Celestial Mates Complete Series Box Set (Books 1-5) (Alien SciFi Romance)

by C. J. Scarlett

  “You know something strange? You’d probably make a cool boyfriend if you made any kind of sense at all.”

  “I like it when you compliment me as a male. Shall I assume the courtship has begun?”

  “You have some cart-and-horse issues but sure, why not?”

  “Then my first duty is to demand that you stay here for your own safety.”

  “Welcome to Keiko’s number one rule for courtship. We stay together always.” Knowing she had the handsome clone at a distinct disadvantage when it came to peer bonding, she just made it up as she went along. “We can’t court if we aren’t together, now can we?”

  His brows furrowed together and he looked extremely unhappy. “This complicates our situation greatly. Stay behind me.”

  The disembodied voice still chirped out mumbo jumbo about the mothers being protected, as Shar Jalon forced the door open in a breathtaking display of strength.

  Pulling out a weapon, Keiko cautioned. “I probably should warn you that the insectoids like to crawl up walls and drop down on you from above.”

  “Good information to have. Thank you, Keiko.”

  Rolling her eyes at his caviler attitude, she added for good measure. “Some of them also spit venom. It’s really gross and burns your skin, or rather it burns human skin.”

  Shar Jalon preened a bit. “Clones are notoriously difficult to kill, but I will be careful.”

  “You know something? If I have to die, I’m glad it will be fighting at your side.”

  Without turning to look at her, he responded curtly. “I believe you mean that comment to be endearing, however you are making assumptions without seeing my fighting skills in action. I don’t think that is very respectful to your new warrior.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, big guy.”

  He responded almost cheerfully. “My feelings are not hurt. I am being careful to advocate strongly for myself in this situation with you; assertiveness is a skill that humans hold in high esteem and I wish to convince you of my worthiness as a mate.”

  “Well, you’re doing a stand-up job of that today, Shar.”

  “Thank you. I am pleased that you have settled on a special name for me. I understand it is a sign of affection for your kind. Do not worry. I am attempting to decide on one for you. I wish to take my time and find the perfect one, since it will last for a lifetime.”

  “Feel free to try out a few to see how they sound.”

  “You are an accommodating female. I am fortunate to have drawn your notice.”

  “You know what? This whole situation feels surreal, kind of like falling into a parallel dimension. Of course, then I remember, this actually is a parallel dimension from the one I normally live in.”

  Keiko followed the well-armed man down a narrow corridor, knowing it was pretty much leading them to certain death.

  Warrior’s Bride

  Celestial Mates Book 4

  C.J. Scarlett

  ***

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  Chapter 1

  ~ Keiko ~

  Keiko’s Music Mix One

  Keiko sat with her arms crossed, having the same argument with her brother for the third time. “I honestly think the Terillians may be on to something. Why won’t you at least check it out?”

  Mamoru stood leaning back against the door facing. His streamline, muscular body was what people would have called a swimmer’s build in the before. His long, dark-black hair, dark eyes, and decidedly Asian features had women clamoring after him, long before he became a person of prominence.

  Her mind reeled back to all the conversations they had with him standing stubbornly in the doorway. Now that she thought about it, he rarely entered her room and for the first time, it occurred to her to wonder why. Maybe he didn’t like the smell, didn’t want to dominate her space like he was wont to do, or he was reluctant to make a gesture that might obligate him to stay and engage in substantive conversation.

  Standing with his feet straddling the threshold, his deep voice drew her from her thoughts. “We mined that wreck out years ago, Keiko. I can’t afford to risk lives on such a long shot. Every human life matters right now.”

  Ignoring the truth to his words, she countered empathically, “I know Old Brycor may be forgetful at times, but he used to be a senior engineer. He has to know more about that ship than the regular crew members. If he says there may still be crystals, I believe him.”

  Glancing away, he stuffed his hands into his pockets. “That place is haunted with the spirits of a thousand partially digested victims.”

  “Now, you’re just being morbid.” Kicking down her tone a bit, she could see her brother was getting upset.

  “You weren’t there when the insectoids attacked,” he shot back, heatedly.

  “Neither were you.” Keeping pace in an argument with her older brother was a challenge.

  Shaking off her words, he explained, “I was across the plains and I saw it all with my own eyes. That ship was bursting at the seams with humans. Just as the bay doors started to close, the insectoids swooped in and attacked. I still have nightmares about that day. It seemed like the first taste of human blood sent them into some kind of feeding frenzy.”

  Keiko reached over, putting her hand reassuringly upon her brother’s arm. “I remember the old timers talking about how once they got a taste for human flesh, they didn’t want anything else. It was a tragic ending to one of the few missions of mercy attempted by our alien allies.”

  “I didn’t mean to bring all that back up again, Keiko. This is one of the last strongholds left in North America, and we’ve got close to three million human souls depending on us for their survival.”

  “That’s all the more reason for us to take a chance on locating more crystals. Brycor says there may be up to fifty of them just sitting behind an access panel gathering dust.”

  Mamoru’s voice grew firm and unyielding, as he gazed into her eyes. “Dark, damp places like that are prime breeding grounds for the insectoids, and we no longer even have functioning weapons.”

  “It really sucks that those damned crystals power all the alien technology, but guess what? They also power our failing shields. Fifty crystals would be enough to power our shields and heavy weapons for a year or two.”

  “You don’t know that. That shield was built from scavenged components, cobbled together to perform a function that was never part of their initial design. The damn thing is over ten years old. The shields are definitely failing, but it could be for any number of reasons. No, I won’t throw away any more lives by asking good men to venture outside the shield. We just need to keep negotiating with the Galactic Council.”

  “We’re not negotiating, we’re begging.”

  There was a brief pause while her imposing brother seemed to weigh his options. His pensive expression made his stark Japanese features seem all the more prominent. Finally, he spoke with no small amount of reluctance, “I didn’t want to have to tell you this, but you have a right to know. We aren’t the only world infested by the insectoids. Several worlds are caught in the same hopeless downward spiral as Earth. The Galactic Council is tasked with preserving each species, not each individual life.”

  Keiko gasped her shock, as the full impact of his words sank in. “You mean they won’t save everyone?”

  “Only enough to continue our species. I’m sorry, Keiko, but they’re overwhelmed. It’s the best they can do for us. We just need to sit tight, and wait for rescue. Every time we lower our shield enough for an armored convoy of vehicles to leave, we’re risking the entire colony.”

  “None of this is fair. How will they decide who lives and who doesn’t?”

  Looking more wearied than a man in his early thirties should be, he dropped eye contact and lowered his voice. “Maybe I’m not the man to lead. Unfortunately, the duty falls to me. I’ll make the decisions that I must to ensure our survival.”

  Keiko’s heart
ached for her older brother. No one should be placed in his position, it was totally untenable. Standing face to face with him, both of them with their arms crossed across their chests and wearing matching katanas, she felt they were kindred spirits.

  “For now, we continue as we are. The emphasis is on security and maintaining food production.”

  Nodding, she verbalized her agreement, “We continue tending to the gardens, cloning animals for meat, and cull seeds at the end of each growing cycle.”

  Nodding, he rumbled in frustration, “It’s all in the hell we can do.” Shoving off the door frame, he looked down at her. “You really want to know why I don’t want to risk any of my men right now?”

  Hardly daring to breathe, she waited for him to explain.

  “All those years ago, I stood across the deep expanse of fields watching people loading up for their resettlement on another world. The war had been in full swing for almost seven years at that time and they knew this was their last hope. Through my binoculars, I could see their faces turning from frightened to hopeful as they approached the Terillian ship, and I was green with envy.”

  “I was as well. The imperial father forbade us both from being on the first rescue missions, because there was still hope that we could defeat them.”

  “The part that still haunts me is seeing them go from terrified, to hopeful, only to have that hope snatched away before death claimed them. They were so damned close to getting off this rock, but instead, they ended up dead.”

  “I still don’t understand.”

  “Look, Keiko, if the Galactic Council sends ships to Earth, they’ll hit a few settlements and take everyone. It makes more sense than leapfrogging all over the planet, which would increase the probability of being attacked.”

  “You think that because you’re the primary negotiator for Earth, they’ll come here for sure?”

  “I won’t see any of our people dealt death, when rescue is so near, not after everything they’ve suffered. It would feel too much like reliving the most horrible day of my life all over again.”

  Bowing her head, Keiko murmured, “I understand. For what it’s worth, I think you’re making a good decision.”

  The moment he walked out of the room, she mumbled to herself, “Well, screw that.” They were desperate for more crystals. That fact alone made the trip worth risking her own skin. Mamoru would just have to understand.

  Dragging out a chair from the wall, she carefully copied the map the older Terillian had drawn on her wall onto her arm. Keeping up with scraps of paper in the wild didn’t make good sense to Keiko, since she might need both hands to defend herself. Gathering her body armor, she suited up, before creeping her way to the one weakness in their shielding. It was tiny, but enough to get her out with a hover bike if she was careful.

  Unsure if she was even making the right call, she slipped through the thin spot in the shielding, feeling it scrape at her skin and clothing. Getting a few scratches would be just fine, if she could only squelch the feeling of anxiety churning in her gut. Her brother would lose his mind when he discovered she was on her own in the wild.

  Making her way through the quiet morning breeze, she barely noticed the now barren landscape. Her mind reeled back to the last time she visited the ship, tracing the path she wanted to take in her mind over and over. It was busy work that kept her anxiety at bay.

  The huge metal structure got larger in her field of vision, as she approached. Suddenly, it loomed large before her, like a mammoth dark metal cavern. Awestruck, she jumped off her bike to have a closer look. The ship looked much as she remembered, just much older. Several 0f the bay doors had been torn off and the deep, dark interior beckoned to her sense of adventure.

  Steeling herself for the worst, she tugged her facial respirator down a little tighter, and stepped into the musty confines of the Terillian vessel. Dirt and debris crunched under her feet as she walked, evidencing the violence that had taken place there all those years ago.

  The enormous galactic freighter had crashed nearly a decade ago on the Plains of Abraham near the old port city of Quebec, while attempting a rescue. Even the Terillian’s superior alien technology had proven to be no match for the acidic venom spewed by the insectoids.

  Hearing a noise, she whirled around, as her hand landed on the katana at her side. Her mind flashed through images of the several insectoids she was likely to meet. Running the scenarios in her mind, she was certain she could survive if only one attacked. Instead, a little mud-colored rat interrupted her flight into a panic mode, as it scurried by without acknowledging her presence. Huffing out a sigh of relief, she quickly shook off the scare. Rats would be the one and only animal to survive Armageddon… rats and insects, she thought with disgust.

  Toeing aside some debris with her foot to see the numbers painted on the floor, she tried to be as quiet as possible. Her brother hadn’t been lying about insectoids preferring to nest in dark, damp places. With a quick flick of her flashlight, she snuck a quick glance at the map scribbled on her arm using the only practical gift she’d inherited from her mother to light her way down the varied maze of corridors. The flashlight illuminated her way in the dark, much as her mother had been her guiding light while she was alive. What strange and beautiful metaphors were to be found in life, even in the after times where danger and death haunted their every step.

  Refusing to allow herself the luxury of wallowing in grief, she pressed on. Navigating through the ship, she painted the wall along her path with a fat glow in the dark marker she’d brought for marking her way. Keiko finally found the room, and pried open a gap in the metal door, enough to slip through it.

  She recognized the room as a small engineering substation. Her eyes scanned the room, as she flashed her light around, landing on the panel most probably housing the crystals. It was nothing short of a miracle that she hadn’t seen an insectoid. Kneeling on the floor, she began to work the panel open, careful not to cut herself on the metal plating covering the access panel. Living in the hereafter humans became aware of many things that had escaped their notice before. One such thing was that fresh blood had a particular odor. It would draw the notice of every bug within a hundred meters of the downed vessel. The moment the panel separated from its housing, she felt a thrill snake through her gut.

  Sitting in ten neat rows were close to eighty of the clear crystals, each about the size of her pinkie finger. At one time, they stood at the ready to power everything from navigation, to ship’s shielding, to weapons in the event of systems failure. She’d never seen crystals in such pristine condition before. Quickly popping open the port on her laser rifle, she loaded a crystal into place. Immediately, the weapon hummed quietly to life. Breathing out a shaky sigh of relief, she felt a small measure of protection with an activated weapon in her hands. Not only did she now have a viable means of defending herself, but each rifle had a powerful headlight. Turning the light all the way up, it lit the entire room.

  Quickly, she worked on packing the crystals into a small bundle. Not anticipating that she’d find so many, she removed her shirt and tore it into strips to cushion each crystal. Though finding them was a miracle, getting them safely back to the city was the real trick. Since she had plenty of daylight left, she scavenged around the ship.

  After rifling through nearby crew rooms, lockers, and the medical wing, she subsequently had enough to load down her knapsack. Her loot included several laser pistols, a tissue regrowth device, and a block of precious metal the Terillians used to coat system components. It was a good haul. Shoving what appeared to be an alien version of an electronic tablet into the front pocket of her pack, she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of information it contained. Satisfied that she probably couldn’t carry much more, she palmed one of the crystals from the swag bag hanging off her belt, and headed back out to her hover bike.

  Navigating through the wilds, to the downed craft earlier in the day had been an exercise in courage and stealth, since the barely f
unctioning bike barely moved. Moreover, it had been a good way to slide by without being noticed by the enemy. If she encountered the enemy on the way home, getting away would require lightning-fast speed and more than a little luck.

  Slamming the crystal directly down into the energy port, the vehicle roared to life. Having never been on a fully functional hover bike before, she jumped at the raw power throbbing between her legs and the loud noise. Scared to take even a second to get her bearings, she stepped on the accelerator. Running from the enemy had become second nature to Keiko, having been doing it since she was a child. Today, she carried her people’s best hope for survival. Therefore, failure wasn’t an option.

  The dried-out foliage flew past in her peripheral vision as she sped along. Keiko watched where she was going, ever mindful of the alien speedometer clocking her steadily increasing speed. The faster she went, the more difficult it became to breathe. If she were a betting person, she’d say the bike exceeded a hundred and fifty miles an hour.

  Suddenly, seeing one of the colorful winged creatures diving straight for her, she had no choice but to take one hand off the bike to grab her laser rifle. Propping it on the front of the bike, she took aim, tilted the nose of the weapon up, and gently squeezed the trigger. Bright white laser fire caught the insectoid square in the chest, causing it to screech in pain as it rolled to the side. A searing pain announced that it wasn’t going peacefully into the darkness. Instead, it had embedded a long claw into her leg, dragging along behind. Quickly pivoting the weapon, she shot it again.

  That’s when she heard the screech of several more insectoids sounding off in the distance behind her. If the sound they made was some form of speech, its meaning totally eluded her. Instead, it sent another spike of adrenaline surging through her body.

  Sliding the rifle back into its holster alongside her bike, she kept the accelerator pressed completely down. As she made her way back to the city, she tried to remember if Brycor had mentioned anything about the crystals fracturing under the pressure of prolonged use.