by Sue Mercury
“The president told Americans about Reestria and that’s how people are reacting?” She surveyed the room quickly and determined this must be the bridge of the ship. She spotted several more Reestrians seated with their fingers flying over buttons and various glowing screens. Then Earth began to grow smaller in the window. “What’s happening? We’re leaving now?”
One of the Reestrians said something, and Alex gave him an amused look before replying.
“What are you saying? Don’t you know it’s rude to talk a different language in front of someone who speaks another?” She glared between Alex and the other Reestrian, her annoyance flaring. She wiggled in Alex’s hold until he released her from his arms, sitting her down on her own two feet.
“He just told me he didn’t have time to wait for me to drive my archaic travel device—the truck I drove up the mountain in—back to Area 51 where the Reestrian ships are located. All Reestrians are being pulled from Earth.”
“All Reestrians? Why don’t I see anyone else then?” she asked, not buying his story.
“The other Reestrians were beamed to a different part of the ship.”
“Why were we beamed to the bridge?”
He scanned her face and looked like he was guarding a secret. “I told you my family, the clan I belong to, is very powerful and wealthy.”
“Yes, so what? Does that mean you get special treatment?”
“You could say that. The Emperor of Reestria is my great uncle. I’m a prince, Kira. Of course I’m so far down in line that I’ll never have a shot at becoming the Emperor, but I’m still considered a member of the royal family. I’m sorry we had to leave Earth so suddenly, and I promise we’ll still have a human wedding ceremony.”
A prince. She was standing next to an alien prince. Who just happened to be her long lost stepbrother. On the bridge of an alien spaceship. In her purple kitten pajamas. Could her day get any weirder?
She tore her gaze from Alex and looked at Earth, and in the next moment the planet disappeared and space rippled around them. As she witnessed this strange sight all her questions about his royal lineage faded. “Are we in a wormhole or something?”
“We create folds in space to travel long distances in a short amount of time. We’ll be at Reestria in less than an hour. In the meantime, we must get you to medical.”
A sense of foreboding fell upon Kira. “Medical? Why?”
“You’re about to become a Reestrian princess, babygirl. You must be able to speak my language, and after a brief procedure you’ll be fluent in Reestrian Common.”
She gave him a withering stare. “Let me guess. You’re going to put a chip of some sort in my brain?” After he gave a slight nod, she said, “Yep, this is officially the weirdest freaking day of my life.”
~ ~ *
It was good to be home. Especially with the love of his life by his side. Alex urged Kira down the walkway from the spaceship. The midafternoon sun beamed down its warmth, and Reestria’s two moons rested high above the distant mountains, two pale white orbs floating in the blue daytime sky. Come nighttime the moons would glow orange, a spectacular sight to behold.
Kira clutched his hand and hesitated as she gazed at the assembled crowd. Thousands of his people had come to witness the arrival of all the Earth-Reestrians returning to Reestria, many of them plucked away from Earth for the first time, all the adults at least. The children hadn’t been taken from their parents and would be safe on Earth despite the current upheaval on the planet. The president might have announced that alien contact had occurred, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about the interspecies baby switching. Neither had any of the other governments who’d scrambled to make similar announcements after the American president’s broadcast.
“Welcome to the Galattak Clan.” He squeezed Kira’s hand as other Reestrians streamed down the walkway around them. His intended was the only human among them.
He was thankful to have found her before he’d been beamed to the spaceship, and also thankful the technicians had transported them together. The crew had known he was returning to Earth for his mate, though that hadn’t stopped many a female crew member or passenger from flirting with him during his trip back to Earth. As a prince, even one not likely to take the throne, he was still a sought after male. The closer his twenty-fifth Earth birthday came, the more Reestrian females had tried to catch his notice.
But none of them could compare to his sweet Kira. He glanced down at her and urged her to disembark the ship with him. She stayed at his side and didn’t release his hand. Her eyes widened as she took in the number of people and the tall, elegant buildings in the distance.
“When you said you belonged to a clan, I pictured something totally different, even though I know Reestrians are more advanced than humans,” she said in the Reestrian tongue. The chip had been implanted successfully.
His gaze traveled to the swell of her breasts and over the curves her new dress hugged so temptingly. After the implant, they’d both changed into traditional Reestrian attire, with Kira donning a shimmering silver gown, and Alex putting on a royal uniform. Though he much preferred jeans and flannel shirts, he had to uphold his family’s image now.
They reached the bottom of the platform where the spaceship had landed, and he guided her down a regal purple carpeted path that stretched through the crowd. He smiled at the faces welcoming them back to Reestria, though all he could think about was getting Kira alone.
“There are larger cities than this on Reestria. Most of those who are of royal blood down to the one hundredth cousin live in the Galattak Clan City. The palace the Emperor lives in is right over there, halfway up the mountain.”
She squinted and lifted her head, scanning for the palace. “All I see are Reestrians.” She laughed. “I’m not as tall as you, remember?”
“We have a view of the palace from my family’s home. The balcony off my chambers shows almost the entire clan city.”
“This is so overwhelming,” she said, giving him an uncertain look.
The fire rushing through his veins burned hotter, reminding him of his predicament. Again, he hoped he wasn’t too rough with Kira. She meant everything to him and the last thing he wanted to do was cause her any amount of pain. Then, as they approached the hovercraft that would take them directly to his family’s home, a question blasted through his mind.
Was Kira a virgin?
Fuck. She was twenty-three years old, but she’d mentioned she hadn’t really had any boyfriends, thanks to him. Unless she’d indulged in a one night stand, she probably didn’t have any experience. This thought both thrilled and terrified him, but mostly, it pleased him to know he would be the first man to touch her.
The only experience he had was with a night woman his brothers had invited over on his birthday one year when their parents were visiting another clan on the other side of the planet. They’d had a wild party and he’d lost his virginity to a beautiful Reestrian courtesan twice his age.
He shook the thoughts away, wanting to focus on Kira. The past didn’t matter, and even if she wasn’t a virgin he’d love her all the same. He’d want to throttle the man who had touched her of course, but it wouldn’t change his feelings for her one bit. He’d been gone for six years, and as she’d declared earlier a lot could happen in six years. But thank the heavens above her feelings for him hadn’t changed.
They boarded a small hovercraft, which were basically the Reestrian version of a taxi, and the pilot navigated the sleek craft toward his family’s home after welcoming him back. Kira ohhed and ahhed over the scenery below and didn’t seem to mind the slightly bumpy ride.
“I’ll take you on a long walk through the clan city soon.” Once I’m done claiming you in every possible position. He refrained from adjusting his perpetual hard on and wrapped an arm around her.
Minutes later, they reached his family’s massive home on the outskirts of the clan city. He thanked the pilot and escorted Kira from the hovercraft, then led her up th
e stone walkway and into the cavernous entrance hall.
His oldest brother rushed toward them with a wide grin.
“Welcome home, Earthling,” he said jokingly. Interest lit in his gaze when he looked at Kira. “Welcome home, Earthlings, I mean. Hi, I’m Joseph.” He offered his hand to Kira, and after a moment of hesitation she reached out and they shook in a very human manner.
“Hi, Joseph. I’m Kira.” She looked from Alex to Joseph several times, her brows narrowed. “So Joseph, were you an Earth-raised Reestrian too?”
“No.” He punched Alex in the shoulder playfully. “My little brother here is the only Earth-raised Reestrian in our family.”
“Forgive me for asking and I hope this isn’t a rude question, but why is your name Joseph? You’re Reestrian.”
Both men laughed. “Earth names are quite popular on Reestria,” Alex explained.
“Mother and Father had to journey to the Fenna Clan City again, and I’ve cleared everyone else out of the house, even all the servants and security guards,” Joseph said. “When I heard Reestrians were being evacuated from Earth, I had hoped you would be bringing your mate back with you, and I know you’ll want your privacy.”
Though Joseph had pissed Alex off plenty of times, especially the time he helped lock Alex up during one of his growth spurts when he’d wanted to return to Earth, he was grateful for his brother’s assistance and understanding. From what Alex had heard, there was nothing quiet about the mating bond taking place. Reestrians weren’t any louder than humans while having regular everyday sex, but when the mating urge struck? If you were in the same house you’d better put on ear muffs. “Thank you, Joseph. We sincerely appreciate it.”
“I’m going to spend a few days at the palace. You two have fun, and try not to break any windows.” He gave a mocking bow and strode out the door, closing it behind him and sealing Alex and Kira alone in the house together.
She let go of his hand and walked slowly down the entrance hall, pausing now and then to look at the paintings decorating the walls. The stairs at the end of the hall led to the top floor where Alex’s chambers rested, and he had the urge to sweep her off her feet and carry her up to his bed. A wave of dizziness assaulted him, and he steadied himself with a hand on the wall before continuing to follow Kira.
“Joseph seems nice. Where is his wife? I mean, if he’s older than you, surely he’s mated?”
“His mate died several years ago. The mating urge won’t come upon him again until he’s done grieving for his first mate.”
“That’s so sad.” She walked for a bit. “This place is huge. Where do all these hallways lead to?” she asked as they passed several openings that branched off from the entrance hall.
“Recreation rooms, the kitchen, various dining rooms, and so on. I’ll give you a tour later, sweet Kira. After we’re able to leave my chambers, perhaps we’ll have a wedding ceremony in the gardens out back.”
Before she could reply, a loud melody played throughout the mansion.
Dammit. Who dared to bother them right now?
“What is it?” Kira tensed, probably sensing his frustration.
“Someone is at the door.” He trailed a finger down her bare shoulder. “You wait here, babygirl. I’ll send whoever it is away and be right back.”
She nodded and twisted her hands in a nervous fashion in front of her. As he irritably stalked to the door, he wondered what his little mate looked like without the shimmering silver gown. He imagined she was soft and lovely, and another wave of heat pummeled him from the inside out. The unrestrained need of his mating urge was upon him and someone just had to ring the fucking doorbell.
He flung the door open, ready to bite the head off of whoever had dared to bother him and Kira, but found the doorstep empty. Frowning, he stuck his head outside and looked around. Within the tall bushes and trees surrounding the mansion, he saw no one.
Sighing, he went back inside and slammed the door, intent to find Kira. Perhaps the doorbell was malfunctioning, or perhaps one of his brothers had rigged it to ring as a prank.
He started walking down the entrance hallway, only to stop and scan the inside of the house. Where had Kira gone?
“Babygirl?” He took off and rushed by the pictures she’d just been admiring, peering down each separate hallway he passed. He ran through the house, shouting her name. She didn’t answer, the only response coming from his panicked voice echoing off the walls. “Kira! Kira!”
He checked every last room upstairs, then hurried downstairs and out into the gardens, thinking perhaps she’d gotten curious and gone for a walk outside.
But instead of finding Kira, he discovered a Reestrian woman standing near the fountain in a sparkling red dress that left little to the imagination. She smiled at him seductively and adjusted her cleavage.
“Hello, Prince Alex. I’ve missed you.”
Rage threatened to consume him as he glared at the female who’d flaunted herself before him time and time again. She was the oldest daughter of a nearby family and his brothers had warned him to stay away from her, claiming she had propositioned all of them a time or two. According to the gossip, her family was facing financial ruin and she was trying her best to marry well. “Ennta,” he hissed. “Where is Kira?”
“My my, you look like you’re burning up.” She slid the straps of her dress down, revealing her breasts while she gave him another smile. “I’m so glad I’m not too late.”
“Where’s Kira?” he demanded, coming to stand over her.
Ennta shrugged. “I don’t know who this Kira is,” she said, stepping forward, “but I’m here right now, and I will accept you as a mate, Alex.”
A hovercraft lifted up from beyond the bushes on the street outside his family’s property, but it didn’t fly smoothly away. It zigzagged, revealing the pilot was probably inexperienced. Before the craft shot off toward the Pani Mountains, he caught a glimpse of golden hair in the window.
Kira.
Chapter Four
“Tell me how to land this thing!” Kira shouted at the Reestrian woman who lay bleeding on the floor of the hovercraft.
The woman sneered at her and tried to sit up, but Kira leveled the gun-like weapon at her head. She slumped back on the floor with a grimace. “You weren’t supposed to have Alex. My sister was.” She grinned. “I bet he won’t be able to resist her. Yes, I bet they are mating at this very moment.”
What the fuck kind of alien soap opera had Kira walked into? She had been staring at the paintings when someone had struck the back of her head just enough to disorient her, then grabbed her and carried her outside. By the time she’d gathered her courage and her wits enough to fight her captor, the hovercraft had flown outside the clan city. She hadn’t seen another Reestrian during the attack, but from the little conversation she’d had with this bitchy woman, she supposed this Reestrian’s sister was currently trying to seduce Alex.
Oh hell no. She wasn’t about to let some jealous Alien Hoochie Mama move in on her man. Not after missing Alex for so long and then finally having him back in her life. It couldn’t end this way.
The hovercraft jolted and sputtered, but Kira managed to keep from hitting any of the large buildings. She had turned the craft around to head back to the city, but after her struggle with her now bleeding and subdued captor, she hadn’t a clue which way to go. If she managed to land the hovercraft though, perhaps near a well-traveled street, she could always hail one of those taxi-like hovercrafts and give them Alex’s name.
Finally she spotted a massive structure that could only be the emperor’s palace. Alex said his family’s home had a perfect view of the palace, at least from the balcony off his chambers, and she thought his home had been on the outskirts of the clan city. She aimed the hovercraft for the large properties that rested miles away but straight across from the palace, hoping it was the right direction.
“Tell me how to land this thing,” she said, shoving the weapon in the woman’s face, “or we�
�re both probably going to die, because I’m fucking going to try landing soon.”
Some of the anger left the woman’s face, and she sat up against a seat, wiping the blood from her face. Kira had slammed her in the nose with a fist several times. “Look,” the Reestrian said, “my father told my sister she had to land a rich mate soon.”
It was then that Kira realized the woman wasn’t exactly a woman. She was taller than Kira, but her eyes held the innocence of youth. A teenager, perhaps. Kira decided to attempt reasoning with the girl.
“I knew Alex on Earth,” she said, omitting the fact that he was her stepbrother. “He was my best friend for a long time and eventually I came to love him. He loves me too, and that’s why he left Reestria before his mating urge struck him. To ask me to be his mate and join him on his home planet. I don’t know anything about you or your family, but I’m sorry your father and sister have put you in a difficult situation.”
The girl covered her face and started sobbing. “I’m sorry!” she cried. “I’m sorry I whacked you on the head and kidnapped you.”
A pang of pity resounded inside Kira for the young girl. Kira had come from a loving family, not including her sperm donor of a father, and she couldn’t imagine her mother, stepfather, or Alex ever asking her to harm another person for their own gain. This girl seemed to have a conscience though.
“My name is Kira. What’s yours?”
“Renga.”
“Renga. That’s a pretty name. You know, you’re one of the first Reestrians I’ve ever met. I’m sorry I punched you so many times. Geeze Louis, I thought you were a grown woman.”
The girl flushed. “I’ll be of age next year. Well, sixteen is of age on Reestria. I’ve heard it’s eighteen on your planet.”
