Captured By her Alien Mate by Ava York

Riley

Ihit the ground hard, knocking the wind out of me. And believe it or not, that was the highlight of my day.

It’d been several weeks since I left Kator in the forest, leaving with Vokar to come back to the D’Tali. That day was a bit of a blur in my memory. I had been upset to leave him in that moment. As a result, I pushed for a quick march back to the city, using the physical exertion to distract me from leaving him.

Vokar had tried to talk to me while we hiked back, but I was mostly non-responsive. And in truth, I’m not sure I was in any better state now.

So, in seeking more distraction, I had taken to training more with the D’Tali security forces. Because they were generally so strong, the D’Tali didn’t often worry about more subtle forms of combat. They just charged in and knocked heads together. They didn’t know much about submission holds and other kinds of physical restraint.

Because of that, I had taken it upon myself to teach them some of the holds and maneuvers that I had learned in my police training. And I threw myself into it wholeheartedly. I trained them one-on-one, taking time and care to show them all the aspects of the techniques.

As a final training method, I would spar with the soldiers, making sure they understood the techniques, how to properly apply them, and, if needed, how to counter them.

Under normal circumstances, I wasn’t certain I could have taken any D’Tali in a straight-up fight, but in this type of scenario, I could hold my own. Much to the delight of the soldiers, who whooped and cheered anytime I took one of their fellows down.

But just as often, I would find myself flying through the air and landing on my back. As I had just now.

The D’Tali would be apologetic and help me to my feet, but I would dismiss it. I welcomed it, frankly.

Getting the wind knocked out of you was a wonderful distraction from a wounded heart and a worried mind. And that’s what I needed now more than ever.

Kator’s safety and well-being was in the forefront of my brain most of the day. I hadn’t heard anything from him, nor had Vokar or anyone else.

He told me not to worry so much, that Kator can take care of himself better than anyone. That he was most likely laying low, doing his research, tracking down his father. And, Vokar would add, probably gathering valuable intel for the D’Tali to use as well. He would tell me that I should take heart at that.

And that’s when Isabella would walk over, put a hand on his shoulder and tell him to walk away. She would smile at me gently and apologize.

I would shake my head and tell her not to worry about it and thank her. I knew Vokar was trying to be encouraging. I knew they all were.

It’s just hard. And I wouldn’t feel better until I saw his face again. That’s the reality of it.

So, along with getting my ass kicked by alien warriors who were more than twice my size, I spent time with Camilla.

She was getting closer every day to having her baby and there were lots of things to take care of before that.

Her pregnancy hadn’t been problematic, exactly, but she had decided that the best thing to do was to take it as easy as possible. So, Isabella, Sofia, and I spent a lot of time fussing over her and making sure she was comfortable.

Camilla would make noise about how we were being ridiculous, but I think she secretly enjoyed being doted upon. Who wouldn’t?

In any event, focusing on her was helping me. So, my behavior wasn’t altogether altruistic.

From fighting to playing nursemaid. Whatever worked for distraction, right?

I had been helping prepare a lunch for Camilla while Isabella was propping her up with more pillows than could possibly be needed.

“If you fluff one more of those up,” Camilla said, “there won’t be any room for me on this bed.”

Isabella laughed and gently whacked Camilla in the face with one of the pillows. It was nice to see my friends be so carefree, but it was hard to join in. There was a cloud over me, and it wasn’t going to just whisk away.

I walked over with some food for lunch and set it down on the table. I caught Isabella and Camilla exchange a glance as I did.

“Riley,” Camilla said, concern in her voice, “I don’t know Kator, but from what I’ve been told by Troko he seems remarkably resourceful. He’s been at this a long time. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s knows what the risks are.”

I looked at her and nodded.

“I know. I know that’s true. But it doesn’t help. If they catch him now... with all that’s been going on...”

Isabella shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Riley. I can’t help but feel responsible for this whole mess.”

I reached out and took her by the hand. “No, no, don’t feel that way. It’s absolutely not your fault.”

Isabella gave my hand a squeeze. “Thank you, but it’s hard not to feel that way. If you hadn’t had to protect me...”

I sat in front of her and looked her directly in the eye.

“Listen to me, Izzy,” I said, “protecting you is my job. And that doesn’t have anything to do with Kator. I would have been protecting you whether I knew him or not, ok? It’s just... something that happened. And no one could do anything about that. Not even you.”

She smiled gently and nodded. “Ok, love. Thanks for saying so. I don’t really believe it, but I’m grateful for it,” she said.

“It’s no one’s fault,” Camilla chimed in. “There aren’t many things that are laid out as clearly as that, you know? Black and white. Most things are shades of grey. And this is one of those.”

“That’s exactly right,” I said in agreement. “And thanks for relaying what Troko had to say. I mean, I know he knows what’s up. I just wish...”

“You wish what?” Izzy said.

I stood up and walked away from the bed, frustrated. “I don’t know. All this feels so fucking stupid to me.”

“What does?” asked Camilla.

“This! This... absurd war that we’re in the middle of! I mean, the Aetam and the D’Tali are the same species! Why on Earth are they so hell-bent on killing each other?”

Camilla shrugged and shook her head. “Honey, that’s a big question you’re asking there. And I’m not sure we are even qualified to ask it.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that humanity doesn’t exactly have the best record when it comes to moral judgments on war. We killed each other for thousands of years.”

“Yeah, I know, but we’re not on Earth. And the D’Tali and Aetam aren’t as many, right? The populations are smaller and... and... fuck! I mean, life is goddamned hard enough without having to worry that another tribe is going to try to butcher you in the middle of the fucking night!”

“You’re not wrong,” Isabella said.

“I know I’m not. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Imagine if the D’Tali and Aetam worked together. The things they could accomplish! Honestly, right? It could literally change the course of this world. Sharing medicines, technologies, planning, construction, all of it! If they could just find some way to have peace!”

Isabella and Camilla shared another look, something communicating between them.

“What? What is it?” I asked.

“I wasn’t supposed to say anything,” Isabella said, “but I know that Camilla knows about it through Troko.”

“Knows what?” I said, looking back and forth between the two of them.

Isabella looked again to Camilla, who nodded.

“Don’t repeat this, Riley, ok? I’m not sure who knows and who doesn’t and how widespread this knowledge was supposed to be,” she said.

“Of course,” I said. “I give you my word.”

“Vokar had been given permission to start a whisper campaign amongst the Aetam.”

“A campaign to do what?”

“To encourage the Aetam to call for a new king and to demand a peace between them and the D’Tali.”

I was stunned. I hadn’t heard anything like this. “Really? You’re kidding me.”

“Dojak and Troko were all for it,” Camilla said. “They wanted to keep it quiet, so that word didn’t spread to the Aetam that this attempt was being made to subvert their king and any D’Tali elements that didn’t want to have peace with the Aetam, not just yet anyway.”

“Vokar’s plan was to get word out that disenchantment with the war was spreading amongst the Aetam. Apparently, a lot of them feel that way, but they’re reluctant to say anything because of the military. You speak out against the king, they come after you hard and fast.”

“If this was the plan, why wasn’t it implemented yet?”

“Because of Mofat’s son, Hulat. By all accounts, he’s worse than his dad. And he’s currently the head of the military and security forces. If Mofat is deposed, then Hulat would take power.”

“And then,” Camilla added, “he would wage all-out war against the D’Tali. And who knows what kind of carnage that would bring.”

“Was Kator going to be part of the plan?” I asked.

“I’m not sure,” Isabella said. “Vokar hadn’t said for sure one way or another. But it seems likely to me.”

“So Kator has knowledge of a disinformation campaign to remove the current king from power and sow dissent among the Aetam?”

Isabella nodded slowly. “Yes.”

“Well. That sets my mind at ease. Thanks friends,” I said and stepped over to the window to look out.

“Riley, I didn’t mean...” Isabella began.

I stopped her. “It’s fine, don’t worry about it.”

But worry was the only thing on my mind now. Even more so than before.

Dammit, Kator. Where are you?