Mated to the Alien Lord: Celestial Mates

by Leslie Chase

  I crossed my arms and stared out to sea, ignoring the offered glass. Part of me hoped for another storm to sweep us away, to dash us on some island somewhere. Not that I wanted to spend time shipwrecked with the Perhar Protector, but it would be darkly amusing to see him try to survive. Somehow I couldn't see this man, with his love of finery, doing nearly as well as Corvax had.

  But the weather was calm and clear, and we rode the skies in silence. The oppressive feel of the cabin wore on my nerves, though it didn't seem to trouble Lord Ashir at all. He sipped his wine with a smirk on his face, enjoying his victory.

  "What do you think this is going to achieve?" I asked eventually, when the silence became too much to bear. He blinked, seeming almost surprised that I'd spoken.

  "My dear lady," Ashir said, waving his glass grandly. "It will win me everything. Once Corvax has married my sister, our clans are linked. Together we'll become the strongest clan on the planet, and soon the rest will have to bow to us. Your Corvax may lack the confidence to use the power control over the skystalk gives him, but I will not be so weak."

  I looked at him, appalled. "You don't think the rest of the planet will resist you?"

  "How can they? My clan produces most of the food on Crosos already. Given control of the only spaceport, there's no way for the rest to fight the inevitable." Ashir took a deep drink from his glass. "Everyone has to eat, after all."

  That's mad, I thought, though I didn't quite dare say as much. Who knew how he'd react? Of course people will resist. He can't be stupid enough to think that they'll just fall in line.

  One look at Lord Ashir's smirking face told me that I was overestimating him, though. He was a cunning man, yes, but also someone who'd been raised with the certain knowledge that he was destined to rule. The idea that others might not accept him as their lord seemed to be something he'd never troubled himself with.

  The rest of the flight passed in silence, and I stared out of the window rather than look at my captor. Finally, our destination came into view, a far larger island than Rohar. Almost every inch of it was given over to farmland, dotted with small, miserable-looking villages.

  Of course we weren't going to land in one of them. On the shore, braced on a great rock, rested the Perhar fortress-palace, and it was spectacular. The walls were engraved with an image of a great battle, the towers were tipped with gold that gleamed in the sunlight, the central keep was clad in white stone and almost blinded me as we descended to it.

  The peasants of Perhar might live in poverty, but it wasn't because the lord of the island lacked wealth to display.

  Servants ran over, unrolling a red carpet to the door of the flier and opening it. Unlike the friendly servants of Rohar, these were cold-faced men and women who showed no more expression than a robot might. And Lord Ashir didn't even acknowledge them as he stepped out onto the carpet. Nor did he say a word to me. He just assumed I was going to follow, and I didn't have much choice but to comply. Fuming, I pulled myself out of my seat and hopped down after him.

  Guards fell in on either side of me as I followed my captor into his castle. While they didn't touch me, there was no escaping the fact that I was a prisoner here. As long as I behaved they might leave me some freedom, but if I stepped out of line those guards looked positively gleeful about the chance to hurt someone.

  No wonder Corvax didn't want an alliance with these thugs, I thought as I followed Ashir. He strode through his home, paying no attention to the servants who bowed low as he passed them, leading me to a room filled with fine furniture. Through the window I saw a long drop to the sea below.

  "These rooms will be yours while you stay here," Ashir said, gesturing grandly. "I'm sure they'll be comfortable enough, and you'll be well treated. If you have any needs they will be met, if they are reasonable. Just ring for a servant and let them know what you require."

  I sat down and instantly regretted it. The chair I'd chosen was a work of art, carved intricately and decorated with gold. Perhaps it would suit a museum, but as something to sit on it was incredibly uncomfortable.

  If Ashir noticed my discomfort he didn't think it was worth responding to, and I expected that was going to be the way with everything in this ornate prison. Comfort wasn't the point, showing off my captor's wealth and power was.

  "My own rooms are on the far side of that door," he continued when I didn't say anything. "We shall get to know each other rather well, I think."

  "I'm not going to be here long enough for that," I said, looking at the door with distaste. I couldn't help noticing that there was no lock on my side of the door. Of course not, that might inconvenience him.

  "Come now," he said, a small smug smile on his craggy face. "You aren't stupid, Gemma. Do you really think that I'm going to give up my leverage on Lord Corvax? You'll be my guest for a good long while, and there's no reason we can't be... friendly."

  I swallowed nervously, my gaze snapping back to him in shock. He was right, it should have been obvious that he wouldn't keep his word. Not while threatening me gave him a hold on Corvax. Looking around the room again, seeing the walls crowded with art that didn't match, I knew that this man would never give up anything he thought he could make useful.

  And I was useful to him.

  Crap.

  Worse than that, he wanted to be friendly. It wasn't hard to guess what he meant, not when he'd put me into a room adjoining his own. This deal was getting worse and worse, and I wished that I could have told Corvax not to take it. Okay, that would have gotten me killed, but that was still starting to sound better than this.

  "You can't seriously think that I'll be interested in you, can you?" I blurted out. It wasn't a smart thing to say, but I couldn't keep my thoughts to myself.

  Ashir's face darkened and his eyes narrowed. This was not a man used to being refused. Shrinking back in the uncomfortable chair, I wondered if I'd pushed him too far. But then he smiled unconvincingly and stepped back.

  "You are, of course, tired and emotional," he said. "You'll become more reasonable in time, I'm sure. Meanwhile, I have matters to attend to here. Get some rest — the servants will fetch you in time for dinner."

  Without waiting for a response, he turned and swept out of the room, leaving me alone with my fears.

  20

  Corvax

  Alishan gave me no time to brood on Gemma's departure, clapping her hands and looking as though she were about to burst into song with joy. It was a strain to stay polite, but I knew that Gemma's life depended on it at least until Ashir was out of comms range.

  Fortunately, she at least had the tact to know not to press me. Unlike her brother, she had a little empathy.

  "I shall have my men take my luggage to our chambers," she said brightly, gesturing to the Kalpan mercenaries who'd remained behind. One of them hurried off to arrange things, though four more stayed close, along with her surviving Crosan bodyguard.

  I looked at them, trying to think about practical matters. My mind kept drifting back to the yawning abyss of pain that was Gemma's absence, and if I was going to be any use to either her or my clan I needed to think about something, anything, else.

  The mercenaries were expensive, and that was a weakness. The Perhar couldn't afford such a force for long, I knew, but then they wouldn't have to. With the added revenue from the skystalk, our combined clans would manage. We'd end up paying for the force that occupied our own island. There was another thought to burn angrily in my skull.

  At least most of them were gone now. The Perhar couldn't afford to keep on enough of them for a full occupation force, so he'd left behind enough guards to discourage a casual attack on his sister. He trusted my love for Gemma to hold me back from anything else, and he was right. I couldn't risk her life.

  Nor could I risk the lives of my clanmates trying to rescue her. My two duties held me prisoner, and it was tearing me apart. I could hardly think.

  "Perhaps, my lady, you would like an escort to your new chambers," the Eldest said,
shooting me a warning look. He, at least, could see how close I was to snapping. Alishan raised an eyebrow, glancing at me and then the Eldest. With a little smile, she nodded.

  "You have many things to discuss, of course," she said. "Our mating ceremony not least. We shall need to arrange that as soon as possible. I'm sure I can count on the Council of Elders to guide the Protector wisely."

  "Of course, of course," the Eldest said, bowing low. I bit back a growl at his obsequious submission to her. "Now that we're committed, there should be no unnecessary delay. A few days is all we need. But you must understand, my lady, that the Protector has had something of a shock. Perhaps a few hours to adjust is in order, while you settle in?"

  Looking pleased with that answer, Alishan allowed herself to be ushered out, one of the elders taking it upon herself to escort the new lady of the castle to my rooms. Our rooms, apparently. I trembled with the effort not to explode from rage, and as soon as the door closed behind Alishan and her escort I rounded on the Eldest.

  "You—"

  "—lied," he said, interrupting effortlessly. "Corvax. You are a brave, clever, and even wise man, but you must learn to lie better before you join the Elders. Fortunately, you have time."

  I deflated, confused, and he almost laughed.

  "I know that you have no desire to mate with that woman," he said. "But Gemma's life depends on the Perhar believing you'll do it anyway. They can accept that we Elders are cowards who'll accept her taking over, and that lets us keep her out of the way while you tell us your plan."

  "What makes you think that I have a plan?" I asked, and the Eldest exchanged a look with Jarax. Both nodded seriously.

  "Because you're the Protector," Jarax said, with absolute confidence in me. "You won't let the Perhar win like this, or let Gemma be taken away. If you don't have a plan yet, we'll wait while you make one."

  I blinked, taken aback. The certainty with which he spoke was touching and I didn't know how to respond. When I didn't answer immediately, the Eldest spoke instead.

  "Don't take too long, though. We can't stall Alishan forever — she may not be nice, but that doesn't make her stupid. Whatever we're going to do, you need to tell us before she works out that we're not the cowards she's taken us for."

  "You're serious," I said, shaking my head. "But if we try to rescue Gemma, people will die. Our people."

  "Corvax, she is one of us," the Eldest said. "No one will argue if you put us at risk to help her."

  "Your family has given so much in the service of the clan," Jarax added firmly. "It's time the rest of us gave back and saved someone for you."

  A weight lifted from my shoulders at their words, and I let go of my anger. It wasn't helping me think, and right now I needed a clear head. If my clan was at my back, I could still salvage this. I just had to work out how.

  "Is the Halloran still in port?" I asked, turning to look out to sea. An idea was forming in my mind, a dangerous one. But it just might work.

  "They were about to leave when the attack started," the Eldest said, taken aback by the question. "Why? They don't have the strength to attack the Perhar fortifications."

  "No, not on their own. But I have an idea..."

  I didn't know if it was a good one, or even a sane one. But it was better than leaving Gemma helpless in the hands of my enemies, and that would have to do. Thinking quickly, I began to plan.

  21

  Gemma

  I cried, of course. It was impossible not to let my emotions overwhelm me and trying would just have made things worse. So I let the tears have their turn for a while.

  Once they were past, I picked myself up and had another look around the room that was my prison. First the doors. There were three of them, including the one into Ashir's bedroom. Which, yes, was locked from the other side. Dragging a chair over I jammed it under the handle, hoping that would keep him from visiting uninvited.

  The second led to the bathroom. Nice as it was to have one, it didn't help me now. And the third was the one we'd entered through. I opened it to find a guard waiting outside. No use to me.

  The window was next, but there was no way I was escaping through that. Looking down at the dizzying drop, I tried to imagine climbing down and cringed. That was just a way to get myself killed.

  Even if I do escape, where would I go? It was a depressing question. If I could steal a flier I could... fly off into the wilds and hope I could find Rohar on my own. Even with the skystalk as an unmissable landmark I doubted I'd manage that, and my previous experience of flying didn't leave me very confident in my ability.

  I might be able to stow away on a ship, but that wasn't a great option either. Anyone who docked here would be friends with the Perhar clan, and they'd probably just trade me back if they caught me. Or worse.

  Flinging myself down on the bed, I tried to think of some other plan. By the time the servants came to fetch me my mind was going in circles and I was glad for the distraction.

  "My lady, Lord Ashir sent these for you," a maid said, holding up a dress. I sighed. Of course he wanted to dress me up, but I had to admit that I could use a change of clothes. And a shower. It had been too much of a day.

  And I could see fear in the maid's eyes, fear that I might not take the clothes she offered. She'd be blamed, and I didn't think that would go well for her. Ashir seemed like exactly the kind of asshole who'd take frustrations out on his staff.

  So I resigned myself to wearing the new clothes. He might be an asshole, but I wasn't going to give him an excuse to hurt anyone if I could avoid it.

  Getting changed turned out to take a while. Showering was quick enough, but the clothes my captor had sent for me were some kind of formal outfit. I needed help getting into them, and even then, they didn't fit well or comfortably. Someone had altered them to my size quickly, and while the fabric felt deliciously rich, the seams were hurriedly restitched and the overall effect was ludicrous. Heavy red fabric weighed me down, and the golden sash that the maids insisted on putting over the top kept getting caught on the fastenings.

  At last they were satisfied, and I looked at myself in the mirror with a sigh. Like everything else here it was ridiculously showy and not actually very good at its job, but I'd have to put up with it.

  On the walk to the dining room I kept an eye out for chances to escape. Not that I fancied running in this dress, but I didn't want to miss a chance to scout for a route out of here. Unfortunately, I didn’t see anything helpful. The one thing in the castle that didn't look decorative was the security. The cold looks that the guards gave me as I passed made it clear they were watching, and their uniforms and weapons looked perfectly functional.

  I'm not going to get out of here quickly, I realized. Not on my own, at least. Maybe if I can get the maids to help me? If they could sneak me out...

  The obvious plan would be to switch places with one, but that was out of the question here. My skin wasn't blue, for a start, and my accented speech would give me away even if I could disguise my skin. And hair. And... it was pointless listing everything that was wrong with that plan. I gave up on it for the time being, resigning myself to staying for at least a little while.

  The dining room was vast, and empty, dominated by a huge table set for two. Ashir rose from his seat to pull out a chair for me, for the moment acting like a chivalrous gentleman. Great, a romantic dinner. Just what I wanted.

  As I approached, he looked me up and down, his gaze lingering altogether too long on my breasts. Perhaps that's why he didn't notice my glare, but more likely he was simply a self-obsessed asshole who didn't care.

  "You look delightful," he said, finally tearing his eyes away and smiling. It wasn't a pleasant sight, and I gritted my teeth. It was easy to feel angry, but I was helpless and in his power here. Antagonizing him wouldn't be a good plan.

  "Thank you," I muttered as I sat down. Better to be polite than to piss him off. Probably.

  The servants appeared bearing trays full of food, dozens of di
shes with a dizzying array of smells. None of them seemed familiar from my time amongst the Rohar, and I didn't really want to eat, but I had to eat something. If I'm going to escape, I need to keep my strength up.

  I resolved to ignore how unlikely an escape was. I had to find a way, staying here was simply not an option. So I took a little of everything, not caring if that was the right thing to do.

  For a little while we ate in silence, and I had to admit that despite my lack of appetite the food wasn't bad. Of course, Ashir had to spoil it by speaking.

  "Gemma, don't look so upset," he said. "I can offer you every comfort, and I mean you no harm. You will be happy here, if only you accept your place."

  "I know my place, I'm Corvax's mate," I snapped, looking up and seeing his face darken. Okay, that might not have been the most politic of things to say.

  "You are not," Ashir replied. "Perhaps you wish you were, but it's not so. My sister has that honor now, not you. You are here. Accept that, make the best of it, and you can still find happiness."

  "I came here as a hostage," I said, putting down my fork. The last of my appetite had vanished. "Not as anything else. You're breaking your word if you don't keep me safe."

  His laugh was dark, humorless. "Oh, you will be quite safe, I promise you. That doesn't mean that you have to be comfortable. If you do not like the arrangements I have offered you, then perhaps a few days without food will change your mind."

  I shivered at that. He was quite serious, but that didn't matter. I wasn't giving myself to him, no matter what he said. Our gazes locked in a glare and I saw a spark of surprise in his eyes. Ashir had misread me, and he didn't like that I wasn't going to give in quickly.

  Unfortunately, he was stubborn too. A quick gesture brought guards into the room, and he nodded to them.