by Sabrina Kade
“She attacked me,” Taylis says. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean…”
“You hurt her,” he snarls over him. “I saw you.”
“I didn’t! I only dropped her because Hujun told me to.”
“So you admit it. You dropped her. She’s hurt. How do you expect to ever claim a Chosen for yourself, if you cannot control your temper?” He squeezes Taylis’ neck more tightly, and the other Sidyth wriggles in pain. I’m not sure how much more of this I can watch. I am glad Korben’s come to my aid, but I’m not sure if I like this side of him. He looks like he could kill.
“Korben.” A new voice enters the brawl before I can stop him and I stand on my tiptoes to find the one with the mask stepping closer to him. Taylis’ eyes are rolling in the back of his head. It won’t be long before he faints, and despite my fear, I follow closely behind the masked Sidyth, cradling my injured arm.
“What?” Korben snarls, baring his teeth further.
“You should tend to Blythe.”
My eyes widen at Hujun’s words who’s standing close to the dangerous looking one. As though coming out from a trance, Korben blinks several times and releases Taylis’ neck and he collapses to the ground in a heavy heap, coughing and grasping his neck. Korben clears his throat and glances down, finding me standing practically behind Azan, and as his anger slowly evaporates, I step away.
“Are you alright?” he asks, lowering his voice to a much less horrifying volume.
But I’m still frightened of what I’ve seen. How easily Korben can become angry. How easily he can turn into the monster, I’m used to seeing from Sidyths. He was so frightening, and I tremble slightly even when his look softens further, and he steps closer to Azan.
I’m not sure why, but the masked Sidyth blocks his path.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Hujun rumbles from behind.
“I am fine. Let me see her.”
“When you are calm, Korben.”
“I am calm.” His voice rises again, hinting at the terrifying display from moments ago, and I’m ducking back towards Azan despite his strange appearance.
Korben’s not calm. And though I want to be happy all of this is to protect me, I’m also afraid one day it will be directed at me. But his voice lowers again as he remains standing behind Azan’s thick forearm.
“I am sorry you had to see me that way.” He looks ashamed. “I just… I heard you scream. I saw you on the ground. I only acted.”
“It’s… it’s okay,” I mutter quickly, trying to stop my hands from shaking. I can’t unsee what I’ve just witnessed, and I tense as Korben reaches for my uninjured wrist. Catching my expression, he leaves his hand frozen in the air with a pained expression. I don’t want those hands on me yet. Not after seeing how much power they have. How much they must be restraining themselves for me.
But I do step away from Azan, so Korben doesn’t think I’m going to try leaving again.
I’m sure I’m already in enough trouble for that.
“It looked like she was trying to run away,” Taylis says, rising to his feet, still coughing. “I was only trying to keep her in her room.”
“There are better ways,” Hujun says calmly.
“Like you would know,” Taylis sneers. “Look at you both. All of them run at the sight of your faces.”
Azan remains silent, and Hujun fixes him with a stern look.
“Some of them will take more time than others. Of course, the Prince’s Chosen is extra brave.” Hujun bunches up his shoulders. “But still, displays like this are not going to be tolerated, Taylis.”
“Me? But she…” Taylis looks even more frustrated, but I’m focused on the other’s words. He mentioned the others! The others girls must be meeting with some of the aliens by now.
“Are they okay?” I interrupt Taylis, immediately shrinking back when Korben and the three others turn to look at me. “I mean, you said ‘them.’ I guess you’re talking about the women I arrived with?”
“We are…” Hujun looks over my head at Korben. I can’t see what he’s saying or motioning, but Hujun seems to receive some message and looks away. “You should go with Korben, Blythe. Let him look at your arm.”
“Oh.” Looking down, I’ve almost forgotten about falling on my arm, so wrapped up with Korben’s terrifying display. There’s already a bruise around my wrist and red marks across my forearm. I glance at Korben, and he’s making no effort to show how angry he is that one of his so-called brothers have marred my skin.
I should apologize, but I don’t know if I owe him one. Yes, he told me to stay in my room, and yes, he promised that he would let me see the others, but how was I supposed to know he had a bunch of little guardians keeping an eye on me? How was I supposed to know one would handle me so roughly?
Korben steps closer to me, resting a large hand on my shoulder. I jump in surprise, but he keeps his hand there, curling a few fingers into my collarbone. It’s not a painful grip, but it is a possessive one as he gently pulls me back to his room.
“I will take it from here,” he says to the other three, who nod like good little guards and head back where they came from. Azan merely dips his head as he goes and Hujun furrows his brow.
Taylis offers no apology.
I’ve been living in a false reality.
Sidyths will always be Sidyths. They want to fight. They want to draw blood. And though Korben seems to be one of the kinder members, he’s still not perfect. This is not a safe place. The aliens are monsters, who will waste no time putting a woman in their place if they don’t like the way they are behaving.
Plus, I’m still embarrassed. And frightened. And embarrassed. And humiliated.
There’s not much to say as Korben leads me gently through the curtain and pushes it shut. I quickly scuttle away from under his hand once we’re in his room, expecting to receive the full wrath for my trying to leave without permission.
I didn’t do anything wrong.
But I still can’t control my fear when Korben’s back remains to me, and his shoulders push together as though he’s trying to calm himself.
He’s mad. I’ve pushed him too far. Words or not, he’s still a Sidyth, and now I must pay the penalty for not listening to him. He may have protected me from the other – Taylis – but that is only because he’s staked a claim on me. I’m his property, and now that no one’s here to mess with his prettiest toy, he wants to make sure his toy will never leave his side.
Large fists fall to Korben’s side, and he takes in a few deep, heaving breaths. I back away further, practically crawling under the bed like a petulant child. An apology bubbles on my lips, but as Korben slowly turns around, all my confidence and airs suddenly die in my throat.
“Let me see your arm,” he says calmly, holding his hand across the chasm between us. The same hand that nearly choked the life out of another Sidyth with ease. It’s hard not to shuffle back a few more inches as he glares at me and takes a menacing step forward, still keeping his hand out in front of him. “Let me see what he’s done to you.”
“I’m okay,” I stammer, pressing my back against the furthest wall in the room. “I’m okay. Please. Just… I only wanted to see the others. I didn’t think.”
“I didn’t even ask about that,” Korben says, frustration written all over his features. He’s still angry, and more sweat glistens off his hulking form than I’ve ever seen. “I will deal with that later. Accordingly.”
I shudder at his words.
Oh God.
“Here now, let me see.” Korben’s fingers outstretch towards me and tears I never wanted to shed, spring from my eyes and I collapse to the floor in a helpless heap.
“Please don’t hurt me!” I gasp. “I said I’m sorry!”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Korben
“Please.” My Chosen’s voice is broken, and she’s hiccupping. I can barely find her face in the corner she’s backed herself into, and she’s crying.
What the moons?
<
br /> I’m beyond puzzled by this strange display, and I drop my hand to my side, trying to understand what is wrong now. Perhaps Taylis has hurt her more than she was willing to admit in front of the others? Why else would she cry so much? Why would she fall to the ground in a pathetic heap at my feet? Where is the strong woman who makes my cock hard?
“What has he done to you?” I whisper, kneeling into a crouched position in front of Blythe. She pulls her knees to her large chest, still trembling, and I cock my head to the side, needing to know what else is wrong. If Taylis has hurt her, violated her in any way, I am not sure if I have the willpower to let him live. “Please,” I say, keeping my voice as soft as possible, “you must tell me what he’s done to you. If he’s hurt you, scared you,” I pinch my eyes shut at the alternatives, “upset you in any way…” She curls more deeply into herself.
This can’t be all about Taylis. Hujun would have never allowed Taylis to do anything.
“What is it?” I start to reach for her again.
“Don’t hurt me!” she screams into her crossed arms. “Please! I said I was sorry. Please, don’t hurt me.”
“What?” My hand falls to the floor, keeping me balanced. And good thing, because I swear I’m about to collapse in shock from her words. “Hurt you? What… what in Stars names are you talking about?” My eyes dart back and forth. I can’t keep my composure, so I finally seize her uninjured arm. She allows me to pull it away with ease. “What is wrong? Why do you say this? Hurt you? I could… I could never.”
The mere idea of it leaves me aghast.
Hurt this tiny, pathetic being who was so strong before I took her back to my room?
Me? Is she frightened of me?
After everything that’s happened? After seeing Hujun and Azan, some of my strongest and most terrifying brothers and watching me face Taylis for handling her so roughly, my Chosen is now afraid of me?
I’m barely able to control the feeling of protectiveness washing over me as I gaze upon her trembling form. I’ve never seen her so scared. It breaks my heart. Maybe I have gone about this all wrong. I should have let her see her friends, but I wanted to believe she didn’t care. That maybe – after some time alone with me – she wouldn’t think about them so much, and I would have her all to myself. She may be a human, but she’s got the heart of Sidyth royalty thrumming inside her. I’d do well not to forget that.
So how can I make this right? How can I get her to stop shaking in fear like I’m the one who’s going to attack?
I would never hurt her. I would never even dream of such a thing. And I was almost ready to kill Taylis on site, simply for making her so upset. And now one of my worst fears has come true. She has seen me angry. She’s seen me attack another. It does not matter my reasoning, for all she sees now is that my words mean nothing. I told her that I was not like the others. That I am better than them. And yet, she had to watch me do… do that.
“Blythe,” I mutter. “I am so sorry.”
She doesn’t lift her head, but her shoulders stop shaking so hard.
“Blythe,” I say again. “I am truly sorry, but you must believe me. I would never raise my hand to you. You should know I would only raise my hand for you. You cannot… you cannot believe I would ever harm you. I need you to understand that.” I uncurl my hand out towards her form again, hoping that she will not scream out, and by some miracle, she allows me to touch her. “I would never, ever hurt you.”
Nothing. I resist the urge to curl my hand, knowing that it could hurt her more.
“Blythe, will you please allow me to look at you at least? To make sure you are not severely injured?” I move my hand to her hair, brushing my hand over the dark waves. She is so tiny under my hand. Has she noticed that as much as I have? How much stronger I am than her? How easily I could hurt her? My thumb brushes against her scalp. “Please. I promise I won’t hurt you, and I’ll feel a lot better knowing you’re okay.”
She sniffs loudly, and I brace myself for her next sentence. I am not sure what to expect, but when she finally lifts her head, and tears are streaking down her face, I look away, so I am not tempted to kiss them away. My Chosen is broken. I am the one who caused this.
“You’re not mad?”
“No. Of course not.” My voice is hoarse in my ears.
“I left without your permission.”
Oh yes. There is that. But I cannot focus on that right now so instead I lower my hand to her cheek, cupping it as softly as I can stand to.
“I shouldn’t have taken your request so lightly,” I admit. “I did not believe seeing the others was important to you. And so, I am the one who should apologize. I hope you will forgive me. I… I doubted that humans cared so much about others.” I’m disgusted by my prejudice, but I push ahead. “More importantly, I shouldn’t have taken you so lightly. You are my Chosen. I should have listened to you, but I guess I thought…”
Blythe sniffs again, lifting her eyes at last to meet mine. “What?”
“I thought that if I kept you to myself until you chose me that you would eventually forget about the others. It is rare for Sidyths to go about sharing women with others.”
“I don’t want you to share me, Korben,” she says, sounding less frightened. “I wanted to see some of the other girls. I wanted to make sure they were okay. And when you kept pushing it back, I thought you would never let me see them.” She pulls her face away from my cupped palm so she can freely rub the red marks on her skin. Seeing them brings a snarl to my face, and luckily Blythe isn’t paying attention, so focused on telling her side of the story. “And those other ones showed up. It was all a big misunderstanding.”
“So he didn’t hurt you?” I challenge, dropping my eyes to the marks.
“He did, but you scared me.”
The way she says it, I’m broken by her words. “I did it for you.”
“I know!” she gasps, creeping back when I focus on her eyes. Her voice lowers back to the meek tone I don’t care for. She should never sound like this. “I know. But it still scared me. I thought you might have been angry with me for not listening. They do that, you know? When an owner tells a human to stay put, we listen. We don’t know what they’ll do to us if we don’t. And so, I guess I assumed you were going to be the same way.” She shakes her head. “But you’re not, are you? You’re not going to punish me?” Her eyes dart back and forth, threatening to water again, and now I can take no more.
I lunge forward despite her surprised gasp and pull her against my chest, cradling her to me like a broken sprog. She lets out another hiccupping sob, and I decide it no longer bothers me. I am holding her now. She is allowing me to take her tiny form in my arms. There’s no resistance, and though this may be nothing more than another case of her feeling like she owes me, I must admit that this isn’t just for her sake, but for mine as well. Her cries become heavier, and though I want to ask why, I decide it’s more important to simply let her get through her emotions.
I have underestimated humans yes, but more importantly, I have underestimated Blythe. My Chosen. She is strong, but she can be broken. And she is no less strong because she is broken. And she is determined. And she truly does care about the welfare of the other humans here. I try to put myself in her position. Would I be able to sit back knowing one of my brothers was being kept from me for no reason?
I would not be able to stand it.
I pet my Chosen’s hair, sympathizing with her at last.
“Things will change, Blythe,” I mutter into her hair. “You will go see the others. But please, can it wait until tomorrow? It is late. But you have my word. As a prince.” I pull her away from my chest, locking my eyes with hers. “You have my word, Blythe.”
“Because you say it’s okay to see them?” she asks in a small voice.
“No.” I dare to lean forward and carefully brush my lips against hers before I speak again. “Because you say it’s okay.”
When I pull back, I’m surprised to see a smile on
my Chosen’s face. “You still scared me, Korben,” she all but whispers.
I kiss her again. “I know. And I am sorry. I only did that to protect you.”
She seems surprised by this. “Why do you care so much about me?”
“Because you are mine, Blythe,” I say carefully. “As I am yours.”
There is a question brimming on her lips, but if she wants to ask me something, she decides to let it slide for now, and her eyes grow hooded. Or… wait. No. She’s glancing at my cock.
“You’re hard,” she notes.
“Well, you are practically sitting in my lap,” I say, curling the corner of my mouth into an awkward grin. I don’t want her to see my fangs. Not after everything she has gone through – especially with seeing Azan.
“And you’re that turned on by my crying?”
“I’m turned on by you,” I say in a gentle reminder. It’s almost sad. Holding her in my arms shouldn’t make my cock stand at full salute, but I am not in control when it comes to Blythe. And as much as I would like to throw her on the bed and lick the folds of her pussy, I must make sure that she is alright. “Seriously though, Blythe. Did my brother hurt you?”
Her eyes drop to her forearm. “Not that much. I… I would feel better if I had a reminder that you’re not so scary, though.” Another smile flickers across her lips.
“You want me to give you pleasure?” I ask, growing hopeful, and the laugh from Blythe’s mouth almost makes me cum.
“No! No, though I will say I am warming to the idea after your little barbarian moment.”
“My what?”
“Nevermind.” She lifts her hand and laughs into it. “I was going to say it would be nice to learn a little about you.”
“And you want to?” I ask, skepticism in my voice. This is not what I anticipated going on after bringing her into the room.
“Maybe it will help settle that.” She nods towards my erect dick. There’s a pink flush across her cheeks which doesn’t help calm me. “You all have teeth like that, right?” When I cock my head, her lips part into a toothy grin. “The fangs? You all have them, right? I saw yours when you were going after – uh, Ariel?”
