Stolen Moments (A World Beyond Book 8)

by Michelle Howard

  Laughter and smiles graced the faces of every visitor. It was a good sight. A happy one, considering the recent turmoil with the inhabitants of Marenia starting to expand the slave trade beyond their own home world

  “Did you ever think we would be this lucky?”

  The gentle voice disturbed his musings. Marlin grinned and leaned down to rub his jaw over the top of his Chosen’s soft blonde hair. “I was lucky the day you chose me.”

  Shaya melted against him with a heartfelt sigh, her arms going around his waist in an embrace as familiar as her scent. She loved with her whole heart and Marlin never imagined someone like her wanting to spend her life with him. Especially after he’d disclosed the low likelihood of ever being able to have children due to a genetic anomaly discovered during a childhood examination.

  That hadn’t mattered at all to Shaya and she’d walked directly toward him during presentation, the ceremony to legalize relationships, and offered to spend her life by his side.

  “We are both fortunate then.” She leaned away and smiled at him.

  Marlin brushed back strands of golden blonde hair, smoothing pieces behind her ears. “We share a son and a daughter. Our family is complete in a way I never expected.”

  Shaya stretched and pecked his chin with a loud, smacking kiss. “I knew the moment I saw you on the sands, we’d live a dream-filled life. Even if children were not a possibility.”

  Unlike some who walked the sands of presentation looking for a lifelong partner, Marlin hadn’t known Shaya. They’d accidently met while he’d been out with a friend one day. They’d spoken of light-hearted things, including their mutual participation in the upcoming presentation ceremony. Then she’d smiled as she went on her way with a group of women.

  It took a leap of faith to form a bond with only a few lines of history about another but becoming a Chosen through the process on their home world was a time honored tradition which produced many successful relationships.

  His friend, Taig, had elbowed him in the side that day and declared, “She will be my Chosen. Mark my words.”

  Marlin had no answer because there had been a undeniable current running through him when he’d touched Shaya’s arm. Desire and an incredible need had also burst through his chest.

  After a firm squeeze, Marlin let his arms slide away from her trim waist and glanced to the side. Chattering in low voices, their two children stood side by side studying the display case with holo images of the first Jutak warrior unit. One dark head and one blonde.

  As if sensing his stare, their son turned. At twelve years of age, he still hadn’t lost his enthusiasm and hope. Brown eyes met Marlin’s, his gaze solemn yet bright with suppressed excitement.

  They didn’t share a drop of blood between them. Torkel was of Marenian descent, a ruthless race with nefarious connections to every conceivable evil, but Marlin couldn’t love him more. The day the abandoned baby appeared on the farm where they lived ranked as one of his greatest memories.

  Or maybe that honor was reserved for the day his Chosen defied the birth center and kidnapped the unclaimed baby. A smile of remembrance creased Marlin’s face. A good day indeed because he’d become a proud papan that day. After he prevented Shaya from being arrested of course.

  “I know that look.”

  Marlin snorted and faced Shaya. “What look?”

  She poked his mid-section. “You are thinking of the day we brought Torkel into our hearts.”

  Their daughter, Lissi, tugged on her brother’s hand pulling him to the next display and successfully drawing Torkel’s focus from Marlin. There were times, not many, but a few when Marlin caught flickers of doubt and fear from their son. He wasn’t sure what was causing his new signs of distress and planned to wait before mentioning it to Shaya and putting her overprotective attentions on Torkel.

  “Look, Tor!”

  Tiny and delicate in comparison, Lissi had the looks of an Enotian. Unlike Torkel’s golden skin tones and dark coloring, she was blonde with blue eyes.

  Her conception came as a complete and welcome surprise years after they’d adjusted to having a son to cherish. Marlin had known at an early age that his future might not include children yet here he was with not one but two.

  Looping an arm around Shaya’s waist, he grinned. “Actually, I was thinking of how I received a call that my Chosen was about to be sent to a prison colony for abducting a child.”

  Shaya’s full-throated chuckle burst forth, drawing Torkel’s attention once more. She laughed until tears sparkled on her eyelids and Marlin couldn’t resist planting another kiss on her flushed cheeks.

  Not a drop of remorse reflected in her smug blue gaze, but her tone was dead serious. “A maman will risk anything for her child.”

  Something she’d made very clear to those working at the center where they’d taken Torkel in case his Marenian birth parents came back for him.

  “It is a story I plan to tell Torkel when he is old enough,” Marlin added.

  Her smile lingered, eyes lit with curiosity. “You do not think he will be hurt that none wanted him?”

  Marlin ran a hand down her back and left it braced above the full curve of her butt. “I think he will feel enormously grateful that someone, you, loved him enough to risk your freedom.”

  While it was the truth as he saw it, Shaya relaxed against him with a sigh as if she’d needed the verbal confirmation. “We will tell him together.”

  Marlin lifted his free hand. “Torkel, Lissi, it is time to move on to the upper level. The Jutak warriors have prepared a special training demo.”

  Torkel’s mouth fell open as he and Lissi ran over to join them. His son loved hearing about Marlin’s administration job with the government military force and spent most of his time at home asking Marlin non-stop questions.

  “Remember,” Marlin counseled. “Follow the rules and the day will go without a hitch.”

  ***

  “Yes, papan,” Torkel recited, barely able to contain his enthusiasm.

  Beside him, Lissi bounced on her toes and grinned. “Yes, papan.”

  His maman and papan groaned at the innocent tone. With her blonde ringlets and bright blue eyes, his sister appeared sweet. And she was. Most times.

  Looking at her, no one would believe she hid his favorite toys and put fruit jellies in his hair while he slept. Papan said she liked making mischief. Torkel agreed with him. Maman sent Lissi to the gardens for lots of reflection time, but Torkel wasn’t sure it worked because she always found new trouble.

  Uniformed guards arrived and spoke with his parents. In a low voice, Torkel murmured, “You need to be good today, Lis.”

  Her mouth pursed and her lashes fluttered. “I will be very good, Tor.”

  He grimaced. She never managed to say his name right and he’d given up trying to teach her. “Please, Lis.”

  She reached out and entwined chubby fingers with his own. “Promise.”

  She made the vow in a solemn voice and Torkel gave in to the urge to tug her close and hug her. Her hair smelled like his maman’s flowers because she’d had reflection time again before they left. He couldn’t stay mad at his sister. When she was born, he gave a silent oath to always protect the tiny baby who joined their family. He always would.

  Chapter 2

  Torkel was riveted by every part of the presentation. The public viewing was over and soon guests would be asked to leave the large conference room. Beside him, his sister leaned her head on the arm he had propped on the chair between them, her eyes heavy-lidded and drowsy. Lissi hadn’t been quite as enthralled as him. Or perhaps it was that she was too young to fully appreciate all they’d seen.

  “I need to use the cleansing room to touch up my enhancements. Wait for me here,” his maman murmured to his papan as she rose from her seat.

  His papan stood, kissed his maman’s hand then stared at her retreating back as she made her way down the aisle and disappeared through the arched doorway. Respect and admiration colo
red the interactions of all those who stopped and spoke to Marlon Alonson while they waited. His papan was the epitome of everything Torkel wanted to be when he grew up.

  His chest clenched as he remembered the thoughts plaguing his mind of late. Maybe he wasn’t deserving of such respect. Marenians were not admired and Torkel was Marenian. By blood anyway. In his mind and heart he was Enotian.

  “Papan!”

  Lissi popped up from her semi-nap and skipped down the row toward their papan. A few feet away, she leaped into the air, secure and confident as always that she’d be caught. Those close by turned and stared as Lissi squealed when their papan lifted her high then settled her on his broad shoulders to sit. Her tiny legs draped his papan’s neck.

  “What did you think, Torkel?” his papan asked as he approached.

  Pushing away his dark feelings about his birth heritage, Torkel straightened and locked his hands behind his waist as he’d seen the Jutak warriors do. “It was perf—”

  Sudden screams split the air before cutting off abruptly. Torkel jumped. The crowd turned as one, confusion flashing across their faces. The zip zip of laser blasts followed. Torkel only recognized the sound because his papan had allowed him to view a holo-vid on a weapons demonstration just weeks ago.

  Concern darkened his papan’s face. He swiveled Lissi from his shoulders and to the floor in a blink then shoved her in Torkel’s direction. “Grab your sister’s hand!”

  Tiny fingers grasped his in a death grip before Torkel could reach for Lissi. She trembled so hard her little body bumped against his side in a steady beat. More screams ripped through the room and the crowd began to run en masse.

  A vise squeezed Torkel’s chest as he looked to the man he admired for direction. For the first time in his life, Torkel was afraid. “Papan?”

  Marlin had a hand at his shoulder, nudging gently, but firmly. “Move, son! Go!”

  Torkel hurried along the row until he hit the aisle. Another nudge and he quickened his pace up toward one of the only three exits. Everyone had the same idea.

  There were too many bodies pressing forward. The stench of terror saturated the air with its sour odor. Streams of people flowed by, racing ahead. Sweat formed on Torkel’s brow and he laced his fingers tighter with Lissi, afraid she would be torn away. A quick glance down revealed tears falling down her cheeks though she didn’t utter a sound. That alone would have worried Torkel. His sister didn’t know the meaning of quiet.

  His papan leaned down and brushed a reassuring hand over Torkel’s head. He spoke in a rushed whisper. “We will get out of here. Stay calm.”

  Each doorway became jammed with dozens of bodies trying to force their way through all at once. Torkel was far from calm but decided to follow his papan’s lead. He breathed deeply and continued moving. Shoving ensued from behind and he slipped with a sharp cry. The thought of being trampled locked his throat.

  “Torkel!” Lissi screamed as her fingers slid from his.

  The momentum flung him forward despite his effort to cling to his sister. Something banged his elbow and his hip smashed into a chair to the left. His papan caught his arm, but Torkel fought to break away and searched under the seats. He saw Lissi and yanked his sister back toward him. This time he clamped an arm about her waist and hugged her close.

  “Good job, Torkel,” his papan murmured as they reached the doorway on a huge surge and burst through.

  Panic reigned. It was hard to focus in the confusion with people swelling around them, but his papan ignored it all to drop to one knee beside him and Lissi with a hard stare. He cupped them each on the shoulder. “I need you both to listen carefully. Do you remember where my office is?”

  They both nodded. His papan chucked them under the chin and managed a grin. “Good. Torkel, take your sister there and lock the door.”

  Lissi sobbed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Torkel wanted to join her, but he put on a brave front and held in his own cries. He didn’t need his papan’s strained features to know this was serious.

  His papan patted Lissi’s back and quieted her down. When he pulled away, he wiped at her tears with a shaky thumb. “Be brave for papan, hmm? Torkel will take care of you. I must get to your maman.”

  And just like that, Torkel’s heart dropped, stomach knotted into a ball. His maman had left before the shooting started. Where was she? What if she was hurt and needed them?

  Papan stood and an expression Torkel had never seen crossed his face. Stern. Forceful. “I will come for you after. Run now!”

  Torkel hesitated, uncertain if he wanted to leave either of his parents. His papan met his gaze and gave him a solid nod. The trust in his blue eyes was all Torkel needed. “Yes, papan.”

  Torkel took off running, dragging Lissi in his wake. They tore through the crowd, dodging bodies and everyone looking for a way out. Running against the tide wasn’t easy, but Torkel had no intentions of failing. His papan expected him to take care of his sister and he would.

  ***

  For the thousandth time in her life, Shaya contemplated using cosmetic enhancements. She leaned across the basin in the cleansing room and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Did Marlin want her to add more lip color and something to make her eyes stand out? Did he like her cheeks with a hint of rosy color?

  As quickly as the thoughts occurred, Shaya dismissed it. Her Chosen was nothing if not honest and straight forward. He didn’t care how she looked only that she loved him. And she did. Shaya loved Marlin with all her heart and the same intensity of the first time they’d met on the sands of presentation.

  Hidden behind his civil veneer was an untamed wildness. Every step confident and steady, she had made her way across the glittering sand to make Marlin her Chosen and she’d do it again and again to have him in her life.

  With a huff, Shaya turned from her reflection. What she’d applied earlier before leaving home was sufficient. She stuffed the colorful tubes back into a small decorative bag she’d brought with her then washed her hands. Others entered behind her and after exchanging polite smiles, Shaya gathered her bag and left.

  Perhaps on the way home, they’d take the kids to eat at Santagos. Nothing gave Shaya more pleasure than being out with her family. Smiling, she headed toward the hall on the left, anxious to return.

  Two men in dark clothing burst past her with fierce frowns pinching their brows. She paused to consider who or what had caused their frantic pace when the lights flickered. Someone gasped and Shaya hurried toward the stairs leading to the upper auditorium. She’d prefer to be with Marlin soothing their kids if the power went out.

  Within a few feet from the turn she needed to take, a loud boom sounded. Lasers fired and Shaya came to an abrupt stop. Somewhere behind her a woman screamed. Shaya turned to see what was happening and was bumped roughly by fleeing guests.

  “Everyone on the ground! Now! Now!”

  Ignoring the shouted command, a man darted around Shaya and the fizz of lasers sounded again. He dropped to the floor beside her, body limp. Hand to her throat, she half-stepped backward and stumbled. She barely muffled her gasp.

  “Drop, drop! No one move!”

  Regaining her footing, Shaya glanced up in the direction of the barked orders. Her blood froze. Coming from another section of the building, a group of four armored clad men with darkened helmets over their heads marched down the hall.

  “You! Get over there with the others.”

  Shaya jerked and realized one of the armed men was pointing at her with a blunt gloved finger. Heart jumping, she took a deep breath and moved in the direction he instructed. “Do not hurt anyone. It will only make things worse.”

  If she could calm them down, it would give their military force and the elite Jutak warriors time to act.

  “No talking!” he screamed.

  The crowd gathered against the wall grew as more and more of those attending were rounded up. Shaya stood to the right of a crying woman being held by her Chosen, head tucked beneath
his clenched jaw. On her left, two little ones hid behind their parents’ knees, eyes wide and faces pale as a sheet.

  Her pulse skipped a beat as she thought of her own family. As quick as the worry occurred, she relaxed. Marlin would see to their children and make sure nothing happened to them.

  With that in mind, Shaya eyed the men yelling and shoving people about until they seemed satisfied. She eased into a corner, enough to see but not be seen. They’d amassed a large group, but not as many as who had attended today’s event. Maybe the others had managed to get out or were hiding.

  “Listen carefully.” The leader moved to the front and ripped the helmet from his head with one hand while holding his automated laser casually at his side.

  The first thing Shaya noticed was his dark red hair and deep green eyes. Those were not the looks of a true Enotian. Their race was predominantly blond and blue eyed.

  “I am Jordan. No one needs to get hurt unless they resist.” He glared at a particular vocal man being held back by a woman’s grip on his elbow. They both settled after a pointed moment of silence. “We are looking for the Prime Minister scheduled to speak here today.”

  The assumed leader walked back and forth in front of them. At his words, Shaya eased behind the bulk of a government employee dressed in a light gray uniform. Due to Marlin’s career in the Enotian government, he was good friends with several prominent officials, namely Prime Minister Revin.

  “Talk,” he snarled. “We wish only to talk. No harm intended.”

  The silence in response to his question continued aside from the occasional sniffle or cry. His green eyes darkened and the tension in the atmosphere increased. One of his armed associates came to his side. Jordan tipped his head to the floor, listening to the whispered information.

  When he lifted his head, Shaya barely managed to contain a gasp at the rage flashing across his attractive features.

  “It would seem, the Prime Minister has left.” He stalked forward, glaring at each person his eyes made contact with. “Let us see if we can get him on the communicator. Perhaps he will wish to talk when he realizes we will not be releasing his precious citizens until our demands are met.”