by Tracy Lauren
“As do I, Your Majesty. As do I.”
The view screen cuts off, but I remain in my seat a moment longer, grinning up at the ceiling. There’s no doubt in my mind, this is about to turn into one hell of a night.
Not long after that I’m quietly making my way through the twisting corridors beneath Prett’s castle. Dungeons, they’re ancient relics of the old ways of my people, the Atana, but something tells me Prett is getting more use out of his than he’d like polite society to be aware of.
Moving through these dark corridors, testing the limits of my stealth—this is the side of my job that I enjoy. But my reason for being here…it is a serious one. My suspicions surrounding the Chancellor have been a long time coming. Prett and my family have never gotten along. But ever since the death of my father, the King of Atana, Prett has been making waves—attempting to sour the people’s opinions of my brothers and me. And the whispers in the underground lead me to believe that he goes much further than that. Prett’s jealous of our sovereignty over our world and he seeks to usurp us. But I refuse to tolerate this threat he’s hanging over our world. I will not stand by and simply watch this mounting turmoil.
My family has always done what’s best for Atana and its people. All Prett cares about is power and I’ll be damned if I allow his self-righteous ambition to bring harm down on my world. Tonight I’m going to uncover definitive evidence of his treachery. For I believe the Chancellor is plotting something that could throw all of Atana into upheaval.
My brothers, Thaves in particular, await word from me back at our castle. They are the diplomats of the family—the face of our monarchy. And, in my not-so-humble opinion, their jobs are quite dull. Personally, I opt for adventure whenever I have the chance. Unfortunately, the life of a prince doesn’t always allow for such things. No, it’s constant scrutiny—while I much prefer to operate behind the scenes. Which is why I’m the head of Atana’s security forces. I’m far better suited for this job than I am for sitting on the throne.
As head of the guard, I’m able to keep a low profile. It allows me some semblance of a normal life--the freedom to do as I please in a way that my brothers simply do not have the luxury for. Sure, there was a time in my younger days when I took full advantage of my title as the prince of Atana. But a life in the limelight quickly loses its luster. And so, I remain in the background, maintaining a watchful eye over my kingdom, protecting it in a way no one else can.
Disguised as a simple guardsmen, my cloak whips behind me as I hurry through the shadows. I made it through Prett’s gardens without detection, but I had to subdue a man in the entry to the dungeon. I worry his unconscious body will be discovered before my mission is complete. I can’t let that happen. So, I make haste, checking every aged and wooden door along the dark corridors. But it isn’t until I reach the farthest recesses of the catacombs that I find something that seems out of place—a new door, one that is made of metal and secured with a computerized locking panel.
This is what I’ve been searching for. What’s behind this door is going to change everything—I can feel it in my bones. There’s a darkness within Prett, something truly sinister. Whatever he’s hiding here is of great consequence.
I plug into the access panel, fitting it with a decoding device so I can hack into the room. A smug grin teases at my lips as I make short work of Prett’s most heavily secured prize. The locks click and the door falls open. It appears the Chancellor hadn’t counted on my tech skills. And though I’m grinning, I know my task here is far from complete—I’ll have to save the celebration for when I am back at my castle with my brothers by my side.
Unsure of what I’ll discover behind the door, I enter the room quietly and with caution. From inside I can hear the sound of water—small drops echoing in the cold and dimly lit room. A wide pool resides at its center, reflecting nothing but darkness. But wait…there is something.
At first my mind can hardly make sense of the golden form suspended in a cage above the pool. But then I hear the soft sound of a woman crying and the person before me takes shape.
She’s wearing an ornate gown of shimmering gold, looking like a lone star in the night’s sky. Her hair must have been styled at some point, but now it’s wild, hanging loose about her downturned face. Her locks are as golden as the dress she wears—an unnatural color for the Atana. But it’s the woman’s bare arms that finally give away her identity. While the gown she wears is like the sun, her skin is as milky as the moon. This woman is human.
There are only two humans I know of, for they are famous in this sector of space. The queen and princess of Tevera, cherished family of The Warrior King Vazrium.
My blood runs cold. Prett has stolen one of them and locked her away in this dungeon. He’s trying to start a war. I knew Prett had his secrets, but this goes far beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I consider the implications of what he has done here and all the lives at stake. Immediately, I activate my personal comm, typing in a message to my brothers.
Send the military after Prett, secure him immediately.
Is it that bad? one of my brothers asks.
Worse. Notify the King of Tevera that we have found what he is surely looking for. Updates shortly.
For now, I must see about this woman. I step closer to the pool, considering how to best set her free, but it appears there is only one way to access her cell. So, I kick off my boots, readying myself for a swim.
The woman jumps at the abrupt sound my discarded boots make as they hit the stone floor and I catch sight of her face. Realization dawns on me. There’s no mistaking her for anyone besides the Princess of Tevera. The image of her beauty from across a crowded ballroom immediately comes to mind. No, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen her…though it certainly has been years.
Oh how my brothers and I used to admire her from afar, back when my father would force us to attend balls at Vazrium’s castle on Tevera. But none of us ever had the chance at a conversation with the great beauty. The princess was always so aloof, never spending time on the dance floor and always retiring early after dinner. Even as a youth her looks were unparalleled, but now as a woman… My adrenaline pumps through me at the sight of her.
Suddenly I’m less concerned with averting a war than I am with sparking up a conversation.
Chapter 4
Madison
A loud thud suddenly echoes through the massive stone room and I startle at the sound of it, choking on a truncated scream. Across the water is a shadowy figure. I fight back my fear and push my anger to the forefront. I’ll be damned if I let my captor see me cowering.
“My father will have your head for this!” I shout.
“Relax, Princess,” the figure tells me. “I’m here to save you. I’m the rescue team.”
It’s a man’s voice, calm and collected. I realize he’s tossed off his boots and is taking a seat at the edge of the pool, dipping his legs into the murky water. I cringe at the sight.
“Team implies more than one person.” I frown and scan the room, not yet trusting him. “Who are you?”
“You may call me Kethian and from what I can tell, you are the princess of Tevera. Am I right?”
“If you know me then surely you know my father—Vazrium. Though some people call him the Warrior King,” I tell this Kethian. For once I don’t bother to say stepdad, not when I’m trying to instill fear into the heart of this stranger, this alien. For all I know, he’s my captor come to play games with me.
“Your family is a famous one, Princess, and before the night’s done you’ll be back in their arms. Though first we must get you out of that cage. Have no fear, I’ll make quick work of it,” the cloaked man tells me. His casual tone only makes my anger intensify.
“I asked you who you are!” I shout angrily.
“And I have told you. I am Kethian.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it. What are you doing here if you weren’t sent by my father? What the hell am I doing here for tha
t matter!”
“It seems you’ve been kidnapped. And I am here to rescue you.” If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Kethian sounds like he’s smiling. I guess it’s easy to be happy when you’re on the right side of a prison cell.
“And why is it that you are here to rescue me?” I demand to know.
“Would you rather wait for your father?” Kethian questions, his tone teasing.
“No. I wouldn’t like to wait for my father, smartass. What I would like is a reason to trust that you are who you say you are.”
“Why would I be anyone else?” Kethian asks me. This time he definitely chuckles.
“Oh for goodness sake! I’m trapped in a cage and you’re trying to be cute.”
“You think I’m cute?” Kethian prods. It makes my cheeks heat with anger. “I admit, I’ve never been called cute before. But coming from a beauty like yourself I find it quite the compliment.”
Okay, now I’m seething. “If you want to know what I think, I’d be happy to tell you. First of all, you’re an insensitive idiot, and though I can’t see your face I can venture a guess that you’re an alien. And believe me, I don’t find aliens cute in the least.”
“Technically, you are the alien, Princess. You’re on my world after all.”
“I’m not on Tevera?” I gape at the information. How long have I been missing? Who took me? Why have I been imprisoned? I have all these questions and this asshole is playing games with me.
“No, you are on my home world. A planet called Atana.”
“And…?”
“And I happen to think that you are very cute. Not as grateful for a rescue as one would assume, but your beauty makes up for it.”
“Are you freaking insane? Get me out of this goddamned cage or I’ll make sure Vazrium tears your head off with his claws!”
Kethian clicks his tongue unhappily and blows out a sigh. Finally his tone matches the gravity of the situation. “My apologies, Princess, my aim was to lighten the mood, but it seems I’ve missed my mark. You’re looking for details about your capture, but I have none. I only came here to discover what was in this dungeon and, lo and behold, I found you.”
His admission seems honest and it softens me…if only slightly. “Yeah well…you’re wrong about one thing,” I huff, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Am I? And what exactly might that be?”
“I am grateful for the rescue. I mean, you’re no Justin Bieber, but I’ll take what I can get at this point.”
“Who is Justin Bieber?” Kethian asks.
“The man of my dreams. Now, how are you going to get this cage away from the water?”
“I have no plans for such a thing.”
“Okay, then how are you going to get me out?”
“I will come to you, of course.”
“Then what? Please tell me you have a boat under your cloak, because I’m not getting in that nasty-ass water.”
Kethian pats himself as if searching for a boat in his coat pocket, then gives a small shrug. “No such luck.”
“Sounds just like my kind of luck…” I grumble unhappily.
“Do not worry, Princess. I’m an excellent swimmer. I can carry you across with ease.”
“Um, no. I’m no damsel in distress. You can open the cage,” I tell him. “I’ll do the rest.”
My only real concern at this point is the possibility of monsters lurking in the water. But I figure if there are any, they’ll eat Kethian on his swim over. If he actually makes it to my cage, then I’ll know the water’s safe, even if it does look ominous and gross.
Kethian laughs again. “Forgive me for saying, Princess, but you certainly look like a damsel in distress.”
“It must be your alien eyes that are deceiving you,” I huff.
“Must I remind you that you are the alien on my world?”
“Like hell I am. I’m the only damn normal person in this whole sector of the galaxy. Yet somehow I’ve been surrounded by freaks. Now, I feel like we’ve lost track of this whole interaction. Aren’t you supposed to be saving me? Why the hell am I still standing in this cage?”
“Such harsh words for a beautiful woman like yourself,” Kethian tsks. “Tell me, Princess, what has you so upset?” My rescuer has the nerve to lean back on his elbows and I see him leisurely kicking his legs in the water as if it’s a hot summer day and we’re lounging by a pool.
I shoot daggers at him with my eyes. This asshole alien is playing with me, teasing me when he says he’s come here to rescue me. “Look, I don’t know what your fucked-up complex is. Maybe you think you’re hot shit because you have the undivided attention of a princess. You’re probably hoping to tell your friends about how I fell into your arms, grateful for a big, strong hero to come rescue me, but you’ve strolled into the wrong fairy tale, my friend.”
“I thought you said you were grateful to be rescued!” he counters, his voice filled with humor.
“What rescue? I’m still waiting!” I shout, shaking the bars to my cage.
“I like you.” He laughs. “And I suppose you’re correct. I am pleased to have your attention. You’re practically famous for being elusive, you know? Talking with you will give me quite the bragging rights amongst my brothers.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me,” I spit out. “Now let’s get this so-called rescue moving along.”
Kethian rises from his spot at the side of the pool and turns his back on me. “Hmm…but now you have me thinking,” he says as he removes his cloak.
“I imagine that’s a brand-new experience for you.”
He chuckles at my words and pulls off his shirt. Though his back is still to me I begin to get my first view of my alien “rescuer.” Even in the dim lighting I can see there’s a greenish sheen to his skin and the corded muscles across his back practically glisten. He’s got broad shoulders and his waist tapers down into a conspicuous V shape.
Alien or not, the man’s got a body. I suppose that’s why he’s such a cocky asshole. He isn’t used to women turning their noses up at him. But I’m not most women and I certainly don’t have any interest in aliens. In my opinion they’re all gross. Especially this one, with his too-perfect body and annoying demeanor.
“Perhaps I should get something in return for this rescue?”
Criminal is what he is. “So now you’re trying to blackmail me?” I raise my brow at him. “Look, I’m sure Vazrium will offer you some kind of reward. Let’s not make this ugly.”
“What do you think he’ll offer me?” Kethian asks.
“I don’t know, creds? Gems from his mines?”
“I have no interest in such things.”
I scoff. I can see the man’s uniform. Kethian’s nothing more than a guardsmen. He should have interest in money and gemstones. If he doesn’t then he’s a bigger idiot than I realized.
“I don’t know what to tell you then.”
“You think maybe he’d give me something else of great value?”
“I guess. It’d depend on what you want.”
“What if I wanted your hand in marriage?”
I have to laugh out loud at that one. Vazrium has been overprotective of me to the extreme since day one. “If you even ask he’ll have your balls for it.”
Kethian turns now, stepping into a thin sliver of light, and for the first time I see his face. Despite his easy-going and playful nature, his eyes are dark and brooding. His angled jawline is dusted with just the right amount of stubble and the hair on his head looks wild and unkempt, like he just rolled out of bed. Then there’s his smile, his stupid, handsome smile. It’s wide and cocky and it makes me feel like I’m on the losing end of some kind of joke. I hate it. I hate everything about him.
“You’re right. Perhaps we should leave Vazrium out of this deal.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Enough games. Speak your mind and let’s stop wasting each other’s time.”
“Goodness, Princess, you certainly don’t leave any room f
or romance,” he complains.
“Guilty as charged. Now, what do you want?”
His dark eyes seem to sparkle with mischief. “More bragging rights,” he admits with a casual shrug. “If I can’t have your lovely hand in marriage, then I’ll settle for a kiss.”
I scoff, disinterested. “I’d sooner kiss a frog.”
“I’ll gladly be your frog then,” he offers and out of spite I laugh at him.
“I don’t think you’re grasping my meaning. A frog is something disgusting on my planet. So when I say I’d rather kiss a frog, it’s meant to be an insult.”
“I’ve been to your planet many times, Princess, and I’ve never heard of a frog.”
“If you’re thinking of Tevera then you’ve got the wrong planet. I’m from Earth.”
“I’ve heard of that place. There was much talk of it when your father married.”
“Yeah…” I start to brush him off, almost ignoring this line of discussion. But something stops me. Something makes me ask the question that’s been on my mind for the past decade. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m in a cage, a literal embodiment of the feelings of isolation and confinement I carry with me every day. “Do you know how to get there?” I question, scrutinizing the guardsman.
He furrows his brow, thoughtful for the first time since he entered the room. “It’s a protected planet, thanks to Vazrium, and its location is highly confidential…but I think I could find it, given my particular set of skills.”
“Are you bragging, frog boy?”
“That depends. Are you impressed?” he asks, giving me a lopsided grin.
I scrutinize him a moment longer, assessing him from head to toe—hesitating for only a moment on the gun he wears at his hip. The beginning of a plan blossoms in my mind and I let a slow smile spread across my lips. “I have to admit, that is pretty impressive.”
“Are you ready for that kiss now?”
My smile tightens. For the plan to work, I should be flirting with this jerk guard—batting my eyelashes and promising kisses…but I wasn’t joking when I said Vazrium’s been highly protective of me. Here I am nearly 22 years old and…I still haven’t had my first kiss. Unless you count what I do with the Justin Bieber posters in my room, that is. But I certainly don’t want my first real kiss to be with some random guard I met in an alien dungeon.
