CHAPTER TWO
King K’marr walked a thin line with only six days until his thirty-fifth summer. With nearly every breath, he battled to remain in control, keeping his mind from traveling into the beyond, the point where his mind would be forever lost. Most males, if they did not find their soul bond, committed self-execution rather than lose their mind, and be committed to one of the asylums on his home planet of Spirimya.
It had always been so, since the recorded history of his home planet. Once a male reached a certain maturity, the drive to find his soul bond became an obsessive pursuit. When a male couldn’t find his one soul bond after his thirty-fifth year, he usually lost his mind and descended into insanity. As their world grew and developed, reaching out into the vastness of space, they discovered more soul bonds may be found within the populations of other planets. With the help of advanced science and space travel, they searched, and they also developed drugs to help hold at bay the turn of madness, but only for a short while.
K’marr, despite the begging of his advisors, refused to take the drugs, living in hope his soul bond would be found before it was too late. And here she was, now safely enfolded within his arms.
K’marr wrapped his arms tightly around his future queen, breathing in her fresh, floral scent which was at odds with the acidy, smoky surroundings. Someone as sweet as she didn’t belong in places like this.
Adorable didn’t begin to describe her, or the feeling of her soft, pliant body molded against his. Her giggles and pretty, bright, hazel eyes gazed up at him in a clear mixture of lust and adoration. Her body flushed with apparent arousal and intoxication. The beverages Lance provided her, he laced with stem drops. The data collected on the behavioral patterns of Earth females varied so much. Both Lance and K’marr agreed it was best not to take the chance of letting her have a clear head while he claimed her as his. It was underhanded, but K’marr was also desperate. He held every confidence, once it was over and they were bonded, she would forgive him…so he hoped.
The drug would help make her compliant and co-operative as he married his bride in Earth fashion; it was their custom to marry on the woman’s home planet, as well as in the ceremony being prepared back in Grand River City, the major capital of his planet. No doubt the palace staff were more than excited and making preparations for the arrival of their new queen.
The claiming bonds he put on her wrists were the visible signs of his ownership—and, of course, they were tracking devices. Keeping her safe at all times was his and his guard’s highest priority. He would deal with everything which followed once she awoke, safely aboard his ship in his bed.
He glanced at the seeker agent stationed on this primitive planet. Lance gave a curt bow.
“Your highness, is she everything you hoped in your soul match?”
He set her on her feet, keeping his arm tightly around her waist, enjoying the way she molded against him. He couldn’t have hoped for a more perfect fit. “More than I could have dreamed of.”
“Mmm, you’re my dream, sexy thang.” She giggled again.
“She is most beautiful. We are blessed; she will make a fine Queen. I wish you luck in guiding her in our ways.”
K’marr groaned. The little vixen gripped his ass, pushing against him. His body stood on a thin precipice of control. He gripped her wrists to keep her hand from sliding around to his hard, aching cock.
“Hmm, want to see if evwry thung on you is big, big guy...” Her throaty purr almost made him throw her down and take her inside the human bar.
He swallowed hard, looking at Lance. “Is everything ready?”
“From the moment A’tom showed she was your match. I’m glad you arrived so quickly. It has been easy to integrate our technology into theirs.”
Every human female who passed through American Earth customs, thanks to their high security, were forced to have an eye scan and be fingerprinted. It made it easy for the Spiri to use this information for their own search.
K’marr remembered when the data package arrived, sending the whole palace into a frenzy of preparation and eager anticipation; the bright, welcoming amber lights flashing over his work screen.
While his life moved on, around him, everything had been prepared for this day. All he needed to do was drop everything and go, and go he did. With so little time left, there was little choice, and he raced straight to his waiting ship. Soul Searcher Three was the fastest space folder in the galaxy. All his staff and security team knew how close it was to time running out, and the importance of the King to at last find his soul bond.
Within a few hours, they arrived into the singular star system and settled into orbit around the planet Earth, easily bypassing their primitive spacecraft detection technology.
While he waited for the signal from the seeker below, his aids briefed him on Earth mannerisms and prepared his clothing. It was the seeker's job to make sure both halves of their souls came together, and then it was up to K’marr to bind her to him.
“Good, I have no desire to wait to claim her. The sooner my bands are on her the better.”
Lance chuckled, clearly amused at his predicament. “If you can hold out a half-hour, the Earth temple will be ready for the ceremony.”
K’marr glanced over to where the guards stood, trying to blend in, but failing as they stood out with their thicker builds, height and valiant gazes, never missing anything, always searching for possible dangers to their sovereign. At a nod, two of his guards came forward, their gaze falling on their future queen. They understood she now fell under their protection as well.
“I want the claiming bonds brought to the human temple, known as the Casino Chapel.”
“Right away, your Highness.”
They moved away, already communicating with the ship to bring the items they required.
Lance leaned forward, his voice in a low whisper. “You may need to wait to take her to the ship after the claiming, your highness. Without her present at her stepsibling's own wedding, it will raise high suspicion. If we want to keep taking soul bonds from this planet, we have to tread with care.”
K’marr nodded, knowing once he put the bonds on her, there was no escape. Only death could separate them, no matter how close or far apart they were. He swept Ashlyn again off her feet, enjoying how she fit perfectly in is arms. “Come, my queen, we have a ceremony to attend.”
“Humm, you’re so strong; I love strong men.”
She hooked her arms around his neck, her rich brown hair falling over her shoulders.
He chuckled. “I love soft women, and you are all mine now, my queen.”
* * * *
Never drinking ever again!
Ash rolled over, away from the glaring light streaming through her window, a marching band pounding inside her head. When she licked her lips, her mouth tasted like jet fuel. She groaned and cracked half an eye open. The blurry lights of her hotel room clock glared accusingly back at her—ten thirty in the morning.
Never in her life did she ever slept past six, apart from Saturdays when she allowed herself an extra half-hour sleep-in time.
I'm on holiday; one time in my life where I can sleep late. No, she needed aspirin and some strong coffee. Rolling over again, she was aware of the sheets sliding on her naked skin.
Naked? She bolted up and the sheets fell down around her waist. The gleam of gold caught her eye and she lifted her wrists. Two, inch-thick bands with decorative scrolls around each one adorned her skin. Her left hand gleamed with a gold ring, inset with sparking diamonds. Where did I get them from? They have to be worth a fortune.
She glanced around the room, and her stomach dropped. Shit, this isn’t my room. It looks like a frikken penthouse, or some other luxury suite.
What on Earth did she do last night? She groaned. Drinking too much was a real bad idea. She scrambled off the bed and felt bile rise in her throat. She struggled to keep it down, racing across the room to the open door of the bathroom, and dropping to the toilet purging herself.
Slumped by the toilet bowl, she felt remarkably better. Still, not wanting to face the reality of her situation until she felt more than half-human again, she pulled herself up, trying to decide what to do next. Sitting on the large countertop of the bathroom lay everything she needed—a glass of water, aspirin, toothbrush, hair brush, body wash, nice shampoo, and a razor.
Although highly suspect, Ash didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth. She popped the pills and downed them with water before cleaning her teeth twice.
By the time she showered and wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe, she felt more ready to face, well, whoever's room this was, and how she ended up here with the jewelry on her wrists and finger.
It looked almost like a wedding ring. No, that wasn’t possible. Exiting the bathroom, she needed clothes and a way out. Dread hit her stomach again when she found a walk-in closet with all her clothes hung up. Her suit case sat neatly on the top shelf.
Oh shit, this was not good.
Every instinct screamed at her to cut and run, now!
She hurriedly dressed and grabbed her case, quickly shoved her clothes in, and zipped it up. Out of the bed room, she crossed the sitting area heading for the door. Papers scattered over the gleaming glass, table top made her pause when she caught sight of her name on a document.
With trembling fingers, she reached out, moving one sheet of paper to glance down and read. Her eyes widened and her head swam. She lifted her hand and glanced at the ring on her finger, her eyes dropping to the words ‘Certificate of Marriage’.
Her signature written near the bottom with the elaborate scrawl of someone else’s.
Don’t look who, run, run now!
Ash dragged the ring off her finger, tossing it on top of the document. This was all a big, drunken mistake. There was no way she was married to…She squeezed her eyes shut, determined not to look at the name of the man she may or may not have married. Her fingers fumbled for the latch on the bracelet surrounding her left wrist, frowning when she couldn’t find one.
Examining them more closely, she discovered they were flawless, no seams at all. Oh great.
“Fuck this.”
She dragged her suitcase to the door and yanked it open, and then peered out, as if almost expecting someone to be there to grab her.
Her shoulders sagged with relief. She was home free, and she would hide out with her stepmother until after Lillian’s wedding, and then escape home to Australia. After all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?
God, she sure hoped so.
* * * *
No matter where she went, Ashlyn got the distinct feeling she was being watched, giving her the chills. Every glance around proved unfruitful, she couldn’t pinpoint who, or what was watching her.
At the reception desk, she argued with the clerk who insisted her room was the luxury suite, congratulated her on her marriage, and asked if she would like a few million line of credit for the casino floor.
Her head spun without the need for alcohol. She felt more and more like a marionette doll, some unknown force pulling at her strings. She was so not married, and kept insisting it wasn’t true—until the clerk desk handed her a DVD disc with a smirk.
Why would Reception have a copy of her supposed drunken wedding? Unless someone anticipated she would try and get her old room back.
So, where was the groom? If she married someone, wouldn’t he have been there when she woke up? Assessing her body, it didn’t feel like she had sex. Her last and only experience with sex was painful, leaving her empty, and never wanting to try it again.
What an utter nightmare. Hang on—she didn’t have sex with this guy? Or did I? If she drunkenly married some stranger last night, she could simply get the marriage annulled. Hope flickered to life, making her churning stomach settle a little bit.
Her lips curved up into a calculating smile. The clerk’s smirk fell while he eyed her with suspicion.
“Can you direct me to an internet café with a printer, please?”
Crap, a fresh wave of dread washed over her; she would need the ‘Certificate of Marriage’ from upstairs to go through with the annulment plan. She never looked at the room number.
She glanced at the mocking, gold bands covering her wrists. A wedding ring she understood, but these gleaming bangles, although beautiful, made no sense. She needed to get them off.
Maybe, find a jeweler first, and then do the annulment thing.
With a softer, hopefully persuasive smile at the clerk, she asked, “I, uh, lost my key to the suite my, uh, new husband put us in. Could I please have a new one?”
The clerk nodded, moving behind the ten foot long reception desk to see to her request. Ash mentally crossed her fingers, hoping the luck of Vegas was on her side only this once and she could get herself out of this mess.
I’m never drinking again!