We’d been walking for almost an hour when she finally asked, “I don’t think you said before…who would perform the ceremony?”
She sounded so brave but from the slight tremble in her hands, the hesitation, I knew she was scared. It worried me also. The implications of taking her as my lifetime mate…what would my family say if we were ever rescued?
But I could not stand by and allow the colonel and Jyan to use her as a breeder. I would kill them first. No, I refused to let this planet be turned into a battlefield. This truly was the best way to maintain peace and protect Millicent.
“I would perform the ceremony.”
“Is that legal?”
“The colonel must accept our union, even if it’s a Tizun ceremony and not a Human marriage.”
“Okay…” She blew out a long, slow breath. “What do I do?”
“You agree?”
“Are you sure it’s the only way?”
“I have thought about it. If you run, they will never stop looking for you. If I hide you away, it could be a declaration of war. If you are my Ryges, there is no recourse but to accept it.”
Standing face-to-face, I brushed the cloak from my head and lightly stroked her cheek. “I just need your consent.”
“So we’re really doing this? We’re getting married in a dark tunnel underground with no family, no white wedding dress, just the two of us?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“No, I suppose not.” She shook her hands out. “Okay, let’s do this.”
“Are you sure?”
“No!” She laughed nervously. “But let’s do it anyway.”
I nodded, then took her hands in mine. A calm settled over me as warmth spread throughout my body. From somewhere deep inside, the words echoed for me to repeat them aloud.
“Cul ma ta loua, tu nuime sa ruim jis tianu ma…” I repeated the ancient words three times, and felt the glyph on my chest heating up as a current ignited my entire body.
“Holy shit…” I heard her murmur.
Using the tip of my tooth, I sliced the palm of my hand open until blue blood beaded. “I need to do the same to yours.”
Reluctantly she released her hand and I brought the palm to my mouth. Careful to barely break the skin, I tasted her sweet scarlet blood before pressing her palm to mine, allowing our blood to mingle. The colors combined into and extraordinary purple.
As I repeated the words one more time, a bright light glowed between our palms, spreading out and engulfing our entire bodies, fusing us as one. When the light faded, I turned her hand over and stared at my mark.
Seeing it on her hand sent a wave of possessiveness rippling through my body. The mark on her hand was mine, and so was she.
“Oh!” she squealed at the sight of a glyph on her hand. “It matches the one I saw on your chest.” She briefly glanced up. “Do you have one on your hand too?”
I felt the difference immediately and wanted to pull her into my arms. To stroke her hair and feel her luscious body withering against mine....to thrust deep inside and finish the ritual. Instead, I chuckled and said, “You are an odd Human.”
Staring again at her hand, she lifted her eyes to mine. “Why do you say that?”
Because Humans feared the unknown, and after reciting the ancient binding chant, branding her with my mark, the only thing she asked was if I had one too…
“No, it is on my chest.” I placed her hand over one of my hearts. She was now mine to protect, and I would, unto death.
With our fingers intertwined, we headed back toward Tizun Territory.
“Aren’t we supposed to kiss or something?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to?”
“No. But I didn’t know if we should seal the deal with a kiss.”
I laughed, then faced my Ryges. Cupping her cheeks with my palms, I pressed my forehead to hers. “Wife, when we kiss, it will be because we want to. Not to ‘seal a deal.’”
“When.”
“What?”
“You said when we kiss.”
I stepped back and took her hand once again. Staring into her dark eyes, my lips quirked. “Perhaps you are starting to grow on me.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course I am.”
I laughed as we walked on hand-in-hand.
My men would think I’d lost my mind, but they would have to accept her as my Ryges. The union was completed, and unbreakable. I only hoped she could prove herself and gain their loyalty.
“Millicent…”
“Call me Millie. That’s what my friends and family always called me.”
“Millie it is.”
“Jenna is going to freak out when I tell her I married you.”
“Are you worried?”
“Actually, no. What about your friends?”
“They will get used to you.”
Her laughter echoed down the tunnel, soon followed by my own.
13
Millicent
Oh God! Oh God! Oh God! What did I do? Okay, I knew what I just did. I got married. Married! Jenna would shit her pants if she knew that I married a Tizun!
During the ceremony, heat spread and settled deep, and I wanted him inside me. Now! I knew it was the ceremony and whatever words he recited, and the obvious magic that shot from his hand, so I ignored my desire and shoved it aside. No magic would dictate who I slept with.
The cool-looking mark on my hand was more than just lines; a warmth pulsed on my palm, almost as though it had a heartbeat all its own. Very cool, but a little scary.
When I agreed to marry him, I didn’t know it would be instant, as in right fucking now. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t get the chance to think on it some more, change my mind, only to change it again. I still couldn’t believe that I married a Tizun.
But it did solve all my immediate problems; plus I kind of liked him and he was a much better choice than Jyan—well, anyone was better than Jyan.
The colonel was going to lose his shit and I wanted to be there to see it—to see his bald head turn red and know that I had outsmarted him. Okay, technically Murda outsmarted him, but I still wanted some credit.
“Are we still showing up at Colonel Petroff’s office tomorrow?”
“Do you want to?”
“Hmm, I don’t know.” I really did, but maybe I should make him search for me, find out on his own. That would make the drama so much better, even though I wasn’t one for drama… Did I mention I hated the colonel? Especially after that last meeting where he gave me away...
“Then, no. We will wait.”
“He’s going to be raging mad.” I tried to hide my grin.
“I suppose he will.”
A full smile spread across my face at his nonchalant tone. “It doesn’t bother you, does it?”
“Millie, you are my Ryges, my wife. You no longer answer to Colonel Petroff. And if he wishes to speak to you, he must ask me first.”
My heart raced for several different reasons. I’d always been on my own, full of anger and determination. In a matter of hours, Murda had erased part of those feelings and I felt different around him. Happier, more open. Instead of dreading what was to come, I could see a future beyond the next two days.
“Wait, ask you first? You’re not one of those possessive types who thinks a woman must have a man’s permission to do anything, are you? Because that will never work for me.”
He let out a low, deep chuckle. “Those are your government’s rules, not mine.”
Relieved, I blew out a long exhalation. “As long as you know I don’t take orders.”
His eyes raked over my body. “You will one day.”
My cheeks flushed and the top of my head tingled with embarrassment.
Stop it! I chastised myself. I’m sure he didn’t mean it that way. I mean, he’s already admitted that he thinks I’m ugly.
In some ways, that made me feel better but it also…nope, this was the best possible solution. The protection of Murda,
without any expectations.
“You are thinking too loudly.”
I startled. “What do you mean?”
He turned, pressed me against the cave wall and threaded his hand through my hair. My body ignited as his nose skimmed my jaw down to the curve of my neck, then sniffed.
“I smell your desire. I see your unease.” He let go and backed away. “Do not overthink this, Millie.”
And then he continued walking as if nothing had ever happened.
Overthink what?
Feeling frustrated, I thought of something familiar, like killing Raun. Now that I was married—oh shit—I was married! Stupid, stupid, stupid! I should’ve thought about it longer than an hour. A damn hour!
“Regrets?” he asked.
“Maybe a few. How about you?”
His lip twitched and he took my hand again, brushing a light kiss on the top. “Time will tell.”
Feeling much better with his honesty, I laughed. We walked hand-in-hand for what felt like the whole damn night.
_________
My eyes were heavy, the smell of damp stagnant air warned us away, but Murda didn’t seem to mind it. There was virtually no light, only his hand directing me.
He stopped abruptly. “We are here.”
I didn’t see anything but the cave walls, so I looked up at the ceiling. Maybe there was another fake rock door that would open up.
Murda turned, dropped his forehead to mine and sighed. I could tell that he was dreading whatever was to come, I just didn’t know why.
Without a word, he dropped my hand and straightened, then faced the wall. After placing the disc in a slot, it opened like a rusty door. Light flooded in; I turned my head and squinted.
I heard several masculine voices. Murda stepped forward and they all hushed at once. All eyes slid past his shoulder and landed on me.
There had to be at least twenty Tizun males in this work area, and I didn’t think they were happy to see me.
Three-dimensional holographic images projected from the work surfaces. I recognized the government building, the entrance to Andore Territory—people were walking around.
Oh my God, they’re doing real-time surveillance! I realized with a shock. Before I could get a better look, they shut it all down.
“Sir?” This one I recognized from the park.
The silence felt heavy as they waited for an explanation. Hell, I wanted to hear it too, to see him admit that we just got hitched after thinking about it for an hour, maybe less. Totally spur of the moment.
“This is Millicent. She will be staying with us.”
That’s it? Really?
I could tell that he wanted to ask Murda more, but when this guy’s eyes landed on me, he just clamped his jaw shut.
Murda started walking and I either had to follow or stand in a room filled with Tizuns. By their auras, I knew they wouldn’t hurt me, but they did have questions. A couple of them were also visibly angry, probably because a Human was in their territory.
Hurrying behind him, I tried to get a good look at everything as we walked. But nothing was familiar.
Out of the room and down the hall, we stopped on a large round platform at the end.
“Oh!” The platform slowly lifted. I cringed slightly as we approached the ceiling, thinking we’d surely be crushed, but then it opened to another level.
“Where are we?” I asked with a mix of relief and astonishment.
“On our ship.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We hid it underground, away from the government officials. Most of us prefer the comfort of the familiar.”
“Makes sense.”
The color of steel blue walls looked cold, harsh, and uninviting. It warned danger and yet, it was only metal. Low lights made it appear more menacing, like a predator waiting for prey. The ship hummed and for a moment, I imagined I could hear a heartbeat.
We stopped in front of a door covered with the same glyph design as the one on Murda’s chest. A sensor scanned us, casting a green glow, then the door slid open.
The way to describe the room? Sparse. Uninviting.
“This way,” he said, leading me through a small sitting room with one chair until we reached the bedroom. The bed was barely queen-sized.
My eyes slid from the bed to Murda as the reality of the situation set in. I had married him. This was our bed.
You know how everything seems rational until faced with the obvious? That was me in that moment.
“Stop overthinking.”
“I don’t know how I went from the cool, calculating hunter to a panicky new bride in a matter of hours.”
His lips quirked. “You have had years to develop your hunting strategy. Give it time.”
I dropped my cloak, and from the corner of my eye, watched him do the same. Silently, I peeled off my shirt and shucked off my pants. Standing in my underclothes, I unstrapped the daggers, then climbed into bed.
My eyes widened when he stripped down to nothing, but then my heart skipped a beat in…anticipation? When he donned a pair of loose-fitting silk pants though, I felt both disappointed and relieved.
He climbed into bed, our shoulders flat and mere inches apart. “Rest well, Ryges.”
“Goodnight…husband.”
And before I could overthink anything else, my eyes closed.
_____________
The first thing I noticed? Eerie silence, except for the hum of the ship. Everything came back in a rush. I’d slept in Murda’s bed and actually got a good night’s—day’s? —sleep.
Today, Colonel Petroff expected me in his office, or had that time passed already? Looking around, Murda’s clothes were missing.
Throwing the covers off, I jumped out of bed, strapped my daggers onto each thigh, and put my own dirty clothes back on.
Heading to the door, it slid open as I retraced our steps from the night before. I stepped onto the lift and stared at the strange control panel. I didn’t remember Murda touching anything.
I lifted my hand to press the glowing sensor, and to my surprise, it started moving on its own. Weird.
When it reached the bottom, I came face-to-face with another Tizun. I didn’t recognize this one.
“Kitchen?” I asked, needing coffee. It pissed me off when he refused to move or tell me where to find the kitchen. With his smoky gray aura, I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. At least I hoped not. Still…
“Fine, I’ll find it myself.”
Okay, I was a little pissy that Murda had left this morning without a word, but it wasn’t this guy’s fault. I went to step around him, then he blocked my path, cocked his head to the side and stared at me suspiciously.
“Do you really think I could’ve snuck in here without you knowing? Move out of my way, dammit!”
He stood like a statue, large and unmoving. I squared my shoulders, ready to face off. This was familiar, and I did love a good fight.
I tucked my chin and balled my hands into fists. I wouldn’t draw my daggers, because I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I just wanted a damn cup of coffee. Maybe a little food.
I took one step forward, ready to drop him to the ground, when I heard a low, “Tuar, let her pass.” He stepped aside and revealed Murda standing at the end of the hall.
“Thanks,” I muttered in agitation as I walked toward my husband. Stopping in front of him, I laced my hands behind my back and looked up. “You were gone.”
“You have been sleeping for fourteen hours.”
“No…” I narrowed my eyes in disbelief.
“I assure you, it is true. Perhaps my bed agrees with you.”
Trying to catch him off balance, I patted his chest. “Perhaps it’s not the bed, but who I share it with.”
When his eyes heated, I smiled on the inside and stepped around, heading down the hall. Let him try to figure out what I meant. Lord knew, I’d spent all day yesterday wondering on his remarks.
He stepped up beside me. “Where are you going?”
“I need a cup of coffee, and maybe some food.”
“This way.”
We entered the kitchen, but nothing was recognizable. I spun around. “You eat here?”
“No. We eat topside at the large table. This is the ship’s galley.”
“I need a real Human kitchen with real Human food. Does the government send food supplies?”
He snarled his nose. “Yes. Come.”
We headed back the same way we’d come, passing Tuar, who looked somewhat confused. Did Murda tell them why I was there, or that he had married me? Glancing sideways at him, I doubted it. Murda struck me as the type of person who did what he wanted, uncaring of what others might think. He was also the Tizun’s leader; I’d surmised that in the colonel’s office when he met with Jyan and Murda.
Thinking about Jyan, I wondered if he would retaliate against the Tizuns…
__________
Still dark, Murda led me to a different door that opened on a large uphill ramp, leading outside. There were a lot of busy people who stopped just so they could stare at me. Murda didn’t seem to notice, but it made me a little uncomfortable. Those strange looks screamed that I didn’t belong there, and I knew it.
I glanced at the full moon, smelling the beautiful fragrance of the flowers as I followed Murda to the tall ivory building. It reminded me of the Andore building, which doubled as a gate. “Where are we going?”
“This is my…office, along with living quarters and a full dining area for my staff.”
I laughed. “You sound very put off.”
“I suppose they believe everyone should live as they do.” By ‘they,’ I knew he meant the Human government officials.
Inside, it reminded me of the government building the colonel worked in. Everything screamed money. They probably thought to impress the Tizuns, yet Murda was clearly anything but.
The Tizuns filled almost every chair at the dining table. Low chatter and laughter planted a smile on my face, since it seemed so normal. One by one though, they all fell silent, and when I glanced up, they were staring as I followed Murda to the head of the table.
“Sit.” He pulled out a heavy wooden chair and I plopped down.
On the table sat plates of food.
Falling for the Alien Prince Page 11
