by Averi Hope
But the sight of fire so close to his limp cock was all that mattered.
Sweat trickled down his back as he spoke, his voice several octaves too high. “As you wish.”
The younger man’s fingers fell from his throat, and he stepped back. “I’m glad you finally see things my way.”
If I was younger and could call my flame to me as quickly and as powerfully as in my prime, I’d burn this coward to ash.
“Right this way.” Rising on legs that shook, Tayker went to his console.
Kaemon crowded behind him as he finally reached the activation screen.
Part of him still wanted to convince Kaemon to wait. A set of Spyres had crash-landed with the prince on his original mission, but Tayker hadn’t been able to activate them because the distance was too great. Although they were approaching Earth, the distance was still great enough that he wasn’t sure if they would work. He hoped that the new and improved Spyres he’d attached to Saura’s ship would activate the original Spyres, or if not, do the job on their own. But new and improved or not, there was no guarantee until they got to the inner solar system. And they were still a few days away.
We should wait, or all of this could be for nothing.
But the manic gleam in Kaemon’s eyes and his unstable temperament, not to mention the palm of fire next to his exposed manhood told Tayker that reasoning with him was pointless.
Sighing, he hit the button on the screen, activating it against his better judgment.
“It’s done.”
The rage slowly faded from the younger man’s face. “But what if he’s already been with my mate?”
Tayker withheld a laugh. She can only hope. It would be the only good mating she’ll ever get. “Tying a female to a male takes time. As long as he dies before the connection is made permanent, it will actually make it easier to force her into a connection with you.”
Kaemon’s brows rose. “You said that before, but how can you be sure?” His eyes narrowed. “I wonder if you’re simply telling me what I want to hear to escape my wrath for letting her leave in the first place.”
Suspicious and hot-tempered. What a perfect combination in a leader.
And one who doesn’t know the facts of mating. Even better.
“I’m sure.”
A slow smile dawned on his face. “Then we have one week to get the other Elementas behind us. To convince them that I should be the one to take their empty throne. That I will be the one to exterminate the dominant species on the blue planet and start the next chapter of our lives on a planet that isn’t doomed. So that when Saura returns with news of Raiden’s death, our people will care less about how he died and more about their very positive future.”
A slight sound drew Tayker’s gaze to the bedroom. It’s about time for me to return to more positive company…
“Agreed,” Tayker said, rising to his feet. “But it’s late…”
Kaemon frowned and opened his mouth.
Just then, the door to his bedroom slid open.
Kaemon spun, staring at the widow Emela as she stood in the doorway, clutching one of Tayker’s robes to her chest. Her dark hair was tangled and wild around her shoulders, her pale blue skin slightly darkened from their lovemaking.
“I heard shouting. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, darling—“
“There was someone here!” Kaemon’s eyes went wild. “She heard everything!”
Tayker looked between his bedmate and the younger male. “She heard nothing. She was simply—“
Faster than he could process, fire exploded from Kaemon’s hand. The widow’s eyes widened, and then she was consumed by flames. Within seconds, her body collapsed into a pile of ash.
Emela! His mind screamed in helpless rage and grief. Emela, no!
She may have only been a female to warm his bed these past few years, but he’d grown somewhat attached to her presence. Her beauty.
Her companionship.
And now…now she was dead.
Tayker rose to his feet and stumbled to the remains of his female. He nearly collapsed as the smell of burned flesh washed over him. After being alone for so long, I’d grown accustom to our time together. And if I’m honest, perhaps she’d begun to mean something more to me than that, even if her bloodline made her an impossible choice for a mate for me. He gripped the wall, his head spinning.
This didn’t happen. I’m in bed, trapped in a nightmare.
Kaemon cast him a dirty look. “You shouldn’t have brought her here.”
He killed her. He killed a female. There is no greater crime.
The younger man’s footsteps sounded loud as he walked to the door. “Goodnight, Counselor.”
There was no emotion in his voice. No concern. No regret. It was as if he hadn’t just murdered an innocent woman. As if they’d just enjoyed a rather pleasant evening together.
He’s deranged.
“What—how am I to hide this? To explain her absence?”
The younger man answered without hesitation. “You’re the best liar I’ve ever encountered…just look at how you’re helping me. I’m sure you’ll think of something.”
When the door closed, Tayker crumpled to his knees. What have I done? I’ve doomed my people by helping that monster.
He promised you wealth and power, a voice whispered in the back of his mind.
Then, a smaller voice answered back.
It sounded suspiciously like Emela.
But at what cost, Tayker? At what cost?
Chapter Twelve
Raiden slowly awoke to the sounds of chirping birds outside his window. Earth. A planet that is never quiet. He stretched and found himself smiling. When was the last time he felt this happy and relaxed?
And then he remembered why. Saura.
He still couldn’t believe she was here. He’d been trying to keep track of the time until the Elementa fleet arrived at Earth. In his mind, he’d been prepared for a number of scenarios, most ending in his death. Never had he considered that Saura would be sent down to retrieve him in advance.
No other female would take such a risk.
Something within his chest warmed. Elementas were matched based upon a number of factors: genetics, social standing, intelligence, emotional stability. When two children were found to be equals, their fathers could arrange a meeting and create a match if they felt it would be beneficial to their bloodlines. Which meant that matches rarely resulted in love, but nearly always resulted in respect. But with Saura, it had always been more than respect for him…
Memories slowly unfolded like the petals of a flower. Of Saura as a girl, and then his last memories of her as a very young woman. She’d been brave, intelligent, and beautiful.
Her father had done everything in his power to raise her as a quiet, domesticated female. But she’d been a handful from the very beginning, escaping her escorts time and time again to explore the woods around her castle with whatever friends she could find, whether they were commoners or the upper class. She never seemed to care, as long as she was free. And when she was caught, she never defended her actions, instead giving a smile that melted even the fiercest of hearts.
Before his disastrous mission to Earth, his days had been filled with the harsh responsibilities of being the heir to their empire. None of it was enjoyable. All of it threatened to steal what little happiness a childhood was supposed to bring. But Saura hadn’t let that happen. She was always dragging him off, getting him in trouble, and filling his days with adventure. He went to bed dreaming of her, and awoke waiting for the moment he would see her each day.
First as my friend, then as something more…
And then the day of her Becoming came. There was a celebration. A soft kiss as she renewed her promise to be his and only his. Then she was gone from his life. The spark that had filled his days died. It was impossible for him to communicate with her, although he’d managed to send her one picture of him in all the years she was gone.
&nbs
p; Life had gone back to being dull, repetitive, and lonely.
Until he’d gone to Earth and found a place he could finally be happy. The only thing he missed from his old life was Saura. And only Saura. But now he had her, too.
He opened his eyes, and stiffened, shocked to find her sitting up in bed, staring at him. Her hair was a curtain of black, wavy and tangled around her narrow shoulders. She wore one of his shirts, her knees curled up against her chest as her chin rested on her knees.
“Saura,” he whispered, reaching for her.
Her mouth pulled down into a frown as her gaze avoided his. “I have to tell you something.”
His heart raced. Does she regret our night of lovemaking? Is she still angry that I didn’t know her identity? His chest ached at just the thought of how he’d hurt her. “I’m sorry, my love. But I promise to make it up to you.”
She shook her head, her hair falling forward. “It’s not that.”
My mate looks so small and fragile. He reached for her, longing to feel her warm body against his own naked one, to bring her comfort, and to be touching her once more.
She held herself stiffly as he tried to pull her close. “No. Please. I have to say this.”
Frowning, he dropped his hand. “What is it?”
Did she not enjoy our night together?
“Your father is dead.”
His breath froze. Dead?
“That’s impossible. He’s not yet…what, two hundred years?”
In the back of his mind, he felt separate from his body. He knew his heart was racing. His head was screaming. The idea of his powerful father being dead was impossible. Ridiculous.
A laugh bubbled from his throat, one that held an edge of hysteria. “This must be a mistake.”
She looked up sharply, frowning. “It’s not.”
For some reason, he laughed harder. “It has to be. My father…the man said to be more god than mortal, cannot be dead. He is the Destroyer. The Unmovable. He is the man that decided to live forever, rather than ever risk the chance that his embarrassment of a son would ever be Khar.” His laugher grew to a roar as he wiped at his eyes, gripping his stomach.
“It can’t be true. Because that would mean that my last moment with him would…” He heaved a ragged breath, and continued, “would actually be me…me telling him to burn in the eternal fires…and that I would never call him ‘Father’ again.”
His laughter slowed, and suddenly, her arms were around him. His forehead pressed into her shoulder. He held himself stiffly as his eyes burned. It was impossible. Impossible his father could die.
Just impossible.
My father made my life miserable with his unrealistic expectations, but he was a good ruler. I expected him to live forever.
“He was young.” His voice was soft and ragged.
She stroked his back. “He was poisoned.”
Sitting up abruptly, he stared at her tearstained face. “By who?”
“They don’t know. I mean, my father and I suspect—“
“Kaemon,” he said, the name a growl.
She nodded. “That’s why it’s important we return to Hope. As soon as we can.”
Return? The pit in his stomach deepened. That was the thing, as much as he loved his people, he’d never intended on returning. At least not permanently. He’d wanted to go back, just long enough to be sure they’d leave the humans of Earth alone. And to get Saura.
“Listen,” he said, wiping a lingering tear from her smooth cheek. “I should’ve made something clear to you…before.” He paused, trying to form the words. “I’d always planned to return, to give my report to my father. But not to stay. Now, though, now I have to go back to ensure my father’s murderer is caught.”
Her brows drew together, confusion flickering in her eyes ringed with different shades of blue. “What are you saying?”
It was now or never. “I have no intention of returning to Hope to assume the role of Khar. I will appoint someone in my place, but—“
“You must be joking!” She shoved away from him, climbing to her feet to stand at the foot of the bed. Her eyes glared daggers straight into his heart. “It is your right. Your responsibility! You owe this to your people.”
He sighed. This is everything I was afraid of, and more. “I don’t want that life, Saura. The truth is, my time on Earth, living life like a human, has been the happiest time of my life. As horrible as all of this is, my father’s—” He swallowed, his throat tightening “—death doesn’t change any of that.”
She placed her hands on her hips and leaned forward, looking as foreboding as such a tiny woman could look. “This time was happy because you had no responsibility! No one counted on you! Alone in this…this cabin in the middle of nowhere! No one depended on you, you had no duties…but no one loved you, either. Did they?”
He didn’t look at her. He couldn’t. She couldn’t understand the weight of the duties he’d carried his whole life. And will have to carry for the rest of it if I return.
“So your plan is to convince your people that they can’t go to Erth, that they need to keep traveling to find another planet. But you plan to remain here, on your own. Because everyone will be happy with that. And to add further insult to injury, you reject your birthright and will assign someone else to be Khar.”
“You don’t understand—“
“I’m starting to think that’s just what you say when you know you’re wrong.”
They glared at each other.
I must take care of my people. I need to make sure they are left in good hands, but I am not the man for the job.“I’ll return to the mother ship with you, but you won’t change my mind about this.”
She tilted her chin in a gesture that was confident, and sexy as hell. “We’ll see about that.”
He slid from the bed, heading for the shower. “Regardless, I have to tie up a few things here.”
“As long as it’s quick,” she called after him, anger lacing the words.
Closing the bathroom door, he leaned his head against it. My father is dead. My people will be here soon, and humanity needs my help.
“Things were a hell of a lot simpler when I was just a human bartender,” he whispered to himself. Because it was easy. Why did his conscience suddenly sound like Saura?
An ache blossomed in his chest. He had until the end of the shower to mourn his father, and then, he would have to be strong. That’s the only way I’ll catch Kaemon and bring my father justice. To allow his soul to rest in peace.
He would give up anything, just not the happiness he’d finally carved out for himself on Earth. I just have to convince Saura to remain with me here. But the only way I can do that is if I can keep her here long enough to fall in love with this place, just like I did.
That, he decided, might be the most difficult challenge that lay before him.
Chapter Thirteen
Saura rode in the abnormally loud four-wheeled contraption known as a truck as they made their way into the human city. She wore one of Raiden’s oversize shirts and something called biscuitball shorts, which were too long and loose for efficiency and too short for protection. And why the humans even wore shorts specifically for biscuit-making was beyond her understanding.
With no underclothes and the high-heeled shoes from the night before, she felt out of place, even though the humans she saw wore all manner of strange dress. And to think, only a short time ago, I thought humans were ignorant beasts, living in caves, and hunting and gathering. With no more intelligence than an animal used for meat. She spied several humans taking turns punching each other in the gut as others gathered around them laughing. Well, I guess I was still half right.
Raiden had assured her that their first stop was to get her clothes that would help her blend in with the humans. “You’re going to love Woodhaven,” Raiden intoned, moving his head in rhythm with a strange song that played inside their moving vehicle. “The people are amazing…so full of life, and there is always
something to do.”
“Then I’ll be able to tell the council with firsthand knowledge that the dominant species here is intelligent and worthy of saving.” She clenched her hands, nervousness at the idea of interacting with them racing beneath her skin.
He stopped moving to the music and a little of the joy vanished from his face. “No need to think of the mission now. Just enjoy your time here.”
She took a deep breath. “Okay.”
I’ll take it all in. Between Raiden and me, the council will have to hear what we have to say. But every chance I get, I’ll need to remind Raiden of his responsibility. Of why he must return to his people.
As they entered the town, she forgot everything but the sight before her. Humans were certainly a great deal more intelligent than she’d been led to believe. They used technology, lived in large cities, and seemed to be almost as civilized as her own society. Even though they are also nothing like us.
People of every shape, size, and color walked the streets. Unlike my own people who are mostly dark-haired, the men large, and the women tiny. And their differences…well, she was surprised to find that they were beautiful. Even the ones who weren’t attractive in a traditional sense were unique, exotic, and hard to look away from. Our people should never step foot on this planet, or they will be overwhelmed by these compelling creatures.
“Why do their elders not wear robes?” she asked, curious as she observed an old man walking a tiny four-legged animal, wearing nothing but a tiny pair of biscuitball shorts and sturdy shoes.
“Everyone wears what they want,” Raiden answered, his face filled with elation as the morning sunlight bathed his face in its soft orange glow.
He is happy here. So full of life.
But it isn’t real.
And soon he must leave. We should have left already.
Strangely, she felt guilt crawling through her belly. Raiden had never been a particularly happy child, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be happy on the mother ship. She would help him be happy. If I can.
Saura looked away from him, as three young women stepped out of a building. One wore a skirt that barely reached her thighs and a scrap of a shirt. Similar to my own human clothing from the night before. But the other two women wore outfits that covered more skin—long pants, and loose shirts.
