The Alien’s Reward by Luna Kingsley
Chapter 20
Sarah
The first timewe’re escorted from our cell is to attend the meeting to decide our fate. We’re led into a room the size of an arena filled with what looks to be the entire population of the Bameh Islet. The heat of fixed stares burns my skin even as I try my best to ignore being made to feel like an animal at the zoo. Surely all these aliens can’t want us gone. Some of them must think the same as Vah’all and see the value in our presence.
“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Maren says, leaning closer to whisper in my ear. For the first time, I gain the courage to look around. To meet the eyes of those who don’t bother hiding their stares. Everywhere I look, this space is filled with males and there’s nothing comforting about that.
Vah’all is on my side. He’s sworn to protect me. But he’s not here to be able to do that now so I understand Maren’s bad impressions of the situation. “Yeah, I’m with you. Not getting the best vibes right now.”
“I’m doing a check for the closest exits but we’re at a disadvantage because we don’t have wings,” Trinity adds.
Poor Willa simply sits quietly at the end, taking everything in. I want to reach out and squeeze her hand but it’s currently a tight fist resting against her thigh.
“We’re also at a disadvantage because even if we are able to get out of here, we have no idea where to go,” Maren says, exhaling a frustrated sigh.
“Try to be patient. Let’s see how this all shakes out.” I glance around again, wondering if they’ll bring Vah’all up from confinement. Hoping I’ll get to see him because even if he’s in chains, having him here calms me. At least we’d know we have someone on our side.
This arena is like what I imagine a stadium would’ve looked like back when the gladiators used to fight in ancient Rome. They’re using it now to fit all these spectators inside to see what decision will be made regarding us—the humans who are the first to learn the secret of the Dhevieth. And they’re curious.
“They’re not just going to kill us if they decide they don’t want us here, are they?” Willa asks. As if none of us even considered the possibility before, we’re all silent. Incapable of mustering even a lie to make us all feel better. There’s a strong possibility we’re all remembering how we got here in the first place. The sudden red lights and alarms sounding in the ship moments before we began dropping out of the sky. My stomach flips remembering how it felt to be standing at the screen one moment and the next being catapulted through the air.
The bottom line is that these aliens are killers. They’re willing to destroy whatever or whomever could be a threat to their home. My heart tells me that Vah’all is different even though he’s the one who got us into this mess in the first place. But the strange prickling sensation at the back of my neck while these aliens watch us is because many of them have broken moral compasses. They won’t do what is right for four women who mean nothing of value to them. And that’s why I agree with Maren when she says she has a bad feeling about this.
Moments later, my heart leaps into my throat as Vah’all is brought into the arena. I couldn’t get a good look at him down in his dark cell but now that he’s under the lights, my stomach churns with bile. It has only been a few days, but he doesn’t look good. They’ve been withholding food and medical care. Tears spring to my eyes at how selfish I’ve been. He’s been suffering in confinement, really suffering, and I’ve been obsessing over how great the sex is. Anticipating when Stux’an will come for me so I can see him and get off. Not that I don’t care for him— because I do—but the sex is addictive and mind-altering.
Next to me, Maren sucks in a sharp breath. “Look at that cut to his wing. It needs stitches—like yesterday.”
I swallow, still trying not to break down in tears and nod in agreement. “I didn’t know…” There’s more I could say but I get too choked up and have to stop myself. Maren squeezes my hand, pulling it into her lap.
“Of course you didn’t. You’re not to blame.”
The elders begin. Whichever one speaks, levitates off the ground, becoming the center of attention or more like a floating aberration to those of us who are still acclimating to being around aliens who can fly. My eyes continually drift down to Vah’all. Even in chains with bloody wounds he still holds himself like a proud warrior. I’m embarrassed to admit it makes my pussy throb. Moments ago, the sight of him in the light brought tears to my eyes knowing he wasn’t being treated kindly. Now as I steal glances of his strong form, muscles chiseled from rock, long hair tied back but strands hanging along his cut jawline, and I know without a doubt there’s no leaving him behind. As if he can feel my gaze on his body, he turns and finds me, our eyes locking on each other as electricity fills the air between us.
My lips part to accommodate the increased rate of my breathing. As my heart pounds steady, my skin flushes and my core throbs. Vah’all smirks, licks his lips and then turns forward, like he’s completely aware of the effect he’s having on my body.
“Well, that was hot,” Trinity says. “He just looked at you like he was going to have you for dinner.”
I’m still flustered enough that I can’t form words but it’s safe to say I’m officially distracted from the conversation going on around us. Maybe that was his plan all along. I should be focused on what the elders are planning because this is all about our future and what they plan to do with us. But it isn’t until Vah’all grows visibly agitated that I snap out of my head and realize something is wrong.
“What the hell is the research laboratory?” Trinity asks.
I’m embarrassed to ask her what she’s talking about.
Stux’an grips Vah’all’s shoulders and leans close to speak into his ear. He’s fighting against his chains as more guards begin to circle him. Then Stux’an raises his voice to address the elders. “As Vah’all’s alpha, I claim the right to oversee his punishment.”
I want to know what’s going to happen to Vah’all but the guards are advancing toward us. “Maren, what are they going to do to us?” I ask.
“I haven’t a clue but nothing good is going to come from the research lab. At least not for us. Not when we’re the lab rats.”
The guards begin shuffling us away and all the while I’m trying desperately to find Vah’all. I can sense him close by. I can feel his distress. But I don’t know what decisions have been made regarding his punishment or what they’re going to do with him next.
It doesn’t take long for the guards to escort us out of the arena. We’re shuffled along like cattle, and we don’t bother fighting because there’s no reason to. There are still too many factors working against us. We don’t know where to go and even if we did, we have no way of getting off the island that inconveniently floats in the sky. The other problem for me is that I can’t leave Vah’all anymore. I just can’t. It might not make any sense because of how we came to know each other and the actual time we’ve been in each other’s lives, but the sentiment stands.
I can’t leave him behind.
It’s difficult to see what’s going on around us. The guards tower over us as the crowd surges. We cling together, linking arms and fingers so we’re not separated in the growing chaos as we’re taken away. The urge to hold my ground and refuse to be taken from this place becomes overwhelming.
Dread settles in my belly. I’ve always considered myself to be a strong person. Resilient because of the setbacks in my life. But I’m being pushed past the point where I’ll be able to recover. This just might be the greatest test I’ve encountered yet.
It isn’t until I’m strapped in a seat next to the rest of my friends that the fog of panic begins to clear. The crowd is gone and although I’m still unsettled about what happens next, the four of us are still together.
“Sarah, look around,” Maren says, her voice filled with quiet excitement.
It takes a moment for it to click. When it does, I’m hopeful for the first time since this all began.
They’re transporting us to the lab in a cargo ship.