Captured By her Alien Mate by Ava York

Kator

Ididn't want to leave her, but I had to.

Riley had my back. It was the first time I felt completely safe in trusting someone. So now, I have to go take care of business.

I had to go get my revenge. For my mother.

I didn't knock, instead striding into the throne room, sword in hand.

King Mofat bared his teeth in a vicious snarl. “You traitor! Guards!”

“They’re a little busy right now,” I snapped, letting the anger and the hate flow through me as I took in the room. The king's son, Hulat, was the only other one present, making it a nice, tight little family party.

Good.

“How did you even get in here?” Hulat sputtered.

“I’m an assassin, remember? Did you really think you could keep me out?” I stared into him; my fury trapped in my chest.

“Until recently you were a valued member of my court,” Mofat mused. “What changed, what turned you into a traitor against your king?”

“You’ve never been my king,” I answered. “I’ve just been waiting for proof. And now that I have it, I'm here to avenge my mother.”

“And who is your mother, that I should care?” Mofat laughed, a deep, mocking sound. “Did I slight her someway?” The laughter was dying in his eyes, and annoyance replaced it. “You're acting like a petulant child, and I don't have time for you.”

“Then make time.” The words hurt me, but I needed to tell him. I needed him to know why I was going to kill him. “Thirty years ago you captured a D’Tali village, took everyone prisoner, including my mother. She eventually escaped, but not before you forced yourself on her, forced me into her. Luckily, a better man than you found her and raised me.”

Mofat’s eyes narrowed. “That was a long time ago.”

“And you would do it again in an instant if you had the chance,” I snarled. “As would your son.”

“Which son?” His lips spread in a cruel smile. “If your story is true, and it could be, I admit, then you would be my elder son. Do you really think you’re so different than I am?”

“I know it,” I spat back. “And now I’m here to end you.”

“Hmmm.” Mofat leaned back in his throne. “If your story is true, then I’d suspect your D’Tali blood would have weakened you. You’d be no match for a full blooded Aetamian. Maybe, just maybe, you’re strong enough. In which case, I’d like to see you try.”

“Father!” Hulat’s shocked voice rang off the stone walls of the room.

King Mofat held up his hand, stopping his son's words. “Prove to me that you've earned this throne and kill this pretender before you. Or die and know that your mother would be the only one who wept for you.”

Prince Hulat looked at me, fear in his brutish face. His fists clenched and unclenched, but I knew that I was going to win.

He was used to commanding everyone and had been so assured of immediate compliance that none challenged him directly. Not anymore.

He’d gotten soft, and I planned to use that to my advantage.

Not with my mother beside me. Not with my D’Tali blood in my veins. The prince was going to die, and I would guarantee it. Because failure wasn't an option.

“Father, I don't think we even need to give this traitor the time of day.” Prince Hulat was trying to keep his voice steady, trying not to waiver. The slightest quivering of his lips gave away his fear.

I had no fear in my heart, just righteous anger. And my anger would guide me.

“You embarrass yourself,” the king fired to his son. “Now, kill this liar. Kill this half-breed. Because if you don't, then you will die and I won’t lift a finger to save you.”

My entire focus was on Prince Hulat. On his sniveling face, on how he begged his father not to need to fight me.

I knew Riley was behind me, giving me the best chance to win.

And I loved her for it.

I loved her for how strong she was, for how she charged into battle at my side. How she wanted to protect me, just how I wanted to protect her.

There would be no dying today, not for us.

I would not be joining my mother, just honoring her memory.

“Quit complaining, and kill him,” King Mofat said, waving a hand dismissively. “I'm done with this conversation. And frankly, you've both wasted too much of my time. Only the strongest survive.”

I cracked my neck and squared my shoulders, not unlike Riley had just done. The sword of my hand felt like it was supposed to be there, an extension of myself.

“Enough talk,” I bared my teeth. “Let's end this.”

“I have been wanting to do this for too long,” said Hulat, jaw clenching as he realized there was no way out. His sword rasped as he drew it and pointed it at me.

I grinned, full of feral delight.

I’d daydreamed endlessly about beating that nasty smirk off Hulat’s face. His very existence was an affront to the Ancestors.

At last, I had a chance to do something about that.

“Funny, I was just thinking the same,” I shot back. “I am thrilled that I get to be the one who ends your scum sucking waste of a life.”

“I’m a waste? YOU are the traitor here,” Hulat snarled as he began to circle me.

I palmed the hilt of my sword but didn’t draw it. Not yet. I’d seen Hulat training, and I had a good sense of how this was going to go.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed Mofat smiling down at us. The old bastard had set his two sons at each other, and there wasn’t an ounce of concern in his eyes. No, Mofat was regarding us with only sadistic glee.

As I’d hoped, Hulat moved. He’d bought my fake distraction and launched himself right at me. He expected me to draw my sword and bring it up to block him. Then he could use his superior strength to muscle me down to the ground. I’d seen that trick too many times before to fall for it.

I waited until the last moment, and stepped under Hulat’s outstretched arm, dodging his attack. I kicked at his knee as he passed, landing a solid blow. He stumbled, but only for a minute.

“Oh, so you’re going to fight dirty, are you?” He spat at my feet, rage turning his scales an even sicklier shade of yellow.

“Like you weren’t,” I drawled, staying crouched. “You’ve never fought an honorable duel in your life, have you, Hulat?”

He roared and dove for me again, slicing at my chest. I leaned back just enough to avoid it, feeling only the ripple of air from the swing. Hulat had overcommitted, and the momentum of the sword twisted him so his back was to me.

Seizing the chance, I elbowed the back of his head hard.

Hulat bellowed in pain, staggering away. I cursed. If I’d hit the right spot, he wouldn’t have been yelling. He would’ve been down for the count.

Now, he was looking at me with a lot more wariness than when we started. I gritted my teeth as he grounded himself. I’d lost my edge.

“Afraid of me now, are you? I guess you got too used to letting everyone else do your dirty work,” I taunted. Maybe I could still use his temper to my advantage.

Hulat clenched his fist, but that was all. That wasn’t a good sign. The few times I’d seen him rein in his emotions and focus on fighting, he’d been a formidable opponent.

I sighed and drew my sword. If he was going to wait for me to make the next move, then I might as well make it.

I neared him, keeping my pace slow and balancing on the balls of my feet. At the last minute, I feinted towards his left. His torso shifted to block, and I threw myself at his unprotected right side.

Clang.Hulat’s blade met my own, shocking me. He’d known what I was trying to do and faked me out.

“You’re not the only one who can be clever,” he hissed. With a twist of his wrist, he nearly disarmed me. Just managing to hold onto my sword, I backed away.

“No,” I agreed, trying to buy myself some time to regroup. “There are many clever people in the world, but it’s going to take a lot more than that to convince me you’re one of them.”

Hulat merely smiled and attacked.

The throne room rang with the sounds of our battle. We ranged across the floor, our blades clashing against each other over and over. We were evenly matched, except that Hulat was just the little bit stronger than me. I knew, and so did he.

Too late, I realized he’d been driving me so my back was to a broad pillar. I jolted as my back struck the solid wood. He’d trapped me.

“I will drink your blood,” he growled. “Then then I will find your little human pet and I will drink hers, too, from a chalice made of your skull.”

I saw red at the idea of Riley at the hands of my vile opponent. I stabbed at him, but he dodged. I was exposed, and Hulat brought his sword up and over, aiming for my head.

I slid down the pillar, trying to get away from the lethal edge. I felt something graze my horns, but I was already too low. My butt hit the ground and I pushed off from the pillar, scooting through Hulat’s legs.

He yelped as one of my horns pierced his thigh and jumped away as I got free. I scrabbled to my feet, but he’d already regrouped. He was back on me.

Hulat slashed at me again and again with the fury of a tornado. It was all I could do to defend myself. Over his shoulder I saw Mofat, watching from his heightened vantage point on the throne. He met my eyes and sneered.

I still couldn’t believe he was my father. A king who cared nothing for his own people, who sought only power. A tyrant and a murderer. That was the blood that ran in my veins.

Hulat sent a blow at my ribs, and I moved to parry it. At the last second, he flipped his arm and drove for my shoulder. I whirled away, but too late.

The sword bit into my shoulder. Pain exploded through me, but I clenched my teeth on the scream that wanted to escape my throat. I’d die before I’d let these monsters have the satisfaction of hearing me hurt.

“Next time, I’ll cut off your arm.” Hulat circled me like a predator, looking pleased. My wound dripped to the floor, the broken skin like a line of flame over my body.

I took a deep breath, burying the pain. Long ago, I’d learned the lesson that you must be able to compartmentalize almost anything in a fight. I could move my arm despite my injury, and that was all that mattered.

I sagged, pretending I was hurt far worse than I was. Hulat’s eyes gleamed as he took the bait. He crept closer, careless that he was entering my range.

“What an embarrassment to the Assassin’s Guild,” he crowed. “One little cut and you crumble like a—”

I didn’t let him finish. I flicked my sword up and lunged at him. He curled his body away, but not quite enough. The very tip of my blade dug into his chest and I dragged it swiftly downwards.

A spray of sallow ochre scales spattered over the floor as Hulat howled. Panting, he grabbed at his torn tunic, trying to staunch the blood. It wasn’t a deep wound, but it rattled him.

I twirled my sword with my wounded arm, showing Hulat how little his attack had actually hurt me. My shoulder throbbed, but he didn’t know that.

“You’ve always thought you could get out of anything,” I jeered. “Well, you can’t get out of this.”

“I will peel your skin from your bones and devour your organs.” Hatred filled Hulat’s eyes as he seethed. “You are a snake, slithering to your D’Tali masters gorged fat on stolen secrets.”

“They never tried to be my masters,” I retorted. “That is why I bring them your secrets. We all want your downfall."

“Enough of this,” boomed Mofat from the throne. “Hulat, no more talking. Kill him, now.”

Mofat had made a mistake. His interjection stung Hulat, who reacted too quickly to the goad.

As Hulat darted towards me, sword held high, his foot hit a pool of blood. His, mine, impossible to tell, but it formed a slick over the hall floor. He went down, and I pounced.

I threw myself on top of him. Gripping his ribs with my knees, I slammed my fist into his wrist. Hulat yelped and released his sword. It skidded away as I leveled my blade against his neck.

“First I spill his blood, then I spill yours, Mofat,” I called grimly to the King.

No answer. I looked up, but the throne was empty. Where had the old bugger gone? He couldn’t move that quickly. I scanned the hall. I caught the end of a robe disappearing around a pillar and twisted to follow it.

Hulat saw my distraction and seized the hilt of my sword. His hands gripped mine, shaking as they wrested the sword away from his neck. He dug his fingers between the bones of my hand, sending bright lances of pain up my arm.

My sword clattered to the floor. Furious at myself for giving Hulat such an opening, I punched him in the face with my free hand. He released me, but before I could pick up my sword again, he’d dug his fist into my ribs.

Blades forgotten, we wrestled each other. Blood welled up from the gash on my shoulder and from Hulat’s chest. We were covered in it as we tumbled over each other, trading blow for blow. There were no more mocking words exchanged.

We both knew this was it. Only one of us would stand up alive.

The thought of Riley came to me. How much she’d risked for me already. How well she understood me, already. How I’d need twenty lifetimes to get to know her as well as I wanted to.

A surge of fresh energy burst through me. I wrenched Hulat down, smashing his face into the bloodied stone. With a last rush of strength, I gripped his head in my hands and twisted it.

There was a sickening crunch, and he lay still. I’d broken his neck.

Panting, I lifted my head to see Mofat at the end of the hall, using his son’s sword as a cane, digging the point into the floor. Although his infirm body shook with the effort, he’d almost gotten the great throne room doors open.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to my feet.

It was time to end this.