by Vivian Star
“I know, I worked on it. Zex was meant to keep it a secret until we have tested it more,” I say with a big smile.
“I have no doubt it will work. You and Zex are a healing team dream,” Darcie says.
"We will bring Alice back," Xair says. The door opens, and a little green girl toddles in and runs right up to her dad.
"Whoa, no running yet," Rox tells Vyuna. She pouts, just like Darcie, and Rox gives in almost immediately. It's cute. Talking of cute, my son walks into the room next, and I rush over, picking him up and kissing his blue cheek. He giggles as I tickle him a little.
"Where is your nana?" I question, referring to the queen who has loved Cas as much as we have from the moment she met him.
"Right here. Hannah did escape me for a moment. She must stop climbing that tree," Rox's mother comments as she walks into the room, my namesake in her arms sucking on her own thumb.
"No luck there. I was always a climber," Darcie laughs, brushing Hannah's blonde locks of hair from her eyes. I leave them to it, Xair wrapping his arm around my waist as we walk out of their living quarters and make our way to our own on the other side of the castle. Our rooms have incredible views over the city of Strixa. After settling down Cas in his cot for his nap, Xair and I sit on the balcony.
"I have to tell you something," I start, and he looks over at me. "About Cas."
"I knew there was a secret, but I also knew you'd tell me when you felt it was right to," he comments. I love him so much it hurts. He just understands me.
"Cas is the last royal heir of the planet Noveta. A simple blood test would reveal it to be true, I'm certain of it," I explain. His eyes widen a little, and he rests back in his chair. In the silence that follows, I think of the news of Noveta. Milca and Noir took over, making a council of ten Novas who rule the planet, but they still see me as their queen no matter how much I don’t want the throne. It seemed to all work out for the best in the end because Milca and Noir are far better rulers than me. I could never be a ruler, and I doubt Xair ever wanted to be. But Cas? I know he is destined to be the king of Noveta one day, and I feel so lucky to be in his life. Even if he never takes the throne, he will be a good man.
"One day, we will help him take his throne and rule if he wants. We will bring him up to be an honourable man and a good ruler in turn," Xair finally speaks. "And loving and kind like his birth mother was, from what you told me."
"With you as a father, he will be a good man," I reply, gently stroking my hand down his arm. "You're the most honourable man I know."
Xair laughs and stands. He picks me up off the seat, and I wrap my legs around him. "I'm about to take you to bed and do very unhonourable things to you."
I shiver. "No objections here, my alien ex-assassin."
He laughs before kissing me. Being kidnapped by an alien assassin was the best thing to ever happen to me.
Epilogue
Alice Jackson
Stupid hot alien planet. Stupid alien king who won't let me go.
I rest on my knees, as always, by the king's side on the hot pavement that once burned my knees, and now it simply just hurts my skin. His dark gold skin is almost illuminated in the burning light of the sun peeking through the trees above me. He is handsome, I noticed that right away when I was taken from Earth and dragged to this forest-covered planet. My blonde hair is now dyed black and it falls like a dark mane down my back. My wrists now hold burn marks from the kings forced mating markings on me.
Everything has changed since the first night I was here.
I learnt how brutal and cold the king is. And how I am nothing but his pet. Earth, and my sisters, seem like a fading memory now.
So does the feeling of being free. I place my hand on my flat stomach, knowing that for the next eight months I will be free of the king's monthly visits to my rooms. Free of the one night a month where I wish and pray for Vyuna to kill me.
"Bring him in," the king demands, and I wonder who is on Tabrerth to see him. The last few days, the castle has been tense, and the king seems more on edge than ever, given the higher number of dead bodies he kept leaving around when he had another temper tantrum. Every word from his mouth makes me fear the next. His hand comes down on my shoulder, and I flinch at his touch. As does every female he has here.
The king of Tabrerth is a monster.
His giant snakes are wrapped around his throne made of animal bones. The snakes aren't like the ones from Earth; these are huge, and their skin is a luminous yellow. I've also seen them eat three people in one bite.
I've often contemplated whether dying by snake would be a quick way. A better way to die than the painful death the king has promised me if I dared to try to escape. A man walks into the room, and the chatter of all the slaves in chains who litter the sides of the gold walls goes silent. The only sound is my own breathing and the leaves of the trees above us that move in the wind.
The man captures my attention immediately. His skin is a colour unlike any I have seen before, a dark aqua blue that looks like bright fish I've seen in paintings back on Earth. The man is impressive, with wide shoulders and a tight waist. He wears only black trousers and a silver cloak that falls down his back. His eyes are so strange yet hauntingly beautiful. They glow blue, a pale almost silvery blue.
And he is looking right at me as he pulls out a black gun from his pocket and shoots the king straight in the head.
Glossary
Planet Strixa
Capital City- Satita, the first city of green light.
Home of the green-skinned Ixa race with incredible strength.
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Planet Noveta
Unknown capital city.
Home of the blue-skinned Nova race who can run faster than any other race.
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Planet Idillon
Capital City- Ilros, the city born of a thousand light stars.
Home of the purple-skinned Illon race who can hear for miles.
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Planet Giea
Capital City- Oasisa, the water city.
Home of the silver-skinned Gie race who can breathe underwater.
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Planet Tabrerth
Unknown capital city.
Home of the gold-skinned Tabre race who can control and talk to animals.
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Planet Earth
Currently under invasion.
Home of the Earthlings/humans with incredible compassion.
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Planet Dragonria
Home of the Dragonmir race. Unknown gifts.
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Vyuna, goddess of the Harvest, brief story
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Vyuna is the goddess of the Harvest, and Vyuna and her nameless mate created the universe for each other. Every planet was a gift, and each gift was better than the last. From strength to speed to long lives, the gifts spread across the universe like a wave, each race receiving a special power unique to that planet. Their love spanned thousands, if not millions, of years until Vyuna grew bored with the worlds that had no life. In her misery, her mate stabbed himself in the heart and flew around the planets, bleeding life into the worlds for her to love.
The words written on the base of every statue of Vyuna are:
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"We create worlds for those we love."
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Vyuna died at the same time as her mate, unable to stand life without him in it. They loved each other deeply, and it was the first real mating. Now many people can mate, finding those who are destined for each other, for the true magic of the universe is found in mating.
About the Author
Vivian Star is a fantasy author from the U.K. To hear about new releases sign up to my newsletter here.
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Link to Newsletter.
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