King of Eon by Anna Hackett ePUB)

Chapter Five

Alea blew out a breath and swiped an arm across her forehead.

She was sweaty, dusty, and had nothing to show for it.

She’d been over every inch of the shuttle cargo bay. If the Kantos had been in here, she’d found no evidence of them.

The spider rats had just appeared out of nowhere.

It was getting late, and her stomach grumbled. She’d missed lunch.

At least while she’d been busy, it had kept her mind off Gayel having cozy little meetings with his potential brides to be.

She growled to herself.

Then she heard a noise.

She spun.

She saw something dart behind a crate. Alea’s hand went to the blaster holstered at her hip. She crept closer…

A pair of black-and-purple eyes peered at her over the crate.

She blew out a breath. “Come out of there.”

The boy stepped out. She thought he looked ten or so, but she was no expert on kids, and she guessed Eon kids were probably tall, so he could be younger.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” she said.

A belligerent little chin jutted at her. “This is my planet, and I’m royalty. Nowhere is off-limits to me.”

Her eyebrows winged up. “Really? Does that usually work for you?”

The boy’s shoulders slumped. “No, not really.”

He bore a strong resemblance to Gayel, but as far as she knew, he didn’t have any children.

“My uncle, the king, would get mad. That I snuck here, and used my connection.”

Uncle. “Your mother is Adlyn?”

The boy nodded.

“And your father?”

A brief flash of intense grief that hurt to look at. “He died.”

Alea stuck out her hand. “I’m Alea. Captain Alea Rodriguez of Earth’s Space Corps.”

The boy eyed her hand and took it awkwardly. “I’m Kyber Solann-Eon.”

She showed him how to shake correctly. “Keep it nice and firm. It’s an Earth handshake. It’s nice to meet you, Kyber.” She paused. “Both of my parents died when I was very young.”

Those amazing eyes met hers. “Really?”

“Really. I know it hurts.” Even when they’d been crap parents who’d rarely paid her any attention.

Kyber looked at his boots, then back at her. “Are you going to tell my uncle that I snuck aboard your shuttle?”

“No. Not if you help me.”

His brow creased. “Help you?”

She nodded. “I’m looking for Kantos.”

Kyber straightened, and she saw the promise of the warrior that he would one day be. Her gaze dropped, and she spotted the thick band on his wrist. He was already bonded to his helian.

“Shouldn’t you be in school, though?”

“I attend the Warrior Academy, but we’re on vacation right now.”

“Okay, Kyber, well I’m going to put you to work. Did you hear what happened at the dinner last night?”

He nodded, excitement on his young, handsome face. “Kantos bugs attacked. A Terran woman and my uncle killed them. Wait, was that you?”

Alea nodded. “I think they came here hidden aboard the shuttle.”

The boy’s eyes narrowed and he scanned the cargo bay.

“But, there’s no record of anything on our scanners. Only a few tiny insects. The only other thing that’s missing is oil from the storage in the engine room.”

“Is there any oil in here?” he asked. “Or other chemicals?”

Alea smiled. “Good thinking. There are some cleanup chemicals in case of a spill.” She strode to the storage compartment and opened the lock. They both crouched and looked in.

There were several rugged containers, that all looked intact. But she smelled the sharp scent of chemicals and it burned her nostrils.

“I smell chemical.” Kyber crawled inside.

“Be careful,” Alea warned. The last thing she needed was to get the king’s nephew injured.

“Everything looks okay… Wait.” He spun one canister around. “Look.”

The back of the canister was gnawed open.

Shit. Alea crawled into the space. There was a hole in the metal grate flooring where the chemical had spilled, eating into the metal.

“What the hell?” she muttered.

Kyber poked at the other canisters.

They were the same. Torn open. The metal eaten.

“Looks like something bit or ripped these open, and drank the contents,” Kyber said.

Drank the contents? Chemicals?She didn’t like this.

“Come on, kid.”

They rose and hurried to the cockpit. She put a call through to Science Commander Narann-Felis.

“Yes?” The man’s rugged face appeared on screen.

“Science Commander, I—”

“Call me Garvin, Captain. It’s a bit of a mouthful, otherwise.”

“Deal. And I’m Alea.”

He inclined his head.

“I found signs that something’s consumed oil and chemicals aboard our shuttle.”

The science commander frowned and tapped another screen. “The Kantos bugs showed high levels of chemicals in their bodies.”

Shit. “Okay, thanks.” She closed the communication link.

“What are you thinking, Alea?” Kyber asked.

“I’m thinking small, near-microscopic Kantos got aboard.”

“Small enough to avoid your scanners.”

Alea nodded. Smart kid.

“Then they fed,” Kyber finished.

“And grew,” she said. “I need to update King Gayel.” When she headed off the shuttle, she turned to Kyber. “Thanks for the assist.”

His chest puffed up. “I’m available if you need further assistance.”

She hid her smile. “Thank you.”

The boy smiled back at her. “I want to learn more about Earth.”

“Well, you might have a Terran aunt, soon.”

Kyber frowned. “I’ve seen the Terran ladies… They’re like halliana.”

“What’s that?”

“Small insects that fly in the gardens. They’re pretty, but I’m not sure they can teach me what I want to know.” He cocked his head. “But you could. You’re a warrior.”

“Well, while I’m here, feel free to ask me any questions you’d like. Now, off you go. I need to see your uncle.”

Kyber left with a wave.

Alea strode into the palace, navigating the corridors. She found Ben near their quarters.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

Her second nodded. “Women all got some one-on-one time with the king.”

Alea’s gut hardened. “Great.”

“And his sister is a real hardass.” A scowl settled on Ben’s face. “Got in my face about some security stuff. Second guesses everything.”

“She’s one of the king’s personal guards, Ben, and his sister. That’s her job.”

He sniffed. “I don’t like her.”

Alea shot him a dry look. “I think the feeling is mutual.”

He muttered under his breath. “Anyway, the king’s back in his quarters now. No dinner tonight.” A faint smile crossed the man’s face. “I’m thinking Gayel has had enough Terran socializing for one day.”

“Well, I need to update him.” Alea ran through what she’d found in the shuttle.

Ben scowled and ran a hand over his short hair. “Hell. I hate those bugs.”

“Me too. All right, get some rest, Ben. I’ll talk to Gayel.”

“Gayel?” Ben raised his brows.

“King Gayel,” she amended. “Something tells me this situation is going to get worse before it gets better.”

“Par for the course, with the Kantos involved.”

Alea hit the stairs and headed up toward the King’s quarters.

So much for avoiding him.

She squared her shoulders. She had a job to do and she’d do it.

* * *

Gayel strode into his quarters,unfastening his shirt.

This was his private domain where he could turn off being king for a bit, and just be a man.

Spending time with the Terran women had been fine. Some were interesting, and very intelligent.

But he wanted to be alone for a while.

He frowned. He hadn’t felt any particular connection to any of the women. He needed to talk with his mother, and ask how she’d dealt with entering into an arranged marriage.

Perhaps he hadn’t thought this all through carefully enough.

Especially when he couldn’t stop thinking of a certain Space Corps officer.

He strode from the front sitting chamber through the arched doorway to his bedchamber, and jerked to a halt.

His huge bed was covered in deep-blue covers, with a carved, wooden headboard—a coronation gift from the planet Ath.

On the bed, artfully sprawled, was one of the Terran women, wearing only a tiny scrap of lace.

“Hello, there,” the woman, Avril, purred.

Gayel frowned. “How did you get in here?” He had guards in the hall.

She sat up, her brown hair falling around her shoulders.

“I’m a lawyer, Your Highness. I’m good at strategy, and arguing my point.”

And sneakiness. “This is my private suite. I rarely let anyone in here.”

Avril stilled. “Oh.”

“This is my own personal space, where I prefer to be alone.”

“Ah, sorry.” The seduction leaked off her face. “I just…” Her cheeks turned pink. “I thought we had such a great talk today.”

They had. Avril was smart, interesting to talk to. “We did, but this is highly inappropriate, and unwelcome.”

“God.” She rose and hurried to a black robe he hadn’t noticed and wrapped the silk around her. “I messed up. I just…” She met his gaze.

She was embarrassed, but he saw that she was taking responsibility for it.

“I really want this. I think I’d make a good queen, and I have the best interests of my planet and your Empire at heart. I’m good at negotiating.” A wry smile. “And I’m ambitious.”

It was hard to stay angry at her. He smiled. “I can tell.”

“And you’re hot,” she added.

He wasn’t going anywhere near that. “Let’s stick to getting to know each other the traditional way.”

She tucked some hair back behind her ear. “And you’re a good guy, too. The total package. You can’t blame a woman for being very interested.”

There was a knock at the door of his chambers. Probably a guard.

Gayel would have the guard escort Avril back to her room.

He wrenched open the door. When he saw Alea standing there, all his thoughts fled.

“Your Highness,” she said. “I have—”

Gayel heard the footsteps behind him.

Alea stiffened and her gaze went past him. Avril stood there in her silk robe, lace peeking out the neckline. She looked disheveled.

Alea’s golden-brown gaze moved back to Gayel, then dropped to his open shirt and bare chest.

She stepped back. “I’ve interrupted.” Her face was an impassive mask, her tone cool. “I’ll give my report to Adlyn—”

Gayel grabbed Alea’s arm. “No.” That was probably a little too forceful. He lowered his voice. “Avril was just leaving. I want to hear the report.”

Avril slid past them and smiled. “I…thanks again, Your Highness.” The woman headed down the hall with a sway of her hips.

Alea’s face looked like it was carved from the toughest grana stone. “I really need to go—”

“No.” He towed her inside and slammed the door.

“You didn’t need to make her leave,” Alea said stiffly.

He spun Alea around. “I just got back. She snuck in to surprise me.” He scowled.

Alea eyed his face. “Ah.”

“Yes, ah. I didn’t invite her. I explained that this wasn’t welcome. She was embarrassed. She is—”

“Attracted to you.”

“—eager to be queen.”

“Right. Well.” She straightened. “I conducted a search on the shuttle. My current working theory is that the Kantos snuck tiny, microscopic insects aboard.”

Gayel frowned. “Small enough not to set off your scanners.”

She nodded. He noted that she was avoiding his gaze, looking at his left ear, all stiff and proper.

He wanted to see the woman he’d fought with. The blood lust of the fight on her face, and challenge in her eyes.

“I think they fed on oil, chemicals, and metal on the ship. The containers were torn open. They fed and morphed into the creatures we saw at the dinner.”

By Alqin’s axe. Gayel frowned. “If there are more—”

“They might still be feeding.”

And growing larger. The clear conclusion remained unspoken.

“I’ll have my warriors check our chemical stores. So, what’s their purpose?”

She shrugged her shoulders, still looking at his ear. “To target you? Disrupt your bride selection? Chaos?”

“We can’t let that happen.” He stared at her, willing her to look at him.

Something was becoming very clear to Gayel.

There was one Terran woman he felt a connection with.

“Alea, look at me.”

“I need to get going.” She stepped backward toward the door.

“Alea, I didn’t touch Avril.”

“That’s none of my business.”

“I’m not interested in her that way.”

Now, gold eyes met his. “You should be. She’s one of your potential brides.”

He stalked toward Alea, and she backed up several steps before she stopped herself.

“I’m not interested in any of them.” He kept moving, backing her up against the wall.

She pressed a hand to his chest. “Gayel—”

“I love it when you say my name like that, Alea.”

Their gazes clashed.

“Do you feel it?” he asked quietly.

Her eyelashes flickered. “What?”

“You know what. This. This pull between us.”

She muttered a curse, then he hauled her close and slammed his mouth down on hers. She made a hungry sound, then leaped on him.

As she wrapped her legs around his waist, he cupped her ass. He pinned her to the wall, plunging his tongue deep into her mouth, kissing her wildly.

“Yes.” Cren. He growled against her lips.

“Damn you,” she muttered. Her hands slid into his hair, tugging hard.

She kissed him back furiously. Like she needed to kiss him to exist. Like it was only the two of them and nothing else mattered.

He squeezed her toned ass and she moved against him. His cock was as hard as tanium steel, throbbing with need.

He needed to be inside her.

Just through the doorway, he could spread her on his own bed and gorge on her.

Then she ripped her mouth free.

“God. God.” She wriggled. “Put me down.”

Her face was set and closed.

Gayel felt like a stone had lodged in his gut. It almost hurt to release her.

She pushed against him and slid around his body. Then she pressed her palms to her face and straightened.

“This can’t happen again.”

That cool tone made his anger flash. “I beg to differ.”

“You’re searching for a bride. I won’t be some fun diversion—”

He growled, and stepped toward her. “That is not what this is.”

“We can’t do this,” she said. “I…have a job to do.”

“I don’t care about your job right now.” Cren, he couldn’t let his anger get the better of him.

“The job is me. It’s important to me. It’s all I have.”

He saw some deep emotion in her eyes. “Alea—”

“You don’t know me, Gayel, and I’ll be gone soon.”

“What are you so afraid of?” he asked. “I didn’t think you were a coward.”

“Like I said, you don’t know me.”

“I know you’re a warrior, good at your job, that you like to ride and sing.”

Color filled her cheeks, then she pushed past him and out the door.

Cren. He leaned against the wall. That had gone badly.

Well, one thing was certain—he’d found the Terran woman he wanted.