by Anna Carven
“You’ve inflamed anti-alien sentiment amongst the Citizens. It’s quite possible the Kordolians are reacting to this. But perhaps that’s what they wanted all along. An excuse for conflict.”
“That’s pretty far-fetched,” Sera snapped, returning her father’s icy glare. It was always this way when they spoke; they were like bulls locking horns. “What would make you think that an article published through a small-scale media outlet would spark a hostile takeover of Earth? It’s obvious they’ve been planning this for some time.”
Her father ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. He was in his study; she could tell because of the view behind him; a backdrop of millions of glittering lights. “Sera, I know you’ve worked hard for your independence, and I’ve respected, if not agreed, with many of the decisions you’ve made. But you need to listen to me carefully now. At this point in time, the Kordolians are refusing any discussions with us. Prince Kazharan has declined to speak with the Prime Ambassador.”
“What?” Sera raised her eyebrows in disbelief. From what she’d seen of the Prince, she didn’t think he’d be the sort to make any rash decisions, even if he was a little odd. Had he been toying with her all along?
“The only person the Prince will see at this point in time is you.”
“Me?” Sera blinked.
“He’s asked for you specifically, daughter of mine. So if he asks you to retract your article and print a full-scale apology, by Jupiter, you will do it. No fighting me on this one, Sera. And whatever you do, do not antagonize him. They have the capacity to bomb our planet into dust if they want to. That information, by the way, is classified. It remains strictly between you and me. I will not have you inciting any more panic amongst the Citizens.”
Sera rocked back in her chair, trying to digest her father’s news. The Kordolians were going hostile, and somehow she was getting blamed? Something didn’t add up here. Their reaction was way too extreme. Oh, she and Xal were going to have words, no matter how her father expected her to behave.
“I’ll send a car for you in half-an-hour. Be ready.” Her father touched his link, about to sign off. “Oh, and Sera? Wear something decent and cover your scars. You’re still a representative of our family, no matter what you might think.”
~~~
Xal stood on the roof, staring up at the night sky. Dark clouds blocked his view of space, but he knew that somewhere out there was another formidable Kordolian battle cruiser. The vision they’d been shown by the humans had revealed that it was bigger than Silence, a black blemish on the glittering backdrop of stars.
He had no doubt his mother and the High Council were behind its appearance.
The Empire had come to Earth.
He swore he would fucking kill them if they ruined this world, and he would take particular pleasure in making the Empress suffer.
Cold anger spread through him and he clenched his teeth so hard that his fangs punched through the skin of his inner lip, making him taste his own black blood. The infernal headache that had dogged him all throughout the day and night was still there, throbbing behind his eyes.
How the hell had they gotten to Earth so fast? Tarak was adamant they hadn’t been followed as they’d navigated their lengthy route throughout the outer galaxies.
The wind tugged at his robes, whipping his hair free of its tie so that it fluttered wildly about his face. He could taste moisture in the air, and far off in the distance, bolts of electricity rippled from the sky.
Earth’s weather was awe-inspiring.
A low rumble reverberated around him and he wondered if it had something to do with the electrical discharge falling from the sky. The sense of savage urgency that swept through Xal mirrored the weather.
They needed to find out what was going on and figure out their next move.
So far, the enemy Kordolians hadn’t responded to any of the Human requests to open communication.
He wasn’t surprised. Negotiations meant the other party had something to offer. The Empire wouldn’t bother about opening a dialogue with Humans. Kordolians would consider a small, defenseless planet like Earth ripe for the taking.
“Xalikian.” A low voice interrupted his thoughts, and Xal turned to see Tarak standing behind him. The General moved as silently as always, looming beside him like a large, stalking shadow. Together, they stood on the flat roof of the Human dwelling, staring out at the network of lights below. Beyond the perimeter of their dwelling, armed guards, surveillance drones and combat bots patrolled the area. Xal wondered if they were aware he could see them perfectly well in the darkness.
“How did they appear so quickly? You told me we weren’t followed.”
“That is correct. I don’t know how they came to be here. They evaded our surveillance. Perhaps they have advanced cloaking. Perhaps they found another wormhole.”
“They could blast the surface of this world into ashes.”
“Yes. However, I have ordered Silence into position. We have three twenty-thousand megakorr fission missiles locked onto them and they know it. If they hit Earth, they die. And as of now, they have no idea where you and I are. I have told the Humans not to engage further until we make contact.”
“We can’t afford to let them know we’re on Earth.”
“Correct. We will return to Silence and initiate talks from there.”
“What kind of ammunition are they packing?”
“The Ristval V carries similar arsenal to Silence, but it’s larger in size, so they probably have more ammunition. In a direct firefight, we would outmatch them in speed. If they didn’t have Earth in their sights I would destroy them. I will destroy them eventually.” Tarak’s eyes burned crimson in the dim light.
Xal growled in frustration. “The humans are panicking. They think we’re behind this. Apparently, the Kordolian cruiser has shot down Human fighters.”
“The Humans will learn whose side we’re on with time. And they should have known better than to antagonize a Kordolian warship.”
“We have to maintain a record of our true actions, otherwise things will get out of hand. They’re already fearful as it is. That’s why I’ve asked for the female called Aquinas to accompany us. She disseminates information to the Humans. She will chronicle our actions, so there will be no mistrust between us and the Humans.”
A noncommittal grunt escaped Tarak. The General didn’t care what the Humans thought. He had only two priorities in his life. His mate, and his people, in that order. But things would become a lot easier if the Humans could learn to trust them.
It was a stretch, given the reputation Kordolians had forged for themselves, but it was worth a try.
Below them, a small driverless vehicle pulled up to the front of their residence. Xal stared as Sera stepped out and walked up to the gate.
From the sky above, water started to fall.
“Your female is here,” the General growled as he stepped back, regarding Xal with a speculative glance. “See if you can get at least one Human to trust you first, before you try and convince the entire population.”
CHAPTER THREE
Xal dropped to the ground in front of Sera, his bare feet soundless on the hard, synthetic path. She gasped, putting her fists up in a fighter’s stance, shifting her weight so that one foot was behind the other.
He smiled. She was a fighter; why didn’t she want to admit it? He loved the idea of a female who wasn’t afraid to exert herself; who could defend herself if necessary.
Her body was strong and honed, her muscles well-defined. She was on the defensive, and she was incredibly attractive.
She quickly regained her composure. “Is jumping out in front of people a Kordolian thing, or did you just decide to surprise me?”
“Sorry.” He held up a hand. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Droplets of water hit his face and he turned to the sky, astonished by the phenomenon. He opened his mouth and tasted the liquid; it was pure and sweet. “Water falls from the
sky here,” he marveled, turning to face her.
“It’s called rain.” Slowly, she lowered her hands. Her voice was steely, her dark eyes full of anger. She’d worn her hair loose this time. It was damp and it cascaded around her face in waves of ringlets. Xal had never seen anything quite like it.
She smelled incredible too; her scent was complex and intoxicating. It reminded him a bit of the imported perfumes used by the court nobles on Kythia, only her scent was pure and clean, instead of being cloying.
It hit him in the face like a cold slap, and he found it mightily refreshing.
The fall of water was becoming heavier, so he ushered her inside. Xal raked his wet hair away from his face, feeling better than he had in a long time.
He peered outside and saw that the rain was now thick and fast, the fat droplets hitting the ground and forming a small stream of water.
“Incredible,” he murmured. He tapped the door panel and the entrance slid closed. The cacophony outside disappeared completely.
Sera frowned, crossing her arms in front of her. “You didn’t call me here to talk about the weather, Prince Kazharan.”
“No, I didn’t.”
She’d removed the coloring from her face and her skin glistened with a faint sheen of moisture. She was completely transformed from the polished, severe woman he’d met earlier. Her features appeared softer; gone were the dark accents around her eyes and the red emphasizing her lips. Her golden skin was dewy and smooth, with a faint smattering of spots across her cheeks. On the left side of her face, two long, jagged lines ran from the corner of her eyebrow to her jawline.
They were scars; old, well healed scars. She must have concealed them with makeup earlier.
Sera had changed her clothes. She wore a simple, unadorned grey top and loose grey pants over flat shoes. This time, she’d dressed for comfort and ease of movement. The top was quite fitted, clinging to her breasts and her contoured stomach.
Xal inhaled her scent and kept his expression neutral, trying very hard to hide the fact that his cock had gone hard. He clenched his fists as he breathed in her essence, overcome with the sudden urge to press her against the wall, tear her clothes off and taste every inch of her.
His headache was making his horns throb with pain; it was becoming quite excruciating. Tiny black spots danced across his vision, and the cold anger that had filled him before had transformed into something raw and primal; a savage, burning lust.
He needed to get his shit together, or he was going to lose control.
He needed this woman on his side. She would be his link to the humans, a voice they could trust.
“Come inside,” he growled, turning away from her so that she wouldn’t see the hunger in his eyes. It was as the General said; he had to make her trust him, and that meant she couldn’t know about his state of mind.
And under no circumstances could she find out about his past.
She followed him as he led her inside. He could feel her dark gaze burning into him as they walked.
Xal tried to distract himself by thinking of the various ways he would like to kill the Kordolians who threatened Earth, especially his mother. They deserved everything that he and General Tarak were about to throw at them. He needed to make the Humans feel safe and he needed to secure safe passage for his people; those who wished to leave Kythia in search of a new life. Only Kordolians who agreed to renounce the ways of the Empire would be allowed to cross over.
The old Empire had to die. It was dying. His mother and the Court just hadn’t accepted it yet. They thought they could become immortal.
How many millions of lives across the universe had been cut short because of their grandiose delusions?
The Kordolian race would survive, but it would be forever changed, their genes mixing with those of Humans.
It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. He wished for his children to be able to look into the sun without becoming momentarily blinded.
They passed into the eating area, where the General and his Human mate, Abbey, sat together. Abbey was reverently cradling a bowl of food, and a rich, salty aroma filled the space. Tarak chewed on a standard-issue bar of protein mix.
“I have missed this so much,” Abbey murmured. The General was looking at her with an expression Xal had rarely seen. His hard features had softened, and he looked almost affectionate.
Wonders would never cease.
“Oh, hey.” Abbey stood to greet them. She was a little paler than usual, and Xal noticed dark circles under her eyes. The General had mentioned she was unwell, but her green-brown eyes held their usual warmth and energy. “Xal, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
Sera ignored him and stepped forward, regarding Abbey and the General with wide eyes, her curious gaze flicking back and forth between them. “Sera Aquinas.” She held out a hand. Abbey took it, carrying out that strange Human gesture; the handshake. Xal watched the two Human females in fascination. Although they were both smiling, they eyed each other warily.
Abbey’s smile widened, but her gaze was calculating. “Nice to meet you. I’m Abbey Kendricks. You’re an Aquinas, huh? As in the Aquinas family?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Please don’t hold it against me.” Sera grinned.
Something seemed to change then. Abbey’s demeanor transformed completely, her smile turning warm. She winked at Sera. “Don’t worry about that. I don’t believe in holding the sins of someone’s family against them.” Although she spoke to Sera, at that moment she was looking at Xal.
He was sure it was more than co-incidence. What had Tarak told her about him?
“By the way, do you guys want some ramen? This kitchen bot has a pretty authentic recipe. It’s amazing. I wish Tarak would believe me, but he’s stuck on his protein bars.” She made a face.
“Most Human food is unpalatable to us,” the General growled. “Kordolians are meat eaters.”
Sera and Abbey exchanged another meaningful look, which was followed by a knowing smile.
It was as if they had suddenly discovered some hidden form of communication. As far as Xal knew, Humans didn’t possess any telepathic abilities, so what secret understanding had these females suddenly shared?
And why did he suddenly wish Sera’s warm smile was directed at him?
Humans were completely, utterly mystifying. In a rare moment of dry humor, Tarak had once told him that Abbey was the single most complicated being he had encountered.
That was saying a lot. The General had been to almost every corner of the Nine Galaxies and had dealt with all kinds of aliens, from Veronians to Ordoon.
“Thanks for the offer, Abbey,” Sera replied, “but I do believe Prince Kazharan has something to discuss with me. Apparently, it involves the future fate of Earth, so I’ll take you up on the ramen another time. It definitely smells delicious.”
Her gaze shifted to Xal, and the glare she shot him was ice-cold. Something seemed to be angering her.
Abbey raised her eyebrows.
Tarak said nothing, his expression unreadable.
Xal briefly closed his eyes, longing for the dark, icy wastelands of the Vaal. He’d rather fight a vicious Szkazajik to the death than deal with this perplexing female right now. Bloodlust simmered in his veins, just beneath the surface, and he yearned for the thrill of the hunt. He wondered idly if Earth had any creatures worth hunting.
He shook the thought. There would be time to explore this planet later. Right now, an enemy Kordolian cruiser had appeared in Earth’s atmosphere, the Humans were terrified and suspicious, and he needed Sera’s skills to convince them otherwise.
He needed her to trust him.
Her scent was driving him crazy.
Control yourself.
Now, more than ever, he needed to keep his calm.
He would bury his pent-up anger under a pleasant facade, hiding the dark, seething torrent of emotion that at times made him terrified he would succumb to madness, just like his parents.
All he could
do was save the madness for his enemies, and pray that it never took hold.
~~~
Xal led her into the sitting room, activating the lights for her benefit. She had now learnt that Kordolians couldn’t tolerate sunlight, but they saw perfectly well in the darkness.
What other peculiarities was this Prince hiding? And why had he lied to her?
She seated herself opposite him and he stared at her, his golden eyes roaming over her face, taking in every inch of her.
He had to stop doing that. The intensity of his gaze was like molten lava, but his usually expressive face could have been carved from stone. The look he gave her was both terrifying and thrilling. It was almost as if he hungered for her.
Don’t be ridiculous, Sera.
Her stubborn heart beat faster. Her breath caught.
Irritation flared in her. He shouldn’t be making her feel this way.
“I read your article,” he said, his voice low and soft.
Sera steeled herself. “Your reaction wasn’t what I was expecting.”
“Reaction?” He raised one silvery eyebrow. “As far as I’m aware, my reaction hasn’t been communicated to anyone, let alone you.”
“Then why is there now a second Kordolian warship in our skies? And why are they behaving in a hostile manner?”
“That is for both of us to find out.”
“What do you mean?”
Xal stood and walked over to the window, clasping his hands behind his back. Rain beat against the glass, distorting reflected light to make an abstract picture. His broad shoulders were stiff, and his slightly wet hair curled around them. His curved, black horns gave him an otherworldly appearance. Sera wondered idly why he had them, and the General didn’t.
Were they some kind of symbol of royalty?
“Our history, like that of any world, is dark and complicated; it is colored with death and suffering.” His voice was a steely monotone. “The Kordolian race isn’t united, despite what you might have been led to believe. As much as I love my people, there are those who I would gladly see cast into the deepest of Kaiin’s hells.” Still, he refused to look at her. “The first warship is called Silence, and it belongs to us. The second is an enemy craft. All is not well in the Kordolian Empire, and we are at war with them. We don’t know how they have come to be in Earth’s space-territory. I have no doubt they would enslave your species if given the opportunity.”
