Astrid

 

 

 

“BUT I DIDN’T HAVE anything to do with him being here.” Zane moved until he shielded me from everyone else, and his voice lowered. “Besides, he’s free now.”

“He’s free now?” I screeched, tempted to smack Zane again, but my palm still stung from the last blow.

“All humans were given a choice to stay here or be returned to Earth.” He looked completely perplexed by my outburst.

“How does that matter in the least little bit when they were kidnapped in the first place?” Torn by turbulent emotions—joy at finding Cozmo, such undaunted anger at Zane I wanted to spit, the realization I was making a massive scene—I moved to stand by my brother’s side.

“Meehri, please.” Zane’s eyes were just as tumultuous as my wildly ranging feelings.

“I’m not going back to the royal box or anywhere else with you, your highness.”

I had no doubt he could manhandle me out of the training grounds if he truly wanted to. Instead, Zane slowly dipped his head and stepped aside.

I heard him ordering Magnar to stay on my detail.

“Cozmo.” I smiled up at him, tears dampening my eyes. “Take me to your quarters.”

After having watched my standoff with the Prince of Zenithia, Cozmo frowned. But he took my arm and escorted me from the arena.

Our exit was met by stunned silence.

Trembling beside him, I bit my lip and controlled my tears until we made it to a secluded path.

Then all bets were off. Tears blinded me. I would’ve collapsed if Cozmo hadn’t caught me.

“Hey.” His hands smoothed my hair back. “Hey, sis. It’s okay. It’s all okay now.”

Magnar hung back while I wept, silently shaking in my brother’s arms.

“This is so weird,” he whispered. “You used to be taller than me.”

I snuffled a laugh, drawing back to dry my cheeks.

“Come on. I’ll show you where I live. They didn’t chain me up in a dungeon or anything.”

In another area of the palace grounds, Cozmo led me to a building butted up against many others, a sleek neat abode with tall narrow windows and inside the décor was much the same as in the palace. Clean and streamlined, a few rooms all glowing with light that seemed embedded in the walls themselves.

Surveying Cozmo, so tall now, giddiness overrode my anger, giddiness and something else seeing him so healthy and hale. Guilt about not believing as my parents did. About spending years trying to forget my brother.

And a sadder, heavier weight, remembering Zane’s expression in the arena—torn, forlorn, lost.

But he deserved none of my empathy.

Facing Cozmo, I asked, “Is what Zane said true? You could’ve come home?”

“First things first,” he slipped out of his heavy chestplate and replaced it with a tight tunic, “how the hell did you hook up with the Prince of Zenithia.”

A blush lit my cheeks as I admitted, “Area 51?”

“No shit?” He barked a laugh. “Mom and Dad still all over that alien stuff?”

“Cozmo, they always thought you’d been taken like this. I didn’t believe until . . .”

“Sis, they didn’t mistreat me here.” Exhaling, he poured a drink for me and one for himself. “It’s just a different life.”

“It’s fascinating,” I admitted.

“Fucking fascinating.”

“You want to become a Valkrane?”

He flexed an arm that used to be scrawny, now bulked with muscle. Not huge by Zenithian standards, but more than respectable for a human. He appeared no more than twenty-years-old, not the twenty-six I knew him to be, just bigger, taller, beefed up.

“I’m built for it, and it would be an honor as a human male. What about you?”

“This is going to sound very Twilight Zone, but I actually work for NASA.”

He sputtered on his drink.

“I’m an astrobiololgist.”

“Jesus.” A smile made his cheeks dimple. “So you and Zane are like a match made in the heavens?”

I brought my cup to my lips, tasting the fiery liquid Zenithians seemed to favor. “He’s been a pretty good test subject so far.”

Our shared laughter quieted, and Cozmo took a seat, patting the lounger beside him. When I settled next to him, he swirled his cup between his palms.

“I’m not unhappy here. I have the training, my friends. I’ve gotten used to the culture.”

Sadness pinged my heart. “But Mom and Dad? Me?”

“That was . . . years ago, Astrid. I had no choice but to acclimatize to this world.”

“You really like your life here?”

“It’s been good. Besides, I look hella young, right?”

“That damn aging thing,” I muttered. “They weren’t kidding.”

“What about you?” He relaxed beside me, arm curling behind me. “Are you staying?”

“You may have written off Mom and Dad years ago, but Jesus. If I disappear too?”

“Do you always make choices in your life based on other people?”

“Isn’t that the responsible thing?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” Cozmo shook his head and blew out a breath. “If so, what do you think your leaving would do to Zane?”

After witnessing Zane’s reaction to my anger at him, I almost thought it’d destroy him if I returned to Earth.

I set my cup down, frowning. “Zane, he . . . he believes I’m his mate.”

“I’ve always heard good things about him. I mean, you could do worse than become a princess, right?”

“I heard he slept around a lot before I showed up.”

“That’s normal for unmated Zenithians.” Leaning closer, Cozmo’s teasing grin lit his whole face boyishly. “Is it true about his dicks?”

I choked out some sort of no comment remark before rising to my feet. “I should get back before he sends out an entire search party.”

Cozmo stood up. His arms ranged around me.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Astrid.”

I blinked back fresh tears. “Me too. For you if nothing else.” But I knew that wasn’t true, it wasn’t just Cozmo. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“I might be scrubbing pots tomorrow.” His chest rumbled with a chuckle.

Recoiling, I narrowed my eyes at him. “That’s a terrible joke.”

“I’ll have to work on my servant repertoire then.”

Outside, I shouldn’t have been surprised by the bulky male waiting in the shadows, fully armed, but I jumped nonetheless.

“Oh, Magnar. You’re still here.”

“Zane would never leave you unguarded, Astrid.”

He said it with no censure, but I detected concern.

“What do you think about all this?” I asked.

“Well, I grew up here, so I’m probably not the best person to ask.” He winked, guiding me toward the footpath that would take us to the palace.

Moments of silence passed while we approached the big glowing edifice.

“I think that makes you more than qualified actually,” I said at the doors of the palace.

“Zane wants you. He’s an honorable male. The two of you seem . . . well suited. At least that’s what I hear, late at night, outside your chambers.”

“Magnar!”

“Hey, you asked. I also know he’s sorry you’re hurt, and he hasn’t stopped pacing since you ran off.” He ushered me inside and through the corridors I was becoming familiar with.

“I didn’t run off.”

“You left him.”

My steps faltered. “I just found my brother.”

“I understand that. Zane would’ve too if you’d given him the chance.” His lips pressed together as the doors to Zane’s chambers opened. “But what the fuck do I know?”

The doors shut behind me, the silent whoosh of air an undertone to the sound of Zane . . . pacing.

Sensing me, he turned.

His mouth was tight, his muscles strained, his face drawn. “You’re back.”

I nodded, a little bit mollified to see he was just as upset as I was.

“Good.”

Pain leaped from him to me, and I clasped my hands in front of me.

“Are you going to leave me again?” His voice was sharp and raw.

“I don’t know.”

Diamond bright eyes closing over a tangible amount of anguish, he dropped his head. “I’d say I rather you just go right now, but I’m too selfish.”

“I’m selfish too, Zane.”

A pulsebeat started somewhere low in my body in response to the immediate and starkly sexual glow of his gaze as his eyelids lifted to half-mast beneath heavy black brows.

“I want you.” His husky words melted molten desire all over my body.

Right or wrong, I wanted him too.

He must’ve caught the quick fantasy in my mind, because his red-hot look could’ve stripped the gown from my body. “Is that what you really want me to do to you, Astrid?”

“Both your cocks in me.” Biting my bottom lip, I slinked farther into the room. “At the same time. And call me meehri.”