Mated to the Alien King (Lords of Astria) (2 page)

Chapter two

Aaroogh! Aaroogh!

The alarm cuts through the fog jerking me alert. I sit up and try to orient myself. Yellow lights are flashing in time with the alarm that's so loud it feels like it might split my skull in half.

"Abby?" I look around trying to find my sister.

"Missy?" she groans.

She's lying on the floor struggling to rise. She blinks her eyes several times before raising one hand to her head then the other to block her ears.

"I know, I've no idea what the hell is going on but that sound needs to stop!"

Abby gets to her feet and I help steady her. We're in a small, windowless room with no outstanding features. If I had to hazard a guess I'd say it was a broom closet based on size alone. The walls appear to be made of gray steel on which I don't see any seems or rivets. The only feature of any note is a rectangular panel. I walk over and start examining the box.

"What is that?" Abby asks.

"I think it's a door control system."

I wave my hand in front of it but nothing happens. I press my hands against it, still nothing. Frowning I bite my lip. There has to be something I'm missing. I inspect the edges of the thing looking for any clue as to how it works. Doing this my forehead touches the screen and it lights up.

I jump back to see waves moving across it. It takes me a minute to realize that the waves look like beta brain waves. I didn't study much neurology in school but I did some basic overview courses.

"Of course!"

"Of course what?" Missy asks.

"Those men, they used telepathy. Holy shit..." I trail off as the implications of that hit home.

"So where are we and what the hell is going on?" she asks.

I ignore my sister focusing on the problem to hand. I try to project my thought at the box and am rewarded by the waves increasing in size. Chewing on my lip again I push at it the thought to open. The door slides open as the waves increase in size before dropping back to normal.

"Damn," I exhale.

"Missy, what's going on?"

I can hear the fear in her voice. I should probably be afraid too but I'm too caught up in the discovery. They were aliens! They had to be, we don't have technology like this on Earth.

The alarm sound is even louder now that the door is open. I peer around the edge and see a long, nondescript hallway stretching away to either side with various doors. Each has a panel next to it. I duck back into the room.

"Abby," I say taking her by her shoulders. "I need you to trust me. I'm pretty sure we've been abducted by aliens. We need to find our way out of here and try to escape. Can you stay close to me?"

She nods but her lip trembles. I know she's afraid. I understand but I'd be lying if I said I felt the same. I know I need to focus on escaping but I'm honestly more interested in getting a look at their ship's drive than I am in getting away. If Abby wasn't here that would be my focus.

"I'm scared Missy," she says.

"I know. Don't worry. We're going to be fine. Let's get out of here."

I look both ways before stepping out into the hallway. There's no place to hide so I decide to just walk like I belong here. Left seems as good a way as any so we head that way. Fifty feet down the hall something hits whatever we're in, there's an explosion, and then the hallway turns on its side. I fall hard against what was the wall but just became the floor, landing on my shoulder.

"Ow!" Abby cries out.

"Damn it," I say scrambling back to my feet as the hallway shifts back to right and the floor is beneath us again. "We're going to have to run. Something bad is happening."

The floor settles into a vibration that runs up from my feet creating a numbing sensation throughout my body. Abby is fighting back tears. I turn and run trusting her to keep pace with me.

More explosions cause the hallway to rock back and forth and our forward progress is slow. Finally we come to a cross section. I look either way finding no indicators of which way is out. The alarm finally stops, making it easier to think. As the lights steady I see a ladder to my left.

Climbing it, I poke my head through the hole at the top then quickly duck back down. It emerges into a new hallway but there are people running up and down it. Despite the appearance of metal floors they move with little noise. Only by listening carefully can I hear their footsteps as they recede. Once it sounds clear, I peek in to find it empty.

I help Abby up the ladder. The people were running in one direction so I lead us in the opposite. This hallway is lined with doors too but they're spaced much further apart. We move quickly but I catch a sound that seems to be coming towards us. I look around frantically. Abby's shaking behind me adding to my own panic.

The steps are getting closer so I run to one of the doors. I lean my head against it like I did in the room we woke up in and it lights up. I scream OPEN in my mind. The door slides open without a sound. Grabbing Abby I pull her in moving backwards so I can see if we're spotted or not. Inside, I will the door to close.

"Missy," Abby says softly.

"Yeah," I say without looking. The door is not responding to me.

"I think we've got a bigger problem."

Finally the door closes. I turn around to Abby and my stomach drops to the floor. The wall behind us is clear and floating there in a big expanse of black is Earth. Lights flash by the view so I look up. The ceiling is clear too and there's another ship out there firing lasers at us.

"Damn," I exhale. "We're in space."

Chapter three

Lights flash hitting the other ship. It doesn't return fire. Parts of it that were lit up go dark and it has the appearance of drifting. The floor and walls rumble then the space outside stretches. There's a sensation like coming apart at the seams, then a whoofing, before everything returns to normal. Outside is still nothing but black with an occasional white blur. I know, because of my background and theory study, that we’re moving faster than light. Nothing on Earth can do this.
I've got to see the engines!

"Missy," Abby says. "Where the hell are we?"

The door opens. We have nowhere to run.

Two men, two stunningly gorgeous men, walk in. They are no longer wearing the trench coats or outerwear and I gasp. The pair would put the best underwear models to shame.

They're tall, close to seven feet, with very broad shoulders. Their skin has a golden tint to it that shimmers in the light. As they walk closer I notice that the shimmer is because their exposed skin is covered in scales. It's subtle, barely noticeable as different from regular skin. Their eyes are slightly too wide set for a human. One of them has golden eyes and the other has blue green. In general their anatomy is human enough.

You are safe now.

One or both of them speak into my mind. I look at Abby and see she heard them too.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I am Prince Mal-Tunak," the golden-eyed one speaks aloud for the first time.

His voice is deep and rich, like warm dark coffee full of overtones. He smiles with his too wide mouth showing way too many teeth. Most of his teeth look like a human’s but his canines are sharp and pointed.

"Prince?" I ask.

He bows his head then bends at his waist placing one arm in front of himself. He stands back up straight and awkward silence settles among the four of us. I stare at our captor without shame. I'm not good with social settings and certainly don't know the protocol for being abducted by aliens.

Something on his neck holds my attention and then it hits me. "Gills!"

He looks surprised and Abby snorts.

"You have gills. Oh my god, so your evolutionary line developed on a world with lots of water, lots more than Earth. Of course!"

My mind is racing down the path that would lead a species to develop gills. The scales make sense now, they're protective underwater. The ship is filled with air that Abby and I can breathe so they're oxygen based life forms. Amphibian. And they're traveling through space, so they must be much older than us as well.

"Your planet has to be what eighty, ninety percent water? Earth is around seventy which didn't lend to that evolution."

"It is," he says with surprise in his voice. "I knew you were the one. You are every bit as brilliant as you are beautiful."

"Well of course that makes sense, but you have to have enough land to build space travel from-" I stop talking.

He knew I was the one? The one for what? And I'm beautiful?
My heart jumps in my chest and my gut tightens. I look at him again but not with my analytical mind. A more primal part examines him. All man. He’s so tall. His dark hair is pulled tight against the top of his head and hangs down in the back. As he moves his muscles ripple, well everywhere. I lick my lips which are suddenly dry and Abby laughs.

"You got her there," she says chuckling.

"Got her?" he asks.

"Shocked her. Got her mind to stop for a moment," Abby replies.

"Oh, I don't want to harm her, how do I fix this?" he says genuinely concerned. He reaches for my shoulders but I step back.

"No, no it's a figure of speech," I explain.

"Ah, our translators are still getting accustomed to your language. It will take a bit longer before the nuances are fully integrated."

"Translators? That's how you’re speaking English?" I ask.

"Yes."

"Well then, how about the most important question of all?" I ask.

"Anything you wish to know, I will gladly tell you."

"Why are we here?"

He looks at the man with him who has been standing silent but he simply shrugs.

"Well, to marry you of course. Were you not briefed on this?" He looks at the other man again.

"There was no time," the man says. "We were attacked by Dark Ones."

Mal-Tunak frowns. "I am sorry. You must be so confused and scared. This is not the way."

"Uh-huh, the way for what?"

Abby snorts behind me. "Oh my god, are you serious?"

I look back at her then back at Mal. "What the hell is going on here?"

Mal's brow knits together. He turns towards the other man speaking rapidly in a language I don't understand. It’s an odd mix of guttural interspersed with high pitches that I'm not sure my own vocal chords could duplicate. Just the tone is enough to tell he's angry. The other man's skin turns a shade of light blue though he stands at attention and takes the berating without a word.

He replies to Mal then turns sharply on one heel and walks out the door. Mal stares at the closed door for a long moment before turning back.

"I apologize. Allow me to explain."

There's a sound behind me. I turn and a table has come from some place with chairs. Several glasses rest on it along with what I assume is food. Mal sits on one side of the table and Abby is already digging through the treats. I join her on the opposite side and choose something that looks like small pieces of meat and fruit on a toothpick. Surprisingly it's quite tasty.

"So," I say.

I take a sip from a glass filled with a blue substance that reminds me of watermelons but is incredibly light and refreshing.

He smiles before he speaks. I find it only a little disturbing that his teeth are different. When he doesn't smile big, I can't tell.

"The universe is much bigger than you think," he says.

I arch an eyebrow at him. "Huh."

He clears his throat and starts over. "Of course, I apologize. There was a prepared speech for you but then things went wrong. I am Prince Mal-Tunak of Actabar. Our planet is several thousand light years from your home of Earth. We are part of the Federation of Astria, as is Earth, though your people don't know it yet. You will be welcomed once you develop interstellar travel."

"You're kidding me. Federation? You mean like Star Trek?" Abby interjects excitedly.

"Star Trek?" he asks.

I hang my head down. "Abby, I don't think they watch tv."

"Oh, well still, I mean he said Federation and everything."

Patting Abby's hand under the table I nod for Mal to continue.

"The Federation is at war. The Dark Nebulan's encroach into our territory. They are a terrible, evil race that destroys all they come in contact with. They've set their eyes on Earth. So, in order to protect you, the Lords of Astria are each taking a bride from Earth."

"A bride? Are you planning to breed us out?"

He frowns. "Breed you out? No. We're going to honor your race and elevate some of you to live in a civilized society."

"Civilized?" Anger and indignation war for control of my emotions. I feel offended for every human on the planet.

"Well, yes," he says.

"Honored?" I ask.

He nods.

"So let me get this straight. You and your compatriots, in your graciousness, decide to kidnap Earth women, take them millions of miles, and then marry them?"

"It's not kidnapping, we wanted to ask you ... I wanted to ask."

"Uh-huh. Ask, not kidnap. Though that went south when the ... Dark Ones attacked?"

"Yes." He smiles as he leans back in the chair. "I knew you were brilliant."

"Brilliant about what?" I lean forward raising my voice. "What are you actually trying to ask me?"

"To be my wife..." he says trailing off surprised.

I stop. Me. Wife. Him.

I replay the entire conversation in my head and realize I'd assumed he was talking about Abby, not me. Guys have never gone for me. They've come to me to try and get her to go out with them, sure.

I sit back. "Me?" I ask at last and Abby laughs.

"Yes. You."

I look at Mal with new eyes. I'd noticed before his good looks but that was cursory. Data in, data out. I wasn't looking with fresh eyes. I do now and I like what I see but seriously? I don't know this ... man. Is he a man? Would we be ... compatible?

"Well," I say to buy myself some time.

Mal and Abby stare. I feel my skin flushing.

My own curiosity is burning inside. There’s so much I could learn from him and this ship. His brain patterns and my own must be similar or I wouldn't be able to work the doors. But marriage?

"We have time," he says. "It will take a few cycles for us to return to home. I will teach you."

He rises from his chair and walks towards the door looking back over his shoulder before exiting. "If you need anything, it works the same as the doors. Project your thoughts here," he points at the rectangular box.

"Yeah, how does that work?"

He shrugs. "I'm not a scientist."

"But, you've been talking to me, like a normal person. The others, they used some kind of, I don't know, telepathy?"

He nods smiling. "I thought it would make you more comfortable though it’s archaic and much harder to get across the nuances of a good communication."

"Thanks," I say laughing weakly.

Mal walks out the door and I watch it close behind him. Nausea passes over me like a tidal wave followed by nervous excitement.

"Holy shit," Abby says grabbing me by my shoulders and shaking.

She's smiling ear to ear and jumping up and down unable to contain her excitement. She pulls me close wrapping her arms tight.

"Okay, okay," I say trying to extricate myself.

"You're going to get married! And damn he's hot. Teeth are a bit weird but screw it no one’s perfect right? What an incredible hunk of man meat!"

"Yeah, that's first on my mind. You remember we've been kidnapped?"

"Bah, whatever," she says laughing. "The universe just got immensely bigger. Who cares about the details?"