Queen of the Stars (The Royals of Adriel Book 1)

by Lorelei Orion

  “No need,” he assured huskily. “You weigh no more than a feather. It’s just … be comfortable. Rest against me.”

  She swallowed nervously as she obeyed, placing her hot cheek on the smooth material of his thin suit. The fast and steady beat of his heart was oddly peaceful, and had a way to ease away her tension, leaving her tired. The day’s tumultuous events had been exhausting, and her internal clock was confused by the nighttime.

  “Does it hurt much?” he asked kindly.

  “Does what?” she murmured drowsily.

  “Your ankle.”

  She contemplated the dull ache. “No.”

  In the following quiet, feeling safe and lulled, she allowed herself to drift off into the languor …

  Sarra roused, bewildered, trying to ward off something that was tugging at her feet.

  “Shush,” Raine soothed.

  She discovered that she was in the middle of a bed in a dimly lit room. He finished pulling her chute-suit off her legs, and she sat up, shaken and distrustful. Suddenly, she felt bare, like the pink dress she wore wasn’t enough to cover her. She shivered and crossed her arms.

  His gaze darted away from the swell of her breasts while he reached for a gray blanket and placed it around her shoulders. She nuzzled into the soft cloth, holding it together in a fist.

  He sauntered off into an adjoining room, and she looked around, marveling. This was a log cabin, its rough-hewn walls and crude furnishings made from real wood, from real trees. Who would build such a place? She had never seen anything like it. The primitive architecture was almost animalistic, and it made her feel … warned.

  He returned, holding a medic case. He took out a small round instrument and bent to her wounded foot. She winced when he placed the cool, smooth metal on her ankle, but then was thankful for the rippling warmth it emitted as it set about to heal her.

  “No broken bones, at least,” he uttered. “It’s but a sprain.”

  Sarra couldn’t know that Raine was having trouble keeping his hands steady. He was honored to hold her perfect foot, though bruised and swollen as it was—even her ankle was like silk! He let his fingers glide across her slender toes and up the high arch to her soft heel as he worked her medication. As he raised his gaze, she quickly looked away. An alluring blush came to pinken her smudged cheeks. She tried to hide her embarrassment, her long black lashes lowered, veiling the brilliant, dark-blue depths. He became aware that he licked his lips while he remembered how it had been only hours ago when he had tasted her sweet, crimson pout. He yearned to nudge her down … he needed to …

  She stiffened, pulling away. He discovered that both of his hands had moved up to her calves.

  He caught himself and pretended to inspect her with medical interest. “Is that better?” he asked.

  She nodded, warily.

  He tore his hands off of her, and returned the device to its case. He rose carefully, trying to appear nonchalant about his arousal. “Are you hungry?” he asked, hoping to change his subject.

  She shook her head, innocent to his condition. “I’m more tired.”

  Sarra had many questions but she decided not to ask, fearing the answers. He helped her over to the bath, the cabin’s only other room, and she washed the dirt off her face. Her ankle didn’t rebel too much—there was some pressure but little pain. When she returned to the bed, her pulse quickened. He came near with a white, twisted rope that he had cut in half. She had little energy left to protest.

  “Sorry, Princess,” he mumbled, slipping the ropes through two of the decorative holes that lined the headboard, tying her wrists there.

  He laid the blanket out over her and went off to the bath. She tested the bonds, finding them secure. She glanced down on the sheets beside her. The bed had little room left.

  She settled in on her pillow, and in the midst of her worries she fell asleep. She woke briefly when hearing the cabin’s main door open and close. Aware of the absence of his presence, in her drowsy state of mind she couldn’t help but console herself by remembering the best part of the day—the moment when he had kissed her.

  ***

  Sarra stirred and was blinded by the sunlight. She rose up on her elbow and held her other arm out to block the brilliance. The ropes no longer bound her, and there wasn’t any sign of Raine. She wondered a moment about the rugged log walls and the cross-paned windows that flooded the cabin with brightness, and slid from the bed. She crept across the wooden planks and grasped the old-fashioned door handle, opening the door, cautiously peering out on the cheerful day. She slipped outside, uncertain if she should stay or run.

  “Mornin’!”

  She whirled. There he stood.

  “I see your ankle has mended.”

  She glanced down at her bare foot, realizing that it had healed enough for her to forget about it.

  “Perhaps you’ll help me, then?”

  Raine sauntered over to a grove of fruitful vines hanging down near the side of the cabin. He plucked off a yellow fruit and tossed it into a woven basket on the ground. “Take what you want,” he invited pleasantly.

  Sarra saw that the simple log cottage was partiality surrounded by the trees behind and aside it, dense and tall trees, the lush leaves cascading down, some touching the lawn. The soft green grass before her was spotted with colorful wildflowers, and at the end of the glade there sparkled a clear blue pond. It was a beautiful place, one serene and quiet, mesmerizing her a moment with its fragrance.

  When she noticed Raine watching her, she moved to take refuge in the foliage. She’d never seen such an assortment of plants in one place. These grow naturally and were scattered in disarray all about, the various genera coming together in harmony to make a wild garden. The tangy scents brought a rumble to her belly, and she picked a bundle of sprouts, a green ambrosia fruit, a sweetflower. It had been a long while since she had had the delicacies native to Myrrh fresh off the vine. She chose the most delectable morsels, tasting some and anticipating the others on her tongue.

  When Raine came to stand before her, smiling quite amiably while he held his basket out, she deposited her pickings in it. She followed him while he moved for the cabin’s door. She wondered why the dark and ancient-looking structure brought her a feeling of peace. It was as if she had been transported back to old Earth, to the time when the word ‘technology’ hadn’t yet been coined.

  Her sentiment persisted when she sat on a chair’s crimson, tufted cushion at the round table. He went off to prepare their meal in the nearby alcove that served as a kitchen, rinsing the fruit in the old-style basin, ignoring her while he did so. She ran her hand across the smooth table, fascinated by the fine craftsmanship. Everything was made of a rich brown wood—even the floor and ceiling. Her interest in such architecture soon made her rise, to idly inspect the novelty bookshelf that was against the far wall, the mantle that had a real fireplace, the furnishings that were gentle to the touch but rustic to the eye. The only contemporary design was in the bath; it had the basic conveniences but even these were of an antique mode.

  Sarra had many questions when he waved her back over to her chair at the table. “What is this place?” she asked. “I haven’t seen anything like it.”

  He smiled while he laid out two wooden bowls brimming with the assorted salad, and sat down across from her. “And I don’t imagine that you ever will again.”

  “Did you make this cabin?” she asked.

  He nodded and took a bite from his bowl.

  She had guessed that only savage hands could build such a primitive haven, and she had been right. She envisioned him creating it … the sweat gleaming on his tanned back, his powerful sinews rippling while he worked … The idea, strangely, appealed to her. “Why did you?”

  Raine shrugged. He certainly wouldn’t confide in her that it had been his personal therapy after his family was killed—a place far away from Adriel where he wouldn’t be disturbed.

  She considered his evasiveness. “We’re on Myrrh, I k
now,” she said. “But, where are we?”

  After a thoughtful moment, he responded with, “Let’s just say that we’ve found a port in a storm.”

  Sarra nodded as she took a bite and chewed the savory fruit. Yesterday had been like a storm. She had chuted for the first time in her life—something she had never dreamt she would have the courage to do. She felt like she had accomplished some impossible feat, as if facing her fear of falling had made her stronger, somehow. The view in the clouds had been so spiritually redeeming, surely she could now conquer anything.

  “But why did we eject?” she asked.

  He eyed her calculatedly and then he said, “Your father’s men are persistent.”

  Sarra slowly returned her fork to her bowl. Incredulous, she stared at him while he continued to dine with impeccable manners. “You were fleeing the Royal FAS?”

  He shrugged.

  She crossed her arms and leaned back to decipher this news. A sudden image of the spaceship crashing and exploding into flame flashed through her head. She thrust her palms onto the tabletop. “Wait … he will—father will think I’m dead!”

  “No. Darius will make him think otherwise.”

  As Sarra recalled the FAS outstanding tracking methods, she glanced up at the ceiling, and some of her smugness must have shown on her face.

  “I wouldn’t be too hopeful, Princess. This cabin may look simple enough, but it’s equipped with a holographic shield. If a ship should pass over, all that its sensors would detect is an illusion of the wilderness—only the trees blending into more trees.”

  “After they search the spacecraft’s wreckage and see that I wasn’t aboard, they will scour every inch of this land to find me,” she said matter-of-factly.

  He shook his head. “They will be told that you were never on board,” he said confidently. “Even if the FAS knew you were, it would be their miracle if they found you out here.”

  She pouted. In a huff she rose and began to pace the planks. “I think you are lying. Why should I believe you? You said that we were heading for the Kan Sector, and then we land here again, on Myrrh. Why are we staying here? What are we waiting for? Will you lie if I ask you just how long you plan to keep me here?”

  Raine kept the amusement off of his face. She was ready for battle, her chin high and her hands on her hips, lovely while she stormed about. He could guess her reaction if he told her that he really didn’t know how long, that he couldn’t chance communicating with Darius in case the message should be intercepted. He knew that his oldest friend would come to meet him when he was able, but wasn’t sure if the FAS had apprehended him—or if the traitor had caused further trouble. No matter what, he felt certain that she would be safe here, for only Darius and he knew about the cabin’s existence.

  Safe from others, but … She stopped and stood there, her high cheeks flushed, her dark-blue eyes alive with heated lights. He let his gaze fall briefly to the enticing swell of her breasts, an area he’d decidedly tried to ignore. For the sake of his body and pride, he hoped that Darius would rescue them soon. It was sheer torture having such tempting beauty around, and he being unable to sample it. He’d worry about the damage this delay would have on his mission, later. For now, he must concentrate on finding a way to physically survive the wait.

  “Don’t savages always lie?” he finally replied.

  She nodded rapidly and began to move again. “What kind of kidnapper are you, anyway? A confused one?” she taunted. “You steal me away from my palace, hide me in a whorehouse—no less—then fly me all around the cosmos only to bring me back here, to Myrrh, to this outlandish place. Isn’t it about time that you give my father your demands so he can at least learn what the ransom is? I’ve been abducted by a fool!” she raged, the last word coming as a shout.

  It then dawned on her, what she should have realized before. Her abduction wasn’t progressing like he had intended. All his changes of plans … something was keeping him from reaching his goal. Her satisfaction was brief, for it mingled with her frustration. Whatever was hindering his ransom scheme made her his captive all the more longer.

  It was clear that she had hit upon a tender nerve. His lips pursed menacingly while he wiped his hands with his napkin and rose slowly to his feet. She shivered, intimidated by his coolly controlled temper.

  “The king knows my demands. Perhaps our delay comes while he debates if his daughter is worth the price.”

  She gasped.

  Her eyes narrowed venomously as he gripped her arm and escorted her out the doorway. Stiffly she walked while he led her across the glade, wondering what he was planning now. He thrust her down onto the grass at the pond’s bank.

  “Relax,” he said sardonically. “Enjoy the sun.”

  He glared at her and went off to aimlessly walk the lawn, eventually stopping at the gardens and taking to the unnecessary task of hand pruning the wild plants.

  Riled by the situation, Sarra sprang up to her feet. She ambled restlessly through the flowers and ferns, all the while aware of his cold vigilance. She studied the blue sky above, knowing that the invisible shield was there, allowing the sun’s rays to pass through—in and out—but still cloaking the ground from any aerial search. She wondered about its radius, about how far she must be from the cabin before the FAS could spot her. But, did it matter? If she began running, wouldn’t he just catch her?

  “You won’t survive in the wilds alone!” he called. “Come back!”

  She decided not to try it, for if she did she may find herself tied up to a tree.

  Sarra stayed within her invisible cage, keeping to his boundary limits. She learned that it was easier just to sit by the pond. He didn’t have to watch her every move when she was idle, though she still felt his ruthless scrutiny burning into her back.

  As the afternoon aged, she tried to focus on the fragrant air, the tranquil calls of the birds. She stared at the sparkles dancing upon the water and plucked testily at the blades of grass. It had been a while since she had had the dirt between her toes and the sunshine on her face, but the serenity of nature right now gave her little comfort. Once, he came to stop a good distance from her—like he didn’t want to get too close to her personal space—and one by one he threw her a meal of assorted fruits. Silently he stalked away, and with wary glances she watched him working at other things she suspected didn’t really need to be done, like inspecting the cabin’s exterior. When he took off his shirt, her breathing came tighter, affected by his incredible, muscular physique. Worried that the sweat on her brow wasn’t solely due to the sun, she turned away.

  Sarra was weary from her effort at relaxation long before the dusk began casting its gloomy shades across the land. She tensed when he came up behind her.

  “Come,” he commanded.

  She rose without the help of his waiting hand … with her heart beating faster … and then came the moment she had feared all day …

  He was unusually clumsy as he tied her to the bed, plainly disturbed when he completed the final knot. His intense gaze roved up and down her wrinkled, pink dress …

  He scowled and went over to the open window. Shrouded within the shadows of the gathering darkness, he looked out on the still night, sensing the air.

  “There’s a storm coming,” he whispered. “Dangerous … ”

  Without a glance he left her, closing the door behind him.

  Sarra shivered in her emotion.

  She didn’t know how he knew, but if he believed that a storm was coming, a storm was coming.

  She settled in and a vision appeared to her. He stood beneath Eos, Myrrh’s moon, the white shimmer gleaming in his green eyes while he anticipated the tempest …

  Chapter 11

  Raine roused, ready for the abuse of another day, yet feeling, strangely, that this one would be different. He was lying on a blanket, on the floor beneath the princess’ bed, in the usual predicament—one that was becoming more and more unbearable. She was near him but he couldn’t go to her
and ease his aching loins. It had been well over a week since he had abducted her and she had driven him mad every single moment. It seemed like a lifetime! If she were a common woman, he would have seduced her by now. But this was no ordinary circumstance. Just how vile of a man would he be if he let his lust start a war that would ravage an entire planet?

  As he rose, cursing his painful condition, she stirred. He roughly freed her from the ropes. “Don’t think of running!” he snarled. “We’re miles from nowhere and you wouldn’t survive the storm!”

  He stalked off to the bath, and Sarra flung the bedding aside. She stretched away her drowsiness, moving to the window. She frowned, peering up at the gray, foreboding sky. After adjusting the pins of her tousled coiffure, she went to the table and chose an amber fruit from the bowl’s assortment. When he came into the room, she stopped in mid chew. His expression told of his vicious mood. Meekly, she averted her face.

  Raine absently picked up a fruit and proceeded to tread back and forth across the planks, keeping his eyes off of her for sanity’s sake. It had been a blessed hell being alone with her on the spacecraft and he had nearly lost his control then—cooped up with her, what man wouldn’t? He had hoped that out here in the wilderness he would have more distance from her, but now he would be trapped with her. The cabin would withstand the gales, but the walls of his pride would surely fall. He was slipping dangerously close to rape. His sexual fantasies about her weren’t enough to satisfy him anymore. How could he bear it? How could he remember who she was when he could only see her breathtaking beauty? He needed air … air …

  He took two woven baskets off of the kitchen shelf and cautiously put one before her. “We need more provisions,” he said pleasantly, almost pleadingly. “Who knows when we’ll have the chance again.”

  Puzzled by his erratic behavior, Sarra took the basket and followed him out the doorway. He sprinted over to the garden behind the cabin, onto a narrow path where he hastily plucked berries and blossoms, beans and nuts from the lush forest. She copied him, wondering why she bothered to hope to keep up with him. As she labored, she became uneasy, anxious that they were getting a mite too far from the shelter.