Chapter 12
Eva
“No!” I said as firmly as my tired voice would allow. “We are not leaving right away. That is not happening.” My fatigue was creeping back, and my headache had returned with a vengeance. “I am absolutely sick of strange men trying to grab me and drag me places.” My ordeal had ended in total anticlimax, but I had been right about one thing, Cold was a Center security man. We knew that now because the crazed son of a bitch had actually tried to get into the broadcast station with his duty gun. One suspicious call to Center security quickly exposed Cold as not being there on Center business, and he was now in custody, along with his partners in crime, after he’d snitched on their location. It wasn’t the humiliating, painful punishment they deserved, but it would land them behind bars, and I would take that justice.
Baelon turned to face me squarely. “My lady, the king, who also happens to be your life mate, has decided that we need to leave right away for your safety. Therefore, we will leave for our home as soon as possible.”
“No, we won’t. I’m sick. I just had to rescue myself from a kidnapping because neither you nor Center security could manage it. And I’m not taking orders from anyone until I see my family and get some damn sleep.” I reached up with my hands and rubbed my temples as he stared at me awkwardly.
I had been able to ignore my flu-like symptoms while adrenaline had been pumping through my body, but now that I felt safe from my abductors, every symptom clamored to be noticed.
“It is tactically ill-advised for us to stay, given the terrorists who are still after you have not been captured.” He tried to reason, my defiance deflating some of his arrogance.
I glared at him. “I’m saying that I still have free will. I am not your property or your king’s. You will respect my rights. Including my right to quit this contract and walk away from all of you if you keep calling me to heel like a fucking dog.” I’d had enough and was completely at my limit. I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I locked eyes with the alien until he looked away.
“Well, you have spirit, Eva. I will give you that.” The huge man sighed, sounding strangely wistful. “But ultimately, it’s the king’s decision.”
I snorted. “If you go today, you will be leaving without me. Unless I’m dragged kicking and screaming onto that ship, we will not be leaving for several days.” As he opened his mouth to speak once again, I continued, “Baelon, you and I are not going to agree on this. I will speak to Raevu, the king and, according to you, my ‘life mate’ myself. He and I will have to come to some sort of compromise. If we are life mates, and I’m not terribly sure I believe all that, we’ll be compromising for the rest of our lives. We may as well start now.” I sighed and leaned back in the vehicle seat.
My tired mind whirled with too much information. This mark, the one that had suddenly appeared on my skin after I’d been injected with the alien DNA, was supposed to prove that I was the “soul mate” of their king? That type of shit only happened in fairy tales. Ridiculous. This mark has become a liability.
But on the other hand, I did sign up to help the Juhlian people, and in whatever capacity necessary. My word was my bond, and I would help them, but I needed time to rest. “Honestly, I don’t know why you would want to push me into space travel when I’m sick.”
The last comment seemed to shame him into silence because he was quiet for the rest of the drive.
“We are here, my lady,” Baelon finally said with a small smile. He opened the car door and climbed out, then reached back in to give me a hand.
I was appalled to discover I needed the assistance. Once out of the vehicle, I stood still for a moment until my head stopped swimming. He remained by my side, watching me carefully, seeming to realize that even with my strong will, I really was sick as hell right now. I nodded to Baelon to show I was ready, and we proceeded into the Center’s guest quarters. When I’d last been here, I’d been housed in a suite on the ground floor. Now, I didn’t know where they were taking me. All I knew was that I’d get there swiftly enough with this escort. People in the halls parted for us like a school of fish before sharks.
The Juhlian warriors that Raevu had sent to fetch me from the broadcast station were all huge males. Well over six feet tall, broad in the shoulders, ribs, and hips, they made all the human males we passed seem almost scrawny and lanky in comparison. And their skin fascinated me. It was blue, almost like a blueberry. They wore military uniforms and seemed to radiate an aura of “you don’t want to mess with me.” I tried to imagine a large army of such intimidating warriors and couldn’t.
They had fallen into a formation around me, which meant I was surrounded by a mobile wall of muscles. I was quite sure that if even one of these males had been with me, the Humans for Humanity League never would have been able to take me. With all of the Juhlian warriors at hand, I felt as secure as a baby in its mother’s arms. But I still looked around nervously, painfully aware that if one of the terrorists who had taken me worked for the Center, they all could. I wondered what their story was, especially Cleve.
Cleve, who, from the way they had talked, probably had a sister who was part of the program—a test subject, like me. Something terrible must have happened to her. And from my experience with the program, I had no doubt that the government had covered it up. Now, I wondered if the other subjects had really quit or had never left the lab alive.
Silently, we marched through the lobby and to the elevators. Inside, and away from prying eyes, I let myself lean on Baelon for the ride up to the top floor. He offered his arm stoically, no longer seeming frustrated with me.
I let my mind drift to Raevu. My dream the night before had been so erotic and sensual. Just thinking about it, I shivered deliciously. Raevu, in my dream, had been so gentle and attentive when he had come to me in my bed. He’d aroused me with his kisses and knowledgeable strokes against my body.
My eyes fluttered closed, just remembering the feel of his hot blue skin under my hands. I’d never touched a man like that in my entire life, yet, with him, I’d been bold. I’d shown no hesitation when I had invited him to join me in bed and touch me. And, oh…the way his mouth had burned trails down my neck to my nipples was just so unreal. I swallowed hard, recalling how I took his large, rock-hard cock into my hand, stroking it while he touched me intimately.
My eyes snapped open.
In my dream, he seemed so patient and gentle. I hoped he was just as open-minded in reality because I couldn’t leave Earth right now. I needed rest. Time to adjust to my new future that would apparently be forged on his planet. He had to understand there were things I’d need to finish before I could leave my home…Earth…for good.
We stepped off the elevator, stopping briefly while two of the warriors checked for danger before one knocked on the suite’s door. He didn’t wait for an answer but opened it and did a quick scan inside before motioning us forward.
Once we were in the suite, I stared in amazement. It was ten times the size of my suite downstairs. The alien warriors relaxed their vigil, fanning out behind me.
Now, I could easily look around the space. My attention zeroed in on one figure who had risen from a conference table and was moving in my direction…toward me.
It was Raevu.
He was taller even than Baelon and just as powerfully built as every one of the Juhlian warriors he’d sent to fetch me. His blue skin contrasted against the business suit he wore. But it was his aura that made me stare; he was the poster child for an alpha male and bore an air of command.
I swallowed hard. This would our first in-person meeting.
His gold eyes locked on to me as he strode like a deadly, sleek but glorious panther.
Nothing about the alien was soft. His eyes were hard and glinted in his angular face. The jawline I’d caressed in my dream was firm and fixed. The alien in my dream I felt I’d known and trusted. This man was a stranger that looked menacing and unyielding.
He reached for me. I stepped back, right into the wall that was Baelon’s chest.
Raevu stopped abruptly, within arm’s reach, and examined me quizzically. “Eva? You look just as you did in my dream.”
My eyes widened. How did he know about the dream?
“Are you well?” he inquired.
His voice resonated deep within my belly. I swallowed and held my head high. “Yes, I am…mostly. Baelon says you have plans to leave Earth immediately?”
Raevu folded his muscular arms in front of him, studying me. “Yes. The mismanagement within the program has endangered your life, and all of your kidnappers have not been captured. For your security and safety, I want you in an environment that I control. Juhl is the safest place for you. Second safest is our ship.”
An enormous sneeze exploded out of me. The antihistamine I’d snorted at Laura’s was wearing off, and the ruckus I’d made startled the Juhlians. I shook my head. “Raevu, we can’t leave right away.”
His eyebrow lifted imperiously. “Why not?”
I lifted my chin. “For one, I am very sick, probably contagious. I’m also injured and exhausted from the kidnapping. And I need some damn rest before I am whisked off anywhere. Next, the only clothes I have are the ones I am wearing, and if everyone on your planet is male and tall, there’s nothing that will fit me. And last but not least, I have loved ones here I need to say good-bye to if I am leaving Earth forever.” At the last point, my voice cracked a bit, with tears welling up in my eyes.
Damnit! Do not cry, Eva.
I blinked furiously, still holding up my chin stubbornly and refusing to let my tears fall. I didn’t know this commanding and flinty alien, and all my fears of the unknown bubbled up inside me, threatening to emotionally overwhelm me. What the fuck was going on with me? I’m never this emotional or insecure.
“Leave us,” Raevu barked. Immediately, all but Baelon and one other left the room. “Baelon, T’ral, you as well.” This was spoken less harshly but with just as much command.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the other figure leave, but the wall against my back hadn’t budged. Come on, Baelon, don’t be an asshole. Raevu and I need to hash this shit out in private.
Raevu broke eye contact with me and glared over my head at him. I could feel the rumble of Baelon’s deep drawl through his chest against my back. “Begging your pardon, nephew, but I am now Queen’s Guard. I will do only what I think best for her or what she orders me to do. She is trembling, so I know she is not comfortable in your presence right now.”
I shut my eyes in mortification. Shit. Betrayed by my own weakness and, it seems, my staunchest supporter…Baelon.
Raevu frowned but stepped to one side, waving his arm toward a chair. “By all means, let’s make her comfortable.”
His dry tone did nothing to ease my discomfort. Baelon nudged me a bit to get me moving and chuckled at the glare I threw over my shoulder at him. I wasn’t sure how knowing him for an hour made me feel at ease in his company. But I did know that the big male across from me, Raevu, made me decidedly nervous. This was the most intense case of pre-date jitters ever.
I lowered myself onto the couch in the seating area. Raevu settled his bulk into a chair that had been made for someone of much smaller dimensions. He didn’t seem worried about its creaking under him as he leaned back and crossed one ankle over his knee. Baelon moved to another part of the room, and I heard the clink of glassware from that direction.
I refused to let my symptoms render me weak in any way. Instead of resting, I spoke up. “I have some questions for you.” Maybe if we spoke for a while, I could find some glimmer of the male I’d seen on the live-stream and the gentle one from my dream, instead of the hard, unemotional blue alien sitting across from me.
Raevu nodded. “As do I, for you. For one, who gave you that mark that you bear on your body?”
My hand flew to the welted area where my right shoulder met my neck. Of all the questions he might have had for me, this one surprised me. “Gave me? No one gave me this damn mark. It appeared out of nowhere after the experiments began.”
His feet thumped as they hit the floor. He leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “Are you sure? Is it a burn? A tattoo?” His tone was piercing, as were his bright gold eyes. Now, I was starting to get offended by his tone.
“Don’t you think that I would know if someone burned or tattooed me?” My eyes narrowed. “Let’s get one thing straight. I do not lie. So, what I said is true. No one fucking touched me. This is not a burn or scar from a cut or heat, and it certainly isn’t a fucking rash.” My voice got louder with each sentence. “Whatever experiments were done resulted in disfiguring my neck and shoulder with this damn port-wine looking birthmark. Besides, what the hell business is it of yours where it came from anyway?”
Baelon chose that moment to hand me a glass of water. I thanked him as I took it, but I continued to scowl at Raevu. There was no way in hell that I was going to be bullied by the likes of him. Baelon handed Raevu what looked like a strange purple-colored beer and kept another for himself.
Raevu’s voice remained calm. “What I’m asking you is important, Eva. Very important.”
Now, I was intrigued by the worried expression on his face. What the hell is going on?
“Is it as important as the fact that one day I was part of this alien science experiment and the next I was brought here and told I was your fiancée?” His eye twitched at my last statement. I was onto something, so I continued my interrogation. “Is it as important as the fact that I thought, when I signed up for this program, that I would be one of dozens, if not hundreds, from around the planet—only to find out later that I’m one of five?” His eyes narrowed. I pushed on. “Hmmm…maybe I’m the only one who survived, but perhaps you can shed some light on my theory. Am I the only survivor of this alien experiment?” I looked between the two of them, and I stilled at the expression of dismay on Baelon’s face.
Holy shit! I’m the only survivor.
I went on, “Truth be told, when I signed up for the Peace Opportunity Program and went through all the screenings and let myself be injected with whatever mad scientist concoction they put inside me, I suspected I’d end up being treated like some kind of soldier or lab rat for the rest of my life. I certainly wasn’t expecting to be told I was now engaged to a king of an alien planet. A king? For fuck’s sake, that type of fairy-tale shit only happens in movies.” I ran out of steam and took a big gulp of my water then clasped the glass as if it was a life preserver.
Belligerently, I glowered at Raevu, who was staring at me like I had two heads. This was certainly not the male I’d offered myself to so freely the night before in my dream. Maybe I was looking for some Prince Charming to sweep me off my feet, whisking me off to happily ever after. It was a stupid dream. This was balls-to-the-wall reality, and this fucker was not interested in anything but saving his people using any means necessary…me.
Angry and utterly disappointed, I fought to stay stoic as overwhelming emotions threatened to sweep me away in a fit of hysterical crying. Pull up your big girl panties, Eva. You knew full well what you were signing up for. I felt like an idiot. The dream had given me hope for something more…a relationship that was less cold and clinical with Raevu. It had shown me what I’d desired most…true chemistry and romance with him.
His voice was infuriatingly calm when he uttered, “I agree. A fated mating doesn’t happen. Soul mates—I believe humans call it—is something from a children’s story.” He paused. “That aside, do you know what the mark on your body is?”
My energy was spent, and I was done with this alien. For that’s just what he was, an asshole alien who didn’t believe the word of a woman. Seems like males are males, no matter what planet they originate from. I leaned forward and placed my glass on the low table between us. I mimicked his posture, feet solidly on the floor and slightly apart, elbows on knees, tilting forward. I spoke in my lowest, calmest tones. “I’ve answered your damn question once. So, if you’re going to continue to ask me the same question over and over again, it’s going to be a long night—for you. I’m out of here.” As gracefully and steadily as I could, I rose to my feet. Before either male could move, I spoke again, praying to be answered, “Geoffrey?”
My personal computer concierge answered immediately, “Yes, madam?”
“Would you open the door to my room, please? I’m exhausted and need to lie down.” It had definitely reached the point of a need. My legs were so wobbly I feared I would collapse to the floor.
Immediately, a door nearest the windows swung open. “Thank you, Geoffrey.” I tried to sweep gracefully from the room, but I began to stumble before I could make it across the space. Baelon caught my elbow and walked me the rest of the way to my door. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but I didn’t pull my arm from his grip.
“Eva,” Raevu called from his seat.
I paused, shaking harder. I was starting to hurt, and it was putting me in a fouler mood. “Yes?” I snapped.
“In my dream, you said that because you were part of the program, you believed you’d have many mates. This is wrong. You will only have one mate. Me.” His eyes were glowing again, his desire smoldering toward me as he looked me over.
I stared back at him, using the last of my resolve. “Maybe if you earn it, I’ll be interested. But as of right now, you’re not doing a very good job of showing that you deserve me.” I turned to smile my gratitude at Baelon for his help.
“Well played, my queen.” Baelon winked at me, seeming amused by my standing up to Raevu.
Without another word, I simply withdrew into my cavernously large bedroom, locking the door behind me.