by Celeste Raye
“Where are you taking us?” she asked him as they dragged him back to where he could command the ship, telling the current commander to step aside. He was young and afraid. He did what they said.
“I am taking those women to the Arkani,” he breathed, slumping down in the chair to put in the coordinates. The ship could be felt jerking around and going back the way it came. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late.
Chapter 24
Nabvan could feel himself trying to hold on as the ship sped towards Milisaria. The Arkani had to have made it at least that far already. If not, he wasn’t sure he would make it all the way there. He didn’t want to say it out loud because he knew that Alexis would lose it while she was trying to dress his wounds to the best of her ability and stop his bleeding. He had to make sure she had a will to keep going because she would never forgive herself if these women never made it to the Arkani now.
Siefer had come into the room to help steer the ship where Nabvan could not. He was so grateful for his friend who was risking it all with the fact that his wife and child were back on Milisaria. Would he be allowed to get back to them after aiding in the betrayal of the guards and the king? There was a chance he would not.
“We are getting close to Milisaria,” he announced, looking back at Alexis who was clinging to his shoulder like she was unable to let go. And maybe that was the case.
It was just the three of them. The rest of the women had gone to guard the guards in the cells and make sure they could not escape. The plan was to release them out into space on the small getaway ship that was always onboard for emergencies. They would float away, unable to tell the whole truth of what happened to the king. Nabvan hated they would have to suffer in such a way, but the king was dead, lying on the floor in a pool of his own blood still. That would not bode well if, by some miracle, they did ever make it back to Milisaria safely. That was a slim possibility at this point, though.
“What do we do if the Arkani have not come?” Alexis asked, speaking for the first time since she had started caring for him. She had been deathly silent, probably for fear of breaking his concentration. It was nice to hear her voice, but she wouldn’t like his answer.
“We crash the ship on the Arkani planet to get their attention,” Nabvan answered flatly, as if it were the simplest answer imaginable. He looked back at the woman he loved to see her lips pursed so tight they had turned pale. But she didn’t say what she was thinking. She didn’t have to. He knew they would lose people in the process, possibly himself. He was already injured. That kind of jarring could easily mean his demise. But he would do what he had to do. At least on the Arkani planet, if he had to leave this world, Alexis would be safe. No man would force anything on her, and she could practice science to her heart’s content. She would be alright.
The time went on in silence, no one daring to speak as they kept their eyes open for an Arkani ship, but there was nothing. Nabvan knew just what he needed to do, and he needed to do it quickly. He put the ship into its highest gear, flying way too fast for a lot of control. It would only aid in the crash he wanted to make, but it would be a semi-controlled one. He wasn’t looking to kill everyone on board, just make an entrance the Arkani could not ignore. Siefer would have to find another way back to his wife. Maybe the Arkani would be kind and let him have one of their ships, or they might be able to fix this one. He couldn’t think about that right now.
Nabvan stood up, getting ready to steer the ship as needed, right down onto the planet. Alexis came to his side and whispered in his ear. “I love you more than anything. Please, be careful.” He was damn well going to try to, but he couldn’t make promises to her he wouldn’t be able to keep for sure. He wasn’t that kind of man.
“I love you too,” he told her, coming in close to orbit. The Arkani planet was darker than even Milisaria most of the time. They had a sun, but its orbit meant that it took several Earth days to see the light again. And there was only one moon as well. It was why the Arkani were not an attractive race. They always looked thin and sallow. These women would not have the pleasure of great lovers or good-looking men, but the Arkani were intelligent and kind. That was what they needed most after what they had been through.
Everyone found something to hang onto as he brought the ship down, much too fast for anyone’s liking. He felt the bottom drop out of his stomach as they approached the dry soil that covered the surface of the planet. They were going to hit hard enough to make a ruckus. He hoped they were somewhere heavily populated. He had tried to get as close to the capital as possible, but he had never been, only seen maps.
Then, the ship struck with a horrible sound of ripping metal. They all fell, and he felt his head hit on something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew he had taken it too far. He reached out for Alexis with his hand, but he felt no one grasp it. The best thing he could do before he passed out and possibly die was to make it off of the ship and to an Arkani citizens to let them know who they were and why they were there. They needed to claim asylum just in case the Arkani saw the Milisarian ship as a threat.
Nabvan crawled his way out of the hatch, onto the dry red soil where the Arkani had already gathered to see what was going on. They backed up at the sight of the injured Milisarian as he begged for them to listen. “On board are some of the human women who were supposed to come to you. They were captured by the Milisarians. I have brought them back. We claim asylum. Please, help us. I do not know how many are injured.” Nabvan tried to stand for a moment before falling at their feet, no longer able to help himself. Just before he passed out, he saw Alexis coming off the ship, looking like she was alright.
“I love you,” he tried to croak out, but he didn’t know if she heard or not. The blackness soon consumed him.
Chapter 25
Alexis reached for Nabvan’s hand and felt it entwine with hers. She looked over at him and felt emotional; tears threatened to come streaming down her face. It was so nice to see him well and walking around again. The way he looked when the ship had crashed had broken her heart all over again. She had been so sure he was going to die. If they had still been on Milisaria or headed to Earth, he would have died. But the Arkani had been so kind to them. They had begun healing anyone injured immediately, waiting for a full explanation later.
Alexis had been able to sit down with some of the leading council to go over with them what had happened to them after being captured by the Milisarian knights. They were sorry for what had happened and had gotten her communication, but they did not think they could do anything with a Milisarian ship. They thought it would be best to let the women go back to Earth.
They were so happy now to have the women with them and had begun to court some of them, the right way. Alexis had gotten to pore over all the research that had been done about the disease killing off the women while Nabvan was on the mend. She had helped them find a link in the genetics of the bacteria that latched onto a DNA strain in the women that the men did not have. It was great work, and it had taken her mind off of all of the things that had happened to her since leaving Earth.
But Siefer had been sad. He had ended up with two broken arms, but that was it. He was ready to go home and see Destiney. It had been almost two weeks since they landed there on the Arkani planet, and he knew those on the planet would be worried about what was to happen next without a king or an heir. He did not know what that would mean for his beautiful wife or the child that might be born at that very moment.
The Arkani had offered to repair the ship, but it was taking time. Nabvan, Siefer, and Alexis were on their way to check on the progress of the repairs. They hoped it was done today, though Alexis was still unsure what would happen to her and Nabvan. Their love had grown and been solidified. There was no one else between them anymore. But there was still something else that could rip them apart: where they wanted to live. She had made a place for herself on the Arkani planet, at least that was how she felt, but she didn’t think Nabvan felt at home. They could easily g
o back to Earth, but she didn’t know that he wanted that either. So, where would they go? Alexis was hoping for the answer soon.
As they approached the ship they had crashed onto the planet less than two weeks ago, Alexis could see that it looked brand new. If it wasn’t finished, it would be soon. “Ah, welcome my friends,” the Arkani councilor said as he came to embrace them. It had been strange to touch them at first. Their skin was slightly slimy. But they were so warm and kind it didn’t matter anymore. “I am so happy to tell you that the ship will be finished tomorrow. Siefer, you can go home to your wife.”
Alexis looked over to see the broad smile on Siefer’s face. Destiney had really landed a good one, and she hoped they would have a happy reunion. It made her miss Destiney a little, thinking about her on the planet, wondering where her husband was and having a baby.
“Alexis, may I talk with you for a moment?” Alexis was caught off guard by the question as she was pulled away from the two men. She looked to Nabvan, but he urged her on. She took him with her, though, not wanting to do anything without him. Life was too short for that, and she had nothing to hide.
“What is it?” she asked the council leader with curiosity.
“I realize that you have been through much and that this may not feel like your home anymore, but you have done great things for us in your short time here,” he told her with a warm smile on his face. Alexis felt proud that he said that. She had never been so appreciated for what her mind could do. It was nice to hear for a change, especially coming from a man. “We wanted to extend an offer to you, that you remain here and become head of research in our lab here in the capital. You could do even more great things for us.” Alexis tried not to gasp at the offer. It was exactly something she had dreamed of, but as she looked at Nabvan, she saw a tinge of sadness there.
“May I have a moment with Nabvan first?” she asked. The council leader bowed his head graciously and went back to check on the work of the ship. She turned to Nabvan and asked him point blank. “What are you thinking? What do you want to do?” She braced herself for the answer. She knew one of them would have to sacrifice if they wanted to be together. Long distance relationships on one planet were hard enough. There was no way to keep that going on two separate planets, no matter how much she loved him.
“The truth is, I am worried about my people,” he admitted, looking sheepish. “I don’t know what kind of a welcoming I or you would get after the death of the king, but they will need help finding a new one and stabilizing. Maybe I can help with that. I don’t think King Shene was that popular among villagers. Maybe I could make a change. But if you want to stay…”
Alexis reached her finger up to stop his mouth. She didn’t need to hear any more. She understood just what he meant. “I love you,” she told him simply. “And I will come with you, whatever that means. I can bring science to the Milisarians, just like they wanted.” Alexis smiled, and he lifted her up, spinning her round in a sweet embrace but quickly put her down as she began feeling dizzy and sick. In fact, a strange pain shot through her stomach.
“That was strange,” she said, holding the spot that had hurt on her abdomen. She hung onto Nabvan for help.
“This is the first time you have felt funny since being here. Maybe it’s the planet,” Nabvan offered. “Let’s get you to the doctor.”
Nabvan helped her into the doctor’s office inside the capital. All the technology was still mind-blowing to her as they laid her down and scanned her body with something like an MRI, except there was no need to go inside a machine or use harmful tech.
“Sweetheart,” the doctor said, one of the only females left on the planet. She had a mutation, which allowed her to escape the disease. It had been one of the ways she had been able to get the Arkani their answers. “I can already tell you why you feel funny. You are having a baby!” The woman clapped her hands together excitedly, and she looked to Nabvan, seeing that he was about ready to cry happy tears. Were they really going to get to have a family together?
Nabvan leaned down to her ear, kissing it sweetly before whispering, “I knew you were my mate. We will be together always, now.”
Bonus Book- Siefer
Warriors of Milisaria
Copyright ©2017 by Celeste Raye - All rights reserved.
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Chapter: 1
***Siefer***
Siefer stared at the human woman, Alexis, as she watched the stars and planets pass by the windows of the spaceship's command center. Everyone's life had changed because of this one woman. No, it was wrong to blame her. It was actually King Shene's doing, and he had paid the ultimate price for his arrogance.
As the planet Arkani passed from view, Siefer relived the past months. He remembered King Shene's command to intercept the ship of human women headed to Arkani as brides. He had wanted the Milisarian warriors to breed with the women and bring forth a race with human intelligence and Milisarian strength. The king had not counted on the women's stubbornness.
Siefer smiled as he thought of the first time he had laid eyes on Destiney, the human that was now his wife. He had been mesmerized by her amber eyes, curly brown hair, and curvaceous body. It was love at first sight. Now there was a baby on the way. Not all the changes were bad.
King Shene had chosen Alexis for himself, though he had many concubines already. The Milisarian warriors found that to be dishonorable, for Milisarians were meant to have one mate for life. The king further caused dissension by mistreating the women who refused to mate, even having Alexis beaten and locked away. Instead of giving the rebellious women to the Arkani, who had sent for them in the first place, the king was going to dump them back on Earth. Many would be going back to life in prison or poverty. Alexis refused to allow it. She had fallen in love with the king's ship commander, Nabvan, and wished to stay with him.
Aboard the spaceship, bound for Earth, the women were still locked up and mistreated, though the king had promised to show them kindness. Upon discovering his future wife, Alexis, in bed with her true love, King Shene ordered Nabvan's torture and death. Alexis and the women started a mutiny and with the help of Nabvan and Siefer took over the ship. Nabvan was badly injured, yet still managed to overcome and kill King Shene.
Nabvan took the women to Arkani where they were welcomed by the kind race and given husbands. The Arkani also healed Nabvan and repaired the spaceship. In turn, Alexis, with her scientific knowledge, found the cause for the deaths of the Arkani women.
Siefer returned his mind to the present upon seeing the four moons of Milisaria. He was almost home. Destiney was waiting for him, possibly beside an execution squad. Siefer wasn't sure how the Milisarians would view the death of their king at the hands of his own warrior.
In a very short time, the green seas and rolling hills of his home world appeared in the window. The ship touched down amidst the clouds. It was time to discover their fate. Siefer turned to Nabvan and asked, "Are you prepared for this? We may be tortured and killed, or we may be heralded as heroes. Either way, our lives have changed drastically. Our world will be changing as well. We have no king to lead us now."
Nabvan stepped forward and put his large translucent hand on Siefer's shoulder. He said, "I am ready, my friend. I thank you once again for standing with me in this endeavor. I will do whatever I can to keep you from punishment. I killed the king. It was not your doing. You were only protecting innocent women."
Siefer laughed, "You know that is not the truth. The women and I fought along side you. We must face this as one, undivided in our loyalty. It may be the only way to save ourselves. Let us disembark. I am a
nxious to see Destiney, if it is allowed."
Siefer, Nabvan, and Alexis stepped off the ship. A contingent of warriors greeted their arrival. The tall, muscular men with long dark hair and tribal markings on their pale skin were all familiar faces. They stood at attention, expecting to greet their king and escort him to his chambers. Their faces changed to confusion when only the trio exited from the ship. The largest warrior came forward and demanded, “Where is King Shene? He must be honored first. I cannot allow you to pass until he has disembarked."
Siefer watched the warriors' response closely when Nabvan announced, "There is no one else aboard the ship. Let us pass. We will speak to the council at a later time."
The warrior blocked their path and stated, "I take orders from the king, not you."
Nabvan's eyes darkened as his anger rose. “When the king is not present, I give the commands. You are well aware of that. Move out of the way or prepare to fight."
The warrior moved out of the way, but growled, "Where is the king?"
Siefer replied, “We will answer to the council. We do not need to answer to you." He pushed the warrior aside and went in search of his wife. His long strides quickly took him through the common areas and into the long hallway that led to the living quarters of the warriors. To his relief, no one stopped him to ask questions. He slapped his palm against the electronic lock to his personal quarters, and the door slid open. He gasped upon seeing Destiney sitting in a chair, cradling a baby at her breast. His huge, powerful hands began to shake as he numbly crossed the room. He looked from the baby to Destiney and caught sight of her reassuring smile.
