by Celeste Raye
“What do we do if the Arkani have not come?” Alexis asked, speaking for the first time since she had started caring for him. She had been deathly silent, probably for fear of breaking his concentration. It was nice to hear her voice, but she wouldn’t like his answer.
“We crash the ship on the Arkani planet to get their attention,” Nabvan answered flatly, as if it were the simplest answer imaginable. He looked back at the woman he loved to see her lips pursed so tight they had turned pale. But she didn’t say what she was thinking. She didn’t have to. He knew they would lose people in the process, possibly himself. He was already injured. That kind of jarring could easily mean his demise. But he would do what he had to do. At least on the Arkani planet, if he had to leave this world, Alexis would be safe. No man would force anything on her, and she could practice science to her heart’s content. She would be alright.
The time went on in silence, no one daring to speak as they kept their eyes open for an Arkani ship, but there was nothing. Nabvan knew just what he needed to do, and he needed to do it quickly. He put the ship into its highest gear, flying way too fast for a lot of control. It would only aid in the crash he wanted to make, but it would be a semi-controlled one. He wasn’t looking to kill everyone on board, just make an entrance the Arkani could not ignore. Siefer would have to find another way back to his wife. Maybe the Arkani would be kind and let him have one of their ships, or they might be able to fix this one. He couldn’t think about that right now.
Nabvan stood up, getting ready to steer the ship as needed, right down onto the planet. Alexis came to his side and whispered in his ear. “I love you more than anything. Please, be careful.” He was damn well going to try to, but he couldn’t make promises to her he wouldn’t be able to keep for sure. He wasn’t that kind of man.
“I love you too,” he told her, coming in close to orbit. The Arkani planet was darker than even Milisaria most of the time. They had a sun, but its orbit meant that it took several Earth days to see the light again. And there was only one moon as well. It was why the Arkani were not an attractive race. They always looked thin and sallow. These women would not have the pleasure of great lovers or good-looking men, but the Arkani were intelligent and kind. That was what they needed most after what they had been through.
Everyone found something to hang onto as he brought the ship down, much too fast for anyone’s liking. He felt the bottom drop out of his stomach as they approached the dry soil that covered the surface of the planet. They were going to hit hard enough to make a ruckus. He hoped they were somewhere heavily populated. He had tried to get as close to the capital as possible, but he had never been, only seen maps.
Then, the ship struck with a horrible sound of ripping metal. They all fell, and he felt his head hit on something. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew he had taken it too far. He reached out for Alexis with his hand, but he felt no one grasp it. The best thing he could do before he passed out and possibly die was to make it off of the ship and to an Arkani citizens to let them know who they were and why they were there. They needed to claim asylum just in case the Arkani saw the Milisarian ship as a threat.
Nabvan crawled his way out of the hatch, onto the dry red soil where the Arkani had already gathered to see what was going on. They backed up at the sight of the injured Milisarian as he begged for them to listen. “On board are some of the human women who were supposed to come to you. They were captured by the Milisarians. I have brought them back. We claim asylum. Please, help us. I do not know how many are injured.” Nabvan tried to stand for a moment before falling at their feet, no longer able to help himself. Just before he passed out, he saw Alexis coming off the ship, looking like she was alright.
“I love you,” he tried to croak out, but he didn’t know if she heard or not. The blackness soon consumed him.
Chapter 25
Alexis reached for Nabvan’s hand and felt it entwine with hers. She looked over at him and felt emotional; tears threatened to come streaming down her face. It was so nice to see him well and walking around again. The way he looked when the ship had crashed had broken her heart all over again. She had been so sure he was going to die. If they had still been on Milisaria or headed to Earth, he would have died. But the Arkani had been so kind to them. They had begun healing anyone injured immediately, waiting for a full explanation later.
Alexis had been able to sit down with some of the leading council to go over with them what had happened to them after being captured by the Milisarian knights. They were sorry for what had happened and had gotten her communication, but they did not think they could do anything with a Milisarian ship. They thought it would be best to let the women go back to Earth.
They were so happy now to have the women with them and had begun to court some of them, the right way. Alexis had gotten to pore over all the research that had been done about the disease killing off the women while Nabvan was on the mend. She had helped them find a link in the genetics of the bacteria that latched onto a DNA strain in the women that the men did not have. It was great work, and it had taken her mind off of all of the things that had happened to her since leaving Earth.
But Siefer had been sad. He had ended up with two broken arms, but that was it. He was ready to go home and see Destiney. It had been almost two weeks since they landed there on the Arkani planet, and he knew those on the planet would be worried about what was to happen next without a king or an heir. He did not know what that would mean for his beautiful wife or the child that might be born at that very moment.
The Arkani had offered to repair the ship, but it was taking time. Nabvan, Siefer, and Alexis were on their way to check on the progress of the repairs. They hoped it was done today, though Alexis was still unsure what would happen to her and Nabvan. Their love had grown and been solidified. There was no one else between them anymore. But there was still something else that could rip them apart: where they wanted to live. She had made a place for herself on the Arkani planet, at least that was how she felt, but she didn’t think Nabvan felt at home. They could easily go back to Earth, but she didn’t know that he wanted that either. So, where would they go? Alexis was hoping for the answer soon.
As they approached the ship they had crashed onto the planet less than two weeks ago, Alexis could see that it looked brand new. If it wasn’t finished, it would be soon. “Ah, welcome my friends,” the Arkani councilor said as he came to embrace them. It had been strange to touch them at first. Their skin was slightly slimy. But they were so warm and kind it didn’t matter anymore. “I am so happy to tell you that the ship will be finished tomorrow. Siefer, you can go home to your wife.”
Alexis looked over to see the broad smile on Siefer’s face. Destiney had really landed a good one, and she hoped they would have a happy reunion. It made her miss Destiney a little, thinking about her on the planet, wondering where her husband was and having a baby.
“Alexis, may I talk with you for a moment?” Alexis was caught off guard by the question as she was pulled away from the two men. She looked to Nabvan, but he urged her on. She took him with her, though, not wanting to do anything without him. Life was too short for that, and she had nothing to hide.
“What is it?” she asked the council leader with curiosity.
“I realize that you have been through much and that this may not feel like your home anymore, but you have done great things for us in your short time here,” he told her with a warm smile on his face. Alexis felt proud that he said that. She had never been so appreciated for what her mind could do. It was nice to hear for a change, especially coming from a man. “We wanted to extend an offer to you, that you remain here and become head of research in our lab here in the capital. You could do even more great things for us.” Alexis tried not to gasp at the offer. It was exactly something she had dreamed of, but as she looked at Nabvan, she saw a tinge of sadness there.
“May I have a moment with Nabvan first?” she asked. The council leader bowed his head gracio
usly and went back to check on the work of the ship. She turned to Nabvan and asked him point blank. “What are you thinking? What do you want to do?” She braced herself for the answer. She knew one of them would have to sacrifice if they wanted to be together. Long distance relationships on one planet were hard enough. There was no way to keep that going on two separate planets, no matter how much she loved him.
“The truth is, I am worried about my people,” he admitted, looking sheepish. “I don’t know what kind of a welcoming I or you would get after the death of the king, but they will need help finding a new one and stabilizing. Maybe I can help with that. I don’t think King Shene was that popular among villagers. Maybe I could make a change. But if you want to stay…”
Alexis reached her finger up to stop his mouth. She didn’t need to hear any more. She understood just what he meant. “I love you,” she told him simply. “And I will come with you, whatever that means. I can bring science to the Milisarians, just like they wanted.” Alexis smiled, and he lifted her up, spinning her round in a sweet embrace but quickly put her down as she began feeling dizzy and sick. In fact, a strange pain shot through her stomach.
“That was strange,” she said, holding the spot that had hurt on her abdomen. She hung onto Nabvan for help.
“This is the first time you have felt funny since being here. Maybe it’s the planet,” Nabvan offered. “Let’s get you to the doctor.”
Nabvan helped her into the doctor’s office inside the capital. All the technology was still mind-blowing to her as they laid her down and scanned her body with something like an MRI, except there was no need to go inside a machine or use harmful tech.
“Sweetheart,” the doctor said, one of the only females left on the planet. She had a mutation, which allowed her to escape the disease. It had been one of the ways she had been able to get the Arkani their answers. “I can already tell you why you feel funny. You are having a baby!” The woman clapped her hands together excitedly, and she looked to Nabvan, seeing that he was about ready to cry happy tears. Were they really going to get to have a family together?
Nabvan leaned down to her ear, kissing it sweetly before whispering, “I knew you were my mate. We will be together always, now.”
Bonus Book- Renall
Revant Warriors
Chapter 1
Clara Waters stood at the bow of the spaceship, her eyes fastened on the world outside that window. The same misgivings she’d had back on Earth came flooding in.
This was insane. She couldn’t possibly be on a spaceship flying to a lonely planet as a mail-order bride. She’d hated flying in air planes; the thought of being so far above the ground had never been one she’d liked, but now she was literally hurtling through space, passing by small asteroids and planets cloaked in jewel-like colors.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”
Clara looked over at Margie Jones. She had fiery red hair, a porcelain complexion, and a habit of biting her full bottom lip so that it puffed up in a very attractive way. Margie added, “But I’d say it’s way too late to change my mind. We arrive in three days.”
Clara looked back at the window. Her reflection looked back. Her jet-black hair hung to the waist of the baggy flight suit. Her face, a long oval filled with long-lidded blue eyes and high cheekbones, didn’t show the fear she felt. Why would it? She’d always been good at hiding her emotions. She’d had to be.
Clara said, “It won’t be so bad.” I hope.
Margie asked, “Do you think they’ll be hideous?”
Clara didn’t have to ask whom Margie meant. “No, we’ve seen them before, remember? They’re nearly human in appearance. Well, except for the third arm and the pointy heads, but that’s small stuff.” She thought, Or not. I mean c’mon, a fucking third arm? I don’t know if I can stomach it, really but what else could I do? “I don’t know about you, but if I hadn’t gotten on the ship I would’ve had to do life, and that was in a serio-max. So this is way preferable.”
Margie chuckled. “What did you do, anyway?”
Clara said, “My folks were carders. They had a big op running down on the Under Levels below Old Toronto. I ran a few tables for them and I got caught.”
Margie’s eyes widened. “You’re lucky they didn’t send you to serio-max without giving you the choice to do this. If you got caught with real currency that’s…that’s as bad as murder.”
She had been caught with currency, thousands of coins and bills. Her lips tightened. “I wouldn’t have gotten caught; none of us would if it hadn’t been for…” She paused. A lacerating pain hit her chest.
She’d trusted James, and she’d loved him too. He’d betrayed her and her entire family, and now she was on her way to an alien planet, and her family was stuck in cells. It was all her fault, and she knew it. She should never have broken that first rule of carding—never trust anyone, especially someone you love.
Clara cleared her throat. “How about you?”
Margie sighed. “I had a bad work record and was declared a bad citizen. They gave me two choices: come and be a bride or be declared unproductive.”
In other words, Margie’s choices were between being killed in a government-sanctioned ‘sleep facility’ or marrying an alien on the under-populated outer colonies. Clara said, “I guess you made the best of a bad situation.”
Ariel, a tall and elegant blonde with tanned skin and a trim athletic figure, came toward the two. She said, “What’re you guys talking about?”
Margie said, “How we got here.”
Clara asked, “How did you get here?”
Ariel twirled a strand of hair around one slender finger. “I got sold off for my family’s debt to the government. Lucky me, I’m the pretty sister. Nobody even asked if maybe my parents and grandparents, who ran up the debt, wanted to get sold. It just came down to me whether I liked it or not since all debt’s inherited. It would have been my debt any way they looked at it, and so—here I am. But don’t, for a single second, think I’m happy about this.”
Margie gave Ariel a sympathetic look and said; “I think a few other women on here are onboard over inherited debt too.”
Clara looked away. Guilt hit, weakening her knees and sending fresh pain into her chest and heart. If it was possible to buy her family out of those cells, she’d do it in a second, even if it meant marrying a Centipedal from one of the hostile planets to the far left of the system they flew through. Nothing would get her family back, and it was all her fault.
Her eyes closed. James’ handsome face swarmed up. Auburn hair over a high forehead, a slight dusting of freckles across his wide nose, a mouth made for kissing.
And a heart made to turn over his lover’s family to the government in order to curry favor and get out of the Base-Level Tenements and into a nice flat above the ground.
Bastard.
She really hoped the ground below his nice new living quarters cratered and toppled and killed his sorry, betraying ass straight dead.
The crew came to life with a suddenness that startled Clara. She and the others gawked as crewmembers, galvanized by something the three women couldn’t see, dashed by.
The loud clang of sirens rang out. Clara, used to danger, reacted by shouting, “They’re running, so we should be too!”
Ariel’s mouth hung open. Margie, obviously blessed with a sense of self-preservation, took off at a dead run. Clara grabbed Ariel’s arm. “Come on!”
Red lights flashed. A low grating sound ran through the ship. Ariel, her pretty face crumpling, asked, “What’s happening?”
“Run!” Clara’s fingers clamped down more tightly on Ariel’s arm. Her feet moved, and after a moment, Ariel’s did too. They staggered and ran down the hallways. A loud clanking noise rose above the din created by the sirens. Crewmembers ran on, their faces shocked and frightened.
Clara thought, Oh, it just figures! I hate flying, and now I’m going to die in a spaceship that must be crashing or something!
P
anting, her feet sliding along the slick floors, Clara kept going. Her survival instincts kicked in. An inner voice told her to leave Ariel, who was just holding her back. Once upon a time she might have, but she wasn’t on the Under-Levels where life was cheap and saving one’s self was something everyone was taught from an early age.
The other women crowded near the pods, their faces showing their fear. A few shouting crewmembers pushed and shoved at them, thrusting them back toward the door of the pods.
Clara balked. “What if we get trapped in there? What if there’s a fire or something?”
It wouldn’t matter. Her heart sank, as she understood that. If the ship was crashing, the pods couldn’t save them, only the small escape ships could: the escape ships that were on the other end of the ship. Anger hit. She shouted, “The escape ships!”
The crewmembers kept pushing, but a few had begun to run again, headed for the bays on the other side of the ship. That action just highlighted the fear growing in Clara. If the crewmembers could, they’d save themselves and no way could those rescue ships hold them and their cargo. She screamed, “They’re trying to put us in the pods so they can get on the ships and bail on us! They are going to leave us here to die!”
Ariel shrieked. Her fist flew out. The woman packed a hell of a punch, Clara saw with some satisfaction. Now that the nefarious plot was clear, all the women fought back. One in particular, a skinny blonde, was skilled at fighting, her lean body launching across the floor and her feet and hands both kicking and punching. Clara didn’t have time to admire that. She was too busy just trying to get the crew out of her way and to the ships that were the only shot any of them had. Most of the crew deserted the fight and hauled ass for the escape ships. The women chased behind them, but Clara could feel her hopes sinking as she spotted a whole lot of those ships rocketing off into space, leaving them behind.
