Abducted by the Alien

by Sabrina Kade

  The mood has changed at the lairs as well. Layla and Sloane are still large and laughing, but there’s also a determination within them as they calm some of the younger girls or hold Blythe’s or York’s babies to give them breaks with their mates, or to make sure everything is ready for the migration.

  I swallow. Damn. This is a serious thing.

  I continue to glance around, wishing I could help in some way, but the moment I hear about the types of animals involved, I get shaky. That’s not the only reason I’m nervous, either. I haven’t seen Iriel in days. When I was with Iriel, I could almost feel Drazal watching us, and sometimes I could see him. But now that I’m hanging out with Drazal? There’s not a whisper of Iriel.

  Something is wrong.

  I can’t help wondering if Iriel is up to something because he doesn’t seem like the type to give up so easily. I know how badly he wants a mate. He doesn’t care which female, I don’t think. I’m pretty sure I’m not the least bit special to him. But I am available. And young. Most importantly? I have a vagina.

  But I still worry about him. Not only because he’s up to something, but I also want to make sure he’s okay with my rejection. He has to realize it’s over now. Bigger things are happening on Hethdiss than me leaving his bed and getting to know Drazal better. (Is that seriously what I’m calling it?). Surely, he’s taking a chance to look at some of the other girls.

  Maybe Taya? She’s young and pale, too. But she’s quieter than Lacey.

  Aoi? Renee and Devyn look the same, so maybe he’d be into that.

  There has to be someone who can deal with Iriel. That way, I wouldn’t have to keep glancing over my shoulder to make sure he isn’t there.

  Speaking of—

  I turn my chin slightly, making sure no one is close to me, and luckily, I’m still alone. Drazal’s helping Exer and Dolan with some task regarding friendlier animals in the woods. They’re trying to bring some of them back so that they won’t be stomped on. Which means I’m entirely alone.

  It’s odd. I thought I would enjoy not having Iriel hanging over me but having no one at all still causes anxiety.

  “Do you guys need any help with anything?” I try asking York when she strides past, arms full of furry blankets.

  She smiles gently. “Naw. Thanks though, girl. I wanted to bring back some of my most prized possessions from my other place with Azan.” She winks. “I hide the best books there. Hopefully, no one’s planning to take them. I’m looking at you, Layla!”

  “I’m not going to steal any books!” she calls back. “But if I give birth to this baby as early as I think I will, you better share.” She strokes her full stomach, and I have to say, though the baby would be two months early in alien pregnancy, nothing’s unheard of at this point, and Layla is significantly larger than Sloane and almost as large as Ellis who is due any fucking day now.

  What if she goes into labor during the migration?

  “Good thing Chentan’s going to stay at the first lair until this rolls over,” York says, almost as though she’s read my mind. “With three preggos, it makes sense for him to stay with us. Still, it’s going to be a bit crowded for a few days.” She shakes her head.

  “We’ll make it work,” Layla says. “We can play games or something.”

  “Break out the alien liquor,” York says, winking.

  “Very funny. You bitches better not drink until I can.”

  “No one waited for me!” she calls back, heading back toward the cave opening.

  I frown, wishing I could offer more to the conversation. But I don’t know anything about pregnancy, babies, or what it feels like to have a Chosen mate. Well, I’m starting to get a piece of that feeling, but I want more with each day. Kisses aren’t enough, so my walls are slowly breaking down.

  Glancing toward the direction that Drazal, Exer, and Dolan left a little while ago, I can’t help wishing for them to come back sooner. Maybe I should have asked for them to take me with them. They probably would have been okay with it. Exer has a pet living in the woods, a bulldog lizard, according to Sloane, and that would have been interesting to see.

  Gosh. I should have gone with them.

  I’m about to head back to the open part of the field when I hear a rustling behind me, and I swear to God, I almost scream to the high heavens. Only at the last moment do I remember that this would only draw more attention, and I clasp a hand over my mouth. But I’m still backing away. I keep my eyes on where the rustling sound is coming from, and my heart drops when I realize that there’s a movement to go along with the sound — fast movement. I keep staggering backward as the body approaches, and I’m so frozen with fear that I consider screaming anyway.

  If I scream, maybe someone will come.

  If I scream, maybe someone will help.

  Maybe Drazal. Maybe Iriel.

  Ugh. I want to scream all over for thinking such a thing because I don’t want Iriel here. When I’m afraid though, I can’t help thinking about him. He kept me safe for months. And when I was too tired to fight him off, I didn’t mind when he wrapped his arms around me at night. But no. I miss the comfort and protection, but I don’t miss him.

  Drazal is the one I want.

  I want his heated gaze. I want his thick arms and bandaged hands around me at all times.

  Iriel may have protected me, but Drazal always protected me from Iriel. More importantly? He protected me from me. When I was too afraid to leave Iriel, Drazal reminded me that I deserved happiness. When I worried about betraying Iriel or pissing him off, Drazal would get grumpy. He didn’t understand how I’d become such a wet blanket. What was it he said? He worried that eventually, whatever light burned brightly inside of me, would be snuffed out if I stayed with someone I didn’t want.

  I don’t need Iriel to face this problem. I don’t need Drazal, either, as much I want him.

  I need to take care of myself.

  I stagger backward until I’m sure I’ve put enough distance between me and whatever’s approaching, preparing to break out into a sprint and—

  I don’t get to take my first step before something seizes me around the waist with one impossibly strong arm and a calloused hand clamps over my mouth. My scream comes out muffled a second too late, and my feet are immediately lifted off the ground and panic promptly settles in. I’m trying to scramble and scream, so someone will hear my struggle, but my captor is too strong. I’m kicking my legs as the creature moves, and with one glance above my head, I realize the shape and body of the person holding me is painfully familiar.

  Sidyth. A large one.

  Too large.

  Sidyths are enormous, but this one has my feet hanging over two feet off the ground! I struggle harder but to no avail. He’s moving, and wherever he’s going, I’m going with him. I start panicking as my body is pulled further and further away from anything the least bit familiar. Are we heading toward the dilewiler territory? Who is this Sidyth? He doesn’t look familiar at all! What am I supposed to do?

  Still scrambling, relief washes over, only momentarily when the stranger’s long gait slows down. We couldn’t have gone that far.

  “Don’t scream,” the Sidyth hisses in his native tongue. Luckily, I understand him perfectly in my translator. But something is off with the voice. There’s almost a silkiness to it, and hearing this, I do as he commands and slow my struggling. “Do you understand me, female?” I’m jerked around in his grasp, coming face-to-face with my captor.

  Same golden eyes. Same broad, pale nose. Same high defined cheekbones and prominent jawline.

  And yet. Something completely off. I can’t put my finger on it.

  “Do you understand me or not? I know you hoo-mans have translators, but I need to know if you’re going to comply or not. Answer me. Will you scream?”

  I shake my head, hoping the creature will put me down though I’m not entirely sure what I’ll do when he does. I can’t run. He’ll easily catch me. If I did manage to escape his large hands, there�
�s no way I’m facing the woods alone. I hear the eerie howls of the dilewilers. I shudder. No way. I’m not going anywhere.

  The Sidyth frowns at my reaction. “I’m not going to hurt you. Do you understand that?” I nod. He hums, and finally, lowers my body to the ground. My toes touch the earth, and massive hands pull away. He’s still tense when stretching to his full height, which has to be almost half a foot taller than Hujun which is beyond terrifying. I shuffle back, trying to create some distance between us, and the Sidyth looms closer.

  “I told you not to run,” he hisses. “Are you going to listen?”

  “Not going to run.” My voice shakes, but he doesn’t care how scared I am. But he did mention he wouldn’t hurt me. I notice he’s wearing more clothes than most of the Sidyths back at Korben’s lair, and I narrow my eyes, trying to understand this familiar shaped, yet an unfamiliar person. He shifts, looking surprisingly self-conscious for something so impossibly huge.

  “Do you stay with Prince Korben’s clan?” he asks.

  I take in a breath, surprised by his question. He stares right back down at me, tense as though he’s convinced I’m going to run, but also hesitant about grabbing me again. I take in his clothes for a second time, noticing the legging-like pants and tight tank with a partially open jacket over the top. Most of the fabric is ripped or torn, and I try not to think about what could have possibly hurt this enormous alien.

  “Are you deaf?” he asks when I don’t answer. “Is your translation device slow processing?” He leans over, and a gigantic finger comes dangerously close to my head, and I stumble backward.

  “It’s fine!” I squeal, covering my ear as though that will stop him. His arm freezes in the air before falling to his side, and he frowns deeply. I notice that under the layers of clothing, he’s also scratched up and scarred. There’s blood drying on his upper thigh. “Who are you?”

  His eyes widen. “I’ll ask the questions around here.”

  “No. You kidnapped me. I’m entitled to ask a question or two.”

  His frown deepens. His chest puffs up, and he takes a step closer to me. He’s trying to intimidate me, and though I’m about to pee in my pants, I keep a straight back. You’re taking care of yourself, remember? Despite his massive size, this alien hasn’t hurt me yet. I have to remember that.

  “Who are you?” I try again. “Where are you from? You’re not familiar to me.”

  “Are you with Prince Korben’s clan?” he hisses.

  “Yes.”

  “That would explain why I am not familiar.” He lowers himself into a crouch, glancing only once over his shoulder before peering back at me. “What is your name?”

  “What’s yours?” I shoot back, almost surprised at my nerve. But I don’t want to be afraid.

  He stares back, trying to look imposing once again, but when I don’t move, he slumps. “Very well. My name is Chocal.”

  “Cho-cuhl,” I repeat. “I’m Phoebe.”

  “Fee-Bee,” he rumbles back, glancing over his shoulder.

  All right, so now we know each other’s names. Next question. “Do you mind if I ask why you kidnapped me in the first place?”

  He snarls. “I did not kidnap you. I needed to find someone to warn Korben. If I returned to his camp, I would not be welcome.”

  I swallow hard. “W-warn? Warn Korben about what?”

  “Flenhein. It has begun.” Standing, he stares in the direction of what I hope are the lairs. “I am sure Prince Korben is already aware, but I wanted to pass the message that I have seen it begun. Everyone should be underground by tonight. Do you think you can deliver that message to him?”

  Numbly, I find myself nodding, and Chocal relaxes slightly.

  “Good. That is all I wanted. Prince Korben’s clan is only through there.” He points a meaty finger in a direction that could be north, south, east, or west for all I know. “Go now. Let him know.” He spins away, but for some reason, I react and grab his forearm. He hisses loudly and slings me away, and I land not-so-elegantly on my ass. Shock crosses his features, but he looks less concerned when I stand and dust myself off. “I am sorry for that,” he mutters, sounding as though he truly means it. “I do not like being touched by females.”

  Fair enough. “I’m sorry. I wanted to ask, where are you going?” I glance over his large frame once again, taking in the ripped fabric and dried blood. Whatever he’s been doing hasn’t worked out too well so far. “Why come to warn Korben’s people? Why not come back?” The words shock me, but they keep on tumbling. “Look, if you did something to Korben or whatever, I don’t get alien drama, but this flenhein thing overrides that, I’m sure. If you need a place to stay—”

  “I do not need a place to stay.”

  I bristle. “You could have fooled me. You look like you could use some shelter.”

  “I explained earlier. I am not welcome at Prince Korben’s lair.” He frowns once more before turning away. “Go back to Prince Korben’s lair. I have delivered my message. I will return.”

  “Return where—” the words die in my throat when the massive being retreats amongst the trees. I’m not sure where to begin explaining how weird this entire situation is, but I’ve got a message now, and it’s probably best I deliver it.

  I’m not surprised when Drazal is the first one to run up to me when I break through the cluster of talas into the open fields in front of Korben’s lair.

  “Phoebe!” he shouts, stopping and wrapping his arms around my waist before hugging me. Several other Sidyths and the girls crowd around. “What are you doing? I asked where you were when I returned, and no one knew where you were. It is not like you to disappear. Are you all right? Did you get lost?”

  “I have a message for Prince Korben.”

  The growing crowd around me goes silent. Drazal, who’s not easily rattled, looks surprised and stumbles back a few inches. “A-a message? When did you get a message? And from whom?”

  “I need to talk to Prince Korben.”

  “So speak.”

  My throat grows parched as the small crowd parts, and Prince Korben strides right up to me. I’ve barely looked at the guy, but now he’s filling my vision. Blythe stands next to him, which softens the intimidation factor, but I can’t help feeling a little nervous with everyone else standing around so quietly.

  Thankfully, Drazal comes back to my side and wraps a comforting arm around my waist.

  Oh God, I needed that. Now that I’m here with my piece of information from a stranger, it’s all hitting me like a soccer ball to the face.

  Someone was able to take me away. It was so easy. I couldn’t stop them. And the male who took me away was somehow taller and thicker than Hujun. I had no idea who the alien was, and that probably means there’s more of them out there. More Sidyths. More Sidyths that could come to our camp at any time and pluck one of us away.

  Or all of us.

  Chocal said he wouldn’t hurt me, but someone’s obviously hurt him.

  Could it be the other Sidyths? Or something much more terrifying?

  My eyes water as Korben patiently waits for me to speak, and Drazal stiffens beside me. “You are scaring her, Prince Korben.”

  “Perhaps it is good that she is scared. Things are going to get pretty scary in a few days.” He narrows his eyes down at me. “Or sooner.”

  The ominous tone in his voice lets me know he might understand what I’m talking about. And that makes me more nervous. I shift so I can look up at Drazal like he’s the oxygen I need to breathe to get these words out before Korben throws a fit in impatience. I have to say; it feels nice to have someone by my side. I’m not sure what Iriel would do in this circumstance. He’d probably be pissed at me for running away and not staying close by his side. He’d say that things like this wouldn’t happen to me if I would listen to him and stay in his lair. He says trouble follows me or I go looking for it.

  Maybe he’s not wrong.

  “What is the message you received, Fee-Bee?” Korben a
sks.

  “Maybe this conversation would be better suited with a private audience,” Drazal says timidly.

  “I do not think so. I have a feeling this message is meant to be heard by all of us.”

  A nervous wave of whispers washes over the group. Shockingly, Korben kneels in front of me, resting his arm on his bent knee. “What is the message?” he asks in a softer, less intimidating voice.

  Prince or not, at least he’s not commanding. He’s asking.

  I steel my nerves, trying not to think about the alien who delivered the message. I try not to focus on the enormous body and shockingly silky-smooth voice. Maybe it seemed that way because Drazal’s is so low. “I was told that flenhein has begun.”

  Another shocked hush falls over the group. Mostly the Sidyths. Drazal stiffens beside me.

  “And who, may I ask, delivered this message to you, Fee-Bee?” Korben’s the only one acting relatively calm. Hujun and Azan shift about and whisper to their mates. “Did they give you a name?”

  I nod. “Y-yeah, he did. Chocal.”

  Korben’s eyes widen. “Chocal?” He stands and looks directly at Hujun. “Chocal delivered this message.”

  “You must have misheard the name,” Hujun rumbles.

  “That’s what he called himself!” I shout back, annoyed that Hujun thinks I could mess up a name like Chocal. You either hear the name right or not. There’s no in-between. “I heard him loud and clear. His name is Chocal. He said flenhein was coming faster. He said for everyone to go underground right away! He said there isn’t much time!”

  Korben nods stiffly. “Yes. I imagine Chocal would know better than anyone what’s coming. Scheita. I wish there were more time—”

  “But there isn’t,” a new voice rings out, and the crowd parts again. “And let me be clear. It is a good thing this message was passed to Fee-Bee. But let us also consider something. She was taken by an outsider. If she had been under my care, this would never have happened.”

  I swallow hard when pale golden eyes land on me. The owner isn’t only looking at me, he’s looking at Drazal.

  “Iriel,” I hiss, not in the mood. “Now’s not the time. We have bigger problems, and as you can see, I’m perfectly fine!”