by T. S. Ryder
She put on her glasses and stared outside. Old sister Margaret, her dorm warden, was taking the final rounds across the yard, back bent as she walked with flashlight in hand. Ella suddenly saw herself years from now. She winced as loneliness gnawed at her heart, wondering if she would grow old in that same gray building, ever more bitter and resentful as the years rolled by.
She turned off her lamp and the room drowned in darkness. Today was her birthday. She had turned twenty-three and her aunt hadn’t even called. Sighing, she was about to turn when her eye caught a strange gleam of light radiating from the trees right outside the back garden. It was past midnight, and she wondered who could be out there at this hour. Then, she saw sister Margaret heading out the back toward the light.
Where was the old woman going? Ella’s curiosity got the better of her, and she picked up her flashlight. Still in her nightgown, she tiptoed downstairs, her pumps not making a sound. Passing through the kitchen door, she quietly made her way outside to the backyard and across the garden toward the back wall. The door in the wall was open as she stepped outside.
There was a full moon that night, so she decided not to turn the flashlight on. Slowly, she followed Sister Margaret’s path into the thicket. She could still make out the faint light coming from the other side of the trees. Carefully stepping over bushes and brambles, she made her way toward the end. When she reached the opening, she gasped.
In the dim light of the moon, Sister Margaret’s body lay sprawled upon the ground in the trees a few feet away. Splashes of red smeared her white habit. She had never been fond of the old woman, who had always treated her coldly – like she wasn’t worthy. Yet, the sight of her body mired in blood was still disturbing.
Staggering, she took a few steps back into the shadows. Two strong hands grabbed her from behind, and her scream was lost on her lips as a hand closed in on her mouth. She felt herself being dragged back towards the trees. Her captor suddenly turned her in his arms and pinned her back to a tree, his body against hers. Her breathing became labored. There was no way she could escape. He was tall, she noticed, towering over her. His hand still on her mouth, she saw the man’s face in the dim moonlight. His chalk white face was half hidden by his hood, but it was his piercing sapphire blue eyes that caught her attention.
***
Prince Darilth looked at the woman he had pinned to the tree. He had managed to prevent her from entering the force field he had placed around the area. The old woman had trespassed it, and was badly injured by the blow of the force field. He couldn’t heal her even if he wanted to, so he had no choice but to kill her.
He put the translator in the woman’s ear. “Do not make a sound,” he said in a deep voice as he gazed into her pale blue eyes. He caught her scent and his chest constricted. It was intoxicating.
She nodded and he slowly moved his hand away. He pulled back his hood so she could take a good look at him. He heard her gasp.
“P-please don’t kill me,” she implored, tears streaming down her face.
He held her, ignoring her pleas. He tried reading her mind telepathically, but something was wrong. He couldn’t seem to get into her mind.
Prince Darilth gazed at her for some time. Why couldn’t he read her thoughts? That had never happened before. This woman was unusual. He carefully took off her glasses.
“No... please don’t... I-I can’t...” she stammered, blinking rapidly and lowering her eyes.
“Look at me,” he said, ignoring her protests as he cupped her chin with one hand. Her breathing was labored, he noticed. She was even more beautiful up close, he thought. And very much frightened.
She looked up and gazed at him, and he could see she expected him to kill her.
Then, it happened. The silver band with the big blue stone he wore on his wrist began to glow. His chest constricted and he felt a tug in his heart. He was certain of it now. The bond was there. It was a force as strong as any – something he had never felt before.
She is the one! His inner dragon, Mekarth, exclaimed. The Draco’s Eye senses it. Claim her now!
He couldn’t believe his luck. The Draco’s Eye had responded to the woman. For centuries, the stone’s magic had been dormant and many of his ancestors’ mates couldn’t awaken it. Yet, this woman had done it. It was incredible.
“What do they call you, woman?” he asked her in his deep, demanding tone.
“El-Ella,” she stuttered.
“Ella,” he echoed.
Slowly, he placed both of his hands on her cheeks and wiped away her tears. Then, he placed two fingers of each of his hands at her temples as he gazed into her blue eyes.
The next few minutes were the strangest that Ella had ever experienced. With his fingertips on her temples, she felt her vision coming into focus. She blinked again, wondering what he was doing to her as she struggled to maintain eye contact with the stranger. And within the next few seconds, she could see. He had healed her.
“How did you...?” she whispered gazing at him as her fear turned to wonder.
“You won’t be needing these anymore,” he said matter-of-factly, throwing her glasses away. He could feel his healing powers improving. The Eye had responded and now he only needed to claim her to fully awaken his powers.
***
Ella knew he wasn’t human the moment she had looked into those cold blue eyes. And now she couldn’t stop staring at the subtle scales around the bone of his brow and temples. His long, silver-white hair was similar to hers, she thought.
She felt a pull toward him. The way he gazed at her, his voice, and his scent. Something about his features was so alluring.
Suddenly, guilt rose inside her. What was wrong with her? Her mind was full of sinful thoughts. Her body was behaving in a way she had never known before as something deep and low filled her belly, making her squirm. Then, she noticed his eyes. His pupils had turned to slits, the sapphire blue irises much darker.
He immediately sensed her arousal and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The women of his race had never responded to him this way. This was a first for him. In one swift movement, he cupped her chin, tipping her head back. His lips were upon hers with a passion that took her breath away. His tongue invaded her mouth as if claiming her as his own. Long after he pulled away, she had that dazed look in her eyes – the look of a woman who had just experienced her first kiss. She struggled to catch her breath.
“Who are you?” she asked him, dazed.
He simply gazed back at her, taking out a small cylindrical device from his pocket and pressing it against her neck.
Something hot seared her neck. Before she could react, her vision blurred once more and darkness engulfed her. Her head fell forward onto his chest as she went into a deep slumber.
He picked her up, her body light as a feather, and carried her out into the clearing. The moon was waning as he tapped the small panel on his wrist and unlocked the cloaking field. A hulking spacecraft now stood in the vast clearing beyond the trees where nothing was visible to the human eye before. He took her inside and secured her in a sleep capsule. She would be in hyper-sleep all throughout the journey. In the next few hours, his men finished fixing the ship and left Earth’s atmosphere. Once it was deep in space, the captain set the course for Iovis and the ship went into warp speed, racing across the universe.
Chapter Two
In Another Universe
It had been months since they left Earth and Prince Darilth couldn’t stop thinking about Ella. Her sweet scent and the taste of her lips, soft as silk, invaded his thoughts all the time. No woman had ever had this effect on him. The feeling was alien and it unnerved him. There were times when he would just gaze at her as she slept in her capsule, oblivious to the stranger observing her. He wondered if she would agree to marry him once she awoke. He thought of how he could make her understand he was her true mate… that they were destined to be together.
She will understand, Mekarth hissed. And if she resists, you claim he
r anyway. She is your mate!
But he didn’t want to force her. He hoped his father would approve of her. She was frail, not strongly built like the women on his planet, he knew. He had this strange urge to protect her fiercely.
She was his mate! he thought, jaw clenched. They would have to accept her no matter what. The witch’s prophecy had come true, he thought as he walked back to his chambers.
Back in his quarters, he poured himself a glass of dark purple wine and took a swig to soothe his agitated nerves. They would be landing on Iovis in a few days. The long wait was almost over.
***
It was the cold that woke her. Out of habit, she felt for her glasses near the pillow but couldn’t find them. It took her some time to realize that she could see clearly without them. Then, she remembered everything as it all rushed back to her, a deluge of memory. The stranger, the old nun’s body, her healed eyes, the kiss...
Her head spun. She tried sitting up, but her body was stiff from the cold. She noticed she was naked under the covers. Looking around, she wondered where she was. It wasn’t her gray room at the convent. She was in a huge, quite comfortable bed inside a room with stone walls. Her head rested on plush pillows and an ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling. Warm, dim electric lighting lit the room. It was as if she was in an ancient castle with modern fittings.
Her hands and feet were freezing. She glanced around and saw the window was closed, heavy curtains drawn over it. The air was thin and she was finding it hard to breathe. Too exhausted and weak to move, she lay back in the pillows.
“Hello?” she called out, wondering where the stranger was who held her captive. It wasn’t long before the heavy wooden door to her room opened and her captor strode in.
He was tall, taller than any human male she had seen. He wore dark pants and a dark coat with a hooded cloak over his shoulders. His long silver white hair was tied at the nape of his neck. He strode over to her bed and she gasped, instinctively clutching the blanket as she covered her breasts.
“Where am I? And who are you?” she blurted out, her blue eyes wide.
“You are at the Rothgar Castle,” he said curtly, “And you can call me Darilth.” He gazed at her frightened form, tilting his head to one side, seemingly amused.
“So, Darilth, what am I doing here?” she asked him, her breathing becoming labored. It took a tremendous effort for her to say a simple sentence.
He came forward, took something out of the drawer next to her and handed her strange looking red capsules.
“Take these. They will help you breathe better. You are new here so your body will need some time to adjust to the atmosphere,” he said, handing her two of the pills and a glass of water.
She gave him a blank look and hesitantly took the pills, quickly swallowing them.
“Who are you?” she asked him. “What do you want from me? What is this place?” Her voice broke as tears sprang into her eyes.
“Ella, I live here. My father is the King of the Rothgar throne and you are my mate,” he said as he sat down on the chaise lounge near the bed, one leg propped on his knee. He looks so graceful just sitting there, she thought. Somewhat arrogant too.
“I don’t understand,” she said, confused.
“I have claimed you as my mate and you will soon officially be my bride,” he said tapping the sleek band on his wrist. The door opened and a woman carrying a tray filled with food entered the room. The woman put the tray on the table and bowed to them.
“Wh-what?” Ella began.
“Misa here will be at your service. She’ll help you dress, among other things,” he said as the woman stood with her hands folded in front of her. “Ella, eat. You’ll need your strength.”
“Wh-why would you want to marry me? I-I don’t even know you,” she said, sobbing.
“Look, you are no longer on Earth. You are on Iovis now. I am a Drakonaar and I am your destined mate,” he said, a bit exasperated. “Nothing changes that fact.”
“How do you know that?” she asked him, still confused.
“I’ll show you, but first, we must see the King. Misa, get her dressed,” he said to the maid. He saw Ella blush furiously as she quickly got out of bed and slipped on the robe that Misa handed her.
“Yes, my lord,” Misa said as she ushered Ella toward another smaller room behind the drapes.
***
Prince Darilth gazed at the woman who sat across from him eating soup. She was dressed in royal clothes. Right after they landed, he had ordered some warm dresses custom made for her. The doctor had warned him the planet’s climate was too harsh for her that she would need extra warm clothes.
The dark green velvet gown she wore fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves in a seductive manner. He watched her as she ate her meal in silence. He was fascinated by her. She was so delicate and fragile… so unlike the women of his race. The women he had known were warriors. This woman was the total opposite.
Darilth, you’ll have to be gentle with her. I can sense she is sensitive and fragile, not only in physical appearance but also in character, Mekarth said.
“Misa, you may leave us now,” he said as Ella finished her meal.
Misa bowed and took the tray with her as she quietly left the room.
“Thank you,” Ella said. “I feel warmer – much better. The food was delicious.”
“My pleasure, Ella,” he said, as he gazed at her with those intense eyes of his.
She looked away and began fidgeting with her hands as the silence stretched between them. He said he wanted to marry her, but he seemed so harsh and cold. Would he be able to love her? She had wanted to get out of the convent, to taste adventure. She had always hoped to find someone who loved her, but her new situation overwhelmed her. Then, it suddenly hit her. She had taken vows of celibacy. How could she marry him?
“I can’t marry you, Darilth,” she said at last.
“Excuse me?” he said, raising a brow as his intense gaze bore into hers.
“Back on Earth, I was a nun. I-I have taken vows of celibacy. My life was dedicated to serving the Lord and never getting married,” she said as he gazed at her with an amused look in his eye.
“What you were on Earth doesn’t matter anymore. You are on Iovis now and you will follow my rules here,” he said with a finality in his tone.
“But I –” she began, but he silenced her by holding up one hand.
“No more discussion. Come, we must see the King now,” he said as he held out his hand for her.
She got up and hesitantly took his hand. He came closer, gazing at her as her breath hitched. She was beautiful, and he felt the familiar pull in his heart. He wanted to kiss her. How he ached to feel those soft lips on his again.
Yet, his features were calm and cold. Only for a split second did his eyes betray the turmoil within his soul. He tucked a strand of ice-blonde hair behind her ear and took her arm to escort her outside.
Ella stepped into the grand hallway and shivered. The cold was more intense here. The vaulted ceiling was high and arched. One guard stood outside the room. He wore royal armor made out of burnished steel, a dark blue cloak covering his shoulders.
As she walked down the grand, cold halls of the castle toward the throne room, her heart sank. She was in another universe far away from home and she was helpless. This strange alien wanted to marry her no matter what. Why did he want her so badly? Back home nobody wanted to be around her. This man was a warrior and a Prince; he could get any beautiful woman he wanted. But he wanted her as his mate.
She didn’t seem to have much choice in the matter. Would she be a sinner if she married him? She had to admit that he was attractive and that she felt drawn to him, but she didn’t know him at all. Part of her had always longed for a change, for adventure, but the other part said she was a sinner.
What should she do? She had never chosen to take the vows. She was forced into taking them. She could easily let go of them if she wanted to. In her heart, she belie
ved God would forgive her, because she wouldn’t have been here in the first place if it hadn’t been His will.
Chapter Three
The Throne of Rothgar
Ella followed Prince Darilth, trying to keep up with his long strides as they made their way across the long hallway toward the throne room. Her heart raced as they entered the throne room.
The heavy wooden doors opened automatically to reveal a large hall lined with huge stone columns on both sides. Arched windows with glass and wrought iron carvings revealed a white world outside. The planet was mostly covered in ice.
Darilth bowed before the King, his father Lord Rezelith, the Elder of the Drakonaar. Ella stood behind him. The King of Rothgar sat haughtily on a throne that was made of dark stone. His demeanor was harsh and cold, just like the walls that surrounded him. His guards stood in a row on either side. A young man dressed in dark pants and a dark cloak similar to Darilth’s own stood beside the king, a beautiful but drained looking woman at his side.
“Father, I have found the woman destined to be my bride. Let me introduce her to you,” he said formally as he stepped aside. “This is Ella, my true mate.”
He held Ella’s arm and nudged her forward. She bowed hesitantly.
“So, you bring a human to my castle, son. I thought you could do better than that. You disappoint me, as always,” Rezelith said, giving the trembling woman before him a disgusted look. “She’s not like the other humans that I have seen.”
“Yes, Father. She is different. She has a genetic condition that makes her appear different from her own kind,” Darilth said.
“Darilth, you need a woman who can give you an heir. This woman can’t. Look at her, she’s weak and won’t do you any good. I’d rather have her work as a slave here than see her as your bride.”
“But Father, she is my true mate! I know it. The Draco’s Eye responded to her. I can...” Darilth began, trying to persuade his father.
But the King held up his hand to silence his son.
“That’s enough! Keep her as your slave or kill her, whichever pleases you. You are still in exile and will come back only when you have found a suitable woman. I will not see you marry a weak human female,” he said with finality in his tone as he glared down at his son.
