Izzie and the Icebeast: A Scifi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 9)

by Honey Phillips

  “That is an excellent idea.”

  Lamjal cackled. “Another mated male.” He looked at the other Elders. “If our males have more exposure to other races, they would have a greater chance of finding mates.”

  A low hum of conversation began, but Baralt could not make out any individual responses. Would their natural resistance to offworlders prevent them from considering the idea, or would they recognize the happiness it could bring to the younger males?

  “We will need to discuss this further,” Shinall finally said.

  “We can talk about it as much as you want, but if you think the idea isn’t already in their heads, you are a fool,” Lamjal interrupted.

  “I am not a fool, but I still believe it merits further discussion, Lamjal.” Shinall turned back to Baralt. “Thank you for talking to us. We would be willing to consider any suggestions you have as to ways to connect with the rest of the Empire.”

  “I will think on the matter,” he assured the older male, bowed his head, and left the cave of the Elders.

  Njkall followed him out. “I thought that went quite well.”

  “They’re certainly more open to the idea now than they were before I left,” he said absently. “What were they talking about in there? About social interaction?”

  “After you left, we began to visit Port Eyeja more frequently. I even arranged for a few members of the tribe to attend some social events in town.” Njkall looked at him, then sighed. “It is not perhaps my place to tell you this, but I do not believe that she will tell you, and you have the right to know. Zemma attended one of those gatherings, and she became involved with Chotgor.”

  “What?!” His innocent young sister and the notorious slave trader? His claws extended. “Why would she do that?”

  “I believe her original intention was to seek information about you.”

  A crashing wave of guilt dulled his anger. He had been so determined to protect her that he had never considered the possibility that she would be concerned about him.

  “There is more, and you’re going to like it even less,” Njkall warned.

  “Tell me,” he growled.

  “Your sister went to Chotgor of her own free will, but once she was with him, she found it difficult to leave. I sent in a…specialist, and he both eliminated Chotgor and arranged for her to escape.”

  Escape? The situation had gone from bad to worse. Not to mention that someone else had already taken care of the bastard before Baralt could avenge his sister.

  “Why has she not told me?”

  “Perhaps because she thinks that you will think less of her.”

  “Never.”

  “I believe you, but she may not. And, Baralt, you cannot force her to talk about what happened. She may wish to tell you eventually or she may not. But it is her decision.”

  “I understand. I think perhaps she has spoken to my mate.” Speaking of Isabel reminded him of Lamjal’s suggestion, and he reluctantly let the subject of Zemma drop and focused on the joining ceremony instead.

  “Do you agree with Lamjal that Isabel and I should have a formal ceremony?”

  Njkall shrugged. “I do not think it is necessary—you two are clearly mated—but I agree that it might help to formalize her position in the tribe.” He looked oddly thoughtful. “Her presence here has already brought hope to the young males. They are not as accepting as you and your brother.”

  “Accepting? Us? We rebelled against everything.”

  “Your rebellion was actually quite mild,” Njkall assured him. “They are restless, and I am afraid that will soon result in trouble unless we can give them the option of a more expansive future. Although, they would have to give up the hope of fatherhood.”

  He frowned at the other male. “Why is that?”

  “Because we could not breed with another race, of course.”

  “I think your knowledge of the Empire is still somewhat limited. Cross-species mating is quite common.”

  The normally calm Njkall looked as shocked as Baralt had ever seen him. “Does that mean that you and Isabel—”

  “No. Both of us had taken precautions against it before we met.” But the idea filled him with fierce longing. They had not discussed what would happen when the precautions came to an end, but he hoped he would be able to persuade her to consider a child. In the meantime, he decided to focus on the joining ceremony instead.

  There was only one tiny problem: Isabel had to agree to acknowledge him as her mate.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Izzie did her best not to pace anxiously after Baralt left for his meeting with the Elders. After the successful paxha hunt and the feast the night before, she was less concerned about being thrown out of the caves, but she worried that the Elders would upset him. Couldn’t they see how much the death of his brother had devastated him?

  “You are trying to wear a hole in the floor again.” Zemma leaned against the entrance to the living space and smiled at her.

  “I know. I-I just want them to understand what a good person he is and how much he cares.”

  “I wish I could assure you that they would, but they can be unpredictable.” Zemma sighed. “Instead of pacing, why don’t you come and talk to me while I work?”

  “Work?” Why did that surprise her?

  “You don’t need to look so shocked. I’ve been supporting myself for a while now.”

  “I’m sorry, I should have known better. What do you do?”

  “I make jewelry. Come see my workroom.” Zemma led the way into a small room filled with neatly labeled boxes. She offered one to Izzie, and she gasped in delight at the array of sparkling stones.

  “These are gorgeous. Where did you get them?”

  “In the lower caves. Of course, they don’t start out like that.” Zemma showed her a rough stone and explained how she would cut and polish it to create one of the gems. She also showed Izzie one of the finished pieces—a delicate necklace with tiny sparkling stones scattered in a dark mesh.

  “It reminds me of the glow crystals.”

  “Exactly. I was trying to capture that image.”

  “It’s exquisite. People must be willing to pay a fortune for your work.” The happiness left Zemma’s face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I had started to expand into Port Eyeja—just a few pieces here and there, but business was starting to grow. That’s why Njkall let me go to the party where I met Chotgor. But that’s all over now. Another thing he ruined.”

  “Does it have to be over?” she asked gently. “If they are considering going back to the port?”

  “If they allow anyone to return, it will be males only. They will never let me return. For my own good,” Zemma added bitterly.

  “You’re not a prisoner. I told you before that if it’s what you want, Baralt will make it happen.”

  “Not if he finds out about Chotgor.”

  “I know,” Baralt said quietly from the doorway, his eyes filled with concern as he studied his sister’s face.

  Zemma swayed. “No! How?”

  “Njkall told me because he thought I needed to know, and he was right.”

  “I never wanted you to know,” Zemma whispered.

  “We never need to discuss it again, but if you want to talk about it, then I will listen. I just want you to know one thing—I love you. That hasn’t changed, and it never will.”

  Zemma burst into tears and threw herself into Baralt’s arms. Izzie’s own eyes were wet, but she gave Baralt a grateful smile before she slipped out of the room and left the two of them alone.

  When Baralt eventually came to find her, she was standing in the bathing room with the outer door open, looking out over the mountains.

  “Are you not cold, my aria?” he asked as he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and followed it with his arms.

  “A little, perhaps.” She snuggled back against him, still gazing into the distance. “But I wanted to clear my head.”

  “Is it clear?”
/>   “Yes, I think so.” She turned in his arms and looked up at him. “Do you love me?”

  “You know that I do.”

  “No matter what has happened to me?” Her throat closed down, and she had to force out the next words. “Even if I’m like Zemma?”

  “Yes, my mate. Always.” His arms tightened, protective but not confining. “The slavers?”

  “Y-yes. I angered one of them. He used the shock stick when I tried to fight, and I don’t really remember what happened, but I knew. I knew.”

  The tears came then, and she had no way of stopping them. Baralt lifted her into his arms and carried her out onto the small balcony before sitting down in a sheltered corner and rocking her gently as she cried. The icy wind chilled her wet cheeks when at last her sobs shuddered to a stop, but the rest of her was warm in his embrace. Her head ached from crying, but she felt lighter than she had in a long time.

  “Why did you bring me out here?” she asked eventually.

  “So that you would not feel enclosed. So that your head could be clear.”

  She looked up, and he was smiling at her, his eyes as warm and loving as always.

  “Thank you. But I think I’m ready to go back inside.”

  “Of course.” He stood and carried her through the bathing room to their bedroom. “I have something to ask you.”

  “What?”

  “When I asked if you chose to join with me on the ship, you didn’t understand what I meant, did you?”

  “I thought you meant sex,” she admitted.

  “And when I announced you as my mate, you had doubts, didn’t you?”

  “Yes and no. I wanted—I want—to be with you, but it all seemed so sudden.”

  “Does it still seem that way? If I asked you now to join with me, to be my mate, what would you say?”

  Her breath caught in her throat, but her doubts had disappeared. The part of her that had been holding back had been washed away with her tears.

  “I would say yes…” Her heart overflowed with happiness as she gazed up at his beloved face. “I choose you, Baralt. I want to be your mate. I love you.”

  “Oh, thank the gods,” he murmured, and then his mouth was on hers, and there was no more talking.

  A considerable time later, Baralt’s kotra finally softened enough that he could pull out of his mate. His mate in every sense now.

  “I love you,” he whispered, and she opened sleepy eyes to smile at him.

  “I love you too.”

  “The Elders suggested we have a mating ceremony, and I think it’s an excellent suggestion.”

  The sleepiness disappeared. “What?”

  “A mating ceremony. Do you not have those on your planet?”

  “Yes, but… Is it a big occasion?”

  “It can be, but it isn’t necessary,” he added quickly as he saw the panic on her face. “Does it worry you?”

  “I just—” She hesitated. “It feels like it should be a private thing, between us. I don’t want it to be something we do to make the Elders happy.”

  “Of course not. We don’t have to do it at all if it makes you uncomfortable. But I like the idea of acknowledging our joining in the traditional way.”

  “What is the traditional way?” she asked suspiciously. “Does it involve paxha?”

  He couldn’t resist. “Of course. We go down in the caves together for the hunt. But we only need to bring back the heart.”

  “No matter how much I love you, I’m not going— Wait a minute. Are you teasing me?”

  He laughed. “Yes, my aria. You looked so convinced that it would be a terrible ordeal.”

  “It wasn’t funny.” She poked him with one of her small fingers, and he only laughed harder. A reluctant smile crossed her face. “Okay. I suppose it was a little funny. What is really involved?”

  “We make a pledge to each other in front of the Cave of the Gods. Witnesses optional. Generally there is a feast afterward, but that is also optional.”

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” she admitted, then gasped. “Your kiltar—you said it was for a joining ceremony, and we left it on Tgesh Tai.”

  “I will wear my brother’s. It seems only fitting.”

  “And Zemma has to be there, of course. And maybe Njkall. He’s been very kind.”

  “Very well,” he agreed. “Is that all?”

  “If that’s all right with you?”

  “As long as you are there, I will be happy.”

  And he was. He stood at the mouth of the Cave of the Gods, torches flickering in the ceaseless wind that whispered their secrets, and watched as his mate approached, escorted by Njkall. She had used the remnants of her golden dress to make a new gown, and it drifted around her with each step, making her look like a vision sent by those same gods. One of Zemma’s necklaces sparkled around her neck but the stones dimmed in comparison to the light in her eyes. His brother’s kiltar circled his waist, his sister was at his side, and he didn’t need the words they were about to say to know that he was truly mated at last.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The next few days passed for Izzie in a daze of happily mated bliss until Njkall appeared at the entrance to their cave, looking unusually grim.

  “What’s wrong?” Baralt asked immediately.

  “A stranger has arrived in Port Eyeja.” Several Hothians were once again living in Port Eyeja, and they kept in touch with Njkall. “He is asking for you. For both of you.”

  Terror surged through Izzie’s veins. “Relkhei?” she whispered.

  “He would not come himself,” Baralt assured her. “But it could be someone he sent. Has he offered a reward?”

  “No. He told Wadalt to ‘get his ass in gear’ and send a message to you.” A half smile crossed Njkall’s face. “I must admit that would be an unusual approach for a bounty hunter.”

  “What did he look like?” Baralt asked.

  “Very large. A naked skin with many scars.”

  “Varga?” she asked as Baralt grinned.

  “I don’t know any other Sorvids who would come looking for me. Shall we go see him?”

  “You’re sure it’s all right to go into town?” After her rush of panic, she hated the idea of leaving the safety of the caves.

  “Perhaps it would be best to remain here.” Baralt looked at Njkall. “Would you allow him to visit the caves?”

  “I know we have discussed integrating with the rest of the Empire, but I did not expect we would be inviting all of them to our home,” Njkall said dryly.

  “It’s only one male,” Izzie said softly. “And if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be here now. Please?”

  Njkall sighed. “Very well. I will send for him.”

  “I believe he has a soft spot for you,” Baralt said after the Elder departed.

  “He’s very sweet.”

  Baralt growled, and she grinned up at him.

  “But not as sweet as you, of course.”

  A few hours later a heavy knock sounded at the entrance to their home and Izzie jumped, still nervous at the reminder that Relkhei might be searching for her. When Baralt went to answer it, Varga was standing there grinning at them, his scarred turquoise skin a shocking contrast to the white fur of the Hothians. Over his broad shoulders, she could see a number of them staring at the big warrior.

  “You’d think they’d never seen a Sorvid before,” Varga muttered as he strode into the cave.

  “They haven’t,” Baralt told him. “Most of them haven’t seen any offworlders before. I’m sorry we could not join you in town, but we don’t know yet if Relkhei is pursuing Isabel.”

  “He’s not,” Varga said definitively.

  “He isn’t?” she asked, her heart pounding. “How do you know?”

  “Because shortly after you left, he suffered an…accident. He is no longer among the living.”

  “He’s dead?” She swayed dizzily as relief swept over her. Baralt swore and lifted her into his arms despite her protests. “I�
�m fine. It was just a shock.”

  “You should have broken the news more gently.” Baralt frowned at his friend, but Varga just grinned.

  “It’s good news. She’ll be fine. Won’t you, Izzie?”

  “Of course I will. You can put me down, Baralt.”

  Baralt paid no attention, carrying her to the couch and sitting down with her on his lap.

  “What happened?” she asked Varga eagerly.

  “He fell down a flight of stairs and broke his neck.”

  She stared at him. “It seems too easy.”

  “Oh, it wasn’t easy.”

  “Did you have something to do with it?” Baralt asked.

  “Who, me? The video records show that I was safely tucked away in my quarters.” Varga smiled innocently, but she had no doubt that he had been involved.

  “Does that mean that I’m safe? That no one is looking for me?”

  “Someone is always looking for an attractive female, but no, there’s no bounty on your head. And I heard that Relkhei’s records have been corrupted so that there aren’t any records of his holdings,” Varga added casually, his eyes sparkling. “His heirs have already started fighting it out in court.”

  “On Earth, that could go on for years.”

  “On Tgesh Tai as well,” Varga assured her.

  She sagged against Baralt, a weight she hadn’t even realized was there lifting off her shoulders. She was free, or at least as free as she could be in this strange new universe.

  “You are pleased, my aria?” Baralt asked.

  “Very pleased. Thank you so much, Varga. I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am.”

  “No need to thank me. I’m just the one bearing the news.”

  She didn’t believe him for a moment, but before she could ask any more questions, Zemma came rushing in.

  “I heard that an outsider had arrived. Is it—” She came to an abrupt halt as she saw Varga and her face fell. “Oh. I thought for a moment that Strax— Never mind.”

  “I’m desolated that I disappointed you.” Varga bowed his head.

  “It’s not your fault. But how did you get here? Offworlders aren’t allowed in the caves.”