by Abella Ward
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Tied to the Barbarian Warrior
A Fantasy Romance
By: Abella Ward
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
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Prologue
She reeled from the sharp pain searing her head. He had hit her again, this time almost breaking her nose. She blinked as bright lights blurred her vision amidst the darkness about to engulf her. Something warm trickled down her nose and into her mouth. It tasted warm, salty, and metallic. She swallowed painfully.
“Please... stop...,” she begged him, her voice a mere gurgle. She was cowering on the floor, hiding her face in her arms, trying to block another attack.
“You fucking bitch! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Not a word!”
A wave of nausea hit her and she bent over from the blow. He had kicked her in her belly this time. It was too much. Sharp throbbing pain swept through her and she threw up.
Get up and run, Kara, or he will kill you... the voice in her head screamed. Yes... She should run. Run and hide far away from him... But try as she might, she couldn’t move a muscle. She had to get away from him. Now! Through blurry eyes, she saw him move away and grab something from the kitchen island. Oh no. He was coming at her again, this time with a bottle of vodka aimed at her head. She struggled to get on her feet, staggering backward. Her head reeled horribly, but she kept moving away from him. She reached the door... but he had caught up with her.
She awoke with a jolt. Sweat lined her forehead and her breathing was labored. Tears were streaming down her face. She was in her room. She was safe. He was nowhere in sight. It was just a bad dream... Just a bad dream... She hugged her knees, rocking back and forth, trying to calm herself down.
It had been almost a year since her divorce and she wondered when the nightmares would end. A throbbing headache was beginning at her temples. The nightmares were becoming recurrent and she wondered why. That fateful night, he had beaten her up so badly that she had run away from home and spent the rest of the night on a bench in a park. It was a routine matter. He would come home drunk and beat her. And that night he had gone completely crazy when she told him she was pregnant. She thought he would be happy to hear that they were having a baby, but her already breaking heart shattered that day. She had loved him. She had done everything to make him happy and he had never cared. She lost the baby the next day.
She couldn’t go to the police. There were no longer laws on Earth against domestic violence. The authorities considered it ‘a personal matter’. Divorce was the only option. She just wanted to be away from him - far, far, away. So she didn’t lose another minute when she received the letter for the new job opening. She got on the next spaceflight, Andromeda 13 as her destination, shutting out her past and leaving everything behind.
Taking a deep breath, she reached over and pressed a button on the bedside table. The blinds covering the huge sealed window slid open silently. She got out of bed and stared outside at the numerous stars that seemed stationary against the void of dark space. She was here on Andromeda 13. She was safe. This was real. She saw her own reflection in the glass: a woman with sad brown eyes and an ashen face stared back at her. She was far, far away from Earth, away from him, on this gigantic space station in the far-off galaxy of cosmos Redshift 7, light years away from Earth. This was her new beginning.
Chapter One
Earth Year 2560
Kara Frost gazed doubtfully into the sapphire blue eyes of the beautiful Argarian woman standing before her.
“Nariya... I... I don’t know, but please think again before you leave,” Kara said as she was fumbling with the communicator that she still used to understand and learn the Argarian tongue. She stared at the beautiful alabaster skin and ice blonde hair that glistened in the sunlight that was coming through the huge windows.
“Oh, Kara! You think too much,” Nariya said as she took Kara’s hands in her own and squeezed them. “I’ll be fine. Rezurn is a wonderful man,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.
They were in Nariya’s chambers at the residence of the Argarian Ambassador. The Argarians were a race of ancient warriors inhabiting the planet Terrgius. A sophisticated race, they were modern and traditional at the same time. The Argarians and humans had been good allies for centuries now. The Argarian King had even taken a human as his Queen.
“How long have you known this man? Only a month?” Kara said, concern visible in her soft brown eyes. “Don’t you think you should get to know him some more before you run off marrying him?”
“I know him enough. And we’ll have the rest of our lives to get to know each other! This is my one chance to elope with him. Rezurn is waiting for me in a space ship nearby. I don’t know when he’ll be able to visit Terrgius again. He’s my mate, Kara,” she said resolutely.
“Listen, Nariya, marriage is not easy... You shouldn’t jump into it on a whim. Trust me, I’ve been there and it’s been ugly,” Kara tried again. “Think about your father. He’ll be furious when he finds out you have eloped with a Klai warrior.”
“I know, but Father will eventually understand,” Nariya said with a smile as she walked gracefully toward the huge bedroom windows. She wore a long, flowy pale green gown with intricate gold threadwork. She looked so young, ethereal, and other-worldly—all of which she was.
Kara felt her stomach turn to knots. Nariya had been friends with her since she started working a few months back and in the little time she had known her, Kara had learned she was a kind-hearted and simple woman. She felt Nariya was making a rash decision. She didn’t have a very good feeling about this barbarian Nariya was about to marry. The Klai had a notorious reputation.
Nariya had already packed her bags and was ready to go. Kara bit her lower lip and sat down on the chaise lounge. She wore a figure-hugging dark blue bodysuit that showed off her slender physique. Her long, dark hair was tied in a neat chignon. She was thinking long and hard. What was she going to do? She was the Assistant Coordinator to the Argarian Ambassador at Andromeda 13. She had trained extensively to earn the position and didn’t want to lose it at any cost. The Ambassador had assigned her the task of escorting his daughter, Nariya, to Andromeda 13 for an intergalactic meeting. Kara had reached Terrgius the previous night, and since the morning had been trying to persuade Nariya to drop the plan of eloping with the Klai warrior and go to the meeting instead.
“And what am I supposed to do about your meeting with the Vllar Commander?” Kara asked her. She
would lose her job if she canceled the meeting. The Ambassador, Erzhun Dyadjin, insisted that it was a ‘very important meeting.’ The Commander of the Elite Galactic Force was a Vllar, a race of warriors from planet Agrion and the Argarians were forming an alliance with them. The Vllar were skilled fighters and merchants. Their planet was known to be the best in trade. Their most prized product was the Sirrallion, a rare form of metal native to Agrion. This meeting was something that could not be delayed or missed.
“You will go,” Nariya said coolly.
“What? No–” Kara began.
“You will go disguised as me. Here, take these robes. These are the finest that I have,” Nariya said as she took the robes from her wardrobe and brought them to Kara.
“But that’s impossible! They will know I am not an Argarian!” Kara said. She was starting to panic now. This was ridiculous. The Ambassador would surely kill her. “Plus I don’t even know the purpose of the meeting!”
“You can do this, Kara,” Nariya cut her off. “You just have to be clever. And don’t worry about my father–he won’t fire you.”
“I... I could represent you and make up an excuse–” Kara started.
“No. You will go there as Nariya Dyadjin. Make the deal, whatever they want, and let me know later,” Nariya said as she approached Kara. “Please, I know you can do this... You have the perfect looks. Just hide your ears,” she said, gazing into Kara’s worried eyes. She had ivory skin, long dark hair and soft brown eyes. Some of the Argarians were like her. But her human ears would give her away. The Argarians had ears that swept slightly upward, giving them a pointed look.
There didn’t seem to be any way to persuade Nariya. Kara couldn’t shake the feeling that Nariya was headed toward danger, but she was too stubborn and in love to listen. Maybe pretending to be Nariya at the meeting would be better than canceling it altogether. There might be a chance for her to keep her job. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. “Okay, I’ll go,” Kara said, giving in.
Nariya walked up to her and hugged her. “I’m gonna miss you,” she said.
“Take care of yourself. And let me know when you get there,” Kara said as she took the robes. Nariya caught the sadness in her soft brown eyes.
Ten minutes later, Kara stepped outside and into the open field. Her mind whirling, she tapped the panel on her wrist and punched in the commands. “Computer: begin transport,” she spoke into her wrist. A second later, small glowing particles enveloped her as she vanished into thin air and reappeared on the Agrarian starship stationed above Terrgius’s atmosphere.
Once inside the ship, she settled into the cockpit and set course for Andromeda 13. Her heart raced madly in her chest. She braced herself for whatever was to come as the ship went into warp drive.
Chapter Two
Space Station Andromeda 13
Arazor Galather Vafiel, Commander of the Elite Galactic Force of the Agrion Kingdom, docked his ship at the designated port on Andromeda 13. He took one final glance at the holographic screen in front of him, checked his schedule, and then got up to leave. He just wanted to get this meeting over with.
“Captain, I’ll contact you after the meeting is over,” Arazor said in his deep, cold voice.
“Yes, Commander,” the captain said as he tapped in instructions on the holographic screen. He hesitated and then asked cautiously, “You’re sure the Argarians can be trusted?”
“They are known to be loyal. The king wants us to make this alliance. It’s our only hope. The Klai have already broken through our atmospheric barriers. We need to strengthen our forces if we want to avoid an invasion,” Arazor said quietly, a slight frown creasing his forehead. His intense gray eyes were cold and calm like the sea before the storm. The only thing that marred his handsome features was an old faded scar that ran across his right eye.
“And marriage is what they want to seal this deal with?” the captain asked.
“Yes, it is a necessity. The Argarian Ambassador is of the view that, in this case, it’s the only way,” Arazor said. He wasn’t happy with the marriage part of the deal. In his earlier meetings with Erzhun Dyadjin, he had tried to talk the idea out of the Argarian Ambassador’s mind. Yet, the Ambassador made it clear that he would only form an alliance if he, Arazor, would marry his daughter. He was the one responsible for Agrion’s security. He had no choice.
Arazor loved his independence. As an orphan, his fate was sealed centuries ago to be a warrior of the Elite Galactic Force. He was part of a race of warriors who were trained to become devoid of emotion. Emotions weakened warriors. They could mate only once in their lifetime, and only to produce offspring. Emotional attachment to a mate was not only stupid–it was shameful. In his world, concubines were for pleasure: no strings attached. And now he had to get married in order to close the deal. A desperate measure, he thought.
“Agrion’s safety is of the utmost importance, Captain. We need to focus on that for now,” Arazor said coldly.
The door to the ship hissed open and Arazor walked down the walkway, heavy boots clanking on the metal ramp as he adjusted his breathing filter, a tiny device attached to the bridge of his nose.
As a Vllar and the Commander of the Elite Galactic Force, he wore the traditional dark leather pants and a dark shirt with intricate gold patterns. A royal crest made of gold and copper embellished his right arm, and he wore a dark coat that cut off right above his knees. His sword, the blade of which had drained the blood of many different races in the arena over the centuries, was slung over his back. Taking a deep breath, he entered his designated quarters at the Argarian Embassy.
“Welcome to Andromeda 13, sir. We hope you enjoy your stay here. Would you like a drink?” The computerized voice of a woman flooded the room as he entered. The walls of the room were a silver gray and there was a white sofa and a white oval table in the corner near the large glass window.
“Yes, please. Make it strong,” he responded as he sat down.
A glass of dark blue wine materialized on the table near him. He picked it up and took a swig. He really needed a drink. The sooner this is over, the better, he thought.
***
It wasn’t long before the computer announced the arrival of Nariya Dyadjin. He drained his glass and stood as the doors to his chambers hissed open and a woman entered. She was petite, and he couldn’t fully see her face as it was partially hidden by the hooded crimson cloak she wore. She walked ever so slowly, gracefully, toward him, standing in front of him at a respectable distance. Her dark crimson gown accentuated her slender body. She looked up at him, pulling back her hood a little.
Warm brown eyes met his cold gray ones, and, for a brief moment, he was struck by how beautiful she was. Her ivory skin, delicate features, and beautiful eyes... He never knew Argarian women were so attractive. A few silent moments passed as he gazed into her lucid brown eyes–so expressive that he felt he could see right through her. And then she blinked, looking away uncertainly. Strangely, his chest constricted and he was suddenly unnerved by this feeling. He didn’t want to go there. Get a grip, Arazor. Focus, the voice inside his head admonished him.
“I am Arazor Galather Vafiel, Commander of the Elite Galactic Force of the Agrion Kingdom,” he said in a formal tone.
Kara looked into his gray eyes. They had suddenly gone cold. For a moment, she was entranced by his intense gaze, feeling her blood heat up as her heart thudded against her chest. His handsome features were expressionless. His eyes betrayed him, but only briefly. He had dark blonde hair that was tied back at the nape of his neck, revealing strange dark markings. Despite all she had read about the Vllar, she didn’t know they looked so strong and were so handsome. What was wrong with her? She needed to calm down and focus on the matter at hand or he would know she was not Nariya.
“I... I am aware. The Ambassador has sent me. The agreement is to be made today,” she said, tearing her gaze away from his as she clasped her trembling hands in front of her. Focus... Focus Kara... She waited for him
to say something. She had no idea what the agreement involved. Erzhun hadn’t told her.
“Good. Then we can seal the deal. A small gift to form the alliance with the Argarians. It’s a tradition in my world,” Commander Arazor said as he took out a solid gold bracelet from his coat pocket. Then, taking her small delicate hand, he clasped it around her wrist. The bracelet had runes engraved on it.
“Oh...” she gasped, surprised, as the bracelet changed shape and adjusted to her size. The strange runes traveled down her wrist like a shadow and imprinted on the inner skin of her wrist. She wondered what that was all about. A strange gift, she thought.
Kara was still gazing at her bracelet when, without any warning, Arazor pulled her into his strong arms and claimed her mouth in a forceful and demanding kiss.
Startled, she pushed him back with a great deal of effort. “What are you doing? That was incredibly inappropriate!” she said, her voice hoarse as she struggled to catch her breath.
Arazor looked calmly at the woman before him. The way her body had responded to him when he had kissed her told him she wanted him... So why was she resisting? There was something strange about this woman.
“Inappropriate? How?” he asked mildly.
“Commander Arazor, you kissed me - which was highly unnecessary. I don’t understand your customs, but we consider this behavior inappropriate,” Kara said indignantly as she pulled back her hood so he could see her full face.
“I have sealed the contract by claiming you as my bride,” Arazor returned.
“What...? No... This is a misunderstanding,” Kara began. He saw fear and shock in her eyes.
“The bracelet you wear now is a symbol of our marriage. It is a custom in my world that when a man gives it to a woman, she becomes his mate for life,” he said, showing her a similar gold bracelet he wore around his wrist. She could see runes on his wrist as well. “Your father made this deal. The alliance would be formed after I married you.”
