Stolen for the Alien Prince

by Leslie Chase

  Ahead, the opening glimmered, forcefield and air reflecting the light. Through it I saw figures moving. Fighting? My grin stretched into a hungry snarl and I gathered myself, curling up into a tight ball to protect my limbs

  The forcefield tingled as I hit it, barreling through into light and atmosphere and gravity. I was spinning, slightly off-center, and I hit the ground with a crunch that didn't bode well. But I'd made it, and that was what mattered.

  Figures scattered around me as I tuned out the emergency suit's alarms. It had served its purpose now, and I no longer needed it. My tail whipped around me, spearing a Rokja warrior and sending him flying away in a spray of green blood as I got my bearings.

  The good news was that my entrance had stunned the guards. No one had been prepared for someone to try a plan that stupid, and that gave me time to recover. The better news was that Hope and Immorata were still here, still alive, fighting against the Rokja warriors holding them. I should have realized that my mate wouldn't go out without a fight.

  That was all the good news, though. There were a dozen Rokja in the atrium, and I knew that more would be closing on us fast. A human in the ostentatious clothes of an imperial noble stood, powersword drawn and ready, and beside him I recognized Heriam, reaching under her robes for a weapon of her own.

  The odds were long, and I couldn't afford to fail. No more help would be coming for my mate, and if I failed her now then her fate was sealed. Fortunately, I had no intention of failing.

  The emergency suit melted off me as I plunged my claws into the face of the nearest Rokja. He howled in pain and outrage, falling back and clutching at his bloodied head. I left him behind me — the ones fighting Hope were all I cared about.

  "Kill the impostors, you idiots," Rofain shouted, jumping into my path and bracing for a fight. With that powersword in hand he looked like a formidable foe, and I didn't have time to deal with him. Not yet.

  Behind him, the princesses struggled as their guards lifted them towards the airlock. One kicked hard at her captor, almost but not quite breaking free. In seconds they'd be outside, trying to breathe vacuum.

  I would not let that happen.

  Bracing myself, I leaped high, arcing over the surprised Rofain. His sword slashed up late, but not so late that it missed altogether. A line of fiery agony burned across my leg as he cut it, and then I was past, landing in a roll.

  The other guards were rushing in, weapons drawn, but I paid them no mind. Only my targets mattered. The first of the Rokja had no chance to react, and my arm spines caught him in the neck. He dropped like a stone as his blood sprayed around me.

  The second spun, pushing the princess he held into my way and blocking with her body. Her eyes shone as I ducked past and slammed a punch into the guard's chest. Bones crunched under my fist and he dropped his hostage, grabbing a dagger from his belt.

  I didn't have time for him, not with Rofain closing on me from behind. He stabbed, and I blocked with my hand, catching the blade through my palm. The lizard man's eyes opened wide in shock and he tried to pull back. The pain was excruciating but I closed my hand into a fist, hanging onto the dagger and jerking it from his grip.

  He ducked back, trying to recover his balance, but I didn't give him the chance. I rushed him, shoulder down, and struck him square in the chest. The impact lifted him with a hollow crunch, trapping him between my charge and a tree. I felt his ribs give way and dropped him, spinning to face the rest of them.

  Rofain watched, wide-eyed, and I recognized the look on his face. It was the expression of a warrior who was used to having others do the fighting and dying for him. Lord Rofain had, no doubt, studied under the finest swordsmen of the Silent Empire. But until now he'd never needed to use that skill in earnest, had never faced a warrior who intended to kill him.

  However dangerous his skill made him, I was the first enemy that he needed to truly fear. I smiled at him, baring my fangs. He was in luck — I intended to be the last, as well.

  The rest of his guards formed around him, weapons drawn. Fortunately, none carried firearms. Shooting inside a spaceship was asking for a disaster, and no professional would risk it.

  I spared a glance to the side, and my hearts hammered with joy. Both princesses were alive. Struggling with their bonds and terrified, but alive! If nothing else, I'd gotten to see my mate again. Not to keep her intact. The odds were still against me, but I was fighting for the woman I loved and that gave me strength.

  "Guards! Kill him!" Rofain ordered, panic in his voice. The two closest Rokja rushed forward, blades flashing. The rest followed, and I snarled, leaping to meet them.

  Grabbing the hilt of the dagger embedded in my hand, I pulled it free and threw it ahead of me. The blade slammed into the eye of the lead Rokja, killing him instantly. His companion paused for a fraction of a second too long at that, and my spines tore out his throat.

  Then the rest were on me, their blades hacking at me. I couldn't fault their bravery, attacking an enraged Acheran like this, but it wasn't a smart move for them. I ducked, and one sword glanced off my armored hide, another flashed through the space my head had been a moment earlier. One sliced into my tail as I slashed at his legs, but it didn't save him from being tripped.

  Another guard got too close and I slammed my forehead into his, feeling his skull crack. Dazed, he staggered back into his comrades, trapping them for a moment and letting me get a clear shot at him. My spines tore one open and I bounded past.

  The chaos of the melee resolved into snippets of action. A blade flashing at my face, barely missing. The bloody spray as my claws tore open a vein. The howl of rage and pain as my weight pulled another Rokja down. The red haze of war settled over me, and I lost myself in the battle. If I was to die here, I would take a terrible toll on my attackers.

  But I couldn't afford to die. Not when my beloved Hope relied on me. No matter how many of them there were, how many times their blades struck home, I knew I could not fail here. I would not allow myself to. My fists and claws, my teeth and spines, every tool I had at my disposal tore at her enemies.

  Then, finally, there were none left in arms’ reach. The battle-haze receded from my eyes and I looked up, seeing three Rokja soldiers backing away, awe and fear in their eyes. The rest lay around me, some dead, some merely too injured to continue the fight.

  My body ached from a dozen cuts and my lungs burned as I sucked in air. My hearts hammered in my chest. But I still stood, ready to fight. My tail lashed behind me.

  "Get him, you cowards," Rofain shrieked. But his guards muttered and shared a look, and none of them moved forward. I opened my mouth wide and hissed, and they took a step back. Then another.

  I stepped towards them, and that was all that was needed. They threw down their weapons and turned their backs to run, abandoning their employer. He cursed, his blade trembling.

  "Stay back," he said, trying to sound threatening. It didn't work very well. "I am one of the finest swordsmen in the empire. Approach me and die!"

  It would have been more convincing if his voice wasn't shaking as much as his blade. The energy field around the steel glittered and hummed, capable of cutting through any armor. But I wasn't going to be turned aside from my vengeance.

  "One chance," I growled. "Surrender now and I will let the imperial authorities judge you. Or fight and give me the pleasure of avenging your actions against my mate."

  Rofain blinked rapidly, his gaze darting behind me, and I smiled. Imperial law would not be kind to him after this, and it was possible that death at my hands was a better option for him. Rofain certainly seemed to think so, squaring his shoulders and taking his guard. No surrender for him.

  I was glad. The fury that filled my veins at his treatment of Hope demanded action, and while giving him to the empire to deal with would doubtless be the politic move, it wasn't the right one.

  I stepped forward and he lunged to meet me, his sword flashing. He was fast, I'd grant him that — I barely managed to dart as
ide, and before I could move past his blade, he recovered to guard.

  His confidence grew, too. I had no way to defend myself against his blade and Rofain knew that. If he could keep it between him and me, we both knew that he had the advantage.

  Pressing forward, he swung an experimental cut at my arm and I ducked back. A lunge forced me further away, and my counter nearly got my hand chopped off. Light shone in Rofain's eyes and a smile crept onto his face.

  "I will have you yet," he spat. "You've ruined everything, but you'll not walk away from here."

  "I've won, no matter what," I said. My wounds were slowing me, blood dripping onto the lawn under my feet, and I felt myself weakening. It didn't matter. I'd achieved what I came here to do, whether I lived or died. "My mate is safe and so is Princess Immorata. Your plan is in ruins."

  "Safe? I'll kill you and then I'll gut her," he hissed. "I'll kill them both. I can still salvage this."

  He was trying to convince himself more than me, I thought. There would be no hiding this from the imperial family, no wrapping himself safely in the glory of war to deflect blame. But he might still kill them. And that I wouldn't allow.

  Rofain was an excellent swordsman, but he was no warrior. He had no conception of self-sacrifice for victory, and that gave me a final card to play. Weak as my wounds had left me, it would be my only chance.

  The next time he thrust, I grabbed at the blade. There was less pain than I'd expected as the powerfield-covered metal bit into my palm, but I knew I couldn't hold it for long. I didn't have to. My tail lashed out and up, striking Rofain's forearm with bone-crunching force and sending him staggering back with a scream, letting go of the hilt.

  With a roar, I cast the sword aside and grabbed for him. He turned to run and didn't get a step before I was on him, gripping him by the scruff of the neck and lifting. He didn't weigh as much as I'd thought, or perhaps my rage and pain gave me strength.

  Lifting him over my head, I turned. There was only one fate that this man deserved. He spoke, pleaded, saying something. Making offers of wealth and power as I strode towards the edge of the clearing. I paid no attention.

  Lord Rofain had nothing that I wanted, and I had no interest in anything he had to say.

  "For your crimes against my mate, Hope Alexander," I gasped, bracing myself. "For your treason against the Silent Empire, and for your acts of war against the kingdom of Achera, I sentence you to death."

  With that formality out of the way, I threw him with all my might. His scream cut off as he flew through the forcefield and out into the vacuum of space, tumbling towards the planet far below. I had my vengeance, and the empire had its justice.

  My strength ebbed, and everything seemed to spin around me. No matter, I had done what I came here to. My vision blurred and faded, darkness rose around me, but I didn't care. As long as I'd saved my mate, my own fate didn't matter, but there were still things I needed to do before I could rest.

  21

  Hope

  Xendar looked ready to collapse as he turned back from the void. Outside, I saw Rofain tumble endlessly out into space and shuddered. I knew what a horrible fate that was — but that didn't mean I had any sympathy for him. If anyone deserved that death, it was him.

  My concern was for my mate. Xendar was covered in cuts, bloody and battered from his amazing fight. I almost couldn't believe he'd won, but here we were. Alone in the ship's atrium, all enemies fled.

  Almost alone, anyway. Beside me stood Immorata, her eyes as wide as mine as we looked at our savior. I had a momentary flash of insecurity. Given the choice of me or the princess, would Xendar really choose me? Or had he come here to save the mate the empress had promised him, to fulfill his mission?

  I tried to put my fears behind me, to tell myself it didn't matter. He'd saved my life, wasn't that enough? And their marriage would prevent a war. That had to be worth some sacrifice on my part.

  But I didn't want to give him up. Not even for such a good cause. My heart ached for him.

  I took a step towards Xendar, and Immorata stepped forward at the same time. Would he even know which of us was which? We were dressed identically, we looked alike enough to fool anyone. My own mother would have had difficulty telling us apart.

  Xendar didn't hesitate. Striding over to me, he snapped the cuffs from my wrists as though they were nothing. Pulling the damned gag off me he swept me up into a massive hug. His powerful muscles held me tight, safe, secure, and all my doubts fled. I couldn't be unhappy or pessimistic, not in the arms of my love.

  "Hope," he half-whispered, half-growled into my ear as he set me back down. "Hope, I thought I would never see you again."

  "I'm sorry I stunned you," I whimpered back, clinging to him and promising myself I'd never let go. "I didn't know what else to do."

  "Don't worry about that," he said, and a wicked grin spread across his face. "I just didn't realize how kinky you were. I'll be ready next time."

  Blood rushed to my face and I gasped wordlessly. Xendar's laugh vibrated through me as I hit him in the shoulder hard as I could. All it achieved was making my hand sting and him laugh harder.

  "You — you ass," I stammered, outrage warring with laughter in me. Laughter won, a release of tension that I needed so badly. His hand ran through my hair and I shivered at the simple joy of that touch.

  "MMhmmph." The disapproving noise reminded me that we had an audience. Still gagged, Immorata watched us with narrowed eyes. If her handcuffs hadn't prevented her I was sure she'd have her hands on her hips too.

  Reluctantly reminded that there was a universe outside of our embrace, Xendar and I parted and went to the princess's aid. I undid her gag while Xendar snapped off her handcuffs apologetically.

  "About time," she said, though I caught the faint hint of a smile on her lips. "I'm glad that the two of you are enjoying your reunion, but we do have other business to deal with still."

  And Your Highness isn't used to waiting for anyone, I restrained myself from adding. No point in antagonizing her now.

  "Apologies," Xendar said. "And I am sorry if this is awkward—"

  "What do you mean?" Immorata shot back over her shoulder as she strode to the dais on which Heriam and Rofain had stood. "Finding that my promised husband is in love with my double? How could that be awkward?"

  For a moment she kept her face straight, but even she couldn't hold her composure and laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. We've never even met, you've saved my life from a conspiracy, and the two of you are obviously in love. You have my blessing, if you think you need it."

  I felt Xendar relax slightly at that, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Of course we didn't need her approval, but she was still powerful enough to make things difficult for us if she tried.

  "What now?" I asked, taking Xendar's hand and squeezing it.

  "We still have to stop Heriam," Immorata said, icy anger entering her eyes at the mention of her tutor. "I won't let her get away with this."

  "Don't worry about her," Xendar laughed. "I've already taken steps to stop her."

  Immorata raised an eyebrow, finally finding what she was looking for. The scanner Heriam had used to show that I wasn't a true Imperial Princess. She pressed her hand to it and lights flowed around her arm, quickly turning green.

  "Shadow, show me Proctor Heriam," she said in a loud, commanding tone. A shimmering screen appeared before us instantly.

  The fleeing woman was already on the flight deck, walking briskly towards the Nest Four. Beside her marched another woman carrying a rifle, and both wore expressions that warned people not to mess with her.

  "She's going to get away," I gasped. Immorata snarled something, but Xendar chuckled and held up a hand.

  "She knows you can stop any imperial ship," he said. "So of course she has to steal mine. Don't think I didn't prepare for that."

  The door of the Nest slid open as the two proctors stepped up to it and Heriam's companion warily raised her weapon.

>   It was too slow. Out of the darkness of the stolen verkesh ship two lizardhounds leaped, one striking each of the women and bearing them to the floor. Their angry growls were enough to convince Heriam not to struggle, and her companion dropped her gun instantly. I grinned at the sight, resisting the urge to punch the air in triumph.

  "Your Highness," Xendar said with a flourish as Yennifer left the Nest Four to take charge of her prisoners, "I give you the conspiracy against you. Now, may I have your royal leave to collapse?"

  His weight hit me hard as he staggered, blood loss finally taking its toll.

  The aftermath of the attempted coup happened fast, and I missed almost all of it. While Princess Immorata took charge of her ship again I was at Xendar's side watching over him. After all he'd been through to rescue me, I was terrified that he wouldn't survive long enough for me to thank him properly.

  Part of me was also terrified of him waking up. He'd joked about the last time we'd been alone together, but that was in the middle of a crisis and while he was suffering from blood loss. Would he be so understanding now? I'd attacked him at his most vulnerable.

  The doctors aboard the Shadow of a Forgotten Love could reassure me on the first part but not the second. According to the white-clad robots that examined him, Xendar would make a full recovery with a little rest. They'd replaced his lost blood and closed the wounds with a spray that worked like magic, and now he lay on a bed in one of the strange guest chambers. I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to the inside-out sensation the Shadow gave me, with trees and grass in the rooms, but I had to admit it was more comfortable than it sounded. In a spaceship there was no need to worry about unwanted rain or wind, and the temperature was pleasantly warm. I could get used to this.

  I'm just distracting myself, I thought, sitting on the bed and holding Xendar's hand. He breathed deeply, slowly, and when I lowered my head to his chest, I felt his twin hearts beating. But I couldn't quite believe that he was safe.