by Frost Kay
Humiliation was her new best friend.
Her jaw clenched as Sloven held another piece of juicy fruit to her lips. If she wasn’t so hungry, she would have slapped it out of his hand. Allie swallowed down her anger and leaned closer, taking the morsel from his fingers with her teeth, careful not touch his fingers with her lips.
The king popped his thumb into his mouth and winked at her while he sucked the juice off it.
Disgusting.
“I can feed myself,” she said for what felt like the hundredth time.
“You’re being difficult.”
She’d show him difficult.
Sloven catalogued her expression and sighed. “You’d do well to work on your expressions. You’re terrible at hiding what you’re feeling.”
“I wasn’t hiding anything,” she gritted out between clenched teeth. The alien had perfected the art of pressing her buttons. She’d thought there wasn’t much that could rile her up, but he’d somehow managed to touch every single nerve. And if he wasn’t careful, her honey badger side would come out to play.
“Clearly,” he snorted. The king reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial with a deep purple liquid inside. “Drink this.”
“No.”
His jaw clenched.
One point for Allie Sai.
“I am trying to be reasonable, and you’re making this exceedingly difficult,” he ground out. “Please take your medicine. It’s your last dose.”
There was no telling what the actual liquid was, and she didn’t trust Sloven as far as she could throw him, and that wasn’t very far at all.
“No.”
“I will pour this down your throat if I have to,” he said tightly, uncorking the vial.
He reached for her, without Allie’s permission, and her hand slapped the vial from his fingers. With horror, she watched as it hit the alien in the chest and dripped down his crisp, white shirt. Her gaze widened and moved to her palm, and she stared for several stunned seconds, hardly believing how stupid she was.
A menacing growl was all the warning she received before Sloven pounced on her.
Her back slammed against the bed, his large hand curling around her throat. Her lower legs hung off the bed, flailing as he pinned her thighs down with his own, all the while leaning over her. Allie’s fingers clawed at his hand as he glared down into her face.
“That wasn’t nice,” he growled menacingly. “Hasn’t anyone taught you not to bite the hand that feeds you?” His fingers loosened a touch, and he roughly grabbed her jaw. “Answer me!”
Allie gasped at the flood of air and answered him, “I was wondering when you’d come out to play. I was missing the real king.”
Her eyes bulged. That was not what she meant to say. What in the Sam Hill was wrong with her? Did she have a death wish?
An alarming gleam entered his wicked eyes. “Did you get a taste for the monster the last time we played?” he whispered, his hot breath cloying. “I never pegged you for one of those girls, but I like games.”
“And that’s all this is, right? A game. What if you lose?” she tossed back.
Good lord, she was on a bloody roll.
“Do you think I would let some Human trash ruin me?”
“Don’t flatter me so. I think I am blushing.” She paused. “But if I was you, I would be worried about my team.”
Sloven laughed, the sound rumbling against her own chest. “Do you think those runts could really catch me? There’s no cell or prison that could ever truly hold me.”
Her pulse hammered at her temples, but she pushed on despite the fear. He was going to give something away. “How’d you do it? You’re going to go back. You’re done.”
It was as if someone had flipped a switch.
One moment he was hostile, and the next, he was completely calm, all traces of rage gone.
His bruising touch turned feather-light as he traced her lips with his index finger.
“Distorters are on the cheap end of the spectrum for that type of tech.”
Allie shook her head, not daring to answer.
“There are other forms that alter a person, right down to their very DNA. It’s a fascinating process—terribly painful for the subject—but, overall, a miracle of science.” He brushed his nose against her cheek and inhaled deeply. “Such terror and rage. What a delicious combination.”
She barely heard his words as she stared at the bland ceiling, the pieces of the puzzle all falling into place. “You’re not in prison, because it was never you there in the first place,” she wheezed.
“How smart you are, darling. Why go to prison when you can have someone else stand in your place?”
“That’s vile.”
Sloven pulled back to look into her face. “He’s been paid handsomely. Stop looking so disturbed. I’ve done much worse than this.”
She wanted to cry. They’d never really had the bad guy locked up in the first place.
“Don’t beat yourself up. You’re not the only one who was duped.”
The king straightened and pulled her upright, so she was sitting on the edge of the bed. The room spun, and she lifted a hand to her pounding head.
“Even if you’re not in prison, you won’t ever be able to rule again. You’re too well-known,” she whispered. “You’ll have to start over.”
“Who said anything about starting over? That would’ve been shortsighted.” He patted her leg, took two steps back, and crossed his arms, his black suit pulling tight across his broad chest. “Why wear one face when you can wear many?”
“You didn’t.”
He flashed his white teeth in a blinding smile. “Why wouldn’t I?”
The male was crazy. Like, lost his mind, eating gators and marrying his cousin in the swamp kind of crazy.
“How many?” Allie forced herself to ask.
Sloven ignored her question but continued to speak. “Sloven the Slayer has served his purpose,” he said, and he began to pace. “I’ve had many names and occupations as time passed, Sloven being one of my most successful, but he has done what I needed him to do.”
She blinked. It hadn’t occurred to her that Sloven wasn’t really Sloven.
Stars above, it was getting freaking confusing.
“Adaptation is inevitable. The times have changed, as have I.”
Her skin prickled as the king touched his wrist, and the air hummed. She closed her eyes as the sensation got worse, almost like a disturbed bees’ nest. But as soon as it started, it stopped.
“You can look now,” he said with a teasing lilt.
Allie’s eyes popped open, and her breath caught in her throat at what she saw. A much younger Av stood in front of her. His wine-colored hair matched his deep eyes that sat above high cheekbones and full lips. His lips tipped up in a pleased smile at her reaction. She snapped her mouth shut and worked at schooling her expression.
“It must be nice to be able to alter your appearance,” she muttered.
That was the best you could do?
Sloven cocked his head. “Do you know who I am?”
“Should I?” she hedged. Allie didn’t know him, but there was something about him that was so familiar.
“Answering a question with a question. You’re catching on quickly.” He pointed at her cuffs. “What is your jewelry made from?”
Jewelry? Handcuffs weren’t jewelry where she came from, but she kept those thoughts to herself. She’d already done enough to poke the crazy Av.
“Indigo Alloy. You have expensive taste, but it’s a little wasted on me. I wouldn’t have been able to break out of regular handcuffs.”
He waved a hand at her. “It’s not wasteful to see its beauty adorning such pretty skin. Especially if I wish it.”
Allie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “It’s frivolous. There are so many better ways to use such a precious commodity.”
He smirked, and she finally caught onto the nagging thought in the back of her mind.
She s
napped her fingers. “That’s it! That’s where I know you from. You know it’s illegal to impersonate another person. If the CEO of the largest mining company in the whole galaxy finds out what you’re doing—” She whistled. “That’s a huge risk. There’s a lot of money and blood in Indigo Alloy.”
The stuff was incredibly expensive, rare, and practically indestructible. There were only two mines that she knew of. No one could afford the stuff except for those who were filthy rich—which usually meant only warlords and unscrupulous businessmen had access to it.
“What if I told you another mine had been discovered?”
“Then I’d say the rich are going to get richer and it will lead to another war which no one wants to fight.”
Sloven paced to the end of the bed and spun to face her. “What if we didn’t have to rely on mines any longer? What if someone could create a synthetic version of Indigo Alloy?”
“Then this would be the greatest discovery in years, maybe ever. It could change so many lives. Infrastructures would last longer and farther space exploration would be possible.” Not to mention, if a company was able to mass produce what every nation, planet, and galaxy needed, well, the owner of the company would become the richest person to ever live. “It sounds like a lot of money,” she concluded.
“And the rich rule the worlds. At one time, it was the conquerors, but now it is the businessmen.”
She didn’t disagree with him, but what did it matter. What he was speaking about was impossible. “It’s not possible.”
“It wasn’t.”
“What?”
His smile threw her for a loop as he looked at her like she was the greatest treasure he’d ever discovered. “Let me tell you a little story. Some years ago, there were whispers of a mad scientist, one who liked to push the boundaries of science. Curious, I paid him a visit and much to my surprise the rumors were true. He’d stumbled upon something so profound that I had to have him committed. I couldn’t have his discoveries leaking.”
“Naturally,” she said dryly and with distain. “So, this man’s only crime was his brilliant mind?”
“Victor Frankenstein was unstable.”
She couldn’t have heard that right. “Frankenstein?”
“Yes.”
“As in the Frankenstein?”
He scowled. “Keep up,” Sloven chastised her. “But, for all his brilliance, he was equally parts mad and insane, and the only thing that helped him focus was a heavy dose of moonshine. His wife’s family were bootleggers at the time.”
Dread curled in her belly at the mention of moonshine. Surely, it wasn’t possible?
“He did his best, until his instability tipped him over the edge, but it just so happened his offspring were just as incredibly skilled in the sciences as their father, but their only problem was that they were so poor. I used some of my resources and helped them to establish their trade.”
“You bankrolled their moonshine endeavors?” she said hollowly.
“It was the perfect front. They plied people with alcohol, and, in their bootlegging labs, they did research for me. Now, pay attention, this is where you come in.”
Allie wrapped her arms around her stomach, feeling sick. She knew exactly where this was going.
“The years passed, and this family’s empire grew. They became known, not just on Earth, but in the galaxies around them, but still they couldn’t create what I wanted. But, one day, one of the creator’s direct descendants tried her hand at the family business. And she kept creating disaster after disaster.”
Oh man, she was going to throw up. “Me.”
“You,” he said. “But even though she failed to create the perfect moonshine, she created something better. One of her failures yielded the results I’ve been waiting years for.”
Allie scooted away from him and stood on the bed once more, the hair on her arms standing at attention. “I’m not a scientist. I couldn’t have created anything.” She’d never excelled at any of the sciences like her siblings had.
“Imagine my surprise when I learned the most groundbreaking discovery in eons had been brought about by a mere slip of a girl.” Sloven chuckled.
Her breathing sped up as he stepped closer to the foot of the bed and placed his hands on the firm mattress.
“Do you really think it was a coincidence that you were drafted in? Your parents had practically hidden you from the world and still you ended up on that manifest to help Sars recolonize the planet.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to calm herself. He could be trying to mislead her. The alien didn’t know how to speak the truth. “You’re lying.”
“That would be a pretty elaborate fib,” he said with a smile. “But I appreciate your confidence in my skills.”
Even if what he said was true, she couldn’t help him. “You can’t use me. I don’t have any skills.” And she could say that she honest-to-God did not.
“Nonetheless, I have plans for you. You’re an asset all the same.”
An asset? No.
“No one owns me.”
He chuckled as if very amused by her words, but she wasn’t laughing. She wasn’t owned by anyone.
“Do you know how old I am?” he said.
The change in the subject made her head swirl, but Allie had the common sense to answer politely like her mama had taught her. “I can’t say that I do, and it’s rude to ask.”
“Such charming Human morals.”
What did he know about morals of any kind? Nothing, that’s what.
“It’s too bad your family didn’t have such scruples.”
“Don’t you dare bring my family into this,” she hissed, the hairs on the back of her neck rising.
“My dear, this has everything to do with your family. Unfortunately, I didn’t hear about the breakthrough from your family. One of my spies was the one who informed me.” He frowned and sighed. “Imagine that, after everything I’d done for them. The law clearly states that brewing moonshine is illegal, and, yet, your family was going about their business for centuries without any repercussions. That was because of me. And they betray me in such a manner? Well, it upset me a great deal.”
She swallowed hard, trying not to imagine the damage he could do in such a state. “Did you hurt them?” Allie forced the words from her dry throat.
He grimaced. “No, it didn’t serve my purposes as much as it would have been satisfying,” he said with regret. “I had bigger fish to fry as your people would say.”
Her shoulders slumped in relief.
“Destroying the Sai moonshine empire would have cast too much scrutiny on what they were doing behind closed doors, so I allowed them to continue. But it came with a cost. I couldn’t let something like this go. It would make me look weak.”
“I still find it hard to believe they’d work for the likes of you,” she said, way past skirting around the issue. Her family was normal. They gave to the needy, were devout, and never cheated.
“You’d be surprised what people will do for their families and to protect their way of life.”
That was true. “On that we agree.”
“How delightful,” he commented dryly.
“All of this doesn’t explain why you need me,” she said softly. “I’m useless to you. You could let me go.”
“You’re a liability, and you know too much now.”
Allie scoffed. “Do you think anyone would believe me? They’d probably send me to an asylum.”
“That has some merit, but I’m not changing my mind. Your family has been tangled with mine for centuries. It’s only right that we end it together.”
“End it?” she croaked.
“Imagine this: Sloven the Slayer is now imprisoned for all of his crimes. It comes to light how he abused and hurt the heiress to the Sai moonshine empire. Can you imagine the sympathy she’d gain from the public? The poor little Human girl stolen from her home, terrorized by the king, and yet not able to return to Earth.” His smil
e grew. “And then came a dashing knight who sweeps her off her feet and cares for the girl, not only that, but he sets up a charity to care for misplaced Humans and abused females. Together, they create the biggest distribution company for the first ever synthetic Indigo Alloy.”
Bile burned the back of her throat. She was seriously going to puke if he didn’t stop. “It sounds like a dark gothic romance.”
“It’s our future.”
“We don’t have a future.”
Sloven brushed an imaginary piece of lint from his suit. “You females are all the same. You protest in the beginning and then give in.”
“I promise you this. I won’t ever willingly stand at your side.” As dramatic as it was, she’d die first, and Allie wasn’t bluffing.
“Never say never. My prior wife would be the first one to tell you that I always get what I want.”
Prior wife. She shuddered. “Did you kidnap her too?” Did you kill her?
“As a whole, Av culture has always favored abducting one’s mate.”
“I’m not your mate.”
He did that creepy scenting thing again. “Beggars can’t be choosers. It’s exceedingly lucky that you smell decent enough, nothing like my former mate, but it’s a pleasant surprise. I believe our time together will be enjoyable.” His gaze heated. “Especially begetting heirs. It’s a wonder my son hasn’t gone mad yet, what with how close to you he’s been. I can hardly wait.”
Her mind screeched to a halt. Son. He already had a son? One he thought was in close proximity to her. She blinked slowly, her features falling slack. “Are you insinuating that Blade is your son?” Her voice rose.
“Why yes, he is.”
He studied her face, and a slow smirk tipped up the corners of his mouth, revealing a dimple that looked so much like Blade’s, it struck her in the chest. She blatantly studied Sloven with new eyes. His new form could fit in with the triplets. Holy bananas, this monster was their father?
“I can see by your gaping that my sons haven’t told you the truth.” He feigned concern. “I’m sorry if this comes as a shock to you, but I don’t think they trust you as much as you thought.”
Why hadn’t they told her? She wouldn’t have judged them. Well, maybe a little at the beginning but they were her friends now. She wouldn’t hate them because their father was a total psychopath. Everyone had family issues, and if they claimed they didn’t, well, they were dirty liars.
