Chapter Two
In Another Universe
It had been months since they left Earth and Prince Darilth couldn’t stop thinking about Ella. Her sweet scent and the taste of her lips, soft as silk, invaded his thoughts all the time. No woman had ever had this effect on him. The feeling was alien and it unnerved him. There were times when he would just gaze at her as she slept in her capsule, oblivious to the stranger observing her. He wondered if she would agree to marry him once she awoke. He thought of how he could make her understand he was her true mate… that they were destined to be together.
She will understand, Mekarth hissed. And if she resists, you claim her anyway. She is your mate!
But he didn’t want to force her. He hoped his father would approve of her. She was frail, not strongly built like the women on his planet, he knew. He had this strange urge to protect her fiercely.
She was his mate! he thought, jaw clenched. They would have to accept her no matter what. The witch’s prophecy had come true, he thought as he walked back to his chambers.
Back in his quarters, he poured himself a glass of dark purple wine and took a swig to soothe his agitated nerves. They would be landing on Iovis in a few days. The long wait was almost over.
***
It was the cold that woke her. Out of habit, she felt for her glasses near the pillow but couldn’t find them. It took her some time to realize that she could see clearly without them. Then, she remembered everything as it all rushed back to her, a deluge of memory. The stranger, the old nun’s body, her healed eyes, the kiss...
Her head spun. She tried sitting up, but her body was stiff from the cold. She noticed she was naked under the covers. Looking around, she wondered where she was. It wasn’t her gray room at the convent. She was in a huge, quite comfortable bed inside a room with stone walls. Her head rested on plush pillows and an ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling. Warm, dim electric lighting lit the room. It was as if she was in an ancient castle with modern fittings.
Her hands and feet were freezing. She glanced around and saw the window was closed, heavy curtains drawn over it. The air was thin and she was finding it hard to breathe. Too exhausted and weak to move, she lay back in the pillows.
“Hello?” she called out, wondering where the stranger was who held her captive. It wasn’t long before the heavy wooden door to her room opened and her captor strode in.
He was tall, taller than any human male she had seen. He wore dark pants and a dark coat with a hooded cloak over his shoulders. His long silver white hair was tied at the nape of his neck. He strode over to her bed and she gasped, instinctively clutching the blanket as she covered her breasts.
“Where am I? And who are you?” she blurted out, her blue eyes wide.
“You are at the Rothgar Castle,” he said curtly, “And you can call me Darilth.” He gazed at her frightened form, tilting his head to one side, seemingly amused.
“So, Darilth, what am I doing here?” she asked him, her breathing becoming labored. It took a tremendous effort for her to say a simple sentence.
He came forward, took something out of the drawer next to her and handed her strange looking red capsules.
“Take these. They will help you breathe better. You are new here so your body will need some time to adjust to the atmosphere,” he said, handing her two of the pills and a glass of water.
She gave him a blank look and hesitantly took the pills, quickly swallowing them.
“Who are you?” she asked him. “What do you want from me? What is this place?” Her voice broke as tears sprang into her eyes.
“Ella, I live here. My father is the King of the Rothgar throne and you are my mate,” he said as he sat down on the chaise lounge near the bed, one leg propped on his knee. He looks so graceful just sitting there, she thought. Somewhat arrogant too.
“I don’t understand,” she said, confused.
“I have claimed you as my mate and you will soon officially be my bride,” he said tapping the sleek band on his wrist. The door opened and a woman carrying a tray filled with food entered the room. The woman put the tray on the table and bowed to them.
“Wh-what?” Ella began.
“Misa here will be at your service. She’ll help you dress, among other things,” he said as the woman stood with her hands folded in front of her. “Ella, eat. You’ll need your strength.”
“Wh-why would you want to marry me? I-I don’t even know you,” she said, sobbing.
“Look, you are no longer on Earth. You are on Iovis now. I am a Drakonaar and I am your destined mate,” he said, a bit exasperated. “Nothing changes that fact.”
“How do you know that?” she asked him, still confused.
“I’ll show you, but first, we must see the King. Misa, get her dressed,” he said to the maid. He saw Ella blush furiously as she quickly got out of bed and slipped on the robe that Misa handed her.
“Yes, my lord,” Misa said as she ushered Ella toward another smaller room behind the drapes.
***
Prince Darilth gazed at the woman who sat across from him eating soup. She was dressed in royal clothes. Right after they landed, he had ordered some warm dresses custom made for her. The doctor had warned him the planet’s climate was too harsh for her that she would need extra warm clothes.
The dark green velvet gown she wore fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves in a seductive manner. He watched her as she ate her meal in silence. He was fascinated by her. She was so delicate and fragile… so unlike the women of his race. The women he had known were warriors. This woman was the total opposite.
Darilth, you’ll have to be gentle with her. I can sense she is sensitive and fragile, not only in physical appearance but also in character, Mekarth said.
“Misa, you may leave us now,” he said as Ella finished her meal.
Misa bowed and took the tray with her as she quietly left the room.
“Thank you,” Ella said. “I feel warmer – much better. The food was delicious.”
“My pleasure, Ella,” he said, as he gazed at her with those intense eyes of his.
She looked away and began fidgeting with her hands as the silence stretched between them. He said he wanted to marry her, but he seemed so harsh and cold. Would he be able to love her? She had wanted to get out of the convent, to taste adventure. She had always hoped to find someone who loved her, but her new situation overwhelmed her. Then, it suddenly hit her. She had taken vows of celibacy. How could she marry him?
“I can’t marry you, Darilth,” she said at last.
“Excuse me?” he said, raising a brow as his intense gaze bore into hers.
“Back on Earth, I was a nun. I-I have taken vows of celibacy. My life was dedicated to serving the Lord and never getting married,” she said as he gazed at her with an amused look in his eye.
“What you were on Earth doesn’t matter anymore. You are on Iovis now and you will follow my rules here,” he said with a finality in his tone.
“But I –” she began, but he silenced her by holding up one hand.
“No more discussion. Come, we must see the King now,” he said as he held out his hand for her.
She got up and hesitantly took his hand. He came closer, gazing at her as her breath hitched. She was beautiful, and he felt the familiar pull in his heart. He wanted to kiss her. How he ached to feel those soft lips on his again.
Yet, his features were calm and cold. Only for a split second did his eyes betray the turmoil within his soul. He tucked a strand of ice-blonde hair behind her ear and took her arm to escort her outside.
Ella stepped into the grand hallway and shivered. The cold was more intense here. The vaulted ceiling was high and arched. One guard stood outside the room. He wore royal armor made out of burnished steel, a dark blue cloak covering his shoulders.
As she walked down the grand, cold halls of the castle toward the throne room, her heart sank. She was in another universe far away from home and she was helpless. This strange alien wanted to marry her no matter what. Why did he want her so badly? Back home nobody wanted to be around her. This man was a warrior and a Prince; he could get any beautiful woman he wanted. But he wanted her as his mate.
She didn’t seem to have much choice in the matter. Would she be a sinner if she married him? She had to admit that he was attractive and that she felt drawn to him, but she didn’t know him at all. Part of her had always longed for a change, for adventure, but the other part said she was a sinner.
What should she do? She had never chosen to take the vows. She was forced into taking them. She could easily let go of them if she wanted to. In her heart, she believed God would forgive her, because she wouldn’t have been here in the first place if it hadn’t been His will.