by Roxie Ray
Stolen By The Cursed Alien
Warriors Of Valkred: Book 2
Roxie Ray
Contents
1. Zark
2. Miranda
3. Zark
4. Miranda
5. Zark
6. Miranda
7. Zark
8. Miranda
9. Zark
10. Miranda
11. Zark
12. Miranda
13. Zark
14. Zark
15. Miranda
16. Zark
17. Miranda
18. Zark
19. Miranda
20. Zark
21. Miranda
22. Zark
23. Miranda
24. Dhimurs
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Stolen By The Cursed Alien
1
Zark
“Goddamn it, stop! Put me down right now, you asshole!”
I strode through the door of The Vein with the struggling, squirming human female slung over my shoulder like a sack of Seraanii grain. She continued to curse at me in her native tongue (by the stars, Earthling English sounded so harsh and ugly compared to the Valkredian language!), her fists pounding against the feathered black wings on my back.
Clearly, she wasn't just the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen – she was damned strong, too!
I wasn't surprised, given her tall, powerful, athletic frame. Her blue eyes were blazing with fury, and her long, dark hair was waving around like an angry storm cloud as she tried to escape my grip.
I'd been sent to the Cexiea Space Station – a garish den of thieves, outlaws, and other assorted galactic scum – by my brother Akzun, the Blood Ruler of the Valkred. My mission was to track down Torqa: formerly his most trusted advisor (after me, of course), now a traitor and fugitive.
Finding someone as cunning, resourceful, and well-connected as Torqa was “like searching for a needle in a haystack,” as the Earthlings so quaintly put it. She could be anywhere in the galaxy, regrouping after her treason was exposed, hiding and plotting her next move to dissolve the hard-won treaty between the Valkred and the Mana.
But doing that would mean finding new people to do her bidding. Which meant pirates, mercenaries, and other hired cutthroats. And where would she have a better chance of finding such a distinguished group of luminaries all in one place, I reasoned, than Cexiea? It seemed like the best place to start my search for her.
Unfortunately, I happened to arrive on the night of the big auction – when Nos, the grotesquely deformed Valkredian who ran The Vein nightclub, sold off his blood slaves and sex slaves to the highest bidders.
I happened to see the gorgeous, blue-eyed Earth girl displayed on stage, wearing a black collar to indicate that she was a sex slave for sale, and… well, let's just say I had to have her. Right away.
I was hungry for her blood – after all, Earthlings are known to have some of the rarest and sweetest blood in the universe (no doubt due to all the processed sugars they're practically force-fed from birth) – and I was also overcome with sexual desire for her. She was extremely striking, and the thought of indulging in physical pleasure with her was deeply tempting. Her company could make my mission a hell of a lot more fun, that was certain… at least, if she'd stop calling me names and trying to get away.
But there was something else, as well – an undeniable curiosity and wonder that the sight of her had provoked in me.
Naturally, I'd seen many human slaves before. I didn't give most of them a second glance. They were generally dead-eyed husks, their minds and spirits broken by the shock of being stolen from their home world and thrust into a galaxy of what (to them) would be considered strange alien beings.
It was a sad sight, of course, and I felt the occasional pang of sympathy for them – but there was nothing to be done about it, was there? Buying and selling Earthlings who had been abducted by slavers was just a normal part of Valkredian culture, and had been for countless centuries. Wealthier Valkredians kept them as food supplies, and a few used them for sex. There were a handful of activists on our planet who campaigned to end the practice, denouncing it as cruel and amoral, but they were a long way from having the clout to make a real difference.
This slave was different, though. Her eyes radiated intelligence, as well as a fierce independence. She'd appeared to be taking in as much of her surroundings as possible, looking for potential advantages, ways to gain the upper hand. Her freedom had been taken, but not her determination, which made her oddly appealing to me. I'd only seen one other Earthling slave with that level of canny awareness – Carly, the woman my brother had so impulsively chosen as a mate, despite the fact that it was severely frowned upon for a Blood Ruler to choose a human consort.
But it had worked out for him. His new mate seemed to be making him very happy – so happy, in fact, that they were already expecting their first child together.
So who said I couldn't do likewise? Who said it wasn't my turn to toss a quarter of a million rula at Nos as payment in full and steal her away, like Akzun had done? Akzun had said he couldn't bear the idea of anyone else having Carly… well, what if I couldn't bear the idea of anyone else having this one, either? Didn't I deserve a chance at happiness in the arms of a human female?
Besides, it was worth it just to see the putrid expression on Nos's face as I grabbed her.
I shot a glance back at the hideous barkeep. He was scratching his lumpy, bald head, no doubt wondering whether he should try to run after me or just send the bill to the Valkred Empire as I'd suggested. Meanwhile, the patrons who'd come for the auction were getting riled up – saying it wasn't fair, that they deserved a chance to bid on her, too.
I smirked. Sorry, you pack of scavs and losers. I saw her first.
“I said put me down, motherfucker!”
I felt a sharp pain in my left wing as she succeeded in reaching into the flap of my tunic and yanking out a handful of feathers. All right – her show of resistance had started off cute, but now it had gone too far. Those feathers took a long time to grow back, and I didn't relish the idea of walking around with a bunch of bald patches on my wings.
I put her down, keeping my hands firmly clamped on her upper arms so she couldn't run.
“I think it's time we had a little talk, you and I,” I said in the most reasonable tone I could manage.
Her eyes widened. “You speak English?”
I nodded. “I'm a diplomat, of sorts. I speak many languages. Now, what's your name?”
“Miranda Barnes.” At least she wasn't struggling anymore. Good.
“Very well, Miranda Barnes. My name is Zark. I'm a Valkredian. Do you know of us?”
Miranda's nose scrunched in distaste. “Nos was one of you, wasn't he?”
“A poor example, to be sure, but yes. Nos is a tavern owner, a slaver, and a disfigured simpleton. My brother Akzun, on the other hand, is the Blood Ruler of the Valkred. Which makes me the prince.”
“I thought you just said you were a diplomat?”
“I'm a very diplomatic prince. My point, Miranda Barnes, is this: In a short span of time, you've gone from being a helpless commodity to be bid on by a bunch of corsairs and degenerates to being the hand-picked consort of Valkredian royalty. Whoever successfully bought you at that auction would no doubt have treated you shamefully, abused you sexually and perhaps even consumed your blood with no concern for your well-being. I, on the other hand, intend to treat you with the utmost respect. A rather sudden and significant improvement in your fortunes, would you not agree?”
She eyed me warily. “Let's say I believe that you're going to treat
me better than they would have. Okay. What do you intend to demand from me in return?”
“The pleasure of your company, for starters, and your assurance that you won't attempt to escape.”
“But where are you planning to take me?” she asked. “Are you going to free me? Can I go back to Earth?”
“I'll gladly answer all of your questions later, once we're aboard my vessel. For now, though, I ask for your patience as you accompany me on a brief errand.”
“Where?”
I sighed. So much for putting an end to her questions. Then again, I had to admire the fact that she was determined enough to keep asking them, even if we did need to get a move on. “We're going to an establishment in another part of Cexiea. I didn't find what I was looking for in The Vein, and we cannot leave until I do.”
Miranda tilted her head to one side curiously. “So you didn't come in to shop for a slave? What was I, some kind of impulse buy?”
I threw my head back, laughing. “An ‘impulse buy!’ Oh, that's very good! You humans can be so funny sometimes. Yes, the decision to acquire you was indeed impulsive. But something tells me I'll be glad I did. At any rate, do we have an accord, or will I be forced to fit you with a pair of restraint cuffs?”
She thought it over for a long moment, then nodded. “I guess I don't have much choice, do I?”
“There, that's the spirit!” I clapped her on the shoulder jovially, and then offered my arm. “Shall we?”
She accepted, and we started down the corridor of the space station. As we walked, I noticed that she was staring at the seedy collection of dregs and criminals surrounding us – and that many of them were likewise staring at her with an air of lascivious menace. I even heard one or two of them make lewd and threatening comments in their own languages.
“No need to fret about their intentions, my dear, I assure you,” I told her, patting her arm. “As long as I'm escorting you and you behave yourself, they'll assume that you're my faithful companion and none of them will try anything.”
“Great. So I'm your pet, now. I feel like I should be wearing a leash or something.”
I chuckled. She did have quite the sense of humor, even in the face of danger! The more I learned of her, the more I admired her.
After a few more moments, we reached our destination: the Zykaani Brothel. A popular hangout for drifters, addicts, wastrels, and perverts – and a well-known front for the Sives, the most powerful organized crime syndicate in the galaxy. I knew Torqa wouldn't be found in a place like this… but that didn't mean a quick visit wouldn't help me locate her, if I knew who to ask.
And I did.
A pair of hulking ProTekTor androids flanked the door, bristling with exposed weaponry as their glowing red eyes and unchanging facial grilles scowled down at us. They were gleaming, practically right off the assembly line. The Sives had plenty of enemies, so they always had the best protection they could buy or steal.
I knew the guards' cutting-edge scanners would easily see through my holographic disguise. I'd adopted it for this mission to keep from being identified, so Torqa wouldn't be tipped off about my arrival. I knew what would come next, and fervently hoped none of Torqa's spies were in earshot.
“Subject identified,” the guards buzzed in unison. “Zark, Prince of Valkred. Human female, identity unknown. State your business or you will be disintegrated. You have ten seconds to comply.”
“Would you believe we're shopping around for our next orgy?” I joked. “We'd invite you two, but we already have plenty of mechanical party favors on hand.”
“You have five seconds to comply.”
I sighed. “Not programmed with a sense of humor, hm? All right, how about this: I'm here to speak with Umel. It's a matter of tremendous urgency.”
The guards fell silent for a moment, probably transmitting this information to the Sives in the back room. Then they gestured for us to enter.
I led Miranda through the dimly-lit parlor. Tinny, lilting music was piped in – a relaxing lullaby from a classic Lunian symphony. Ironic, since most members of the stately Lunian species wouldn't be caught dead in a place of such tacky excess. There were prostitutes from a dozen different worlds, of every imaginable gender and physical type, their bodies draped languidly across the furniture and floor. The air was acrid with rax, a bitter, addictive spice smoked from elaborate pipes.
I'd frequented my share of places like these before, when I'd felt the need to unwind and get away from it all. Today, though, it was impossible for me to relax. The stakes of my visit were far too high.
We went to the back room, and the narrow purple door swung open as we approached. Umel, a Valkredian, stood waiting for me with open arms and a wide grin that showed off his gold fangs – the real ones had been yanked out years ago, during a particularly nasty torture session from a rival gang.
“Zark, my old friend!” he drawled, embracing me. “So, your hunt for Torqa has brought you here, has it? You may drop that ridiculous disguise, if you wish – her gruesome pack of spies and assassins aren't allowed in here. Or in the establishments on either side of us, for that matter… we Sives own them both.”
I grudgingly deactivated the disguise matrix I was wearing. As I did, I noticed a flicker of surprise from Miranda – along with a hint of desire, perhaps? I snickered. I tended to forget how superficial humans could be.
“You've been expecting me, is that it?” I asked, following him into the room and bringing Miranda with us. It seemed like a better idea than leaving her unattended with the fiends in the parlor. Besides, I wouldn’t want to give her any unwise ideas of attempting to escape while my back was turned. The day would be so much messier for everyone that way.
“Naturally!” Umel said. “As soon as I heard about Torqa's treachery, I said to Bis'er, ‘Boss, you mark my words: A hundred rula says Akzun will send Zark to find her, and Zark will come looking for her here on the station.’”
“I see. And was that while you were lighting his rax pipe for him, or polishing the windows of his shuttle?”
Umel smiled, but I could see the dark flicker behind his eyes – I'd insulted him, thrown him off. “I haven't done those things in quite some time, Zark, as you well know. Not since he put me in charge of running this lovely bordello. Anyway, as I was saying: Yes, I've been waiting for you to show up, but I had no idea you intended to pay for information with such a magnificent prize.” He looked Miranda up and down, licking his lips.
Miranda looked back at him blankly. I was relieved that she couldn't understand the Valkredian language, or else she might have been rather unsettled.
“She's not for you,” I told him firmly. “But if you provide any useful insight into Torqa's whereabouts, you'll be paid handsomely.”
He leered at me, and then laughed. “Tempting! I know how much wealth the Valkred Empire has in its coffers, especially now that you won't have to spend it all on warring with the Mana. But no. I believe Bis'er would find it more valuable if your government owed him a favor, to be collected upon later.”
“What sort of favor?”
Umel shrugged. “Why, whatever sort we happen to need at that time, of course. To be granted by your brother without question. Do you agree to those terms? If not, good luck finding Torqa… it's a big galaxy, after all.”
Damn. He had me over a barrel, and he knew it. Ah, well. Favors were the bread and butter of diplomacy, weren’t they? Finding Torqa quickly was far more important than worrying about what sort of favor Bis’er might call in. “Fine, I agree.”
Umel clapped his hands, rubbing them together in anticipation. “Splendid! Now, as for the information you seek: Torqa approached Bis'er about an alliance. She offered fifteen million rula if we would pledge our people and resources to our cause.”
“Fifteen million?” I let out a low whistle. She must have discreetly stowed away quite a tidy sum while she was working as an advisor to the Blood Ruler.
“Private wars are expensive affairs, to be sur
e. But Bis'er turned her down flat. On my advice, of course,” he added self-importantly.
“Yes, I'm sure you're the real brains of this operation,” I said with a smirk.
Umel ignored my comment. “We have enough problems of our own without dealing with someone so unstable. Besides, siding with Torqa would earn us the ire of your brother, and we Sives certainly have no interest in that.”
“That's gratifying to hear, but it doesn't tell me what I need to know. Where is she now, Umel?”
“Patience, Zark, patience! I don't remember you being so uptight the last time you were here, with a Krote courtesan on each arm and a rax pipe between your lips,” he guffawed. “Before she left, she lost her temper… which is no surprise, given her famously unpleasant disposition. She told Bis'er that if the Sives wouldn't aid her, she would be able to hire all the outlaws she needed on Egone.”
I raised an eyebrow. “The ice planet?”
He nodded. “The very same. She told him that once she was done with you and Akzun, she'd use her little army of hired thugs to wipe us out next. Bis'er was less than impressed. As you can imagine, he receives a dozen empty threats a day, from outlaws far more formidable – and far less desperate – than some disgraced Valkredian spymaster.”
I bowed deeply. “Thank you, Umel. You've been most helpful.” I turned to Miranda, switching back to English. “We can leave now. Come with me.”
She nodded, following me out into the corridor again. I started toward the docking bay where my shuttle was waiting, expecting her to keep pace beside me.
Instead, she waited for me to take a few steps, then turned and ran in the opposite direction.
