Intergalactic Loyalties

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  Her breath hitched in her throat. “They won’t harm me. Please, save yourself.”

  He turned slightly to face her and it was all the distraction the Tarnans needed. They rushed him, tackling him to the hard metal floor. Lucie was knocked out of the way, her breath leaving her as her body slammed into the unforgiving wall. The back of her head cracked against the metal and she saw stars, felt her body list to the side, and then she was on her hands and knees.

  She heard her warrior cry out for her a moment before the blackness overtook her.

  Chapter Two

  Dryxel felt his heart contract when saw Lucie hit the wall. There was a startled look on her face, right before she fell to the ground. He felt a roar building in his throat as he reached for her. When she slumped onto her side, her eyes closed, he completely lost it, bucking against the Tarnans, trying to free himself to go to her aid. He’d claimed her in front of witnesses. She was his! His to protect, and the Tarnans were keeping him from her side.

  He twisted in their grasp, kicking out and catching one of them in the thigh. The Tarnan wrestled him to the ground, flat on his stomach, and shoved his face into the floor. Rage poured through him, followed closely by fear for his woman. What would become of her? Would the Tarnans take care of her? What if she was seriously injured? He struggled, but they clapped wrist irons on him.

  The one who seemed to be the leader of the small group hauled him up and began propelling him down the hall. He fought them the whole way, knowing that if they succeeded in taking him to the holding cells he might never see Lucie again. The moment he’d seen her, he’d been spellbound. He’d never seen a more gorgeous creature in his life, and while she’d trembled she hadn’t run from him. He knew now she hadn’t run because of her blindness, but she’d let him hold her, kiss her.

  They entered the darkness of the holding area. A quick scan showed he was their only prisoner at the moment. His heart was heavy with the loss of his brethren, but they had died trying to protect their planet from extinction. He knew they would gladly give their lives again, even if it meant he only managed to escape with Lucie.

  He’d sent out a signal to the other Tourmalane ships nearby, letting them know where he was and what he was doing. He knew if he didn’t check in that it would only be a matter of time before someone came to rescue him. If the Tarnans expected his men were coming, there would be a bloodbath, and he wasn’t sure who would win. The Tarnans seemed intent on keeping their women, and he couldn’t blame them.

  They shoved him into a cell and the door clanged shut, the lock grating as it turned. It wasn’t a new cell, for which he should be thankful. If he had the use of his hands, it would be easy enough to pick the lock and escape. No one used key locks anymore, but it seemed this was an older ship and hadn’t been updated. His hands flexed, the metal of the cuffs biting into his skin. They weren’t made for a male his size.

  “If you’re on your best behavior, we’ll release you at the next space station,” he was told by the one with long hair. “I’m sure someone there will return you to your father.”

  Dryxel was thirty-seven and hardly needed his father, but he knew his sire would be furious when he heard about Dryxel’s capture. If the Tarnans thought they could capture the Tourmalane prince without any repercussions, they were sadly mistaken. They’d as good as declared war, even if he had been the one to enter their ship uninvited.

  He paced his six by six cell, wondering if Lucie was all right. His gut clenched as he thought of her lying there, unconscious. His father had told him he’d know his destined mate when he met her, but he hadn’t believed him. Then he’d seen Lucie. If her beauty hadn’t been enough to draw him in, the taste of her certainly would. She’d tasted like the nectar from the passion flowers on his planet, a delicacy few could afford.

  His hands clenched again as he studied his cell. There was a cot along one wall that looked most uncomfortable. A waste receptacle was in the corner and he cringed at the thought of being exposed while he relieved himself. It was degrading to say the least. While he knew his men would come to his rescue, it might be a while. He could sit in this cell for at least a day, maybe more. He wondered if they would free his hands at some point, preferably before he pissed his pants.

  Dryxel didn’t know how long he paced, but his stomach began cramping from hunger. He knew at least one meal cycle had to have passed, perhaps even two. His thoughts were chaotic in his worry for his mate. He may not have sealed the claim yet, but that didn’t make Lucie any less his princess.

  He remembered her words in the hall. She’d been fearful that she was inadequate for him because of her vision. What she didn’t realize was that as his mate, she would have all the help she needed. Probably more than she wanted. Had his mother still been alive, she would have loved Lucie, of that he was certain. His father was bound to adore her. If he could just get off this damn ship!

  The door across the room opened and a Tarnan stepped through. Dryxel faced him, wondering if they’d come to execute him. Surely they would have sent more than one? How insulting!

  “Lucie has asked that you be freed,” the Tarnan said.

  “She’s all right?”

  The Tarnan nodded. “She was unconscious for half a cycle. Other than a knot on her head, she’s fine.”

  “I won’t leave without her. I claimed her in front of your brethren. She’s mine.”

  The Tarnan frowned. “Lucie doesn’t understand. As far as she’s concerned, you merely wanted to capture her as a slave. Your claim means nothing on our world. As soon as we reach home, she’ll able to choose a protector. Several on this ship would be happy to take her as their own.”

  Dryxel growled. “No one is taking my mate from me!”

  “The bond isn’t complete.”

  It didn’t matter to Dryxel. She was his and he would take her with him, or die trying. No way was he leaving this ship without her by his side. If he allowed the Tarnans to escape with her, he might never see her again.

  “We’re approaching space station Alpha 9. You’ll be released there after we’ve gathered supplies. The cuffs are to stay in place until our vessel has lifted from the station’s docking area. Someone on Alpha 9 will release you then and return you to your people.”

  “I want to see Lucie.”

  The Tarnan shook his head. “That won’t be possible. She’s being detained in her room until you’ve been freed from the ship.”

  Dryxel’s lips tilted at the corner. “She wants to be with me. She prefers my company to yours. Is that what you’re trying to say? You’ve had to confine my mate to keep her from my side?”

  The Tarnan looked uncomfortable. “She’ll forget you soon enough. Ghel believes she was close to choosing him as her protector before you arrived.”

  “Why do you want her?”

  “What do you mean?” The Tarnan’s brow furrowed in confusion.

  “You’ve called her ill, as if you think she’s defective. If you have such a low opinion of my mate, why do you want her? Are you so desperate for women that any female will do? Even an unwilling one you feel is less than she is?”

  “Women are coveted on our planet, you know this. Any woman will be treated with the utmost respect. Whatever warrior selects her will cherish her. She will be well taken care of, that I can promise you.”

  “I want to see Lucie,” he growled.

  “No. We’ll be docking shortly. Be prepared to leave soon after.”

  The Tarnan turned and left, the door closing behind him. Dryxel ground his teeth together, wishing he had the strength to break the cuffs and escape this prison. If they thought he was going to head home, tail tucked between his legs, and just forget about the woman he’d claimed as his own, they were sadly mistaken. Even if he wanted to, he could never forget Lucie. Her fragile beauty called to him, but her remarks showed she had some spirit. If he searched all of the galaxies for the rest of his days, he would never find her equal.

  A tremor shook the floor a
nd he knew they’d docked at Alpha 9. If he was going to come up with a plan to see Lucie again, now was the time. Unfortunately, with his hands confined the way they were, there was little he could do. He knew the Tarnans were heading home. Once one of the Tourmalane ships arrived to retrieve him, he could go after them. He knew they wouldn’t give up Lucie without a fight, but he was willing to go into battle for her. If ever there was a good reason to die, going after his mate would be it. Once his brethren discovered he’d mated, they would gladly aid him in his quest.

  Time ticked by and he grew impatient. The door opened once more and he growled, wishing he could wrap his fingers around the dirty Tarnan’s neck. Except… it wasn’t a Tarnan.

  “Lucie?”

  “I don’t have much time,” she said. “They’ll be coming for you.”

  “What are you doing here, sweet? You shouldn’t have left your quarters. I was going to come for you.”

  She arched a delicate brow. “From what I hear, you’re trussed up like a turkey.”

  He frowned. “I don’t understand that analogy.”

  “It means you’re bound with no way to escape.”

  He grunted.

  She put her hands in front of her as she inched her way across the room. When she reached the bars, there was a slight clanging noise and it drew his attention to her slender fingers. There, in her grasp, was the key to his cell.

  “How did you get that key?”

  She shrugged. “One of the women on board doesn’t like me much. She thought if I helped you escape, you’d take me with you.”

  “And she procured the key, how?”

  “I didn’t ask. Didn’t care. All that mattered was freeing you. There’s just one problem. I’m not sure how to remove the cuffs.”

  “There’s a sequence that must be entered on them for the catch to release. Only the Tarnan who put them on me will know how to free me. I’m assuming he plans to tell Alpha 9 how to remove the cuffs once this ship takes off again.”

  “Alpha 9? Is that where we are?”

  “It’s a space station not far from Keshpa. You’ve only been traveling three of your Earth days, maybe four. I lost track of time down here. You still have several days before you’ll reach Tarnan.”

  The key twisted in the lock and the door creaked open. He moved toward her, slowly so as not to frighten her. When he stood before her, he ached to take her in his arms. She was so brave, coming after him like this. He also knew it was only a matter of time before they were discovered. How could he get her off the ship with his hands cuffed though?

  His mate wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tight. His heart softened even more toward the female. It had been a long time since he’d felt a woman embrace him. Not since his mother. Lucie was the first female he’d touched in twenty years. That wasn’t to say he was inexperienced when it came to pleasing a woman, at least he hoped he wasn’t. Whenever he’d felt the urge to fuck, he’d gone to one of the floating brothels. Even still, he’d never allowed a female to touch him, instead preferring to use the sex bots. It had seemed wrong to touch a woman who wasn’t his mate. Now that he had Lucie, he was glad he’d used the bots instead.

  “Let’s get you out of here,” she said. “I’ll have to let you lead since I can’t see where I’m going.”

  He bent forward and claimed her lips in a sweet kiss before sweeping past her. She opened the door and he edged into the corridor. All was clear so he moved forward, walking as softly as he could, but his boots were still noisy against the metal floor. He froze when he heard Tarnans ahead, pressing as close to the wall as he could. He felt Lucie’s small hand on his arm and looked down to see her shadowing him. That she trusted him to get them off the ship safely, even confined as he was, made his chest expand with pride. He only hoped her trust wasn’t misplaced.

  He eased forward again, remembering the way to the ship’s doors. Even better, he’d seen a transport chamber on his way to the holding cells. The Tarnans hadn’t checked him thoroughly and his transport chip was still embedded in his ear, giving him access to any Tourmalane ship within reach. He only hoped his brethren were close enough for it to work. He wasn’t sure they could slide past the Tarnans and onto Alpha 9 without incident.

  They approached the transport chamber, and he slipped inside. When Lucie stepped in behind him, he commanded the door to close and lock. She looked confused and he wanted to ease her uncertainty.

  “This is a transport chamber. I have a device in my ear that will allow me to move us from this ship to one of my brethren’s ships. At least, in theory. They have to be close enough for it to work. I’m counting on them having followed the Tarnans in order to free me.”

  “What do I need to do?” she asked.

  “Wrap your arms around me, Lucie.” Really, a touch would do, but he wanted to feel her embrace again.

  She did as he asked.

  “Reach up and press my left ear. It will activate the chip. Then I’ll give the command. It might feel a little strange, but just hold tight to me. It will only last a short while and then we’ll be safe.”

  She reached up and pressed his ear. In a clear voice, he gave the command that would transport them to safety. Their image wavered and he felt prickles rush over his skin right before the Tarnan ship blinked out of existence. When his vision cleared, he was safely on board the Syntron.

  He saw two Tourmalane warriors rushing his way, skidding to a stop just outside the transport chamber. When the doors opened, they stared at him in stunned fascination and a bit of relief.

  “Your Highness, we were on our way to retrieve you,” Napir said.

  He felt Lucie stiffen against him. “Highness?” she asked.

  Napir looked at Lucie, a question in his eyes.

  “Napir. Rylo. This is Lucie. My mate.” Their eyes widened. “She rescued me from the Tarnans.”

  Lucie blushed a becoming shade of pink. “I didn’t do much.”

  “You unlocked my cell and set me free, sweet. Without you, I would still be on board the Lynten 12, waiting to be escorted to Alpha 9.”

  “She is certainly worthy of our prince,” Rylo said, bowing low.

  “Can you unlock his cuffs?” Lucie asked.

  “We can cut them off,” Napir answered.

  He felt Lucie’s indrawn breath. “Isn’t that dangerous? What if you cut off his hand?”

  Napir chuckled. “We’re known for our precision with weapons, princess. Never fear. Prince Dryxel will be in one piece when we’re done.”

  She looked at him. “Princess?”

  “I claimed you in front of the Tarnans, Lucie. You’re mine.”

  “Yours, yes. That I understood. But I thought you meant to keep me as a slave.”

  Rylo looked more than a little shocked and a bit offended. “A Tourmalane would never keep a woman as a slave.”

  “Princess?” she asked Dryxel.

  “Yes, my sweet. You’re my princess.”

  She seemed to mull it over for a moment. “We’ll talk about it more later.”

  He smiled, knowing she was going to give him an earful for keeping his identity secret from her. Stepping out of the transport chamber, he paused to kiss the top of her head and breathe her in.

  “Go with Rylo. I’m sure he’ll be happy to give you a tour and introduce you to the crew. I’ll come find you once I’m free and have bathed and changed. I stink of that Tarnan holding cell.”

  She worried at her lower lip. “Are they going to come after us?”

  He nodded, then realized she couldn’t see him. “Yes, I’m sure they will. It won’t take them long to figure out where we went.” He turned his attention to Rylo. “When you reach the captain, tell him to get us the hell out of here. We need to get as far from the Lynten 12 as possible, as fast as possible.”

  Lucie placed her hand on his arm. “If they come for me, I don’t want you fighting over me. Send me back with them if it will save you and your crew.”

  “Never. I w
on’t allow them to take you from me again, Lucie. This time they’ll be faced with a fair fight. I was cocky before, thinking I could take their ship with so few men. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “Are you going after them then? For the other women?” she asked softly.

  “I have what I want from them. All I want to do now is get you to the safety of Tourmalane.”

  Napir placed his hand on Dryxel’s arm. “Come, Your Highness. Let’s free you so you may see the rest of the men. They will be happy that you’re safe and have returned to us.”

  He grinned. “Afraid of what my father would do if you should return to Tourmalane without me?”

  Napir chuckled. “Something like that.”

  He watched Rylo escort Lucie away from the transport chamber and toward the front of the ship. Napir was watching him, a thoughtful look on his face and Dryxel scowled.

  “What?”

  Napir shrugged. “You seem very taken with the princess.”

  “She’s special.”

  “She would have to be to garner your attention. Countless women have wanted you over the years and you never gave them a passing glance. This one you meet and mate immediately.”

  “And you wonder if I’ve made a wise choice.”

  Napir shook his head. “No one knows your heart better than you do, Highness. We all know the only way for us to produce children is if we’re with our true mate. You wouldn’t have bound yourself to her if she wasn’t yours.”

  “I should have told Rylo…”

  “What, Highness?”

  “Lucie is nearly blind. I want to have our healer examine her when we return home, see if there’s something more that can be done for her. She seems sad. I want her to smile always.”

  They entered the weapons hold and Napir took down a small laser knife. It was a special weapon, made only by Tourmalanes, called a glyk. The laser blade would pulse when placed on the proper setting, ideal for breaking out of cuffs. He turned his back, presenting Napir with his wrists. The heat of the laser seared him, but the discomfort was worth freedom. He felt the cuffs give and then they clanked to the floor.