Page 25 of Captured By The Alien (Starbound #2)

The party was in full swing. Daa’sten had organized it to celebrate their successful introduction ceremony, and to give the Potentials a chance to let their hair down before the start of the challenges.

Kara wasn’t sure what she was drinking but it tasted enough like a vodka and tonic for her not to care. She listened to the music playing, a strange composition of tone and pitch which sounded discordant at first but then became weirdly compelling. It was utterly different to anything she’d ever heard before.

“It’s not designed for ears,” Vysh explained. “It contains subliminal harmonics that directly stimulate your brain. Different music can make you feel different emotions. This one is for confidence.”

Well, it was working. For the first time since she’d arrived on Vraxos Kara began to feel… not happy, exactly. But balanced. As if she was finally finding her place.

She tried to get to know some of the other contenders a little better. Clearly the music was working on them too – or maybe it was the drink – because no-one shied away from talking to her.

Except Layahn of course. It would take a ton of vodka to unclench that woman’s butt.

Kara spoke at length to the delightfully daffy Inyria (“my friend told her sister who told her father who told my father that some Vraxians think the humans aren’t real and the war is fake,”) and the forthright Lyrith (“is it true that human males carry their gonads outside their bodies? That’s disgusting.”)

There was also Hespia, Zanthara, Vecca, Risane, Gendril, Borth, Chanya, and one whose name she simply couldn’t remember but had lustrous white-blonde hair which almost reached the floor so was immediately christened in her mind as Rapunzel.

She liked all of them well enough. But as a soldier she couldn’t help instinctively assessing them to figure out which would pose the biggest threat in the challenges.

Inyria and Rapunzel wouldn’t last long, she decided. Hespia and Risane both looked insanely fit and seemed intelligent enough to make it to the final. And she had no doubts about Vysh. But the real danger was Layahn.

Vysh had told her she was an accomplished fighter who had trained with the Vraxian Army. Apparently her uncle had pulled some strings to keep her off the frontline. She’d left the military while the old Zhaal was dying – again, at the behest of Baelon according to the rumors.

The Vantrax clan had planned this for a while, Kara thought as she watched Layahn from across the room. She wondered if Vahn knew.

The thought of Vahn punctured her party mood.

“Hey, I’m shattered. I’m going to get some sleep,” she told Vysh.

“But we’re just getting started. Stay a little longer.”

“My body clock says it’s way past my bed-time,” Kara laughed. “I’m from Earth, remember? The jet-lag is crazy.”

“All right. Tomorrow’s our final chance to train. I let you kick my ass today but I was just being kind.”

“I beat you fair and square.”

“Yeah, but now I know how quick and feisty you are, I’m not going to hold back.”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Pink. Goodnight.”

Kara walked into the vestibule. As General Solarun had ordered, a guard had been posted outside each of the Potentials’ quarters. She nodded to the one outside her room and he stood aside to let her pass.

She went in and shut the door behind her, leaning against it with a sigh. Music from the common room filtered through distantly and she sent a small prayer to the heavens.

“If only you could see me now, daddy. Partying with aliens.”

“And what would he say, your father?”

The voice came out of the dark and she jumped.

“Vahn!” She lowered her voice, conscious that there were guards directly on the other side of the door. “What are you doing here?”

“I will not be able to see you tomorrow and I wanted to wish you luck.”

She moved forward, her eyes getting used to the darkness. Vahn was standing in the shadows by her bed.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“I will only stay for a moment. I have news which I thought I should share.”

They both spoke in whispers. Kara moved closer until she could see and hear him more clearly. He had removed his crown and his hair flowed over his shoulders.

He looked younger. More like the Vahn of Minerva-6.

“What’s the news?”

“Your mother. She is coming to Vraxos.”

Kara’s hand flew to her mouth and she gasped.

“What? When?”

“In a few days. After shaa’baara ends . ”

“Christ. Will it be safe for her? Vahn, you have to guarantee her safety. If anything happens to the President of Earth, the peace deal will be fucked.”

“I am aware,” he said gravely. “But I could not dissuade her. She wants to see you for herself.”

“She… she’s coming here for me ?”

“Why does this surprise you?”

Kara gave a tight smile.

“Because she’s not the maternal type.”

“I think perhaps she is.” He stepped towards her until mere inches separated them. “It will be all right, Kara. I give you my word.”

“Don’t speak too soon. You haven’t met my mother.”

“But it is customary, is it not, to meet the parents of one’s intended mate? Perhaps her arrival is fortuitous.”

He stared down at her with an intensity that made her pulse stutter. She dropped her gaze to gather her thoughts and found herself looking at his chest, visible through the deep V of his shirt.

It didn’t help. She was overcome by an urge to touch his skin. To slide her fingers over his exquisitely smooth scales. To lick his hard Vraxian abs.

Damn it.

“I’m not wearing my boots,” she murmured. He frowned.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“It means, your Majesty, that you’re going to have to lift me up so I can kiss you.”

“Ah.” His face cleared. “That’s request I will happily grant.”

A serpetrus wrapped round her waist, raising her off the ground and pulling her close. She was tiny against his giant frame, but at the same time powerful. He didn’t attempt to kiss her but waited for her to take the lead.

She traced the contours of his face with her fingertips, marveling at how such different features to her own could be so compelling. She leaned in until she could smell his scent, that earthy mix of leather and citrus that made her yearn to touch him.

Then she pressed her mouth gently to his, kissing him with a sweet intensity that shook him to the core.

“Kara,” he said huskily against her lips. “I have to go.”

“You can’t leave me again. Not tonight.” She kissed his jaw. “Be with me.”

“It is too dangerous. If anyone hears us…”

“Then you’ll have to be very quiet.” She grinned mischievously. “If that’s possible.”

“Me?” He pressed his mouth to her ear. “The last time we made love the whole forest heard you.”

The last time we made love. Vahn regretted the words immediately as her smile fled. She sighed unhappily.

“Is it wrong to miss Minerva-6?” she asked. “I mean, that planet was a shit-hole but we were happy there, weren’t we?”

Vahn’s heart clenched.

“I swear to you on the graves of my father Qu’rash Castellian, my mother Sayxia Castellian, and my brother Zorin Castellian, I will make you happy again.”

She wrapped her arms about his neck and rested her forehead against his.

“I know you will, snake-boy.”

One of his serpetri stroked her back soothingly. She loved that he wanted to make her feel safe and comforted. But that wasn’t what she needed from him now.

“Do you know what would make me really happy?” she murmured. “For you to take my clothes off.”

He groaned softly.

“You are a temptress, human.”

“I promise I’ll be very, very quiet.”

His teeth flashed in the dark.

“We shall see.”