Kidnapped By the Alien Prince by Tori Kellett
Chapter Eight
Callie burst into angry, scalding tears. She was furious, both at Zak and the fact that she was crying. She hadn’t even cried when she’d woken up in the hospital, and they told her she’d had an ectopic pregnancy and her chances of conceiving were less than zero without help. The last time she had really cried, she had been holding her baby girl. Her baby that would never feed or grow. Never laugh or cry. Never grow up into the amazing young woman she knew she would have been.
She ran past the guards until she found a small garden, and somehow the scent of something that smelled like jasmine all these billions and billions of miles away soothed her. She was going to kill him for what he had put Kaleth through. She would need a vise for his balls because her hands might not inflict enough pain. “I’m going to stab him. Stab him and carve his heart out,” she promised herself fervently.
“You would have to be alive to do that first.”
Callie gazed up at the knife being pointed toward her and the young warrior who loved his father enough, even though he was still grieving, to come to his defense. She ignored the knife. “I was just thinking if my daughter had lived, she would have loved an older brother like you.”
He seemed nonplussed at that, and the knife lowered a fraction. “You lost a female to the disease?”
Cassie shook her head. “Not the disease you mean, but one that killed her before she even took her first breath.”
He seemed to think about that for some time. Making a disgusted noise, he sheathed his knife. “I cannot kill you.” He sounded disappointed.
“It might be simpler,” she grumbled.
Kaleth looked at her in puzzlement. “You want to die?”
Callie smiled for the first time in quite a few hours. She patted the wall next to her. “Come and tell me about your mom. Matriche,” she added, but she had a feeling he knew what she meant.
He seemed to think about it, then collapsed in a heap on the wall as teenagers were wont to do. They never just sat. “She was sick.”
It was telling that his introduction wasn’t the color of her hair or eyes, or her hobby, or what bedtime story they shared, but that she was sick. Callie’s heart cried out to comfort the Zak mini-me in front of her, but she knew it wouldn’t be welcomed.
“The same disease that kills all your female warriors?”
He nodded. “She never fought. She was born with it.” He seemed to worry over that qualification.
Callie shrugged. “People battle in different ways. Having an obvious enemy isn’t a mark of courage. Sometimes the enemy is an outlet for the anger you feel inside. Sometimes the anger you feel isn’t because of that enemy at all. They’re just there.”
He seemed to think about that, then tilted his head as if processing what else had been said. “Does your planet really take pleasure flights?” He sounded so bewildered.
“No,” Callie responded honestly. “But it was the only thing we could think of to stop your uncle getting condemned for breaking the law.”
“You mean N’ameth?”
She nodded.
“But why would you care? You don’t know him.”
Callie sighed. She’d been asking herself the same question for hours. “Do you have a pet?”
Kaleth looked at her blankly.
“An animal maybe. Something that’s dependent on you for everything. Food, safety, comfort?”
He smiled but looked unwilling to share. “I used to have one.”
“What would you do if someone hurt that animal? Over and over because they were more powerful?”
“I am not unintelligent,” he said at last. “You mean because my sire has to protect his people?”
“It’s a bad comparison because people aren’t animals, and I’m a big believer in people saving themselves, but sometimes they can’t. Sometimes because of others, that power is taken away from them, and someone with more power has to step in.” She relaxed a little. “I am so sorry you lost your mom.”
He was quiet for a while. “My elder sire gives him little choice, I suppose.”
“And elder sire is what we would call grandfather?”
He nodded. “I understand you are in a difficult position.”
She nudged him playfully. “Good. Do you think you can teach your dad the same lesson, then, because he’s driving me insane.” He smiled a little. “Tell me what it’s like living in the palace.”
“It’s not a palace; it’s a prison.”
Callie blew out a breath. It was getting better and better. “And is that because you are a prince?” She knew all teenagers chomped at the bit a little.
“Yes, but not just. I—there aren’t many my own age here. Certainly none in the palace.”
So he was lonely. Callie’s heart went out to him, but there was nothing she could do.
Kaleth stood, bowing formally. “I had better go and see what needs to be done. I am glad to meet you, Calista of Earth. It will be good to have someone else blamed for questioning my sire’s choices,” he added cheekily before returning the way she had come.
Callie sat there another moment in the garden. She certainly wasn’t going to rush to Zak. As far as she was concerned, he could come and grovel to her. Kaleth had assumed the mating and the whole becoming queen thing would still be happening, but would it? Did she want to be condemned to live in the shadow of someone else? She’d done that with Gary. Gradually lost herself in his wishes until there didn’t seem any of her left. She’d desperately wanted a baby, but somewhere in there, she’d forgotten anything else. As if that one goal was her life. Then life had chewed her up and spat out what was left into a shitty apartment with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and a divorce to show for it.
Starting a new life was a huge temptation, but not if that meant losing herself to another husband. She simply wouldn’t let that happen, but then what choice did she have? She was stuck here. She couldn’t get back—even if she wanted to—which she had to admit was a less attractive option right now. The fact that there was no alternative and they were on a clock were stressors she hated. She felt like she was being blackmailed into the position.
“You look troubled?”
Callie looked up and recognized one of the men from the Assembly. She hadn’t really taken in everyone that was there, but his appearance was more humanlike than the Ishtaans. He also wore considerably more clothes. A uniform, she guessed as she took in the dark gray pants and matching fitted shirt with a blue circle insignia above his right shoulder. He was completely bald, but in the way that made her think he just didn’t grow body hair, not that he had shaved. He had a different weapon in a holster at his hip. Not that he looked like he was about to use it. If anything, he looked genuinely concerned.
“It’s been an interesting few days,” Callie responded carefully.
“I can imagine,” he said gently and bowed. “May I sit?”
Callie didn’t see why not. In fact, it was nice to talk to someone who wasn’t huge and mostly naked. “Who are you?”
“My name is Mastuk.” He held out a hand, and she clasped it automatically. A scent almost like rose petals wafted over her, and she inhaled appreciatively. She gazed into dark blue eyes in fascination as they darkened almost to violet. How amazing. “What’s your name?” He asked in an incredibly soothing voice.
“Callie,” she murmured, relaxing entirely, and dropped her gaze, feeling a slight pressure on her wrist. He was still holding her hand, except it didn’t feel unusual. It made her feel quite— A sudden yawn surprised her, and she took her hand back, covering her lips in embarrassment. “Sorry, it’s been a busy few days, as I said.” She met his gaze and was once again astonished as the violet hues in his eyes shifted and darkened. “You have incredible eyes. Has anyone ever told you that?”
He smiled and stared at her. “But yours are lovely. Mine are normal on my planet.” A faint warning seemed to try and nudge itself to the front of Callie’s mind.
“You don’t live here?”
He shook his head. “My home is in the valley of Lamtek. Beautiful blue-green grass-covered meadows and crystal-blue streams. I would love you to see it.”
Callie smiled. It sounded like the blue grass of home. Or where she’d grown up anyway, and a sudden longing for home brought tears to her eyes.
“Hush, Callie,” Mastuk murmured and cupped her cheek. “Please don’t get upset. Everything will be alright.”
She nodded. She could almost believe it was when he said it would be.
“I’m surprised you are not resting,” he asked and dropped his hand to cover hers.
“I—” She yawned again and flushed.
“You look very tired.”
Callie was. She must be still in shock from everything that had happened. She heard a footfall and noticed another male in the same uniform as Mastuk. He clucked and with one finger encouraged her to look back at him. “Ignore Rhador. He is merely making sure we are safe.”
She nodded. That was nice. She needed to be safe. She blinked slowly. The sun seemed bright, and it was far easier to let her eyes close against the glare.
“That’s it,” Mastuk agreed. “Close your eyes, Callie. I know you need to sleep, and you can rest with me. Rhador will keep us safe.”
Her eyes tried to shut once more, but she forced them open. “I should go inside. Zak will…” But what would Zak do? Her thoughts seemed to trail away, and she couldn’t grasp them. She was exhausted and felt the strong hand urge her to lean into him, and the smell of roses seemed to wrap her up. Her eyes closed again. She barely felt being lifted up and tilted against the strong body.
“Sleep, Callie. Everything will be alright. Just sleep.” The tiny prick in her arm was the last thing she remembered.
Zak took a hurried step after Callie, but it seemed every elder in the Assembly wished to speak to him. He ordered Azlaan to see to freeing N’ameth and eventually got to the door, only to be blocked by his sire. “You are making a big mistake.”
“How so?” he demanded.
“You think Ishtaans will accept an Earthling?” His father looked disgusted, and Zak almost laughed at his ignorance.
“Calista is the future of this planet. If we don’t do something urgently to reverse the damage the Alliance has forced us to, there will be no people left to accept anything.” He stepped to the side, but his father blocked him again.
“I have arrangements in place to save our people, Zakaarir. I just need you not to be so hasty. When you find out what I have planned—”
Zak scoffed, officially out of patience. He just wanted to wait another day. His sire was so desperate to hold on to power he would deny his son any chance of happiness. Zak didn’t even bother replying, just pushed his sire aside and hurried after Callie, Voren on his heels. “Did you see which way she went?”
“No, my prince. I am commanded not to leave your side unless you instruct me otherwise.”
Zak strode toward the steps. “I want a queen’s guard formed.” It didn’t use to be such a prestigious duty, because before the war their queens tended to prefer activities that warriors didn’t naturally suit, and Maylesh, restricted as she was to her sick room, hadn’t needed anyone except a guard on the door. He had a feeling this wasn’t going to be the case with Callie though. “Bring me their names as soon as you can, but until then you are to protect her and send D’estaan to tend me. I don’t trust anyone else but you with Calista.”
“Yes, my prince.”
Zak stopped in frustration. She could have gone anywhere.
“Sire?”
He turned to see Kaleth. Kaleth bowed immediately. Zak acknowledged the respect. He would rather have a different emotion from his son, but at least he wasn’t turning away.
“Voren, find Calista,” he ordered, then approached his son carefully. He needed to find Callie, but he had a feeling if he didn’t speak to Kaleth, it would be too late the next time he tried. “My apologies, son. I assumed you were in seclusion and did not expect to see you in the throne room. Once we were sighted near the gates, I had no choice but to visit the Assembly immediately. It was never my intention to bring disrespect to your matriche. It is that I am simply out of time.”
Zak held out the small circlet that Kaleth had worn that he had scooped from the floor. “It is my intention to name you as First Prince. If something happens to me before you become thirty cycles, Elder Ptorean or one of my brothers will be your advisors.”
Kaleth suddenly lunged for his father, and Zak enveloped him in his arms. Warriors even of only nine cycles did not usually accept comfort as it might give others the impression they were not strong enough. Zak stepped back but didn’t let Kaleth go. “I am sorry we can’t talk more, but I am worried Callie left, and she doesn’t know the dangers of our planet.” Not that it was likely there would be a Veerlash lurking behind a tree when they were approaching the Dry, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
“She is in the flower garden, sire. I just spoke to her. She is safe.” Zak closed his eyes briefly in utter relief. He wanted to demand what Kaleth had said, but he didn’t want to anger his son again. “She is different to my matriche.” Zak nodded slowly, waiting to hear if that was different good or…
“I think Ishtaan needs different,” Kaleth admitted, then stepped back out of Zak’s arms. “I will go make sure Azlaan doesn’t need my help.”
“I am grateful.” They both knew he wasn’t talking about Kaleth’s offer to help Azlaan. “I am also reinstating the practice of having a second, so think carefully who you wish to nominate in front of the Assembly tonight.” His own sire had dropped the practice of having a special confidant or advisor. He would never believe he needed advice for anything. Razorr had been his. Now he didn’t know what to do. He hoped that Kaleth would pick Ptorean, but it was his choice.
“I will be ready by dark.” Kaleth turned and went inside. The ceremony traditionally happened at the beginning of dark but had to be completed before the twin moons rose one day later. If Zak passed that day without a queen, his sire would be able to nominate Kaleth again.
Zak turned but met Voren hurrying to him. “I can’t find her, my prince.”
“She is in the flower garden.” They were quick, but it was empty. Zak took one look around the empty space and rushed to the wall that dropped off to the gardens below and gave a clear view of the walk to the forest. There was no sign of her. Something cold and angry coiled in his gut.
“I want every guard to search. All the rooms. All the grounds. There is nowhere off-limits, under my authority.” Which meant none of the elders could object to their rooms being searched. He looked toward the shuttle area and saw the spark of an engine as the booster ignited.
“Who is that?” N’ameth had been imprisoned, and he doubted Julien, his copilot, would be anywhere other than the cells, trying to rip the bars imprisoning N’ameth away with his bare hands.
Voren followed his gaze. “It is Senator Vashti. It was his ship that reported the sighting of Prince N’ameth crossing the Dark.”
“Stop him,” Zak yelled and raced for the steps. “I want no one to leave without my permission.”
Voren paled but got on his communicator. Zak raced to the bottom of the stairs. Two of the guards were just coming in from their patrol on a hell-cat. Zak waved them to jump off and gunned the small one-person craft that was thin enough to make it through the trees and was the only thing that would get him to the shuttle area other than his own two feet. He could hear crackling orders on his communicator and pushed the cat to its maximum, knowing the old engine would likely burn out and simply not caring. He heard Voren on the second one behind him.
He knew she was on there. The last thing the Alliance wanted was the Ishtaans to repopulate. To fight back. To finally break free of the stranglehold his people had been forced into for cycles. It was merely the thought of a backlash from the Karthians that just about stopped the Alliance from walking in and taking over. That, and that none of them would be able to agree on who was to mine the Azteen crystals. They were the only thing keeping his planet alive, and if the rumor was true… The cat tore into the clearing just as the shuttle lifted from the ground. As he heard the engine cut, Zak launched himself at the docking area, but he missed the shuttle rise by a handspan. He felt the warrior’s body charge into him and take him down, just as the engine’s thrusters expelled the flame to boost their ascent. If Voren hadn’t tackled him, he would have been caught in the five-thousand-joule burst, and there would have been nothing left but ash.
He sat up and for a brief moment was tempted to wish Voren had been too late.
