Reign

by Elizabeth Kelly

  * * *

  Quillan

  “I am going with you!” I snarled at Teo.

  He shook his head as I paced like an angry pike bull in the great hall of the palace. The front door opened and Faro, his green skin dark from the cold swept in. Beyond him I could see the land vehicle with Sabrina’s trunk sitting in the snow beside it. The door shut, and Faro gave me a nervous look when I glared at him as he stomped the snow from his boots.

  “You should not go, my King,” Teo said. “It will not do for your real mate to see the way you look at the Sabrina human.”

  “I do not care!” I shouted at him. “I do not care what she thinks or what she -”

  “Quill.”

  Sabrina’s soft voice had me whirling around. She was standing next to Galan and her face was very pale. I strode forward and pulled her into my arms before stroking her dark hair back from her face.

  “You are pale.” I pulled the flask of gallberry juice from the inside pocket of my travelling cloak and opened it before holding it to her mouth. “Drink, sadora.”

  She drank obediently, and I watched as a flush of colour returned to her cheeks. I tucked the flask back into my pocket. “Better?”

  “Yes, thank you. Teo’s right. You can’t go with us.”

  I glared at her as hurt rippled through me. “You do not want me to go with you?”

  She shook her head. “It’ll just make it more difficult.”

  “I do not care what this Evelyn thinks when she sees me with you. I do not -”

  “Not on Evelyn, on me. I don’t want to see you with her. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I – I don’t. I can’t. It’ll,” she paused, “it’ll hurt me badly, Quill.”

  My anger dissipated immediately when the tears welled up in her eyes. That beautiful purple tint was back, caught in the light of the sun gleaming in the windows. Not caring that Teo or Faro was there, I bent my head and kissed her deeply. She returned my kiss with a sweetness that made my own throat ache.

  “We must go,” Teo said from behind me.

  I growled at him as Sabrina cupped my face and smiled at me. “It’ll be okay. Faro and Galan are with me.”

  “Galan,” I said hoarsely, “guard her with your life.”

  “I will, my King,” Galan replied.

  I took my cloak off and wrapped it around her before pulling the hood up to cover her head. “You are not dressed warmly enough for the cold.”

  Sabrina rubbed her fingers along my jaw. “Thank you, Quill. Thank you for everything.”

  I couldn’t reply as she stood on her tiptoes and brushed her soft lips against my cheek before whispering into my ear. “You’re an amazing king and mate, and you’ll be an even better father. I love you.”

  She pulled away and walked rapidly across the great hall to the door. Galan followed her, and Faro opened the door. She stepped into the cold and I rasped, “Sadora!”

  She turned, and we stared silently at each other for a moment before she curtseyed gracefully and said, “My King.”

  She turned and walked away without looking back.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sabrina

  We were only an hour into our journey when I finally grew tired of Teo’s nervous chattering next to me.

  “Teo,” I said wearily as I stared out the window, “don’t take this the wrong way, but could you please shut up?”

  He stopped talking and cleared his throat. There was silence for a moment and then he said, “I know this is difficult for you, human, but -”

  “No, you have no idea how difficult it is so could you just shut up for the love of God?”

  I was stupidly close to tears and I was suddenly feeling very nauseous. As my stomach roiled, I said, “Galan, stop!”

  He turned to look at me. “What?”

  “Stop! Please stop, I’m going to throw up.”

  He pulled the vehicle over immediately and I clawed the door open before sliding out. The vehicle was equipped with massive tires that had treads nearly as deep as my hand, and it was a long drop to the ground. I sank to my knees in the deep snow and, holding my hand over my mouth, struggled through the snow for a few feet before I bent over and vomited. It was bright pink from the gallberry juice and I whispered, “ugh,” before wiping my mouth with a trembling hand.

  I could hear someone coming up behind me and I kicked snow over the vomit before backing up. I stared blankly at the trees. It had taken only half an hour to get out of the city and now the road was winding through a vast forest.

  “Sabrina? Are you all right?”

  “Fine, Galan. Just a bit of an upset stomach.”

  His warm hand dropped onto my shoulder and I had to fight my urge to turn and bury my head in his chest and cry like a big baby.

  “I am sorry, little human.”

  “Yeah, me too.” I was starting to shiver despite Quill’s heavy cloak and I didn’t resist when Galan picked me up and carried me back to the land vehicle. His kindness was making me weepy, and I wiped at the tears streaming down my face. Both Teo and Faro had gotten out and were standing next to the vehicle, their breath steaming in the cold air.

  “Human, what is wrong?” Teo asked.

  “Nothing,” I muttered as Galan set me on my feet in front of the old Draax. “Just a bit of an upset stomach.”

  I was standing in a ray of sunlight that had filtered through the trees and I blinked rapidly before staring at Teo. “I’m ready to go.”

  Teo reached out and grabbed my chin, lifting my face to the sunlight. I tried to pull free, and he tightened his grip. “Ouch! What the hell, Teo?”

  He stepped closer. Galan took his arm and said, “Let go of her, Teo.”

  “It is not possible,” he muttered as he bent and stared into my eyes. “It cannot be.”

  “Teo,” Galan said warningly.

  “She is breeding incompatible,” Teo said in a low voice, “but her eyes…”

  “What about my eyes?” I said.

  He ignored me and stared at Galan. “Galan, what colour are the human’s eyes?”

  Galan turned my face toward his. “Purple.”

  “They’re blue,” I replied.

  Galan took a second look before shaking his head. “No, they are purple.”

  “My eyes are blue,” I said in exasperation.

  “Faro!” Teo waved the Draax over. “What colour are her eyes?”

  “For the love of Pete, they’re blue,” I said.

  Faro studied my eyes. “Purple.”

  “Are you all colour blind?” I blinked rapidly as Galan stared into my eyes again.

  My sorrow was turning into confusion, and it only deepened when Galan suddenly said, “No, wait. They are blue. But I swear they were purple only a few seconds ago.”

  Teo’s wrinkled face broke out into a wide grin. “The human is pregnant.”

  My mouth dropped open and Faro and Galan wore identical looks of shock. I nudged Galan. “He’s gone crazy, right?”

  “Teo,” Galan said cautiously, “Sabrina cannot be pregnant. She is breeding incompatible.”

  “She is not,” Teo said. “Her eyes are purple.”

  “One, my eyes are blue, and two, I am breeding incompatible. I saw the test results. I don’t carry the gene.”

  “You must,” he said. “You carry Quill’s baby in your belly, human.”

  He reached out with a trembling hand and rested it against my belly. “We have an heir to the throne.” He gave Galan a triumphant smile. “We have an heir to the throne, Galan!”

  “Teo!” I said sharply. “Snap out of it. It is not possible that I’m pregnant.”

  He shrugged. “It has to be. We need to get you back to the palace kadana and have him do testing on you right away. Perhaps the human’s testing procedure for the gene was incorrect.”

  “They don’t make mistakes with that sort of thing,” I said.

  “Like they don’t mistakenly implant the incorrect identification chip?” He said.


  “Point taken. But explain this purple thing to me.” I glanced at Galan. “Do you know what he’s talking about?”

  Galan shook his head. “I do not.”

  Teo glanced at the sun impatiently. “You and Faro are too young to remember, but I remember when we had female Draax in the western province. When they were pregnant, one of the first indications was an eye colour change when they were feeling,” he waved his hand in the air, “emotional. Most of the time it was only noticed by their mate but in some, the colour change would be more obvious. I have heard from other Draax with human mates that the colour change can be quite visible.”

  “Whoa,” I said, “I’ve never heard of this before and I did a lot of studying on the Draax before I came here. I didn’t read anything that said our eyes changed colour when we were knocked up with a little alien baby.”

  Teo shrugged. “We do not share information that is not relevant with humans.”

  “Of course you don’t.” I rolled my eyes.

  Teo studied my body that was hidden under Quill’s cloak. “Are your breasts bigger, human? More sensitive?”

  “I’m sorry?” I said.

  “Are your breasts fuller?” He asked impatiently.

  “Uh…”

  “They are bigger.” Galan grinned at me.

  I blushed, and he laughed as Teo raised his eyebrow at me. “More sensitive?”

  I thought back to two nights ago when Quill had made me come just by sucking on my nipples. “Uh, yeah.”

  “Another indication,” Teo said with satisfaction. “And if I remember correctly, vomiting is a sign of pregnancy in a human. Is it not?”

  “Well, yes, but…” I gave Galan a blank look.

  He grinned at me. “You carry Quill’s baby, Sabrina.”

  “Holy shit,” I whispered. “I – I’m pregnant.”

  “Come, we must get you back to the palace immediately,” Galan said.

  He turned, and his body stiffened as he made a low groan.

  “Galan? What’s wrong?”

  “Faro?” He whispered as Faro stepped away from him. He was holding a dagger in his hand, the blade covered in a dark green liquid.

  “Galan?” My eyes widened when Galan fell to his knees before toppling forward. “Galan!”

  I dropped to my knees beside him and heaved him onto his back. Dark green blood was pouring out of a deep stab wound just above his ribcage on the right side. Panicked, I pressed my hand against it, trying to stop the flow of blood.

  “What did you do?” I stared in shock at Faro.

  There was a low growl of rage and Teo attacked Faro. He was no match for the younger Draax’s strength and I cringed when Faro tossed him against the land vehicle. Teo’s head smashed into the corner of the open door and his eyes rolled up in his head as a dark bruise immediately appeared on his temple. He crumpled into the snow as Galan made a low gasping noise.

  “What are you doing, Faro?” I whispered.

  “I am sorry, human,” Faro licked his lips nervously, “but you must come with me right now.”

  “No. No, I won’t.”

  “You must. Get into the vehicle.”

  “I’m not leaving Teo and Galan. They need medical help.”

  Faro shook his head. “If you do not get into the vehicle right now, I will kill the both of them. I swear it.”

  I swallowed down my sob of fear and tucked my hand inside of my cloak as I bent over Galan. “Galan, can you hear me?”

  “I am sorry, Sabrina. I have failed you and my king,” he whispered.

  “No, you haven’t.” I smoothed my hand over his forehead. “Stay alive, all right? Quill will find you. He knows Faro is a betrayer.”

  “He does not,” Faro said anxiously. “Move, human.”

  “Stay alive,” I whispered again before pressing my mouth against Galan’s. “Quill will be here soon.”

  I stood and studied Teo’s prone body for a moment. I could see his chest moving and I breathed a sigh of relief as Faro dragged his body away from the vehicle. “Get in.”

  He boosted me into the front seat. I didn’t protest when he pulled out a pair of steel cuffs and placed them around my wrists before he cuffed my hands to the inside of the door and slammed it shut.

  I stared out the window at Galan as Faro climbed behind the wheel and drove away. My heart thudding like a frightened rabbit, I prayed that Quill would find Galan and Teo before it was too late.

  * * *

  Quillan

  “My King!”

  I didn’t turn at the sound of my childhood friend’s voice. I continued to stare at the city below me as Krey clapped me on the back.

  “Quill?”

  “Welcome home, Krey.”

  “What is wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Where is Galan?”

  “Returning Sabrina to her employer.”

  My voice was like my training sword. Dull, heavy, flat.

  “Who is Sabrina?” Krey asked.

  “My mate.”

  “Your mate? Quill, look at me. What in Krono’s name is going on?”

  I ignored both his question and the knock at the door. After a moment, Krey opened the door. “Hello, Bitta.”

  “Krey, when did you get back?” Bitta’s face smoothed into a smile.

  “Only just now.”

  “Is the king here? I must speak with him.”

  “He is.” Krey’s voice couldn’t conceal his puzzlement.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  When Bitta glanced at Krey, I waved my hand with a weighted weariness. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of Krey.”

  “I have broken the encryption on the messages.”

  “Have you?” My voice was apathetic at best. “That is good.”

  I couldn’t care less who betrayed me. What did it matter when I didn’t have Sabrina by my side?

  “My King,” Bitta said, “it is Faro who betrays you.”

  Molten fear bubbled, boiled, burned in my chest, drenching my lungs. A feeling I’d never had.

  I couldn’t catch my breath.

  I was drowning.

  I wanted to flay Faro alive. I wanted Gokmard heads to hang in the halls of my home. I wanted to burn their bones until they were nothing but ash.

  Krey’s heavy hand on my shoulder grounded me. A blood war with the Gokmards could set my people on a path of chaos and carnage.

  “Quill? Are you all right?”

  I needed to focus. I was a leader, a warrior, a king.

  The fear faded, and I finally caught my breath. I had one goal, one mission, one purpose.

  Rescue my mate.

  “Why?” The word fell from my mouth like a heavy stone.

  “He has made a deal with the Gokmards to deliver your mate to them once she is pregnant with your child,” Bitta said.

  “Sabrina.” Saying her name out loud almost rekindled the liquid fear still simmering in the bottom of my lungs.

  Almost.

  “I am sure she is not in danger.” Bitta’s voice was maddening in its carelessness. “She is not your mate, nor is she pregnant. It is Evelyn who will be in danger once she carries your child. When they come back, we will arrest Faro.”

  I ignored him and ran to the hologram machine. I punched in Galan’s code. Impatience rattled through my veins. There was no answer and I turned to Krey. “Galan and Teo took my mate to her employer. Faro is with them and he has betrayed me. Gather ten of the king’s guard and meet me in the great hall.”

  A true soldier, Krey didn’t question my rambling explanation. He turned and ran from the room as I pulled my sword from the wall. I strapped the sheath around my waist and Bitta said, “She is in no danger, my King. It is better to just wait until Faro returns with your true mate and arrest him then.”

  “No. Sabrina is my true mate and she needs me.”

  I pushed past Bitta and strode toward the great hall.

  * * *

  “So, Ev
elyn is your true mate, but you are in love with Sabrina,” Krey said as he drove recklessly down the road. I had tried to explain as best I could as we drove toward the farmer’s home.

  “Yes. I love her, Krey. She is breeding incompatible, but I do not care. I will give up the throne for her.”

  “Quill,” Krey gave me a cautious look before glancing in the rear-view mirror. A second land vehicle rumbled behind us and carried five other members of the king’s guard. “I understand you have feelings for this human but do not act so hastily. You are the king. You cannot simply give up the throne for love.”

  “I can, and I will,” I said. “It was a mistake to – Krono!”

  Krey slammed on the brakes as we crested a hill. There was ice under the snow and we slid a few feet down the hill. I was opening the door and leaping out before the vehicle had come to a full stop. I waded through the deep snow and knelt beside Galan as Krey shut off the vehicle and hurried to Teo.

  “Galan! Galan, open your eyes!”

  He groaned as I glanced at Krey. “Is Teo alive?”

  “Yes, but he is unconscious.”

  “Galan, look at me.” Blood covered the front of his cloak and I eased it back. There was a wound on his ribcage and his shirt was stuck to it with dried blood, but it wasn’t actively bleeding. Krey crouched next to me as I prodded gently at the wound.

  “It is healing,” Krey said.

  I prodded it again and Galan groaned, “Krono, that hurts. Stop poking at it!”

  “Galan, where is my mate? Where is Sabrina?” I asked when Galan squinted at me.

  “Faro took her nearly twenty minutes ago.”

  “Fuck! I am going to kill the bastard!” The earth’s curse words sounded foreign but wholly satisfying on my tongue.

  “How are you healing?” Krey asked.

  Galan lifted his right arm. My flask of gallberry juice was clutched in his shaking hand. “Your clever mate managed to give this to me before Faro took her. Is Teo all right?”

  “He will live. We need to get you both back to the palace before you freeze to death,” Krey said.