“So, you give me your body, but nothing more? Yet you ask for my assistance? My trust?”
When he put it like that, she sounded like a cold-hearted bitch. But she had known Sevron for months. He’d earned her trust the hard way. One day at a time. By always telling her the truth. By helping her when she needed it. “I just need time, Falden. I made a promise to Sevron, and I won’t break it just because I enjoy having sex with you.”
There seemed to be nothing more to say after that.
The car began to descend. They were in a very large elevator. Down, down, down they went. The farther down they were, the fewer fluorescent lights they saw. The air may have cooled, but inside the car they stayed comfortable. She’d never been one for cave exploring, but as they descended, she realized she’d been missing out. Embedded in the gray rock were rivers of mineral deposits, all aglow.
Once the elevator stopped, they got out of the car and Falden directed her through a maze of narrow tunnels until they reached the back of the large fortified structure near both his quarters and the room where Dagan would be awaiting them. He’d brought his Lumerian Knights through these tunnels when King Dagan first came to Earth, then decided to make them a permanent part of their security measures. They couldn’t come and go from the base as the Caldorians did. They needed secrecy. The tunnels provided the perfect access point. Showing it to Isabella was a risk, but something inside him told him that he could trust her. Why couldn’t she do the same?
When they neared an inhabited area, Falden took advantage of their last few moments of privacy and pulled her into his arms. She did not resist, instead leaning into him as if she truly belonged to him.
“I have been inside you, my Bella. I have made you scream with pleasure and held you in my arms as you slept. Yet I am not to be trusted with the truth. You are a very stubborn woman.”
Isabella heard the anger in his voice, saw the tick in his jaw. He was angry. Of course he was angry. But was that hurt she sensed in his voice? Was that why he kept staring at the blue swirls on the back of his hand like she’d poured acid on him? Like he was hurting?
“I made a promise, Falden. And when I make a promise, I keep it.” Surely he would understand that. Duty. Honor. A vow made and a promise kept. She could not betray Commander Sevron Bashall. His life—and that of his brother—could very well depend upon her ability to honor that vow. Trust no one. That’s what Sevron had said. Only speak to King Dagan. Her heart squeezed painfully. She wanted to tell Falden the truth more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life. Wanted to wipe out the pain she was causing. She was falling for him. She wanted only truth between them.
“Let us go then, and speak to the king.”
“Yes.” She smiled weakly. “And thank you for trusting me, Falden. I promise, I have no ill intentions toward your king.”
Falden tipped his head in acknowledgment. “I am aware of that. I would not have brought you here otherwise.”
A large alien male, well over six feet tall, with short blond hair, walked up to them and the broke apart.
“Falden. Welcome home. We were worried about—” His voice trailed off, and his mouth gaped open. “Your markings. No wonder you were gone so long. You could've at least kept your communication device handy. Gareth and a few others are still out looking for you.” His gaze flashed to Isabella, and the shock and intense scrutiny she saw in his eyes set her on guard. But nothing prepared her for his deep bow of respect, nor the look of reverence in his gaze.
Falden stepped between her and the male. “No, Cam. It is not what you think.”
Cam raised a brow and grinned. “Whatever you say, Commander.”
Isabella stepped around Falden and offered her hand in greeting to the alien warrior who seemed to be much friendlier than the one she’d driven here. “I’m Isabella.”
“Ambassador Arcam Shronti, but call me Cam.” He reached out to shake her hand, but Falden stepped closer and placed his own at the small of her back, steering her away before Cam could take her hand in his own.
Cam burst into laughter. “Easy.” He laughed again, this time winking at Isabella. “Sure glad those markings don’t mean anything.”
“Shut it, Cam,” Falden growled, wrapping his arm possessively around Isabella’s waist and bringing her back against his chest so that he could pull her away from Cam. Caldorians were notoriously possessive of their women, and Lumerians were even worse. Cam knew this. If he dared to touch her, Falden wouldn’t hesitate to flatten the Caldorian, no matter that he was the king’s best friend and the official Caldorian Ambassador to Earth. Fucker was baiting him. “Dagan is waiting for us.”
Isabella tried to ignore the burning heat at the base of her spine, but the warmth of his touch was driving her to distraction. Desire zinged from her core, hot and urgent. Her nipples peaked below the lightweight sweater as Falden’s arm brushed against the underside of her breast. She was so pathetic the small action actually made her feel a bit dizzy.
Ignoring the feeling of nausea rising in her stomach, she stuffed the key fob into the front of her pants pocket. The action brought Falden to a stop. “Give me the key.”
“I knew it.” With a sigh, she placed the keys into his outstretched palm. He accepted them, then threw them over his shoulder to Cam, who stood watching them walk away with a smile on his face that made her wonder exactly what the heck was going on.
“Take these and have the vehicle moved to visitor parking topside. Also, send someone to change the human title and ownership to Miss Isabella Serrano.”
“Wait! What? I thought you were joking about the car.” She looked up, dazed.
Falden applied pressure, gently moving her another step farther away from Ambassador Shronti, whose own markings were still unlit, even though he’d recently had a joining ceremony with the human woman, Rachel Faro, and they had the first Caldorian-Human infant. He’d have to remember to tell Cam there was a synthetic paste, a lost Lumerian technology known only to a few, that could light his markings. But not today. Not when the asshole was laughing at him. Fucker.
Looking down into Isabella’s upturned face, his gaze softened. “I do not waste time on such frivolous activities as joking.”
“You never make jokes?”
“Not really.”
“That’s a bit sad, don’t you think? Did no one teach you that laughter makes the best medicine? Your education seems sadly lacking,” she said, her eyes full of mischief.
“Excuse me?” Falden stopped dead in his tracks, unable to fathom how this small female found the courage to speak to him in such a manner.
“Sounds a bit like someone is feeling sorry for himself.” She patted his arm that was still around her waist, then turned within his embrace so that her full breasts were smashed against his hard chest. “No one loves a party pooper,” she quipped, stretching up on her tippy toes to brush a quick kiss on his clean-shaven jaw.
Unable to process the audacity of her words, and unable to deny them, he chose to ignore them. Tunneling his hands in her hair, he leaned down and cut off whatever she was about to say next with a scorching-hot kiss. By the time he was done, her soft feminine body had melted into his, her hair was mussed and her lips were swollen from his kiss. Surveying his work with great male satisfaction, he pulled back, taking her delicate hand in his and leading her in the direction he wanted to go.
Falden escorted her the rest of the way to the hidden room deep beneath the Caldorian base they’d named Dungeon 6. This was a Lumerian habit, assigning misleading names to important places. Dungeon 6 was the Lumerian’s base of operations within the Caldorian base. Not even the Caldorians, outside of Dagan and Cam, knew about it. They used cloaking technology to keep their secrets. Technology that had kept the surviving Lumerians safe and hidden for more than two thousand years.
Not only was Dungeon 6 cloaked, but within the room itself there were layers of cloaking. Some items would become visible when a Lumerian Knight stepped inside, while others
remained hidden. As one of the only surviving Lumerian Elders and the leader of the Lumerian Knights, he had complete access. Setting up the room was the first thing they’d done upon arriving on the base. While Dagan had been busy wooing his human mate, Sasha, his men had set up Dungeon 6. The AI tech within the room knew exactly who was there at all times. Nothing would be hidden from him. What might look like an ordinary, empty room to humans was actually bursting with technology. Digital displays, weapons and even a medical area. A compact war room. All a human would see was a large, stately receiving room, complete with elegant furnishings, two large fireplaces, a plethora of indoor Earth plants he particularly enjoyed and had to have special lighting to grow belowground, and low lighting from both maju stone lights and an Earth feature called a chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling.
King Dagan and Queen Sasha could be heard through the opening doors. Standing guard at the entrance, Cassiel and Vander nodded as he approached. Both were smart enough to keep their damn mouths shut about the very bright glow of his markings.
Dagan, however, had no such qualms as Falden and Isabella stepped into the room. “You’re all lit up. Must have been quite a night.” The king’s deep laughter turned the queen’s head, and Falden bowed before her. He’d vowed to protect the royal families of Caldor with his life, but Sasha was his queen. She had brought the Lumerian gifts back to life, been physically transformed by maju paste, complete with Lumerian-like powers, energized his ancient sword and healed hundreds of humans, Caldorians and Lumerians alike when the Caldorian base was attacked. She’d given the Lumerians a priceless gift: a future. Tiny and beautiful, with long, silvery blonde hair and white crystalline markings across her forehead, she could turn the eye of most men. Falden, while he treasured her, preferred his Isabella.
Queen Sasha smiled gently. “News travels fast. We’re so happy for you, Falden.”
Falden growled. “Cam.”
King Dagan laughed again. “Can’t blame the man. He’s waited centuries to see you lit up like that. I believe you said, ‘A cold day on the second sun’?’”
“I remember,” Falden interrupted, “the beating you both took in training that day. Care for a repeat?”
Isabella frowned. “Centuries? How old are you? And why does everyone keep talking about your skin like that? What does the glowing mean?”
Queen Sasha nearly choked, her mouth falling open like she was trying to catch flies.
“Falden, you of all people did not tell her?” the queen asked.
“There is nothing to tell,” Falden replied.
The queen walked toward Isabella. “How disappointing.” She held out her own hand. “I’m Sasha Tiranon, Dagan’s wife.”
Dagan looked over at Sasha with a grin, his eyebrow lifting. “Baby, you’re my queen. Do you need me to prove it to you again?”
Blushing profusely, the queen didn’t respond to Dagan’s outrageous behavior, instead focusing on Isabella. “They have really advanced tech, but I swear, they’re like cavemen when it comes to the opposite sex. Cavemen.”
She accepted the queen’s outstretched hand, noticing that both Dagan and Falden tensed as the two women drew closer to one another. Whatever. She wasn’t bowing or kneeling or anything else. These people weren’t her rulers. And she was irritated now. Her head hurt, her nerves were on edge, her dizziness had progressed to nausea. Had she eaten breakfast this morning? Food might help. And might not. She was tired of all the games and half-truths. “I’m Isabella.”
Between Ambassador Shronti in the tunnels, whom she’d recognized as soon as she saw him since he was always in the news as the only official liaison between Caldor and Earth, and the queen’s disappointment, which oddly stung, she was done with the bullshit. “Falden was injured. I used the maju paste to heal him. Why is everyone so freaked out about it?”
She directed the question at Queen Sasha, whom Sevron had only mentioned a couple of days before he disappeared, but she was a good judge of character and the queen came across as shy and gentle. Definitely not a schemer. Plus, since she was married to the king, that was good enough for her.
Queen Sasha cleared her throat. “They light up their markings with maju paste when they’re getting engaged. They call it a ‘claiming’ period. It’s literally like a neon hands-off sign, and both the men and women do it. We thought since Falden’s markings were lit up that you two were together. We didn’t mean to embarrass you, and we should’ve known Falden wouldn’t put you in danger by using the paste on you. He was very angry with Dagan after we used some on me without knowing how a human would react. If it hadn’t been for Falden, I would have died. So I apologize for the mistake. Falden insists you have information for us?”
Isabella shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut, then focused on the queen’s very obvious nonhuman markings with a self-directed chuckle. “I’m sorry. I must have misheard. Sounds like you said you almost died because you used the paste, but Falden saved you?”
“Falden and Dagan, yes.”
Isabella covered her eyes. “I’m sorry. It’s the migraine. Can’t think properly. I’m missing something here. I just don’t understand.”
Queen Sasha’s voice softened even more with sympathy. “I was completely human, just like you. I came here to be in my best friend’s joining ceremony and met Dagan. We used the maju paste, not knowing it would change me. If not for Dagan and Falden, I could not have survived. I think the energy inside me would have destroyed not only me, but everyone around me.”
Isabella dropped her hand and opened her eyes, dread winning out over pain. She couldn’t help staring at the queen now, looking for signs of her ordeal. She was an ethereal beauty with long silvery blonde hair, delicate features, and the most beautiful markings Isabella had ever seen. Instead of her markings being slightly raised below the skin like every other Caldorian she’d met or seen on social media, the queen’s skin appeared to be made of crystal in a two-inch band at her hairline, almost as if she were wearing a band of diamonds. Was the queen implying she hadn’t been born that way? The maju paste had done that to her?
Isabella’s hands balled into tight fists, hidden at her side. She swallowed a painful lump in her throat. She’d used the maju paste after smearing it all over Falden. Did that mean she was going to change? Was she going to die? Shit. “Uh, I’m so sorry to hear that. Was there no antidote?”
This time King Dagan answered, his tone almost reverent as he gazed down at the queen. “There was no antidote since nothing like that had ever happened to my people. But Sasha is human. I almost lost her. However, in the end, her new healing powers saved many lives, human and nonhuman alike. So while I would never put her through that again, I am forever grateful she was blessed with such powerful gifts.” Turning his gaze to Isabella, he murmured in a soft, deadly tone, “Gifts that, if they became public knowledge, would put her at great risk.”
Falden stiffened. “The queen and Isabella are both under my protection. As long as I am alive, no harm will come to either of them,” he vowed, apparently angry with Dagan for threatening her.
Falden moved closer to her, as if he wanted her to know he was there. Protecting her. That’s what it felt like to Isabella, but she wasn’t so sure. They were with the king and queen of Caldor. If bad guys blasted through the door, no doubt he’d protect the royals first and leave her for roadkill.
The thought hurt, but she honestly couldn’t blame him for that. He was a soldier, after all. A commander of something. Obviously respected by the king and queen, part of their inner circle. Even if she didn’t know the details or how their system worked, the title of commander translated in any language into Someone Important. Not to mention he was a hot, sexy alpha male. And who was she? No one, that’s who.
Queen Sasha smiled gently, as seemed to be her way. “I trust you, Falden. You would not have brought your… friend here otherwise. But enough about maju paste and powers,” she said, blushing. “Let us not forget why we’re here. Isabella
was going to share some information with us, remember?”
At the gentle reminder Isabella refocused on her reason for being there. “Information. Yes. And I’d love to know more about the paste later, but for now, where is Sevron?”
King Dagan’s attention remained on Falden in silent communication, then returned to Isabella. “How do you know Commander Bashall?”
Squirming now, her head pounding, Isabella explained, “I’ve been working with him on a special project for several months.”
“What kind of project were you working on?” King Dagan asked.
“Where is he?” Isabella countered, unwilling to budge until she had the answer. “Why is there no news of him? I lost contact with him. Why will no one acknowledge that he disappeared?”
“We do not make a habit of publishing Caldorian business to the people of Earth,” King Dagan began with a frown. “Falden asked for this audience, which is the only reason you got past our security measures. We are aware of your previous attempts to gain access to the base. The fact of the matter is that Commander Bashall is missing and we have no idea where he was taken. When the Vilitos attacked, they were not alone. Commander Bashall could be anywhere by now. We were hoping you might have information for us.”
The news sapped the last of her strength, and she took a step back to keep from stumbling. At once Falden was supporting her, his heat at her back like a warm, comforting wall. God, it would be so easy to depend on that strength. Lean on him.
Trust him.
No. “What the hell is wrong with me?”
“Excuse me? Are you feeling unwell? Please, have a seat,” King Dagan insisted, signaling to one of his guards. “We have doctors here.”
Isabella shook her head but sat on the edge of the sofa, slightly embarrassed that she’d spoken aloud. Waving her hand dismissively, she mumbled, “I’m fine. I just get migraines when I’m stressed.”
Queen Sasha tilted her head, her gaze soft with empathy and her voice quiet out of respect for the migraine headache everyone knew could make every whisper sound like a bullet ricocheting inside Isabella’s skull.
Alien Knight Blind Date Disaster (Lumerian Knights Book 3) Page 12
