Rebellious Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  Rafe resisted. “I cannot leave her.”

  “I need you to find me something very cold to put on her head and the palace doctor.” Eve pushed harder, trying to force him to go.

  He stared at the tent flap, not wanting to leave his woman. “Ivar already went for a doctor.”

  “Seriously, Rafe?” Eve pushed harder. “Go. Now. I’ll come find you when she’s ready.”

  * * *

  Jenna watched the slender Eve push the much larger Rafe out of the tent before turning back to her. Rafe still wore the high fashion clothing, but Eve looked like she’d just come from a hippie pajama party with loose pants and a tunic shirt. Her brown hair was pulled up at the sides to create a braided circlet around the back of her head.

  Eve held up her hands, half in ready defense and half in concern. “You’re not going to scream, are you? Or freak out? You look like you might scream and freak out.”

  Jenna slowly sat up and felt the room spin. “I’m not sure I’m up to freaking out at the moment.”

  “Because if you wanted to scream and freak out I wouldn’t blame you. That’s what I did when I woke up here.” Eve gestured around the tent. “I don’t suppose you’re just hung over? I was hung over. I don’t remember the journey across that first time either, so I know that it can be a little disorientating to wake up here.”

  “No, not hung over.” Eve gingerly fingered the bump on her head. Her hair around the wound was damp, but it felt like the swelling had gone down. She glanced at her hand to make sure it wasn’t blood. The wound had been cleaned, evidenced by the pink-stained rag floating in a bowl of water.

  The sounds of nature invaded the red pyramid shaped tent from outside. The walls were illuminated to attest to the daytime and the thin material moved with the breeze. A furry rug spread over the ground. Jenna sat on a large bed in the center. “Is this your home?”

  Eve laughed, but Jenna didn’t get the joke. “No. It’s just a tent.”

  Jenna continued to stare at her surroundings. Her body ached. Her empty stomach hated her. Her lightheaded brain refused to concentrate.

  “You passed out.” Eve sat down on the edge of the bed. “Twice from what I understand. Like I said, you might have a concussion.”

  “Low blood sugar. I just need food.” Jenna didn’t feel like she was in immediate danger, but then she wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. “Where am I?”

  “These men,” Eve mumbled to herself and gave a long sigh. She went to the table and lifted a generic plastic bag the diner used for takeout orders. “We’ll take things slowly since apparently the situation wasn’t explained fully. The burgers might not be hot, but you’re welcome to them.”

  “Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you,” Jenna said as she reached to take the bag. At this point, she would have eaten just about anything. Unable to help the moan that escaped her, she took a bite and then another. Once her mouth tasted food, she was unable to stop until she’d consumed the burger and was half way through a second one.

  “Better?” Eve asked.

  Her mouth full, Jenna nodded and then shook her head in denial.

  “You want to freak out now?” Eve stood.

  Jenna nodded. She swallowed. The food went down hard. Setting the rest of the second burger down, she asked in a rush, “What is this all about? What’s happening? Why me? Why—”

  “Ok, ok.” Eve stood. “First, you need to know no one will hurt you. Second, you’re not crazy.” She held out her hand. “Come outside with me.”

  Jenna didn’t take the woman’s hand but stood to follow. With each passing moment her body felt better, and her mind began to panic. Not waiting for Eve to make it through the door to the tent, she pushed past her and ran outside. The light appeared green, perhaps foretelling an upcoming storm. Why else would it be tinted so strangely?

  Jenna glanced around. They were in the woods. The tree bark had a strange bubbling texture as if they’d been heated up in the centers and their skin boiled into hard scabs. Yellow ferns covered the ground as if starved of sunlight.

  “Am I dead?” Jenna whispered, not comprehending what she was seeing. “Is this…purgatory?”

  “You’re on Qurilixen. It’s a planet,” Eve explained. “There’s a portal between Earth and this world. Kind of like an intergalactic escalator.”

  “Wait. That’s what the big man said. He welcomed me to the planet of Qurilixen. Cats and dragons and aliens and…” Jenna eyed Eve. “What are you?”

  “Human. From Earth.”

  “Why are we here?” Jenna slowly reached to touch a tree as if to assure herself it was real. The rough texture caught against her fingers.

  “I’m here because this is my husband’s home. You’re here because…”

  At Eve’s hesitation, Jenna dropped her hand and studied the woman’s face. “Because?”

  “Because Rafe wants to…”

  “Want’s to?” Jenna prompted.

  “He wants to marry you.”

  “Marry me?” Jenna did the only thing she could. She laughed. The sexy foreign model alien guy wanted to marry her? On no plain of reality did that make sense.

  “I know it sounds bad, but really, it’s not. It’s hard to explain. They’re not like us, I mean like humans. They’re, ah…” Eve frowned. “Ok, so they’re a little crazy by our standards when it comes to courtship. See this planet doesn’t have a lot of women because of low female birth rates, so they travel to Earth to look for love. I swear it’s not as hokey as it sounds. I mean, wow, this is harder to explain than I thought it would be.”

  “Are you telling me I’m on an intergalactic date?” Jenna had always believed in the probability of aliens. It had always felt too vain to believe humans were the only intelligent life in the infinite unknown. That said, she never thought she’d be making contact with them.

  “That’s an astute way of putting it,” Eve said.

  “I don’t date.” Jenna had other concerns. Job. Rent. Retirement account. She gasped. “My bag. I had papers for work that I need to finish. My wallet was in there. My keys.”

  “You’re on an alien planet and you’re worried about work?”

  “Well, I…” Jenna made a weak noise and again touched the tree bark. “I think my vision is messed up. I see green.”

  “You’ll get used to it. The planet has three suns. One of them is blue, so the light is different than what you’re used to.”

  “Oh.” Jenna nodded.

  “I get it. Your brain is swirling with thoughts and—”

  “Ivar has brought doctors who know humans.” Rafe crashed through the brush. His eyes met hers and he smiled. Jenna had to give it to the man. He was naturally charming without even trying. She forced herself to look away. He continued, “We are very lucky they are visiting the palaces.”

  “It is the will of the gods,” Ivar said, following his brother. Both catshifters wore tighter pants and shirts with cross laces down the center of their chests. The lacing exposed a sexy river of flesh from muscular stomachs to strong necks.

  Jenna looked at the gruff Ivar in the light of day. His eyes matched Rafe’s, the same shade of bright green, but his hair was lighter and his expression less open. When he looked directly at her, she had the impression he didn’t appreciate his brother’s choice of potential brides.

  The sound of movement came from behind the two men. Feet shuffled on the forest floor punctuated by a rapid clicking. All attention turned to the noise.

  “My ladies,” Rafe said as two thin gray beings appeared behind him. “These are our guests.”

  “Little gray men,” Eve whispered before Jenna had a chance to process what she was seeing.

  The beings stood about four feet high topped with heads double the size of a human skull. Large glassy black eyes focused their attention to the women. Their noses, ears and mouths were little more than slits in the taut stretch of their dark gray skin. Flesh appeared to have a plastic sheen. Skintight lighter gray jumpsuits covered their
bodies, giving way to the sexless shape of their humanoid forms. Mouth and nose holes twitched as they clicked to each other.

  “They’re real?” Jenna asked. Every crazy abduction story that had ever been laughed at was possibly true?

  “They’re Reticulans.” Ivar gestured that she should go back into the tent. “M’lady, if you please.”

  Jenna did not please.

  The slightly taller of the two gray aliens shuffled toward her. She stiffened as he lifted his finger to touch her forehead. The tip of his long, skinny finger was freezing against her. She watched his black eyes flash with a pearl sheen.

  “Human. Earth.” The alien withdrew his finger and clicked to his friend.

  “Did you fix my head?” Jenna reached to touch the bump. It was still there, and she didn’t feel any differently.

  “You will call me Roswell,” the first alien said in English. Roswell went to push his finger to his partner’s head.

  “Human. Earth.” The second alien came forward and reached behind his back to pull out a small handheld device. “We can fix human Earth. You will call me Mogul.”

  “As in the famous UFO incident in Roswell, New Mexico and Project Mogul?” Eve asked.

  The aliens began to click louder and faster. It sounded like they were laughing.

  “We have not done missionary work for human Earth for a long while,” Roswell said.

  “Probing.” Mogul lifted his device and came at her.

  “What is that thing?” Jenna backed away from them, not wanting the aliens to probe her. She looked at Rafe to see if he’d intervene.

  “We fix one…” Mogul paused and looked at Roswell.

  “Colon. We fix one infected colon,” Roswell said.

  “And suddenly every human Earth wishes for us to probe their colon for no medical reason. We find it a very strange request so we leave to cure other planets. Human Earth is not invited to be part of the Medical Alliance for Planetary Health. They are not ready.” Mogul’s eyes glossed over. “We will not probe you, human Earth.”

  “Very glad to hear it,” Jenna said. “I don’t want you to probe me.”

  Mogul lifted his device and pressed it to Jenna’s head. She flinched but instantly felt warmth spreading from her forehead to her temple to behind her eye. The tingling cured the dull ache. When she touched her head, the bump had disappeared.

  “A fine demonstration,” Ivar said. “We will discuss trade for your device.”

  Ivar leaned over. Roswell touched the catshifter’s forehead and then reached to press his finger to Mogul’s. The two aliens began speaking in the gruff native Qurilixian language.

  “Ah, thank you,” Jenna said belatedly.

  The aliens paused, turning to her. Rafe said something to them in his native tongue. The aliens answered in kind.

  “You are welcome,” Rafe translated.

  “But, they…” Jenna was confused.

  “They only hold one extra language in their brains at a time. Right now, they are speaking to Ivar about procuring more of those medical devices for our fragile humans.” Rafe smiled like it was a compliment. “Do you feel better now?”

  “Ha! Did you hear that?” Eve bumped Jenna’s shoulder. “There is such a thing as alien probing.”

  “I have accounting and office management degrees,” Jenna announced.

  Eve and Rafe appeared confused.

  “I work in an office with spreadsheets and numbers.” She stared at Rafe and frowned. “I like my own company and books and daydreaming about things I’ll never do. I make logical decisions.” Gesturing after the aliens, she said, “This isn’t logical. I’m going to find that portal and go home.”

  Chapter 6

  Rafe watched Jenna walk into the forest away from them. He frowned at Eve. “What did you do to my wife?”

  Eve placed her hands on her hips. “What did I do?”

  “She was fine until I left her alone with you.” Rafe motioned to his bride. He kept an ear on her, listening to the sound of her footfall in the forest. “She’s not even going in the right direction.”

  Eve marched over to Rafe and poked him in the chest. “You should have paid attention when I told you about Earth women. You can’t just snatch and grab and kidnap what you want. If she is unhappy, that is on you. If she gets hurt in any way, that’s going to be me kicking your ass, cat. Got it?”

  “I believe you would.” Rafe didn’t dare lay his hand on a woman even in defense, so he let Eve poke at him.

  “I’m serious, Rafe. I agreed to help you guys only because it would keep you from bumbling around and kidnapping my people.”

  He gave her a small smile. “They keep telling us that Earth woman are fragile, but you, princess, are as tough as any shifter female I have ever known.”

  Eve waved her hand dismissingly. “Ah, save your charm for Jenna. You’re lucky I know your intentions are honorable. And go after her before she gets eaten by a yorkin.”

  “Yorkins stay higher in the mountains,” Rafe said as he went to follow Jenna. For some reason, he let her walk, easily tracking her as she moved through the forest. It wasn’t much of a hunt, but he still found himself smiling as he pursued her. He wanted her, terribly. That wasn’t surprising. She was made for him.

  “Which way to the portal?” Jenna stood on the path facing him. Apparently he had not tracked her quietly enough.

  Rafe pointed behind him toward the cave. He liked the way the wind stirred her hair around her shoulders. She still wore the Earth clothes, the material stained with dirt from the cave floor. It didn’t matter. She looked like a princess to him.

  “Show me. I want to go home.” She motioned that he should lead the way.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t do that.” He didn’t move. “The portal won’t take you home for about an Earth year.”

  Her mouth opened, and she stared at him. A small sound left her, but she didn’t speak. Mesmerized by her lips, Rafe tilted forward to kiss her.

  Jenna leaned back, not letting him. “What do you think you are doing?”

  “I wish to kiss you now.” He again moved to claim her mouth with his.

  Jenna stepped back. “I’m pretty sure Stockholm syndrome takes more than a few hours to set in.”

  “What is this Stockholm?” Rafe asked. His heart was beating fast, maybe too fast. Her reluctance only made him want to kiss her more. He did not mind being teased with anticipation.

  “A psychological disorder when kidnap victims fall in love with their captor.” Jenna walked past him and began to make her way back toward the Draig marriage tent.

  “You mean to say you need a few hours to fall in love with me?” Rafe’s smile faded. “Wait, where are you going?”

  “To find Eve. She is the only person here who seems to make any sense.” Jenna walked faster.

  This time as he followed her, he frowned. “But, what about being my wife?”

  Chapter 7

  Jenna had no idea what she was doing. When Rafe tried to kiss her, she’d wanted him to. Instinct pulled her away from him. Or maybe it was fear. As much as she was the confident woman in most areas of her life, when it came to men she didn’t have a lot of practice. When it came to incredible sex-god men, she had absolutely no experience.

  A man like Rafe would have to have practice, even on a planet in need of women. He had so much sexual confidence it virtually radiated off of him. His body was like a magnet, luring women to touch, to kiss, to…

  “You have stopped walking. Did you change your mind?”

  Jenna stiffened to hear the low tone of his voice. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”

  “Are you confused again? Do I need to find Roswell?” Rafe was instantly at her side. Before she knew what he was doing, he had her lifted in his arms and was jogging through the forest with her.

  “Ah,” she cried in surprise. “I’m not injured. Put me down.”

  He slowed to a walk. “You’re not still injured?”

  “No, I’m j
ust,” she struggled for words. His body radiated heat into hers. “I’m on an alien planet.”

  He kept walking. His voice dipped. “Yes. You are.”

  A shiver ran up her spine. “Put me down.”

  “I don’t want to.” He grinned and changed direction.

  “Where are we going now?” Jenna didn’t struggle as much as she should have.

  “You have two choices. I can take you to Princess Eve where you will be expected to present yourself to the royal Draig family. Normally, this would happen when a new bride comes out of the portal. You will be excused because you were injured unless you want the introduction. Or, I can take you to my home.”

  Jenna stiffened. “Could you, just…? Put me down, please.”

  Rafe obeyed.

  “I can’t marry you. I don’t know you. You don’t know me.” She put distance between them, using the uneven forest floor as an excuse not to look at him as she navigated over it. “I can only take one crazy thing at a time. Being stuck on an alien world with no work, no home, no idea what I’m doing is about all the crazy I can handle.”

  “As my wife you do not need to work.”

  “Am I being lost in translation?” Jenna threw her hands to the side in frustration. “I’m not your wife. We are not getting married. I have a few more serious things to consider right now than dating.”

  “But…you like cats and I am a cat person.” He said it like that one simple fact should completely change her mind.

  “I also like to eat and sleep indoors and pay my bills,” she countered. “Well, ok, so I don’t like paying my bills but I like knowing I can afford to.”

  “I don’t know what bills are, but we only have to camp outside if we do not make it past the borderlands before you tire. And I will feed you. Are you hungry? I will find you food.” He tried to touch her.

  “Rafe, stop,” Jenna ordered. “I’m sure you mean well, but nothing you do will change the fact you brought me here without my consent.”