The New King: An Alien War Romance (Galactic Order Book 5)

by Erin Raegan

  “A beautiful treat from a beautiful female.” He bowed and took a bite. Smiling, he nodded. I smiled back, happily surprised he understood me.

  Uthyf crossed his arms. “Fine artistry.”

  “I-I am honored, my king.”

  “You do these all by yourself?” I asked.

  He nodded again and looked at something over my shoulder. His eyes widened and glazed over.

  “Oh wow,” Lydia gushed as she stopped beside me.

  The male fumbled and bumped into his table. He spun in a circle and plucked a carved flower from a bowl behind him. He held it out to her with an enchanted smile. “For you.”

  Lydia gasped and hesitantly took the flower. “Oh, but I don’t have any more cupcakes to trade.”

  “No trade, my lady. It is a gift.”

  Lydia blushed and smiled shyly. The male’s mouth slackened, and he swayed forward. I ducked my chin and grinned.

  “May I escort you to the celebration this evening?” he asked Lydia hopefully.

  I looked at Uthyf.

  “There will be a dance in the courtyard this eve,” Uthyf explained. He watched the male, studying him.

  Lydia grinned and looked at Uthyf hopefully. Uthyf studied her expression thoughtfully.

  “If she wishes it, you may meet her there,” he told the male.

  Lydia beamed and nodded. “I wish it.”

  The male flushed again and bowed deeply.

  “You know, for a guy who’s worried for our safety, you’ve been uncharacteristically agreeable today,” I mused as we walked back to the booth. We were on a street crowded with Dahk. We were human and stood out like a sore thumb, not to mention everyone stopped to gawk at us and their king.

  Uthyf looked at me. “You are in no more danger here than at the castle.”

  I sighed. I guessed that was true. I had been poisoned in his chambers. If that could happen after he’d kicked out most everybody, then it wasn’t that bad being out in the open. Uthyf stopped and curled his hand into a fist. “I would not let any harm come to you.”

  I gulped and looked up at him. “It still feels risky.”

  “There is always risk, but in this case, I feel the reward outweighs the risk.”

  “What reward?”

  Uthyf looked at the Dahk passing us. I followed his lead and looked around. When we arrived here yesterday, the crowd had been silent. There was lots of gawking. And there was gawking today too, but it had slowly moved from suspicious and hostile to curious.

  “Why didn’t you do this before? With Peyton and the others?”

  Uthyf sighed. “I considered it. Pehytohn and Veeveen would visit Ilynda, but Tahk did not allow them to linger as we have today. Then there was an incident.” When someone threw something at Peyton. But it seemed a little harsh to stop coming all together because of the actions of a few. “Pehytohn is growing life, Tahk will not risk the danger, and even I grew worried and supported their decision to stay away.”

  “What’s changed?”

  “My Dahk have grown curious. The human females have not left, and they are learning to accept it. But they do not understand and they will not until they see and interact with you.”

  Honestly, I could understand the Dahk’s hesitation. But after you’re caged and beaten and—well, you learn what’s truly dangerous. “You fear what you don’t understand.”

  “Yes,” Uthyf said and grinned at me.

  I smiled back. We walked in silence until we were back at our booth.

  “They’re gone!” Lydia squealed. “All of them!”

  “And there is much talk about them, all good.” Rydvyra gushed. “You must come back next season, Mohna.” I grinned as she squeezed my hand. “I am so pleased to have met you.” She squeezed Lydia and Roxanne’s hands next.

  We spent the rest of the night walking around and mingling with the natives. It was nice. I wasn’t as afraid, and I was social. No one had jumped out to attack us. No one had thrown anything at us. I doubted they would get the chance with so many guards but still, my fear had slowly ebbed throughout the day.

  I met a lot of different faces, and most of them were friendly and warm. Uthyf really surprised me. He didn’t hide away like Tahk and the others did. He put himself out there, and his people loved him for it. He’d taken a chance by bringing us here, and it had really paid off.

  He spent the day pointing things out to me he thought might interest me. Showing me his favorite parts of the city. We talked and teased and it was new and nice and exciting.

  When the music started, the streets emptied and a large square in the center of the city came alive. Bowls of fire lit the area and flower petals were thrown in the air as the Dahk danced under the stars.

  Lydia found the male carver, and she showed him how to waltz. It wasn’t long before several Dahk were watching them and trying the dance themselves. I found myself laughing as their long legs and feet bumped and tripped, trying to replicate the much smaller moves.

  Gryl pulled me up and chuckled as I directed him. When it was clear the Dahk couldn’t move as fluidly as a human, they tried to teach Lydia, Roxanne, and me one of their dances, then it was their turn to laugh. They spun in circles and spread their wings, hopping into the air and spinning down. We laughed so hard as we tried to jump and move as they did.

  I was wiping the tears of hilarity from my face when I felt eyes on my back. Turning around, I spotted Uthyf as he chuckled, watching me. I tried to wave him over, but he shook his head, smiling. I grinned and started toward him.

  It was then I saw the Dahk moving swiftly behind him.

  He looked like any other Dahk, but the malicious gleam in his eye had me running. Terror and anxiety flooded my veins. Just as the Dahk threw something sharp, I barreled into Uthyf, taking him down to the ground.

  I gaped down at Uthyf as he groaned, panting. A thin line of dark blood beaded on his cheek from the blade that had not quite missed him. Several Dahk screamed and scuttled away.

  Two hands clamped down on my hips, and I looked at them and then to Uthyf. He was pale and sweating. I grabbed his face. “Are you okay?”

  “Back away from him, Mohna,” Gryl said, deathly quiet.

  I looked up at him. Yeln stood beside him. The male who had thrown the knife was bleeding at Yeln’s feet, a dagger sticking out of his shoulder. Several guards pulled his arms and held him down on the ground.

  Gryl crouched down a few feet away and met my eyes. “Back away from him.”

  Uthyf growled and tightened his grip on my hips. I looked at him again. His chest was heaving and he had a wild expression. He snarled at Gryl as he crept closer to us.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  Uthyf bared his teeth and sat up suddenly. My legs draped over his hips and my skirt was shoved up to my waist.

  “Do not move,” Gryl growled at me.

  Uthyf snarled and lunged, dropping me onto my back. I grunted as he slammed down on top of me. A frightened murmur went through the crowd.

  “Uthyf?” I gazed up at him hesitantly but not afraid. This was Uthyf. I don’t know how it happened but I had stopped thinking of him and being angry or frustrated. I had started to look forward to seeing him, talking to him. I had started to trust him.

  Uthyf bared his fangs in my face and ground his hips between my legs, and it hit me like a sledge hammer. I went cold. Oh, god. I knew what this was. I had been warned about this.

  A tear dropped from the corner of my eye, and he watched it run down into my hair.

  Hands wrapped around him from behind and tore him off of me. Uthyf snarled and raged and thrashed as several guards held him back. Gryl pulled my skirt down and sat me up. I looked around. Lydia had her hands over her mouth and Roxanne was ashen. But what was behind them sent a chill down my spine.

  Hundreds of Dahk gaped at me in disbelief.

  I couldn’t look away.

  They would never accept us now.

  They would never accept a human as their k
ing’s Pythe.

  13

  Uthyf

  I roared my fury, thrashing against my chains.

  She was there. I could smell her.

  They kept her from me.

  She was mine. Mine.

  I was king and they would give me my queen or I would burn this kingdom to ash.

  14

  Mona

  I was trembling. I was trembling so badly, the bed was shaking.

  And I wasn’t alone. Over twenty bodies were crammed into Uthyf’s bedroom.

  Vivian, Lydia, Roxanne, and Peyton sat on the end of the bed, watching me. Bailey paced at the foot, scowling at anyone who came close to me. Myrna was standing beside me, soothingly combing her claws through my hair. I felt nothing. I was numb. But I was trembling.

  “How could you let this happen!” Alyn screeched.

  Peyton looked at her with a strange expression that was part shock, part something else.

  “It could not have been prevented.” Tahk sighed and rubbed his brow.

  Hull glared at him. “Why was she with him at all? Why did he leave with her?” He moved his glare to me, and I tried not to look away. But it was hard. It was so hard to hold my head high.

  Hull was a member of Uthyf’s council and on the do-not-trust list handed out to us when we first stepped foot here.

  “It doesn’t matter now,” Haytu said. “She is his Pythe and they must complete the bond.”

  I clenched my eyes tightly. Complete the bond. He meant have sex with Uthyf. Have sex with him while he roared and raged, completely out of his mind. Have sex with him while some primal part of him tore him down into nothing but base instincts and savagery.

  “Mona?” Peyton called. “Are you okay?”

  I shook my head. I was so not okay. But I opened my eyes in time to see Hull gape.

  “Complete it?” Hull said. “She is human!”

  He said human, like I was a nasty, vile thing. Unfit to touch Uthyf.

  Tahk glared at him. “He will die.”

  “The kingdom will not accept her as queen,” Hull shouted.

  “Then they will lose their king, and no matter what you believe, my Dahk will not survive his loss.” Tahk dismissed him and turned to me. “Everyone out.”

  Alyn screeched, but a guard dragged her from the room. Everyone else but Vivian, Peyton, Myrna and Haytu followed her out.

  Tahk walked to the side of the bed and sat down. “I do not presume to understand what you are feeling, Mohna, but I must stress this. Uthyf will die if he does not complete the bond. Do you understand?”

  I nodded. I knew. A Pythen would die if forced to suffer the mating rage too long. Right now Uthyf was chained up somewhere, suffering, and I was the only one who could help him. We were Pythe and Pythen now. Mated. Or soon to be. And there was nothing I could do about it unless I let him die, and I couldn’t do that.

  “You will bond with him?” Tahk pushed.

  I saw the wild fear in his eyes and it scared me. He would force me. He didn’t want to, and it would probably kill him, but he wouldn’t let his king die. I nodded.

  Tahk let out a loose breath and stood. “I will leave you to prepare. Mam, will you explain?”

  Myrna clasped her hands and nodded.

  “I’m staying,” Peyton said softly, watching me closely.

  Tahk nodded and kissed her before leaving.

  Myrna sat beside me and held my hand. “You know what you must do?”

  I nodded again. I had to have sex with him. Publicly. I had to have sex with him while he was chained down. And all eyes would be on us. Bailey had escaped that hell, though Peyton had experienced it. But for me? It would be on a large scale. Uthyf was king. Surely a proper ceremony was expected. If I refused that—I couldn’t. Uthyf would already have a hard time with me as his queen. I couldn’t make it worse.

  It was a tradition that dated so far back the origins were practically a myth. The mating would be blessed by a Pythen’s House and the king’s healers. Uthyf being king, the entire kingdom would be invited to attend.

  Peyton and Vivian were quiet as Myrna told me how it would go.

  Uthyf would be chained for several days. He would fight the rage as part of the ceremony. That would wear him out, showing me he was a strong mate. It was his gift to me. Proof he was willing and strong enough to fight for me and our mating. Then while he was chained, I would, I would—I nearly gagged. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t think I would ever be ready.

  After, I would be his Pythe, but also his first mate and queen. I didn’t think any of that would matter. Uthyf was out of his mind with lust and rage right now. After, he might not want me. He certainly wouldn’t want me to be his queen. But we couldn’t ever part. I was terrified of what would happen afterward. Nearly as much as I was of the actual act.

  He could turn me away, only keeping me around until the mating rage struck again. That could be weeks or months. But if he stayed away from me it would hit him again and the bond would demand our unity once more.

  My fall outside the castle played over and over in my mind. He had been so against touching me that he let me fall—and for good reason. I had singlehandedly ruined all his progress getting his subjects to accept us, and I had destroyed his reputation.

  I was sick with myself and the situation.

  But there was nothing I could do to change it.

  Vivian grabbed my hand and held it tight. Peyton was pale as she looked at me.

  “How was it for you?” I asked her softly.

  Peyton jumped, surprised. She swallowed heavily and looked around the room. “It sucked,” she smiled grimly. “I won’t lie. It’s not fun having all those eyes on you, judging you.” She picked at the dress in her lap. “But Tahk made it okay.”

  And that was the problem wasn’t it? Could Uthyf make it okay for me?

  I couldn’t see him coming out of this happy about who his ancestors had chosen for him. Sure, he got a Pythe out of it. But he wasn’t Tahk. That guy held Peyton on his arm, showing her off. Proud of her. Uthyf wanted a Dahk Queen. Not a human one. I would be lucky if I wasn’t hidden away in some tower somewhere.

  But that wasn’t fair of me. Uthyf had been different. Changing? No, maybe opening up to me? He had been showing me a side of himself that I hadn’t ever seen. He could be sweet, protective, patient.

  Things between us were changing or growing and maybe this was why. Maybe the draw had always been there, just under the surface.

  He had been hard and cold at first, but I could see how hard he worked to have us accepted here. How hard he worked to keep us safe. If I was to be mated to a Dahk, I could definitely do a lot worse. He was a king for god's sake. Little girls all over the world back home went to bed dreaming about marrying a king or a prince of their own. And here I was, dropped in the middle of some twisted fairy tale. Only I wasn’t swept off my feet by some dashing prince charming. Uthyf was an alien, and our choice had been taken from us. From both of us.

  Uthyf was just as much trapped in this as I was. I couldn’t forget that. None of this was his fault. Or mine.

  I did not leave that room for four days. I barely slept. I barely ate. I barely spoke.

  Everyone tiptoed around me, afraid to say or do the wrong thing. But it was more. They looked at me as if at any moment, I might disappear. As if I would back out and leave Uthyf to die.

  They looked at me as if I would abandon their king.

  My guards watched me like a hawk.

  But their fear was unfounded. I wouldn’t take the coward’s way out. I wouldn’t leave him to die. I owed the Dahk. I owed them for taking me in. I owed Uthyf.

  It was my fault we were in this mess. He hadn’t initiated contact. I had done that. I may have done it to save him, but my hands had touched his bare chest. I started this. I had to finish it.

  The day came. The castle was silent. Myrna and Vivian helped me bathe and dress in a long white-and-gold robe. It was thin and form-fitting. Peyton paled when she sa
w me in it. My hair was combed, and Lydia threaded the beads from the festival onto several thin braids. They were worn sparsely by the Dahk except for the royals. Uthyf had always worn them as a prince but he wore more the day he became king and now I wore them as a symbol of status. Their soon to be queen.

  We sat in silence until Tahk came to escort me to the ship.

  The ceremony would be performed a few minutes away, in a stone structure that had been revered by the Dahk for millennia. It was where Pythen matings had been blessed for as long as anyone could remember, and Uthyf and I would be the first in over a hundred years.

  He was already there. He had been there for over three days now. Chained and waiting for me.

  When the ship descended on the icy land, Myrna sucked in a delicate breath.

  Tahk’s entire army was there, surrounding the stone pillars in a circle.

  But beyond them was a sea of Dahk. Thousands of them. Each of them held a golden stone, lighting the sky. It was too dark to see their faces, but I could feel the solemn emotions in the air. I could feel their eyes on me as I stepped off the ship and into the cold. The crowd was silent as they watched us walk onto the large stone dais.

  “Why are they here?” Vivian asked in awe.

  Tahk tilted his chin proudly. “Their king suffers as he battles for his mate. They are here to bless him, as his kingdom should.”

  “They won’t accept me,” I said numbly. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone was there to kill me before I could make it to Uthyf.

  Tahk looked at me gravely. “Mohna, they already have.”

  “How do you know?” I looked at the sea of faces. I didn’t believe it for a second.

  “You saved their king. Tales of your bravery are already spreading. They believe your bond was forged the moment you pushed him free of the blade.” Tahk took my hand. “I’m not saying it will not be hard, for both them and you, but you earned their respect, and they are here to pay it to you both.”

  Tahk knelt at my feet and thumped his chest with his free hand. Vivian and Peyton gasped as, one by one, the army surrounding us followed suit. Like a wave rolling out to sea, the Dahk knelt and thumped their chests. The sound was like a boom of thunder.