Devil In Exile: A Scifi Alien Mates Romance Novel (Warriors Of Elysius Book 1)

by Fiona Jayde

  “How did you find me?” Kyllell says. There is zero inflection in his voice. I find that more frightening than his angry snarls. Tarian has seriously overestimated his welcome here.

  His brother points to Kyllell’s shoulder. “Tracking device,” he says. “There was no way I was going to go searching an entire planet when I eventually came looking for you. I had one implanted in your shoulder when you were unconscious; right before the council sent you to this hellish place.”

  “Eventually came for me…I don’t understand. You had every intention of finding me again? This exile is supposed to be permanent. What are you doing here?” Kyllell moves us back a bit. I notice his horns begin to unfurl as Tarian takes a step forward, a dark purple festers at the base of his horns.

  Oh, snap. Kyllell is losing his shit. I’m all for that if there’s a real threat here, but so far, his brother seems to be unarmed. Other than those crazy horns and sheathed, black claws, there is no blaster or sword on him that I can see. He wears a dark, blue robe tied at the waist that falls to the middle of his knees. His black trousers are topped with strange looking boots, but Elysium feet aren’t exactly shaped like a human’s foot. He and Kyllell share a strong family resemblance, but Tarian’s hair is a metallic, silver color, where Kyllell’s hair is black.

  I rub Kyllell’s broad back, hoping it will calm him down, but it doesn’t seem to be working.

  We back up even further when Tarian takes a step forward, and I realize Kyllell is retreating on my behalf. If I weren’t here, I’m pretty sure he’d be shredding into his brother as if he were a Chassak general.

  Tarian holds up his hands in a placating gesture.

  “Just hear me out, please. I will not hurt you, and I will not hurt…your female?” He looks at me with a question in his eyes, but I’m not about to offer up any information.

  Kyllell stares at him hard for a moment before giving him a gruff nod. I let him lead me into the cave’s fire pit area where he sits down on a small, stone outcropping and pulls me onto his lap, setting our cloaks to the side but within easy reach. I open my mouth to protest—this is a little too far—but his grip on me tightens, and I let myself settle in for the long haul. I study his horns. They are now purple from base to mid-point, sticking out on either side of his head. When I lower my gaze to his, I notice his focus is on his brother. His nostrils are flared and his breathing heavy.

  I get that he’s supremely upset, but this physical response seems like something more.

  Tarian follows us, watching our interactions closely. He sits down on the other side of the fire pit, carrying himself with the easy confidence of someone without a care in the world, but I’m not too shabby at reading people, and I can tell by the tense bearing of his shoulders and the stiffening of his jaw that he is feeling very wary…and a little desperate.

  “I’m here to make amends, brother. I must admit, I thought I would be breaking you out of a prison of celibacy, but it appears I was misinformed.” Tarian’s eyes flicker as he looks me up and down. Suddenly, I feel that same pull I initially felt from Kyllell. It’s as if he has me on a string and is trying to draw me in. I lean back, fighting to break the pull. “What is your name, beauty?” he asks.

  Kyllell’s hands go around my waist, sending a very clear message to his brother.

  “Ada,” I say.

  “What a lovely name,” he replies, his grin turning flirtatious.

  “Leave her alone,” Kyllell growls.

  “We’re just talking, brother. I’m trying to get to know your mate. After all, she is my new sister, is she not?”

  “I’m not…” I start to say, but Kyllell cuts me off, squeezing me in warning. I’d meant to say I wasn’t yet, but I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth either way. Too late, I notice the glimmer in Tarian’s eye.

  Shit. Shouldn’t have said anything. Kyllell is trying to keep me off his brother’s radar, and I just made a mess of it.

  Tarian leans forward with interest. “Not his? Intriguing. Brother, you surprise me. Usually your pull brings females to heel right away. What’s the problem with this one? And how the hell did she get here when this planet was meant to be a lonely exile for you? Did you make friends with the scum currently occupying these parts and barter for a slave?”

  “Leave her out of this,” Kyllell responds. I notice his speaking voice is barely recognizable now. It is deeper, fuller, and extremely scary. What the hell is happening to him? “She is none of your concern. State your purpose here. What do you mean you wish to make amends?”

  “Well, brother, it seems that your soldiers were quite put out when you were exiled. They’ve slowly started a mutiny. It’s taken some time for it to catch fire, but the number of followers you have is now astronomical. The soldiers you previously commanded are refusing to work with our other forces. We want a cohesive military, as I’m sure you can understand. So, since your soldiers want you home so badly, I thought I would come and get you.”

  Tarian smiles like he is bestowing a great favor.

  Kyllell does not respond. He stares at his brother. I stare at his brother. Is this asshole for real? He sends Kyllell packing, and just like that he expects him to accept this weak olive branch? Tarian keeps his gaze trained on us, his smile growing as the silence extends. I look back and forth between them.

  “Are you guys speaking telepathically?” I ask.

  Tarian turns to me with a smile. “No, just a staring contest, my sweet. Just a little competition between brothers.”

  “Well, it’s weird,” I say.

  “Why are you really here, Tarian?”

  He gives Kyllell a forced look of surprise. “I believe I just stated why.”

  “You turned your back on me when I needed you most. You fought against me and sided with the council, when siding with me should have been your response to the tyranny of those power-thirsty leaders. It was my right, my birthright to lead, and you did nothing to fight against the usurpers who coveted my position.”

  I place my hands on the arm he has around my waist, trying to give him some kind of moral support at the feel of his body shaking with rage.

  Keep it together, Kyllell.

  “Your memory of events is too fuzzy to be accurate,” Tarian says, a hint of seriousness lacing the mirth in his eyes. “I did, in fact, fight for you, but I soon came to realize that we were both powerless to prevent what was going to happen next, and you were too stubborn to temporarily relent and stand down.”

  “You betrayed me.”

  “I did it to save you,” he shouts, all pretense gone from his expression. For the first time, I think I might be seeing the real Tarian underneath all that bluster, and it appears he thinks what he did was the only thing he could do. “They wanted you killed for treason, Kyllell, for defying their edicts, and no matter what I said to you, you would not stand down. I’ve always admired your sense of conviction, your honor and integrity, but there are moments when you fight and moments when you must retreat. I needed you to play nice with the council, and instead, you took on the role of martyr, ready to play it out until you were executed. I’d lost so much already. I could not lose you too.”

  Whoa. Well, that sheds some light on a few things. If he can be believed, that is, and I’m not feeling charitable enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.

  “I fought for you to stay. I was always fighting for you to stay, but Derwag and the other leaders felt you might be a threat to their power. I convinced them to exile you instead. I did that to save your life, you stubborn idiot.”

  “You don’t get to call him that. We have no reason to believe you truly fought for him out of the goodness of your own damn heart,” I say, nearly snarling in my overwhelming need to defend my male.

  Kyllell places a hand on my shoulder, and I’m shocked to realize I’m standing now.

  Tarian’s interest in me grows exponentially. His lips pull back in a wide grin.

  “It would seem my brother has found a fiesty femal
e.” His eyes flick to Kyllell, a ponderous expression on his face. “As brothers, we used to share practically everything. Why not hand her over right now? It would be a nice welcome present.”

  Kyllell growls, grabbing me by the waist and spinning me behind him.

  “If you ever lay a hand on her, brother or not, I will make you live to regret it.”

  Kyllell’s horns unfurl again, turning from a deep purple to obsidian and then back again within mere moments. Tarian stares at his horns with a mixture of shock and fascination. Then his gaze seeks me out, attempting to peer around Kyllell.

  He baited my alien. He wanted to know how Kyllell would react to him stepping on his territory. I glare back at him, ready to land the same flying kick I used on that Chassak general.

  “Absolutely fascinating.” Tarian stands and moves toward us, but Kyllell jumps forward and practically snarls in his face.

  “Ada, go to the small spring at the back of the cave. Stay there until this business is finished.”

  I stare at his back in shock. “Are you seriously trying to get rid of me right now? I’m not really interested in being dismissed.”

  His brother lets out a chuckle, trying to glance past Kyllell and earning a snarl for his efforts. “He is doing this for your safety and mine, Ada. When another male encroaches on an Elysium’s bond mate, things can get dangerous, especially when the bond has not been formed. He is afraid he will rage out and possibly end up hurting you as he attempts to challenge me. His horns have shown me what you are to him, while also challenging me with their purple hues. He cannot help it, and it will not abate until you leave the area.”

  I grab Kyllell’s arm and notice his claws are fully extended.

  Not great.

  “Go, Ada, please,” he says through gritted teeth.

  I finally see the monumental control he is exhibiting with me in close proximity. I don’t like being shut out of the conversation, and I hate the idea of Kyllell facing his brother on his own, but I can see my presence his clouding the issue. He won’t be at peace with me in the same spacious cavern as his brother. I give Tarian one more glare, to which he offers an annoying, self-assured smirk, before I squeeze Kyllell’s arm and leave him to his argument with his brother.

  Down the tunnel I go, like a good little woman.

  This is some messed up shit. I walk away, feeling more than a tad conflicted.

  I walk right to the edge of the hot springs and stare at the water for a moment, suddenly feeling every ache and sore muscle in my body. Between my injured leg, the swim to save Kyllell, and our late night lovemaking, my muscles are on fire. I consider the wisdom of getting naked when Tarian is just down the hall and may become a threat at any moment, but I just don’t think he flew all this way to track down his brother only to kill him.

  Ah, what the hell? Warm water, plus sore muscles, equals pure bliss.

  And maybe it will take my mind off my worry for my sexy devil of a mate.

  My mate. I’m actually ready to do this. I’m really going to accept this bond.

  This is nuts, but it still feels so right.

  As I undress and dip my foot into the hot springs, I try to get my head around what’s happening.

  What if Tarian is telling the truth and he really did exile Kyllell to save him? What if Kyllell really does need to return to his planet so he and his brother can work together to handle the military?

  Now my thoughts go dark as insecurities crop up. Where exactly would that leave me? It is one thing to travel the stars with him, but can I find a place at his side on Elysius? How does someone like me make it work with an important political figure of the Elysium species? The logistics make my head spin.

  The water is warm. I slide into the heat and lean backward with my arms resting on the sides of the spring. My breasts are exposed, bobbing in the water, and I can hear the quiet drip drop of cave sounds in the distance. I close my eyes and try to think of anything but Kyllell and the possible obstacles we may encounter as we try to make this work.

  “Am I interrupting?” a voice calls from a not-so-distant area of the cave.

  It’s not Kyllell.

  I splash in surprise, sitting upright and covering my breasts. Tarian appears out of the darkness, moving toward me with lust in his eyes.

  “I can tell that you are not bonded with Kyllell,” he says. “You are still available.”

  “Uh, you mentioned we weren’t bonded. Why are you repeating yourself?” This isn’t great. Kyllell would never allow his brother near me like this. What the hell is going on?

  “Kyllell!” I call.

  “He is boarding my ship at the moment. I sent him there to see a message from his soldiers. He cannot hear you.” He continues to move closer. “Do not worry. I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do.”

  I’m thinking fast. No way in hell Kyllell would have left me alone with his brother to listen to a message from his soldiers, which means my big, hulking alien is out of commission.

  Shit.

  “I don’t want you to do anything. I want you to leave.”

  He chuckles. “No you don’t. You want someone to push you. You want someone who wants you enough to take you, no matter how much you protest.” He licks his lips.

  “That’s called rape,” I say.

  “It’s only rape if you aren’t willing. I promise, you will be willing. Come on, little female. Step out of the water and into my arms. I am more powerful than my brother, you know. Far more powerful.”

  I get hit with a pull so intense I wonder if I might be losing my mind. Sure, Tarian is incredibly sexy, but I know my own feelings, and I do not want this particular devil, so why am I nearly leaping out of my skin to get to him? I look around to distract myself and see my clothes in a pile beside me. I grab them and pull them into the hot spring with me.

  With a defiant glare, I pull my soaking shirt and pants over my wet skin, never taking my eyes off him. It is the longest, most awkward task ever, but it’s also very effective. Once I have my clothes on, I stand to my full height and continue with my scathing stare, though I doubt it’s as intimidating as it needs to be considering I’m down in a spring and he’s standing up on the ledge, lauding his superiority and sex appeal over me like a king to his meager subjects.

  Stalling is in order. If Kyllell can just recover from whatever the hell his brother did to him, then he will come and get me out of this situation. I have no illusions of grandeur here. I’m at a disadvantage when it comes to Tarian.

  “So you’ve got a random space ship parked outside? Seems a bit sloppy considering the Chassak folks running around this planet,” I say.

  “It’s cloaked. You never can be too careful.” To my surprise, he smiles and backs away. “Ah, Ada, you will be good for him. So fierce, so honest. He’s going to be very happy with you.”

  “What is this? Were you testing me?”

  “My brother has had his fair share of female companionship, little sister. More than his fair share, really. But he has never chosen anyone as his bond mate. He told me once that he would never pick a mate until he was absolutely certain she was the one for him. His horns are an indicator, obviously. The one sign of a true bond mate, but I’m his brother. I wanted to make sure he had chosen well.”

  “And what if he hadn’t chosen well?” I ask. “What if I had been interested in you?”

  He shrugs. “We would have had some pleasure before I abandoned you in this cave.”

  I make a move to get out of the water, still worried about Kyllell and what his brother might have done to him. Just as I manage to step onto the ledge, dripping water everywhere, he strides forward with alarming speed and grabs my arm. I try to wrench myself away, nearly falling backward into the water. He keeps a firm hold on me.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  He appears resigned, a scowl dipping the corners of his lips. His grip on my arm firms. He’s not as big as Kyllell, but he’s still an Elysium, and he overpowers me
without any trouble at all.

  “I am afraid this was more than a casual test. Kyllell has refused to come back home with me. Though I’ve explained the political unrest among our people, and my plan to reinstate him on the council and get rid of Derwag, he refuses to believe me. He also refuses to risk you. Understandable, but there is too much at stake here, little sister. We are in a state of unrest, and I need his help to restore order. I hope you will learn to forgive me.”

  “Forgive you? What are you…ouch!” I look at my arm where a small dot of blood is welling along the surface. “What did you just do?”

  “I’m sorry,” he says, throwing aside a thin tube stained with a beige colored substance. “I really am, but it can’t be helped.”

  “You suck,” I hiss. I shift my weight, getting ready to land a sidekick when my muscles suddenly spasm, my entire body giving out on me. My peripheral vision dims as Tarian’s arms wrap around me.

  “He loves you,” I hear him say as my thoughts turn fuzzy. “Which means he’ll follow you to the very ends of this Universe. How convenient that we’ll only be going so far as Elysius.”

  My eyelids droop as I realize I’ve been drugged.

  Really? This guy just injected me with a sedative?

  What a douche.

  ※※※※

  Kyllell

  I awake on the floor within a room that most definitely does not belong inside the cave. One of the cloaks is draped over my body, mocking me, as if it could conceal anything now that Tarian has made his calculated move. My head feels as if a gorgrineck has taken it between its massive jaws and applied pressure. I let out a soft groan as I slowly sit up, cursing the effects of the sedative my treacherous brother stuck me with when I least expected it. Not that I had any notion he would attempt something like this after my refusal to accompany him back to my planet.

  The corrupt practices of the council and the rebellious nature of the military are problems he aided in creating. He is welcome to discover solutions to his own mess. I have my female to consider now.