nervous?” he said.

  “Excited,” I said. “I can’t wait for you to meet my friends.”

  “Are they anything like you?”

  “We’re cut from the same cloth.”

  Fiath chuckled at the expression.

  “Then they will be smart, beautiful, and a gift from the gods,” he said.

  “Tell them that and they’ll be putty in your hands.”

  He ran a finger along my cheek.

  “There’s only one woman I want to be putty in my hands,” he said, pressing his lips to my cheek.

  And boy did he succeed.

  Every night was a marathon of lovemaking. He surprised me with a new position, a new style, and exerted his full towering endurance upon me every chance he got.

  It was all I could do to hold on.

  Other times, I took the initiative and rode him, sending him wild.

  Our experiences always left me satisfied.

  Not once had I been disappointed by our nightly Olympics. Even now, as he pressed his lips to me, I felt myself give in to him.

  Would it be like this forever? I wondered. Would the magic lose its sparkle over time?

  I hoped not.

  I would do everything I could to ensure he always found me attractive and never had reason to look elsewhere for what he needed.

  Not that I needed to worry about that. He didn’t even notice there were other females in the galaxy.

  The first ship appeared on the horizon and I could hardly stand still.

  “They’re coming!” I said. “Look!”

  “I see them,” Fiath said with a beaming grin.

  “What do you mean ‘them’?”

  He pointed out the second and third ships as they eased into position.

  I squealed and clapped my hands.

  Soon, all five ships appeared, forming a single arch as they approached the palace slowly and carefully. No one wanted to damage the emperor’s palace.

  My mouth turned dry. I was suddenly twelve years old again. I sat on my own at the lunch table and the others came to join me. The other seats were full and there was nowhere else they could sit.

  We were shy and it was difficult to make conversation, but thankfully Sirena had always been chatty. She kicked off the conversation.

  It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

  Who would have thought it would lead to this moment now?

  The ships kicked up a little dust as they sat down. Their ramps groaned as they lowered and kissed the balcony.

  The figures inside strutted down their walkways.

  It was them. It was really them!

  I couldn’t believe it.

  I couldn’t bring myself to believe they were all still alive and well.

  I assumed there would have been a mix-up or some kind of confusion and they wouldn’t be my friends. They would be someone else, I told myself.

  But here they were.

  They looked different somehow, more mature, and grown-up. I guess that happened when you found your fated mate.

  It was all I could do not to run to them. I needed to act like an empress. I needed to be in control of my emotions.

  Fiath leaned forward and whispered in my ear.

  “Go to them,” he said.

  I turned to him and grinned like a little girl. The tears shimmered in my eyes but I no longer cared. Fiath didn’t care either. He’d fallen in love with me, not with some snooty Titan lady type.

  With me.

  And that meant he had to put up with the way I was, with how I did things. My emotional outbursts, my raucous sense of humor.

  I wasn’t the first to bolt forward.

  Maddy broke first, which was no surprise. She’d always been the best athlete.

  Vicky was just as quick off the mark.

  Closely followed by Bianca and Alice.

  We hurtled toward one another. None of us stopped as we threw our arms around each other and hugged and kissed and cried and we all spoke at once, talking over each other and unable to understand a thing we were each saying.

  It was like the Titan songs of emotion. We didn’t need real words to be understood because we already understood how we all felt.

  We cried and wiped the tears from each other’s eyes, smearing our makeup.

  It didn’t matter.

  Then we turned quiet and just hugged.

  Off to one side, Fiath met the other Titans.

  My friends’ fated mates immediately dropped to their knees at his approach. Fiath waved his hand for them to rise.

  The Titan males shared uncertain looks before doing as he asked.

  “You are the fated mates of my true love,” he said. “That makes us brothers.”

  They performed the fist salute and Fiath performed it back to them.

  He knew one of the Titans already, Lord Taw. Apparently, they’d spent some of their childhood together. He introduced himself to the others and they engaged in conversation. But it was clear the others were struck with awe, their eyes turning glassy with disbelief that they were in the emperor’s presence.

  I breathed my friends in, happy to be with them, and excited about the wedding in the morning.

  “What is it with you and weddings?” Maddy said. “You’re engaged to one guy and now you’re marrying another!”

  I shrugged.

  “What can I say?” I said. “I get bored easily.”

  Vicky nudged my elbow and gave me a wink.

  “I know what you’re saying there,” she said.

  We were in the Eastern Empire drawing room. It was decorated with artwork and tapestries from the mining quadrant of the empire. Crazy to think I hadn’t been in this particular drawing room before.

  “Seriously though,” Maddy said. “How did you get your guy to marry you? I keep mentioning it to Chax but he never seems very interested in the idea.”

  “I guess he’s in love with you and doesn’t see the point of it,” Maddy said.

  Maddy tapped her nose. On the button.

  “Are your guys like that?” she said.

  “Mine isn’t,” Bianca said. “We’ll get married when we’re ready. It’s just a matter of time. I don’t even really care when it happens, so long as it does.”

  The hen night was
nothing like the one we enjoyed back on Earth before my other wedding—that never happened. It was more refined, elegant, and there was no chance we’d get abducted by Changelings this time around.

  The servants refilled our glasses with Titan wine and returned to their respective positions along the walls.

  “What’s it like having so many servants?” Alice said. “We’ve got a cook and he’s awesome but to have all these people doing things for you… And an entire empire to run! What’s that like?”

  “Terrifying,” I admitted. “I didn’t even know Fiath was the Titan emperor when I met him. It came as quite a shock when he stood up and revealed who he was.”

  Sirena clapped her hands and laughed.

  “I would have given anything to have seen your face when you found out!” she said.

  “My jaw was on the floor,” I said. “Then I ran out of the room while all the other Titans were on their knees.”

  “But I bet it’s you that’s been on your knees a lot lately, huh?” Sirena said with a dirty wink.

  “Right,” Vicky said. “I bet you’ve been bowing before him every chance you get!”

  Sirena and Vicky cackled like witches and gave each other a high five for their roasting.

  “Now you’re going to be the empress of the Titan empire,” Alice said. “How do you even prepare yourself for something like that?”

  What could I say?

  I hadn’t yet.

  I mean, I knew I wanted to be with Fiath. There was no doubt in my mind about that. But become the empress…?

  It turned my stomach just thinking about it.

  All those eyes and all those people staring at me.

  Judging.

  “How are the wedding preparations going?” Bianca said.

  “Fine,” I said, still a little flustered from the earlier question.

  My friends knew me so well. And with the look Alice was giving me, she knew something was playing on my mind. She was my bestie after all. Humans might not have mind-reading abilities but the connection I had with my buddies was the next best thing.

  “I want to know how Alice fell in love with the guy who abducted us!” Maddy said.

  Vicky flopped onto the sofa and perched her chin on her hands.

  “Ooh, yeah,” she said. “Please tell!”

  “What was it?” Sirena said. “Like, Stockholm Syndrome or something?”

  “No!” Alice said. “It wasn’t anything like that!”

  “That’s what it sounds like,” Vicky said, raising her empty wine glass for a refill.

  “I don’t think it’s much of a secret among us ladies that Titan lovers are the greatest thing since sliced bread,” Bianca said. “Now, I’ve had my fair share of human cock—”

  “More than your fair share,” Vicky said.

  Bianca nodded in agreement.

  “More than my fair share,” she said. “And I can tell you that there is nothing like getting some Titan sausage to satisfy that itch we all get from time to time. Am I right?”

  We all nodded.

  “But it’s best not to let them know how great they are,” Alice said. “We don’t want them getting big heads.”

  “Mine’s already got a big head,” Sirena said with a wink.

  “How can you guys drink the wine like it’s nothing?” Alice said. “I almost fell unconscious when I first had it!”

  “Me too,” Vicky said.

  “That’s because you’ve always been weak when it comes to alcohol,” Sirena said.

  “Am not!” Alice said.

  “It’s true, isn’t it, girls?” Sirena said. “You’ve never been able to keep up with the rest of us.”

  Alice thrust her chin out.

  “And how did you get so good at drinking it?” she said.

  “The same way you get good at anything,” Vicky said. “Practice. Lots and lots of practice.”

  “Someone’s not practicing,” I said, nodding at Bianca. “What’s the matter? It’s not to your liking?”

  “No,” she said. “It tastes fine. It’s just…”

  “She’s probably pregnant,” Sirena said flippantly.

  Bianca turned silent. When the rest of us shared a glance, we realized the truth.

  “No way!” I said.

  “You are pregnant!” Vicky said. “Man, I’m so hot when I drink this wine. I know exactly what’s going on with everybody!”

  We leaped onto the sofa and crowded around Bianca.

  “So, it is possible then, for you to get pregnant?” Maddy said. “I mean, we’re different species and it’s not like it’s guaranteed it will work.”

  “But I never get tired of trying!” Sirena said.

  “We decided to give it a try,” Bianca said. “I had some tests done and they’re going to keep a close eye on me. But it looks like the baby’s going to be fine. Better than fine. Do you guys want to see a picture?”

  Did we? We fought over who got to look at the picture first.

  It was strange, looking at that image. It was an alien—to us and both its parents. It was half human and half Titan and one had never been born before.

  Our species had mostly the same characteristics. I wondered what the kid would look like.

  It would be beautiful, I decided. There was no doubt in my mind of that. All you had to do was look at the kid’s parents and it was obvious it couldn’t be ugly.

  The thought of having babies with my friends and seeing them grow up together, play together, and maybe even dating each other made me feel giddy with excitement.

  There was a lot to look forward to in the future.

  “Have you guys spoken with anyone from home?” Alice said.

  No’s all round.

  “What about fiancé?” Alice said. “Have you explained to him that you’ve found someone else?”

  “Someone hotter, sexier, richer, and much nicer and more interesting,” Maddy said.

  I snorted, but it was true, wasn’t it?

  “Yes,” I said. “I sent him a letter. I explained I’m alive and well and that he doesn’t need to worry about me. I told him I don’t think we should get married and I hope he finds someone he loves and has a long and happy life.”

  “Ease up on the emotions, why don’t you, jees,” Siren said.

  “What did he say?” Alice said.

  “He said he’s glad to hear I’m okay and that everyone was really worried about what happened to us,” I said. “They never found any sign of us when we got taken. He said he’s met someone else and they’re planning on getting married next year.”

  “That’s a relief,” Bianca said. “At least he’s not going to be mourning over losing you forever.”

  “Or for very long at all,” Alice said. “It’s a bit of a rush, don’t you think? I mean, Hazel’s only been gone a couple of months.”

  “May I remind you,” Vicky said, raising her glass again for it to be refilled. “Hazel is getting married and it’s the same timeline. In fact, it’s shorter. She’s been asleep for most of it!”

  Sirena nudged her with an elbow.

  “I know,” I said. “I’m not bothered. I’m much happier now. I want him to find someone. And it’s a strange thing, but when I met Fiath it was like I—”

  “Knew he was the right one for you,” Bianca said.

  “Exactly,” I said with a grin.

  We all shared the same knowing smile. I was so glad the others understood what I was going through.

  “It still gives me shivers though,” Sirena said.

  She visibly shivered and rubbed her arms with her hands as if she felt a sudden chill.

  “What does?” Maddy said.

  “Thinking about that light,” Sirena said, “the bright one that sucked us out of the minivan and abducted us. I still get nightmares about it.”

  I took her by the hand and squeezed it.

  “You don’t need to worry,” I said. “We’re in the Titan empire now and no one is going to abduct us ever again.�
��

  “I hope not,” Sirena said, squeezing my hand back. “I’ve got so much more to lose now. I never want to be parted from my Titan.”

  “And you won’t,” I said. “None of us will.”

  I realized then that I could give them all a little hope.

  “I’m going to be the empress of the most powerful empire in the galaxy,” I said. “I can promise you all that nobody is dumb enough to fuck with us. Nobody!”

  “Hoo-rah!” Vicky said. “Cheers to that!”

  I might be nervous about taking on so much responsibility but I knew a good opportunity to be safe when I saw it.

  And this was it.

  And for the first time since Fiath had revealed himself for who he was and what that would entail for me, I felt upbeat about the situation. We were lone humans on the far side of the galaxy, with no one to protect or look after us…

  Except each other and our lovers.

  And soon I would be in the situation where I could ensure no one would ever dare come after with us with bad intentions.

  Thwom!

  The beam of light was powerful and bright. It beamed directly through the wide-open window behind me and struck the two girls sitting on the sofa opposite.

  Their eyes bulged wide and absorbed the light. Their faces were immediately stained white as if the color had been sucked from them. Their arms fell and dropped to their sides. The same happened to the serving staff who stood along the back wall. Frozen stiff like meat statues.

  Sirena sat in an armchair to one side and turned instinctively toward the window.

  “Don’t look at it!” I bellowed, but I was too late.

  She turned into a slave to the light too.

  “Don’t move,” I said to Alice and Vicky who sat on either side of me.

  They were just as still as those who’d been struck by the light. Their arms shook and wine spilled from Alice’s glass but never hit the floor. The red mass floated before our eyes.

  They were terrified. So was I.

  We were being abducted again.

  Only this time, we knew what it was, and those of us with our backs to the light might be able to do something about it.

  Outside, someone shouted.

  A guard?

  How had the ship slipped past the security defenses?

  How had they gotten so close to us?

  Pertinent questions but nothing we needed to know the answer to right now.