by Lizzy Ford
Kiera offered a smile and hurried past them, heart pounding and face red with embarrassment. The translator was not always good at picking up every word, but she didn’t need the translation of the unknown word. The two women had just called her short and fat.
“What’s wrong?” Evelyn asked, eyes on her face as she exited quickly.
“Oh, nothing,” Kiera lied. “Just not used to their bathrooms yet.”
She didn’t want to stay even a few days, not if it meant she was viewed as nothing more than a short-and-fat foreigner! That reputation could not possibly help Evelyn’s standing in the clan either; the sooner the clan forgot the blemish of a friend, the sooner they’d accept Evelyn. And no sexy warrior— even a prisoner— would want anything to do with her at all.
“I’m feeling tired, Evelyn. Could I lie down for a while?” she asked. She hated the disappointed look on Evelyn’s face.
“Sure, Kiera. I’m sorry for stressing you. Can you wait here for a minute, so I can ask Romas where your room is?”
Kiera nodded, content to hide from the crowd. Of all the things to think about, she couldn’t get the prisoner out of her thoughts, even when Evelyn returned with sweet bread she normally would’ve pounced on. She took it absent-mindedly and followed her friend through the mansion.
CHAPTER THREE
Evelyn left Kiera’s room with a frown, uncertain how to make everything up to her friend. Kiera would figure things out soon, especially once Evelyn got her into this new world and its customs. The party tonight would be a perfect way to start. There would be no pressure on Kiera, and Evelyn would be there to support her.
Kiera had no clue how curious Romas’s brothers were about her. To them, she was an exotic little doll with her huge, gem-hued eyes, black hair, and toned hour-glass shape. Everyone was fascinated by something so exotic compared to their standards. Even Romas’s mother had inquired about Kiera.
None of your savage brothers would properly complement such a beautiful little treasure, Romas, the woman had said with gentle humor. Though one of them must try. Kisolm has already spoken to your father.
Romas had then been given the painful job of explaining to Kisolm that Kiera would most likely not meld well with their traditions, and Kisolm would have to be disappointed. Evelyn had almost laughed when Lishana’s eyebrows shot up in response gave but loved Romas so much more for understanding Kiera well enough to defend her.
“Is she well?” Romas’s voice distracted her from her thoughts. She turned to wait for him to join her and smiled.
“I think so. Shocked, upset. Can’t blame her,” she said. “She thinks everyone here views her as short and fat.”
“My brothers are lining up to make her their mate,” he said with a shake of his head. “If only she understood our culture better.”
“She doesn’t,” she said with a warning look. “We dragged her here, but that’s as far as I can go.”
“I know, love,” he said, and kissed her on the forehead. “I told them all so.”
They hugged for a long moment, her heart singing. How she loved his scent and strong arms! She looked at the band on her arm, then down the hall toward Kiera before propping her chin on his chest to gaze at him.
“You’re sure your brother won’t try anything after what that guy said? They were fighting over her. That A’Ran guy sounded pretty convincing about kidnapping her.”
Romas was thoughtful before responding. “A’Ran and Kisolm have been competing against each other for years. They taunt each other whenever they have the chance and oftentimes want to anger the other but don’t intend to follow through. A’Ran comes from the barbarian planet, but he won’t disrespect our family. I have warned all my brothers, and Kisolm will respect my wishes.”
“A’Ran looked pretty savage,” she said with a shiver. “He’s locked up, right?”
“He is.”
“And someone other than Kisolm has the key?”
“We don’t use keys,” he answered. “We use honor. He is placed in a room where he must stay, unless someone frees him. He won’t leave.”
“You trust him?” she asked skeptically.
“It has always been this way. Before we had spaceships, we still had war. The only way to protect innocent people from the blood feud that runs between my family and A’Ran’s was to use honor.” He took her hand as they started to walk down the hall.
Evelyn glanced over her shoulder again, feeling uneasy. If only Kiera had stayed seated or didn’t have such a hyperactive bladder or just waited five minutes! Romas could have convinced his brother to leave Kiera be, but now, with a blatant challenge from the prisoner, who had dared Kisolm to claim Kiera before he did … Romas trusted his brother, but Evelyn had seen the look on Kisolm’s face when he looked at Kiera.
“Do not worry, love,” Romas said, looking at her.
“I feel like I should’ve warned her about the arm band,” she said. “She doesn’t know that giving it to any man she comes across basically makes her his wife.”
“Kiera is an honored guest. I’ve told my family she is your sister. They will not dishonor you or me by doing anything without coming to me first.”
Dear God, I hope not!
Evelyn smiled at him but wasn’t so sure. She’d keep an eye on her friend to make sure nothing else happened.
*
Kiera lay on the bed an hour after Evelyn left, staring at the white ceiling with its brightly corded edges. A midmorning breeze drifted through the windows to her right, and she closed her eyes.
She needed to leave. What had started out as a favor to her friend was turning into something else. Her gaze fell again to the closet in which boxes were stacked. They didn’t contain Evelyn’s things; they contained her things, down to her dirty socks. She’d found them when trying to find the invisible bathroom door.
Evelyn— or Romas— never intended for her to leave. There was no way she was staying! Yet home was a very long way away, which meant she needed to go home on a spaceship. Who piloted them? How did she go about getting one discreetly?
She pondered the spaceship dilemma and how to commission one to take her home without Evelyn, Romas, or anyone else finding out. Given that she had no money or belongings that might possibly be of interest to the people of this planet, how could she bribe or pay someone to take her home? As much as she loved her friend, she couldn’t help feeling betrayed.
She hid in the room most of the day to prevent any more run-ins with cats or models and to think. It wasn’t until dusk, when Evelyn had said she’d come back, that she forced herself up. She sat on the bed and watched the sunset through the window. It was just as spectacular as those on earth, a brilliant mix of pinks, oranges, burnt yellows, reds, and purples. She raised her bracelet to the light, watching the colors reflect off of it and turning it pinkish-gold, like the prisoner’s bracelet.
And then it hit her. She needed someone who could sneak her out of Romas’s reach and to a spaceship.
Prisoner… personal issues … hazing … just got caught this time.
He wasn’t a criminal, a thief, or murderer but someone who happened to have a bone to pick with Romas’s brother and managed to get caught. Freeing a man should put him in her debt, and he was the last person in the house who would rat her out to Romas’s family!
Maybe this was how their fates were tied?
Kiera tossed the thoughts around in her head, guilty at the thought of ditching Evelyn yet offended that Evey thought to keep her here without telling her. She’d lost complete control of her life overnight!
She bristled, angry again. What did it matter if she decided to leave and went about doing it her own way? Why was she worried about upsetting her friend when her friend hadn’t given her the same consideration?
She felt more guilty about thinking badly about Evelyn. She could not— would not— hold Evelyn responsible for everything. If not for Romas, there would be no distant planet, spaceships, or tarantula-like cats!
Her thoughts drifted to the prisoner, the memory of his touch and the strange energy making her blood quicken. There was something about him … she didn’t know what. Another memory crossed her mind, and her face grew warm for a different reason.
Short and fat. As if she needed another reason to want to escape!
“K-K?”
Evelyn’s voice preceded her entrance by only a second. Kiera jerked out of her thoughts and twisted on the bed to face her. Evelyn was splendidly dressed in blues and greens, her elegant shape clad in a very earthly, off the shoulder dress.
“You’re not ready!”
Her eyes strayed to the closet, as if wondering if Kiera found the boxes. Kiera pretended not to notice and rose.
“I’ve been sleeping,” she said. “You look great!”
“Thanks.” Evelyn smiled. “You’ll have to go in their clothing since you’re not ready yet.” She strode to the clothing unit in the corner and ordered her a set.
“Evelyn, I was thinking about the prisoner,” Kiera started, debating how to get the information she wanted without alarming Evelyn.
To her surprise, Evelyn stiffened and gave an oh-so-casual, “Oh?”
Kiera felt again that she was missing something but didn’t know what. She ignored the instinct and said, “I want to roam around the main house, but I’m really afraid of opening doors to random rooms and finding, you know, hordes of tarantulas that attack me or angry prisoners of war.”
“Oh! The cats were moved out of the main house, so you don’t have to worry about them. I’m pretty sure the prisoners are kept on the same floor as the warriors. You probably shouldn’t go down that way anyway.”
“Okay,” Kiera said. “Which hall is that in case I start wandering in the morning?”
“It’s the first corridor leading out of the main house into what I think is the eastern wing. It’s actually where I’m staying with Romas.”
“Really? Why don’t they have a dungeon or something?”
“I think they believe themselves to be more civilized than that. Up! Change!”
Kiera groaned, dreading the idea of a party with so many strangers who were bound to think of her as the women in the bathroom had earlier.
“It’ll be fun!” Evelyn said cheerfully. “All kinds of people to meet, great food.”
“I think they already know I don’t fit in. I don’t expect anyone to talk to me,” Kiera muttered as she changed.
“Of course they will! Is your translator working?”
“For now. It fades in and out.”
“Tomorrow we’ll get you a new one,” Evelyn promised. “And I won’t leave your side tonight. I want you to have a good time.”
“Thanks,” Kiera said, doubting her outgoing friend would sit in a corner like she planned on doing. “I’m ready.”
“You’re adorable, K-K.” Evelyn beamed. “I chose a color that brings out your eyes.”
“Thanks.”
She wore a rich tanzanite blue-purple that was darker than the colors worn by the people of this planet. She sighed, resigned to the fact that she would stick out no matter what she wore. Kiera braced herself and exited behind Evelyn, whose quick step led them back to the main house and outside, where the floating tents were still in place.
She stepped into the crowd with Evelyn, who was soon spirited away by Lishana. Being shorter than everyone else would be a boon this night; she waited until the two were out of sight before fading back toward the house. She passed through the throng without making eye contact for fear of leers or judging looks and reached the entrance foyer. Several people loitered there, and she passed them all with a glance.
First corridor out of the main house.
Kiera almost missed it as she thought of where the cats had been placed. She turned right into the first corridor, urging her courage not to falter just yet. She scoured each side of the hall for signs labeling what doors might lead to what.
One of the doors opened as she passed, and a couple emerged. Kiera’s heart jumped, but they ignored her and walked toward the main foyer. She continued faster, and followed the corridor as it curved to the left. The doors lining the halls were unmarked, and she began to suspect her plan would fail fast if she had to open every door in the hallway.
It was as she neared a dead end that she saw the single door with two access pads, the only door with additional security in the wing. She stopped in front of it, adrenaline making her heart quicken. Was she really going to free some prisoner in exchange for a trip home?
Faced with the reality of the situation, she paced in front of the door, arguing with herself. Romas’s world wasn’t that bad, and Evelyn might help her get home in due time.
Due time was too far away and too uncertain; she wanted to leave now!
She stopped and stared at the door, then began pacing again. She had never been one to take risks such as this. What better place to be a bit more daring in life than on another planet? She was about to walk away in defeat and take her place in a dark corner watching the partygoers when she heard the sounds of approaching footsteps.
Romas. The thought made her panic. On his planet, he’d have no qualms about following through with his threat to lock her in the bathroom if he found out what she was doing.
Her decision made itself. Kiera approached the door in two quick steps, waved her bracelet in front of one then the second access pad, and pushed the door to hurry it. She ducked into the room and whirled to push it closed just as quickly. She pressed her ear to the door. The sound of footsteps grew closer. Just when she was about to dart away from the door and hide behind any piece of furniture she could find, the footsteps stopped. Kiera held her breath. The footsteps started again, this time in retreat.
She rested against the door, jarred when the flash of a grey knife crossed inches before her eyes, followed by a muted thunk as the weapon buried itself in the door. After a surprised pause, she waved her bracelet in front of the internal access pad. Before the door could open more than an inch, a large honey-hued hand planted on it and pushed it closed.
She knew before she turned who stood behind her. She felt him with an instinct she didn’t understand. She sucked in a deep breath and turned to face the music.
The music was every bit as masculine and warrior as she remembered him. He towered before her with one hand planted just above her head. The intensity of his look pinned her to the door behind her.
He felt close, too close. She pushed her heels against the door and gazed up at him, her courage gone in the face of such a man. The odd energy flowing between them held them both in silence for a long moment before he spoke.
“I do no favors for any this night.”
“I don’t know what that means,” she managed.
He stared at her, considering and wary, in a way that made her uncomfortably fevered. For a long moment, she thought her translator had died again. The warrior looked her over from head to toe. Kiera felt her ire rise at the blatant appraisal. Anger awoke her from the odd spell he seemed to cast over her.
“I will consider a favor to you,” he recanted.
“I don’t want a favor, unless that means you’re willing to help me escape,” she replied. “I’ve come to offer you the chance to escape, so long as you take me to a … to a spaceship.”
“You speak of escape?” he asked with a frown.
“Escape for you and for me.”
“Escape for you?”
“Yes. I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home. I need you to take me to a spaceship so I can arrange to go home,” she said with exaggerated slowness to make sure he understood despite her faulty translator.
His gaze turned curious. He dropped his arm and stepped away. Kiera drew a breath as the intensity of his presence left. The massive warrior paced to the window. He looked out for a long moment, pensive, before returning his attention to her.
“You want me to help you leave.”
She nodded in response.
�
��It might onset a war.”
“Onset a war?” she repeated. “No, you just have to take me to a ship.”
He looked her over once more. She crossed her arms. There was something more than interest in his gaze. If she hadn’t thought it impossible for an alleged warrior to feel such a thing, she might have thought him troubled.
“Would you stop that? Where I’m from, that’s rude.”
He said nothing but let his eyes do as they pleased. She recalled what Evelyn had said about him goading Kisolm.
“It would really upset Kisolm,” she added. “If you escaped. You could get back at him for whatever it is you’re fighting about.”
“No,” he said, though his eyes fell to the band around her forearm in consideration.
Surprised, she fell speechless. Even a prisoner on this planet was unwilling to associate with her! Yet another embarrassing event to add to her day’s tally! Face flaming, Kiera turned to go. She waved her wrist before the access pad, but once more, the warrior prevented the door from opening. She tensed and waited for him, too, to insult her or boss her around like Romas did before she walked away.
“No, I will not do this to bait Kisolm, as much as I enjoy it,” he clarified. “I will help you on three conditions.”
“Isn’t your freedom enough?” she asked.
“Not for onset of war,” he responded, and waved his own wrist in front of the access pad. To her surprise, the door nudged her back. He closed it again. She turned to face him.
“Why would you stay if you don’t have to?”
“You are not from here,” he observed. “I am honor bound to stay.”
He was too close again. She pressed herself against the door, almost wishing Romas would discover them. The warrior before her had an intensity that made her breath catch, and the energy between them made her insides tingle. His movements were smooth and controlled, his emotions hidden, his dark, dark eyes alone enough to keep her immobile.
