Freed By the Alien Prince by Tori Kellett
Chapter Sixteen
N’ameth opened his eyes to the one face he didn’t want to see—Xar’ta—and managed to stifle a groan before the sound left his lips. He yanked on his bindings, but he knew the chains holding him to the wall wouldn’t give. At least he was sitting on the rough ground, not hanging from the wall. Xar’ta grinned, showing all his teeth, and patted N’ameth’s cheek. N’ameth tried to jerk his head away, but he didn’t get very far; Xar’ta crowed in delight. He bent down as if he was going to share some secret, and N’ameth jerked this time because he was trying to avoid Xar’ta’s fetid breath.
“How does it feel, my prince? To be chained. To know you’re helpless.”
“You’ll find out as soon as I return the favor, vescht.”
Xar’ta beamed again at the insult, and N’ameth quickly took in what he could see. Not much. He was in a damp, dimly lit space. He guessed underground, probably in one of the many caves. There was a heavy metal door standing open at the moment.
Then he remembered his shuttle had exploded. He knew instantly that the tug he had felt in those last few seconds hadn’t been his body being pulled apart but the dissonance from a cellular transporter. As far as he knew, the only operational one they had was on his cruiser, but this definitely wasn’t his cruiser. His side ached, and he remembered the sudden pain, but his body was obviously healing his injury. “So, who are you working for, huh? Someone who doesn’t mind keeping you supplied with young to torment? I wonder what they would say if they saw the state we found Zimtash in?”
Xar’ta ground his jaw but then smiled again. “Maybe I will look for royal blood this time? Would you like to be my toy?” His smile became wider. “Or perhaps I will take an Earth female?”
N’ameth lost it. He roared, pulled, and the restraints actually moved. He heard a clang outside his cell, and N’ameth, stunned, caught the sight of the warrior rushing in and recognition was enough to shock him still. He could do nothing as the man pressed a hypospray against his neck. As his world narrowed to a tunnel, he blinked in lazy confusion and tried to work out how he could have been so wrong.
“So, what are we going to do?”
Sascha eyed Rachel gratefully as they shut the door on her little room so the guards couldn’t hear, or she hoped not anyway. “Let’s take a walk.”
Rachel nodded. “I hate to be crass, but can we go via the kitchen? I’m hungry.”
Sascha agreed that was a good idea. She quickly used the bathroom, then they both went to the kitchen, followed by their guards. Sascha didn’t really know them. She assumed they were either trainees or perhaps one of the old king’s guards who had been released. Either way, she wasn’t sorry they didn’t have to talk to them. They walked into the kitchen and were greeted by Neela, who took one look at Sascha and enfolded her very gently in her arms. “My queen is looking for you, but is unable to leave her rooms.”
Sascha nodded. She bet Zak had Callie encased in bubble wrap.
“Are you hungry?” Neela asked hopefully. She wasn’t, but she knew Rachel was, so they both sat down, and Neela ladled them some soup and got them some flat cakes to eat with it. Sascha managed a couple of mouthfuls before her throat closed.
“I think I’ll just get some protein bars to take with me,” she whispered, and Neela clucked sympathetically. Rachel polished off her soup as well as Sascha’s, which made Sascha feel less guilty. The availability of food was improving, but they still couldn’t afford to waste any.
Voren walked in a moment later, and Rachel stood and made a beeline for him. He listened, responded quietly—too quietly for Sascha to hear—but then Rachel nodded, and he seemed to relax. He left a moment later.
Rachel returned, glancing over to their guards. Neela was serving some food to the guards, and after looking delighted, they immediately sat down and began eating. Just then, a large group of trainees entered the kitchen, and Rachel practically dragged Sascha up while their bodyguards were diverted.
“They’ll miss us, so we have to be quick.”
“Where are we going?” Sascha asked, hurrying after Rachel, marveling at the sure turns she took down corridors Sascha had never even seen before. She was dying to know what Voren had told her as well. They burst out of a back door, and Rachel rushed her to the trees. She stopped and rounded on Sascha.
“They think Xar’ta and possibly Fashtaa, maybe some warriors loyal to the old king, are hiding somewhere close.”
“Close?” Sascha couldn’t help a nervous look to the trees.
She nodded. “It has to be somewhere close to have access. At a guess, I would say it’s somewhere between Brey’s village and the mining camp. The weapon was certainly fired from there.”
“Voren told you this? But why?”
“Because he knew we would try to find out. He wants us to understand why we have to stay in the female quarters,” she admitted. “But that’s beside the point.”
“What is the point?” Sascha hissed.
“It’s a ruse. Zak’s trying to convince everyone they’ve given up looking for N’ameth because they assume he died in the explosion. He thinks there’s a traitor in the palace but he doesn’t know who. Secretly, Voren is going to organize hunting parties, which is why they need all of us together. Not just for our protection, but because he needs to release warriors to search.”
Which made sense. She remembered Zak’s frustrated look from earlier and understood. “And did you promise Voren we would?”
Rachel grinned. “He asked me if I understood why it was important and I said I did. I didn’t agree to anything. What I want to know is, what are you going to do about it?” Rachel paused. “We. What are we going to do about it?”
Sascha shook her head. “We can’t even get to the mining camp.”
Rachel looked behind her as if trying to work something out. “I can fly a shuttle easily, but not without them noticing one taking off.”
Sascha gaped. “What exactly did you used to do?”
Rachel shrugged. “Military brat. Grew up around planes. Joined as soon as I was old enough. I was on leave when I woke up in a tent on Ishtaan.”
“You flew in the Army?” Sascha said in awe.
Rachel shook her head. “I could already fly. My grandad had a ranch, and I think I learned to fly before I could walk.”
“It’s not like stealing a bike though,” Sascha agreed. “I think they’re going to notice a shuttle.”
“Let’s go check it out anyway. You never know.” They skirted the trees but kept close to them, thankful for the fading light. Any second, Sascha expected them to be seen, but they got within sight of the shuttle area. “There are three kept ready at all times, fully stocked with rations and equipment in case there’s any problem up at the mine.”
Sascha glanced admiringly at Rachel. It was clear that she had spent the two months since she got here paying attention. They approached the shuttle areas. Rachel watched silently, then turned to Sascha. “There are too many of them. We need a diversion.”
“A diversion for what?”
They both whirled around at the voice, and Sascha’s heart took a dive when she saw Lam’saak. “Your guards are searching for you.”
She glanced at Rachel helplessly. She had no idea what to say. “We just want to help. We can’t sit around waiting for news.”
He sighed. “My king would put me to death if anything happened to either of you, and I have fought long and hard to get home.”
“How about an exchange?” Sascha asked quietly. “You want to belong here. I can tell you something they want.”
Lam’saak, albeit reluctantly, shook his head. “I am so sorry, Sascha. I understand you must be struggling with this, but it is safer for you—”
“I can show you where the second Azteen vein is.” Even Rachel gaped at her. Sascha met Lam’saak’s surprised gaze. “You would be a hero if you went to your king with that news.”
Lam’saak frowned. “But if you knew, why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I was going to tell N’ameth, but then we fought. It’s not like I’ve had time to think about anything else since we got back.”
Lam’saak heaved a sigh. “Where do you want to go?”
“Distract the workers so we can get on a shuttle. Take us to the mining camp. I’ll tell you where to look as soon as you do.”
“This is a huge risk.” But Lam’saak was tempted. She could see he was.
“We can both fire a gun,” Sascha pointed out. “We won’t be going without weapons.”
“But why do you want to? I don’t understand.”
Sascha felt sorry for him. Lam’saak was so torn. “Because we want to be accepted for who we are, not what people think we should be.”
That obviously hit a nerve, as she was hoping it would.
“You would never have accepted my mating proposal, would you?” Lam’saak asked softly. She shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” she said honestly. “But I’m in love with N’ameth.” He nodded fatalistically.
“We will hide,” Rachel interjected. “If you distract them for us, then you can say you didn’t know we were there.” Lam’saak frowned at Rachel, and she grinned. “Trust me. They’ll believe it’s the sort of stunt I would pull.”
“Stunt?” Lam’saak repeated, trying to puzzle out what she meant, but Rachel waved it off.
“You thought it was best to take the supplies to the camp early, to free all the shuttles for the search.”
Lam’saak huffed. “If you get lost, I won’t be able to help you.” But they wouldn’t because Sascha knew exactly where to go for help, or more importantly who to ask. She didn’t doubt the children would know where the rebels were hiding. The first girl had said to Sascha it was dangerous for her around there. At the time, Sascha had taken it as a threat, but maybe she had meant something—or somebody—else.
“We understand,” Rachel said. “All we are asking is that you look the other way.”
Lam’saak obviously struggled for another moment, but he looked to the palace as if expecting the guards to appear any second. “I will open the cargo door and send them for something we need. You will have a moment only, but if you are seen, I cannot help you.” He strode away immediately.
It was probably easier than it should have been, Sascha thought. Lam’saak even managed to land some way off the mining camp at the far edge of the shuttle area. He powered down the engines, and Rachel got to her feet, checking weapons, food, and water, and started handing them to Sascha. “You have to be ready to go as soon as the cargo bay door is open.”
“And your bargain?” Lam’saak looked right at Sascha.
“As soon as we get off the shuttle,” Rachel interrupted.
He opened the door. “How? I will be busy making a noise so the warriors that will definitely be on their way to us now don’t see you. They will have seen me land. They will be here in moments.”
Sascha stepped forward. “Have you heard of the ghost lilies? The one that Brey found?”
“Yes.”
Rachel grinned and shot her an admiring look, but then she’d been there when Brey had seen the ghost lily. “That hillside near where we were is covered in them, and because they only bloom for one day, you wouldn’t have seen them. I grew up on a farm, so I’m used to plants. The lilies only grow in black rock. As you know, black rock is where the Azteen crystal deposits are found. There’s no way so many of the lilies are there and not the crystal.”
Lam’saak gazed at her. “Is this true?”
She nodded. “Brey told me.” Would he buy it? She was hoping he hadn’t been looking at the ground. And she wasn’t saying anything about the children or mentioning the exact place. He didn’t reply, just fisted his hands a little, then nodded. Sascha understood it must be galling for him not to know, but then he hadn’t been born here. Technically, he had spent less time on the planet than she had.
“I will go out of this door. As soon as you hear the locks disengage for the cargo door, that means there is no one in sight and you can go.” Sascha nodded. He glanced at them both. “I hope he is worth it.” And he turned and went through the door.
So worth it.
They both positioned themselves by the rear cargo door, and sure enough, in another couple of minutes, the locks disengaged.
“You ready?” Rachel asked and pulled her blaster. Sascha followed suit. They both stepped cautiously onto the ramp and froze. Xar’ta stood there smiling. He had a furious Lam’saak in a headlock with a blaster pressed to his temple.
“Drop your weapons. All of them, or I fire.”
“Shit,” Rachel swore.
“And I mean the knife in your boot as well.”
Rachel’s eyebrows rose. Lam’saak made a pained grunt as Xar’ta squeezed his throat. “Now.”
Sascha glanced around helplessly. There were at least five other warriors all pointing their blasters. Lam’saak had thought he was helping by landing this far from the camp, but it effectively meant no one from there could see what was happening and come to their aid. She couldn’t risk either Rachel’s life or Lam’saak’s. In annoyance, she threw her blaster on the ground. In another second, Rachel’s blaster followed. Then she bent and tossed the knife as well. Four warriors rushed them and quickly tied their hands.
Xar’ta smiled. “Good. I’m glad you are learning obedience, but I told you what would happen next time we met. Did you think I lied?” he laughed, not waiting for an answer, and dropped his arm from Lam’saak’s neck.
Lam’saak stepped forward, and Sascha held her breath. Was Xar’ta really stupid enough to let Lam’saak bend down and get one of the weapons? But then Lam’saak chuckled, bent down, and picked up one of the blasters, sliding it into his holster.
“You fucking rat bastard,” Rachel spat out, clearly understanding what was happening.
Sascha shook her head in disbelief. “What are you doing?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Well, for one thing, I’m taking you to meet your—” He paused. “The Earth word is ‘boyfriend’?” Xar’ta snorted and picked up the rest of the weapons.
And even though there were five guns pointing at her, her heart leapt in giddy relief. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”
Lam’saak nodded as if that was perfectly reasonable. “I don’t imagine you do.”
“But you have a chance to be accepted. To be home,” Rachel said, obviously as equally confused.
“Home?” Lam’saak said incredulously. “Do you know what those Ishtaans did to us? My elder sire died of shame. His mulaa was used as a convenient body by N’olaan males who knew they could not desecrate a N’olaan female so, but Ishtaans were fair game.”
“Which is tragic,” Sascha said. “But why does that make the N’olaans any better?”
His eyes gleamed. “Because there are those of us who want a new order. Who believe the warriors that rule should be named so because of intellect and ability, not merely by who their sire is or isn’t.”
“You weren’t an unwilling participant with Senator Vashti, were you?”
Lam’saak smiled. “I didn’t know what they were doing, but I understood his motives. I would have happily gone to a new world.”
“Yeah?” Rachel said. “You know revolutions have a funny way of not always working out for the people who start them.”
He didn’t bother to reply, just laughed.
“It wasn’t supposed to be funny,” Rachel said as they were made to walk away from the direction of the camp.
“Oh, I’m not laughing at you,” Lam’saak crowed. “I’m imagining King Zakaarir’s face when he learns that not only do I have his brother, but that I am about to take N’ameth’s mate for myself as well before I kill him. I am looking forward to seeing the prince watch me bed you before I slit his throat.”
Sascha had no choice but to be pulled along. She was desperate to see N’ameth, but each step nearer to him brought his death a little closer. She swallowed the nausea and heartache Lam’saak’s words evoked. She had to be strong.
She wasn’t willing to consider this the end. She just had to work out what to do.
