by Geri Foster
“But no one has ever seen a female from there.”
“So? How do they know she’s ugly?” Altair tapped him on the chest. “You must stop thinking the worse. What if she’s beautiful?”
“I have to know for sure,” Ronic said. “I must see her before the wedding.”
“Then go visit her.”
Ronic balled his fists and gritted his teeth. “Father forbids it.”
Altair laughed. “Like you’ve ever listened to him before.”
“Mother says it bodes ill if a groom sees his bride before the wedding.”
Okay, if the king and queen were both against Ronic seeing his future bride, Altair understood his concern, however, Altair hadn’t heard anything about seeing a bride before the wedding feast. Superstitions and hearsay were foolish to a level headed warrior like him. All of his life he’d only dealt with the hard cold facts.
Pacing the floor, Altair asked, “Have you communicated with her at all?”
“No. She’s not responded to any of my requests that we speak to one another.”
Altair found it strange that she didn’t have the same level of curiosity as Ronic, considering they were to wed soon. “Perhaps we can find someone from that planet and they can give you a report.”
Ronic’s face reddened and his grey eyes narrowed angrily. “Where do you think I got the information that she was ugly?”
Hoping to calm his friend, Altair raised his palms calmly and said. “Let me see what I can find out from our security system. What’s her name?”
“Mystic Star.”
“All right. Give me a few days and I’ll find out as much as I can.”
Ronic stalked out of the room, and the pout on his face told Altair that his friend wasn’t satisfied with his counsel. The slamming of the door in his wake confirmed his suspicion. He wasn’t sure what to make of the prince’s determination to seek out his soon to be bride. One thing was certain, Altair didn’t want to get involved with matters of the heart. That wasn’t part of his genetic make-up.
Before he could get his glass of smire, King Layas entered his room unannounced. At the sight of the tall, impressive, Vion, with a neat beard and eyes that were sharp enough to see through a man, Altair jumped to attention.
In the presence of King Layas, one adhered to all the formalities unless you wanted your head severed from your body. It was one thing to be casual and friendly with Ronic, the prince, but never with the ruling monarch.
Bowing respectfully, Altair said, “How may I serve you, My King?”
He was dressed in an elegant red and green robe, the familiar gold crown adorned his head, and an air of authority surrounding him. King Layas said, “I’m concerned about Ronic’s bride.”
“In what way, My King?”
“This female he is to wed, Mystic Star, has disappeared from her planet.”
Altair hid his surprise by nodding his head. Would she dare disobey her parents? Break all the rules? Few royals were that foolish.
“Do we know where she’s gone?” Altair asked.
“No one knows,” the King said, an edge of panic tinged his voice. “I want you to scour the solar system until you find her, then immediately bring her back here to wed Ronic.”
Altair bowed again. “I’m at your service, My King.”
“See that it’s done as quietly and quickly as possible. I don’t want to upset the queen.”
“I understand completely, My King.”
The old king turned and paced his small quarters. “I trust you, Altair. You are the best man I have. That’s why I trust only you. Find that girl and bring her back where she belongs.”
“As you wish.”
The door closed, Altair dropped into the chair and gave up on his glass of smire. He’d need something stronger than that to straighten out this royal mess. Ronic was already worried about the princess being unsuitable, and here she’d taken off. Where would a spoiled, pampered female go?
His gaze traveled to the closed door and, for the first time in Altair’s life, he yearned for something else. He didn’t know what, but indecisiveness burned in his gut. What a mess; a king, a prince, and a missing bride.
Chapter Four
enelope held the hand of a middle-aged woman from Omaha and closed her eyes. Her client was obviously very concerned about her sixteen-year-old daughter, Mia. Reading her mind, she had good reason to be. The girl was riding the express lane of Disaster Freeway.
“Your daughter, Mia, she’s very much on your mind?”
“That girl has been nothing but trouble since she hit her teens.”
Yes, she had.
“I see a change coming for her.”
The anxious mother leaned closer, eager to hear something positive about the troubled teen. With her brown eyes hopeful and her face etched with stress, she asked, “You do? Is it good or is she heading for more trouble?”
“That’s going to depend,” Penelope said, being careful to not be too nosey.
“On what?” the woman asked desperately. “I’ll do anything to see her on the right track.”
Penelope believed that. From the woman’s thoughts, she knew the mother loved her daughter very much. She was simply at the end of a very long rope.
“I think I know someone who can help.”
“Who? Like a counselor?” The woman leaned away, slipping her hands from Penelope’s grasp. In a show of defiance, she shook her head and folded her arms across meager breasts. “Been there, done that. They don’t work.”
“This guy I know is different. Very different, and he lives near you in Des Moines.”
The woman’s brows lowered and her mouth formed a frown. “I bet he costs a fortune.”
“He’s quite reasonable.” With her friend’s innate ability to hypnotize people and adjust their behavior, he’d chosen the perfect field. “Let me give you his contact information.”
As she scribbled on the back of one of her cards, the woman eyed her skeptically.
“Can you really see the future?”
Penelope looked up and smiled, hoping to reassure the woman that the advice she gave her was valuable to Mia’s future. No stranger to the question, Penelope answered, “Yes. There are times I’m better than others, but I generally get to the heart of a problem.”
The woman straightened her spine, folded her hands, and licked her dry lips. “Can you tell me if my friend, Stephanie is having an affair with my husband?”
Penelope stared at the woman. Since she wasn’t a true fortune-teller, so she had no idea. However, the woman across from her was a very suspicious person who often looked for things that didn’t exist. Closing her eyes, Penelope shook her head. “I don’t see an affair.”
“I know she has the hots for him.”
“Perhaps you’re right.” Penelope handed the woman her card and stood. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your reading and let me know how it goes for Mia.”
Shoving back her chair, the lady stared down at the card. “Do you really think he can help?”
“I know he can.”
They shook hands and the woman departed. Once the beaded curtains closed, Penelope ripped off her wig and leaned back her head. What an exhausting day. After almost eleven hours, she didn’t feel like doing another reading.
“Judy,” she called out, “is that it?”
Her green haired, heavily tatted assistant came in the back room, wearing a pair of skintight shorts and a low cut tee shirt. “No one’s here. Want me to put up the closed sign?”
“Yes, let’s call an end to this madness and go home.”
“Right on, sister.”
The robe’s sleeves slid to her elbows as Penelope rubbed her temples. This whole fortune telling gig was a pain in her ass. All the lying, evasions, and prying into other people’s minds drove her crazy.
Having the ability to intrude on another person’s thoughts was a talent she was born with, but she didn’t make a habit of using that ability all the time. She usually
kept her own mind so busy she rarely caught a thing, unless she was prying, which she didn’t like to do.
Leaving her shop through the back door, she got into her Prius and drove toward the small house she rented on the east side of town. With all the snowbirds, tourists, and general weirdoes, Magic was busier than usual.
She grabbed a sandwich at a local take-out and headed home for the night. Once safely inside her home, she relaxed and tossed her purse on the table. Passing the kitchen counter, she set down the takeout container and went to the fridge for a beer. After several hearty swigs, she settled into a chair and pulled her dinner closer.
Before she could take a bite, Evelyn knocked and entered without waiting for an invitation. The two often spent their evenings together eating food from paper sacks and enjoying a cold beer.
Evelyn placed her dinner on the counter and said, “I hate Saturdays.”
“Yeah,” Penelope replied. “They’re just a prelude to an even busier Sunday.”
Taking a beer from the fridge, Evelyn screwed off the cap and took a large gulp. “That’s nice and cold.”
Penelope held up her bottle. “Just the way I like it.” They toasted, then Evelyn took a chair at the counter and they ate their meals in silence.
Her friend had a burger and fries while Penelope had decided upon a salad since she’d hit McDonald’s for lunch. While they ate, Penelope glanced at the calendar. A big circle drawn with a Sharpie noted the date she was to testify in court.
Evelyn followed her gaze and sighed softly. “It’ll be over soon.”
“I hope so.” Penelope poured the packaged dressing on her salad and moved the food around in its container. “Theo stopped by today to see how I was doing.”
Evelyn popped a fry in her mouth. “He’s such a big, gruff man to be acting like a mother hen,” Evelyn said. “I can tell he’s worried.”
“He is, and for that I’m grateful. I have to admit, between Theo and Frost, I’ve never felt safer in my life.”
Her friend reached out and covered her hand. “We care about you. All of Magic is protecting you.”
“Yes, I know. I only worry that Gonzales will still send someone to kill me for testifying after the trial ends.”
“That’s not going to happen with Theo in charge. Between his powers and his expertise as a lawman, you’re in excellent hands. And I won’t go into all the spells Lacey and Topper have cast around the city.”
Penelope shoved the food container aside, sadness squeezing her heart. “I know that, but I want to feel free to visit my family in Sedona. Here, I’m basically a prisoner.”
“A prisoner in loving hands,” Evelyn reminded her. “Don’t worry so much. This will all work out.”
“I hope you’re right,” Penelope said. “The longer it drags on, the more I worry.”
Chapter Five
ltair marched from his quarters to the fleet hangar where his starship fighter waited to embark on his search for Mystic Star. The information he’d received from the data department had pinpointed several places, but Earth seemed the most likely. In particular, a place called Magic, New Mexico.
As he approached his starship, all hands on deck stood at attention and saluted, as a well-trained division of Star Troopers directly under a man of his position should. As second in command of the planet’s military, he was only accountable to the Supreme Commander and, of course, King Layas.
Even though he was going on a relatively peaceful mission, he still went heavily armed. One never knew what waited on other planets. While he’d been to Earth twice to retrieve escaped prisoners, he’d stayed under their radar and left without any Humans knowing he had been there. He hoped to retrieve the reluctant bride and do the same on this trip.
As the loading door of his ship opened, Altair came to an abrupt halt. Ronic had already boarded and stood just inside the entrance. “What are you doing here?” Altair asked. Perhaps the prince had more information that might be helpful in his search.
“I’m going with you,” his friend said, staunchly. “I intend to see for myself what this Mystic Star looks like.” He adjusted the high collar of his red uniform jacket. “And I’d like to know why she ran away.”
So, the prince was more informed than he thought about his future wife’s disappearance. “I didn’t know you were aware of that.”
“Where is she?”
“Our best guess is Earth.”
“You’ve been there before?”
“I have.” Altair went into the ship and headed toward the cockpit of his starship. “I’m taking off after I complete the safety check.” Altair picked up the map of his charted course. “You’ll have to leave. I’ll be launching in a matter of minutes.”
Puffing out his chest, Ronic said, “I’m going with you.”
Altair turned, lowered the clipboard, and then looked at his friend in disbelief. In a low threatening voice, he asked, “What will the king say?”
“He’ll be angry and shout a lot.” Ronic turned aside. “But this is my life we’re talking about.”
Altair threw down the paperwork and jammed his hands on his hips. “Should we find Princess Mystic Star and she’s not to your liking, what will you do?”
“We’ll drop her off on some distant planet.”
Scowling, Altair lifted a brow and said, “Nonsense. We can’t do that. We’re members of the Coalition, the Federation, and the Alliance. We can’t break rules like that. They’ll hang us and wage war on our homeland.”
“My father is a powerful man. He won’t let anyone hang his son.”
“Have you stopped to consider exactly why it is you’re getting married?”
Ronic turned boldly to face him, then crossed his arms. “I have, and I still don’t like it.”
“You may not be enjoying the cease fire, but I can assure you my men and I are. Our two planets are in the midst of brokering an armistice. Peace terms are being discussed and you intend to ruin all that by brushing off the princess?”
“I’m not brushing her off, I’m just not sure I want to marry a female who’d run away and hide to keep from marrying me.”
His patience almost to an end, Altair tightened his lips as he spoke. “She’s young and perhaps foolish. Give her a chance.”
“I will. Once we get to Earth and find her, I will insist she explain herself.”
“You’re a damned fool, Ronic,” Altair shouted, knowing he could do little to stop the prince from alienating everyone on his planet. “Your actions could have dire consequences. The destiny of two planets hangs in the balance and you’re acting like a child.”
“I may be your friend, but never forget that I am the Supreme Commander of all the Armed Forces and that includes you.”
Altair stared at his friend, no longer able to conceal his anger. His lips twitched and his eyes narrowed, but he kept his mouth shut for his own good.
“As you wish, Ronic. I’ll do as you say. I can’t stop you from going, but you will announce to the king that you’re doing this of your own accord. I won’t be held accountable for your foolishness.”
“I will notify my father the minute we leave Vion’s atmosphere.”
Altair moved to the console, picked up the clipboard, and went through the routine prelaunch checklist. After ensuring the fuselage was filled with fuel pellets, he slid into his usual seat, strapped himself in, and fired up the interstellar starship fighter. Instantly, the lights on the console blinked to life.
Without waiting for Ronic to get completely comfortable, Altair squeezed the accelerator forward as hard as he could and they shot out of the hanger, hurling them into the aqua colored sky.
His companion was pressed tightly into his seat as the fusion reactors kicked in. “Are you going to be angry at me all the way to Earth?”
“Probably.”
Chapter Six
Planet Mortarian
kan of Mortaria strolled to his spaceship, ready to leave for Earth. His second in command by his side, t
hey entered the sky craft and made preparations for an immediately departure.
“Akan,” Ulia said. “Everything has been checked. We’re really to launch.”
“Strap in, we’re running out of time.”
“We have to get this over with quickly. We’ll kidnap Princess Mystic Star, Ronic of Vion’s soon to be bride, then collect the bounty and be done with it.”
“I heard she was to marry the Prince so there would be peace between their two planets.”
Akan laughed so hard his belly shook. “Her uncle doesn’t make money during peace time.”
Ulia’s eyes sparkled with greed. “Oh, there’s nothing like the betrayal of a family member.”
“For you and I, it’s just more money.”
His partner straightened, the long stringy hair covering his body was matted and oily. “Where is she? How far must we travel?”
Akan lifted his mouth into a snarl. “She’s hidden well.”
“Where?”
“Earth.”
“Earthlings are delicious.”
Ulia changed from his true Mortarian form, a hairy, two horned, pig like creature with claws for hands and feet, into a Humanoid. “I’d better get used to this.”
While they could transform into Humans, the ruse only lasted a short time. Also, their stench was so strong that several other alien lifeforms had the ability to smell them. That damned Altair’s entire army often sniffed them out from miles away.
Akan shook his head and twisted his body until he too assumed the appearance of an Earthling. “Not a beautiful race, these Humans, but we’ll survive long enough to capture the female and bring her back here. Once that happens, we’ll have the money from her uncle and also what we get when we auction her off to the highest bidder.”
Ulia clapped his hands with glee. He was such a greedy bastard. “She’ll bring a nice price. Especially being a princess.”
“This time we’re not just grabbing one or two cheap slaves to sell. This will be a very profitable mission. We’ll return rich men.”
