by Vivian Star
"My sister's mate once told me that everything in the galaxy happens for a reason, and it is your path of fate that will choose the outcome. I don't believe anything would have been different if this was what was meant to happen," I softly tell her. "My own story is complicated and far from a happy ending. My sisters are scattered across the galaxy, and I know it will be a long fight to find them all, to save them. My destined mate thinks he is a bad man and I shouldn't be with him, but he doesn't see what I do. He doesn't see how much I am falling for him. How he could be the monster of the galaxy and I would still want to be his mate more than I want to breathe."
Her eyes shine with understanding, and I feel nothing but a sister-like affection building for this new friend of mine.
"I never much believed in the goddess...my life was not blessed. Not until the day I found out I was expecting," she tells me. "Now I pray every night for the goddess to protect him. To give him the life I did not have and want so desperately for him to have."
"I will help you however I can, Cesaita," I firmly tell her as the door opens on the other side of the room. Two blue-skinned alien men in black robes with fabric hoods pulled over their eyes walk into the room. Long guns rest at their sides, and blood is spattered on their clothes. One of them presses a button on the wall, and the bars at the front of the cage all but disappear into thin air.
A pile of silky white fabric is dumped at my feet by the man who moves to stand over me. "Put it on and get up."
Chapter Twelve
Catching a glance at myself in the mirror, I want to die from embarrassment. The silky white material clings to my skin around my breasts, but it's still quite see-through and really quite pointless under the bright light of the sun. My waist is bare, and my hips are clinging desperately to a short white skirt that shows everything if I dare bend over. Fallen shit can stay fallen today. That's all I'm saying. My hair is brushed, tumbling down my back, and my skin has been scrubbed clean thanks to the alien assholes holding me hostage, who no doubt enjoyed watching me clean myself.
My gaze moves from the mirrored wall to the rest of the room, the dozens of alien men sitting in a row on this stage with us. Cesaita kneels at my side, and next to her are three other women. None of them look in good condition, but they are all clean and wearing these ridiculous clothes. They are all from Noveta, giving me hope that we aren't too far from where they took us from. I look up at the sun, through the gap in the ruined building. What once must have been a glass ceiling is just long shards of broken glass attached to metal sides above solid stone rock walls. Little alcoves are hidden under the metal, no doubt full of more people watching this event.
"Welcome, everyone. Today we have not one, but two special prizes you can bid on!" shouts the clear leader of the group as he steps onto the middle of the stage. He has green skin, surprising me a little as he is from Strixa, and his face is covered in scars. He is missing an eye, but his one eye is almost so dark it looks black. "First up is a pregnant woman from Tab—"
He pauses mid-sentence and then lets out a long garbled gasp as green blood splatters onto the floor in front of him. The cheers and chatter of the crowd go deadly silent, and I can only hear my heart beating fast in my chest. That's when I see the smoke coming out of a big hole in his chest, and he slowly turns around. A long metal arrow is in the middle of his chest, burning him by the looks of it, and the smell is horrible as it reaches my nose. The man falls flat on the ground with a thump, and then it's pure chaos. Arrows start hitting all of the men on stage in the chest, in pairs, and they try to run. I follow the line of where the arrows are coming from to see a man in a cloak and a smaller man in his own cloak at his side. Both of them shoot arrow after arrow, but I stare at the first man through the destruction.
Through the pain-filled screams and shouts, I only see my destined mate as he fights to save me. I'd know him anywhere. It's a feeling deep in my chest, in my soul, which is his even if he doesn't want me.
Eventually the room goes silent. The only sound I hear is my own deep breaths as Xair jumps down from his hidden spot in the rooftop and lands on the ground. He pushes his cloak back and walks over the lines of bodies to me. Anger burns within his eyes as he runs his gaze over my face, checking to see that I'm okay. I climb up off my knees as he crashes into me, taking my lips as his, and I welcome every single second. It feels like coming home as he holds me.
"Are you okay?" he asks, cupping my cheeks. "Did they hurt you?"
"I'm okay, I'm okay," I repeat, smiling with joy and laughing out my words. My heart feels like it's going to burst being in his arms, having him this close to me. He pulls his cloak off and wraps it around my shoulders to hide me. Thank god…no, Vyuna. "Thank you for coming after me."
"Sav, if it's not clear by now, I'm always going to save you if you need it," he tells me, letting me go to pull a knife out, and he uses the tip to unlock my handcuffs. The other person who helped Xair steps onto the stage and pulls down her hood.
"Milca!" I exclaim just as Xair gets me free. Milca nods at me and makes her way to one of the fallen men, kicking his body over and grabbing the keys from his pocket.
"The idiots were planning on taking me that night and stumbled across you. I'm sorry you ended up taking my place," Milca explains, and I instantly feel bad for even suspecting she might have anything to do with them finding me. Milca undoes all of the handcuffs on the women, and I help Cesaita stand up at my side. Ces's eyes are wide, shocked to the point where I think she doesn't believe this is happening.
"Here is my cloak," Milca offers Cesaita when she sees she is shivering from the cold. I help her put it on, and look to Xair. The other girls are curled together nearby.
"Which way?" I ask, and he points to a door at the side. Pulling out a gun, he hands me it.
"Press this to shoot. The safety is off," he says and frowns for a moment as he slides two much bigger guns out of a holder on his back. "Can you shoot?"
"Yes," I admit, knowing I'm a good aim thanks to my dad teaching me quite young. Xair grins at me, and I follow him out, the girls moving behind me and Ces, and finally Milca at the end on lookout. Xair kicks the door open, and we walk out into cold snow, seeing a deep forest right in front of us and a small ship in the middle of the trees.
"I have the ship's keys. We should get rid of everyone on board," Milca suggests, jogging to Xair's side. "Girls, stay outside."
"I will protect them," I say as we get outside the ship and hear the sound of more than a few men on board. Xair kisses my forehead and walks up the steps, while I put Ces down on the floor, and the girls crowd around her. I keep my eyes out, watching the forest in front of me, but I make a mistake.
I don't realise that I should have been watching the steps until I feel a cold gun press against my back.
"Don't move," a man hisses in my ear. Even with my hand burnt, my head hurting from being knocked out, and everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours, I won't give in. Not when my mate is on that ship and damn well needs me not to get captured. I grip the gun tightly and jump to the left, swinging my leg around and smacking his legs hard. His gun goes off, shooting into the air, and I hold my gun at his stomach.
But I don't pause. I shoot him right away, the strength of the shot vibrating through my hand, and his blue blood splatters all over my white dress.
Ces and the girls look at me in horror as I pull the dead guy's feet and drag him off the steps and into the snow before looking around one more time. The silence of the forest keeps me sane, and I take a deep breath for a moment. I'm okay. I shake all over as I keep watch, knowing I would do anything to make sure we get out of here safely.
"Get on board!" Xair shouts, and I turn around to see him staring at me, his eyes fixed on the blood on my clothes and likely the dead guy at my feet. The girls help Ces stand and lead her onto the ship, and I get on last, stopping in front of Xair. The ship door closes shut behind us, the sound of the engine blocking out every other noise.
>
Xair pulls me into his arms and holds me tight as the ship takes us away.
He doesn't need to tell me anything. I can see how he feels...and I feel the same way.
Chapter Thirteen
"How did you find us?" I ask Xair as I lean on the doorframe, watching as he tinkers with some wires in the walls of the ship. According to Xair, this ship is practically untraceable and brilliant for us to hide in, even if it needs a little updating. With its five bedrooms, large kitchen and living areas, it's been easy to settle down the women with us. We are currently hiding out near a mountain by the city and trying to decide what to do tomorrow when it is safer to travel. After a long dinner with the girls, which Xair didn't come to, I knew I needed to find him so we could talk.
"Just a feeling," he answers, and my heart beats a little at his answer. "I don't need to see you to know where you are now."
"Like a mating bond feeling?" I question. Xair doesn't answer, sliding the wires back into the wall and flipping on a switch before sliding the panel back. The lights return to the corridor in the distance, and a light humming noise fills the silence as Xair stands up.
"Yes," he tells me, facing me fully. I can't read what is in his eyes. "I'm sorry I could not stop them from taking you."
"I saw you fight for me," I softly say, taking a tiny step closer. He tenses, and a part of me is hurt by his reaction. I clear my throat, looking away. I take a step back. "Thank you. I should go and get some sleep."
"Sav," he whispers my name like a prayer as I walk away, rubbing my chest like I can stop my heart from hurting. It's almost hilarious that I've fallen in love with a man who is destined to be my mate but doesn't want one. He doesn't really want me...but he isn't going to let me go.
It's a funny kind of hell to live in.
I press a yellow button on the wall outside the bedroom I chose, the one right next to the engine room. The lights in the room don't come on as I walk in, and only the small circular window on the back wall lets in a stream of light in a dot on the floor. There is a double bed in here, pushed against the one wall, and I make quick work of stripping the bed. Everything needs to be washed. I find a soft blanket in the closet and place it on the mattress before lying down.
I don't know how long I stare at the darkness around me, comforted by the sound of the engine and wishing that sleep would come to me.
It doesn't.
My door slides open, and I lean up on my elbows, watching a man I would never be scared of move through the shadows towards me. Leaning over, Xair kisses me like a man possessed, and I take everything he will give to me. His body covers mine on the bed, feeling so perfect, so right. His tongue swirls around mine as his hands run down my chest, cupping my breasts and making me gasp. He lowers his hands, gripping my hips and pulling me against him. I can feel his hard cock against my core, and I desperately want to strip down out of my clothes.
"Xair," I whisper against his lips. He groans, a manly groan that turns me on even more, and his hand grips my chin. His eyes stay on mine, even in the dark, as he turns my head to the side. The first hot kiss of his lips against my neck makes my body tighten, and I moan as he kisses and nips at my neck, slowly moving down my body. Pulling my top up and over my head, I'm bare for him from the waist up.
Even in the dark, I can feel how he is looking at me. I run my hand over his hard cock hidden by his trousers as he pulls his shirt up and over his head. I help him unbuckle his trousers, and he pulls my own off, leaving me completely naked as he kneels in the middle of my legs. The dim light shines on his muscular blue skin, and the rippled muscles feel warm under my hands as I run my fingers down his body until I get to his cock. He is big, bigger than any guy I have been with.
"Careful, I don't want this over before it's begun," he chuckles, taking my hand away from his cock. He leans down as I smile, and he kisses my stomach once, and then twice, before running his tongue down in a line to my core. Xair wastes no time, sucking and nibbling on my clit and pushing two fingers into me at the same time.
"I could say the same," I moan, feeling myself so close to the edge that it hurts to try and hold on. I crash into a mind-blowing orgasm, a cry of pure pleasure escaping my lips. Xair moves up my body and crashes his lips onto mine, thrusting into me at the same time. His thrusts make the orgasm feel like it's never-ending, and I moan, losing all thought of anything but him.
"Xair, Xair, Xair," I chant as he thrusts hard and fast, pounding into me so deeply I know I could never, ever compare him to anyone else.
It feels like there never was anyone else.
"God, Sav, you're so tight. You feel fucking amazing," he groans against my lips. "Mine. You're so mine."
"I am," I moan back, feeling another orgasm building up. His long and hard cock hits just the right spot with every thrust, making it impossible to hold back, and soon I'm crashing into my second orgasm, tightening around his cock. Xair roars and thrusts harder, making the whole bed move across the floor, and then he stills, coming hard inside me. The dim room suddenly lights up, and the markings on his chest glow blue and white, spreading down his arms. I glance down to see the same markings appearing on my stomach, the swirls and marks just the same as Xair's. They cover my belly, and they are so beautiful.
"You're my mate," he whispers in awe, pulling out of me and lying at my side. His hands trace the marks on my stomach as I grin.
"What made you come in here?" I ask, placing my hand on his chest. He looks up, meeting my eyes.
"You. I can't walk away, I can't imagine a life without you in it. I decided to be selfish, to take what I want for once and hope you want me back," he admits. God, I wish he could see himself like I see him.
"I will always want you, Xair. You might not see it, but you're a good man. You're brave, selfless, kind and honest with me. I know why the goddess made us destined mates. You needed a home, and I was searching for one," I tell him.
"Thank you, Vyuna," he whispers, the prayer being the last words on his lips as he climbs on top of me and kisses me once again before thrusting his already hard cock back into me.
Yes, thank you, Vyuna.
Chapter Fourteen
Bright morning light beams into the room and casts deep shadows of the bed against the grey tiled floor as I open my eyes. I roll over, noticing right away the bed is empty and there is a white folded piece of paper on the pillow where my new mate's head should be. A sinking feeling hits me deep in the chest as I pick up the note and see my name written on the outside.
Not my nickname either...my full name.
That alone told me something was wrong before I even opened it up and read inside.
* * *
Savannah Jackson,
Leaving you this morning was harder than I thought possible, and I know you will be angry with me when you read this. Don't break anything we need on the ship.
I must save my sister...but I cannot risk your life any further.
Stay on the ship, and I will come back to you.
I will always come back to you.
* * *
You have my heart and soul.
Your mate,
Xair
* * *
What the actual alien fuck? Growling to myself, I quickly climb out of bed and throw on my stolen clothes before opening my door. The brown legging type material and white crop top make me look like something out of the old classic Star Wars. Not that anyone on this ship would know what movie that was. After rushing around the ship, checking all the main rooms and ignoring the looks from the girls I find, I know I'm too late.
A brown-haired, blue-skinned woman who can't be much older than eighteen is in the kitchen, the last room I've checked.
"Have you seen Milca?" I gently ask, and she nods.
"In Cesaita's room," she shyly tells me. "Thank you for helping us escape. We have a chance at a real life because of you."
"Well, you're welcome, but Milca and Xair saved you. I didn't do much," I say as I leave, jogging
to the room I left Cesaita in last night. I knock on the door, waiting for her to say come in before pressing the button. Cesaita is in bed, and Milca sits on the end with a book in her hands.
"How are—" Milca starts, but I cut her off.
"I need your help. Right now," I tell her, and she stands immediately.
"Is everything okay?" Cesaita asks me as I nod outside the room to Milca. No point stressing out a heavily pregnant woman.
"I have to go find my mate. You will be okay on this ship with Milca," I say. Cesaita sits up, shaking her head.
"You can't leave. I only trust you to help me with the baby, no one else until we can go to my mate's grandmother's place," she frantically starts to explain. I rush to her side, stopping her from getting out of bed.
"I will be back, but he is my mate. He saved me, us, and now he needs me," I explain to her. She pauses, meeting my eyes.
"I get it. He is your mate, you must go." She nods, but her eyes hold sadness. "I would have done the same."
"I'm glad we met," I tell her. "And I'm excited to meet your child."
"You will be her or his guardian," she tells me. I frown, having no idea what that is.
"What is a guardian?"
"Like human godmothers," Milca explains to me from the door. "It's a very high honour. You will be a second mother to the baby."
"Really?" I whisper, taking Cesaita's hand. "I would be so honoured."
"As would I," she admits. "You know our secret, and I sense you would protect us. You're my only friend in the universe, Savannah."
"You are my friend too, and my friends call me Sav, by the way," I tell her and stand up, wiping away some of my tears. "I must go."
