Page 33 of Captured By The Alien (Starbound #2)

That evening the Imperial Palace threw a ball for the contestants who’d succeeded in the first challenge. Daa’sten worked his magic again. This time he dressed Kara in green to represent the color of Earth’s forests.

He piled her hair into an elegant twist and laced it with sparkling green gems. Kara assumed they were emeralds but was too afraid to ask. Tendrils framed her face and fell softly to her bare shoulders.

As before, her back was left exposed but this time Daa’sten painted flowers and songbirds along her spine, over her shoulders and across her collarbones, a beautiful mural which shimmered as she walked. He explained he wanted to make her a ‘living canvas of Earth’.

He wound gold bracelets onto each forearm and put a slim choker round her neck.

“There,” he pronounced when he was satisfied. “What do you think?”

“Meh,” she said, teasing him. “It’s all right.”

“All right?” The dressmaker looked like he was about to explode. “ All right? ”

“I’m kidding. It’s wonderful. You’re wonderful.”

She climbed onto her chair and planted a kiss on his blue-scaled cheek. He was mollified.

“It’s not easy dressing an alien, you know,” he said. “You’re short. You have bumps in the wrong places. Your face is all smooth and squidgey.”

“Okay, okay. Don’t ruin it,” she laughed. “But honestly, you’re a miracle worker. If you ever wanted a career on Earth, you’d be one of the top designers in the world, no question.”

She went to find Vysh, who looked equally stunning. Daa’sten had stuck with pink but this time it was a bold cerise color that hugged every curve and was split to the thigh.

The dress also revealed Vysh’s taloned feet. Kara did a double-take and had to remind herself that shoes were not a thing for Vraxians. She was the alien here not them, as Daa’sten had reminded her.

“You ready?” she asked. Vysh nodded excitedly.

“Let’s go.”

Her scales were more violet than blue and Kara realized she was flushed.

“Is everything okay?”

“Better than okay.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Dalthar’s here.”

“Dalthar?”

“My kalehshun . The palace hired extra staff for tonight and he managed to get in as a waiter.”

“That’s great news. Will you get a chance to see him?”

“We’ve already made plans to meet up. I’m going to sneak away during the dancing.”

“Fuck. There’s dancing?”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t dance.”

“Don’t be a gerthal. Everyone can dance. Now come on before Daa’sten sees we’re not with the others and has a heart attack.”

The Potentials were escorted into the banqueting hall. A vast table dominated the room with space for forty diners along one side. The largest chair at one end was of course for the Zhaal.

Butterflies circled in her stomach as she looked for him. She touched her wrist and remembered she’d taken the braid off because she had no sleeves to conceal it with. It felt like she’d removed a part of herself. Sweet Jesus, I miss him .

But he wasn’t there yet and she supposed he would only arrive once everyone else was seated.

Vysh was placed with her family halfway down the table and Kara watched her go, wishing they could sit together.

Layahn was put next to Baelon, who was to the left of the Zhaal. She smiled smugly, clearly relishing the opportunity to be so close to the Vraxian ruler.

One by one the other Potentials were shown to their seats with their parents or siblings. Kara was the last to be seated. She assumed she would be put somewhere at the far end of the dining room since she didn’t have any family present. To her surprise she was placed next to Rhyn who was on the right of Vahn’s chair.

“Oh. Hello,” she said uncertainly. Rhyn grinned at her.

“Greetings, humanoid. You’re with me tonight, I hope that’s okay.”

“Um, why?”

“Because it was either me or being put next to Lord Korvin down at the end there. And honestly, he’s about a thousand. I actually have no idea who invited him.”

Kara stifled a giggle.

“I’d be delighted to join you, Lord Davorrian.”

“Call me Rhyn. Lord Davorrian makes me sound ancient and I am exceptionally youthful.”

“It’s very kind of you, Rhyn.”

She took her seat gracefully, ignoring a poisonous stare from Layahn who was now directly opposite.

“Not at all. Consider me your substitute brother for tonight. Nice dress. I’d say you look lovely but to be honest I have no idea if you’re considered attractive by human standards or not. You could be grossly ugly for all I know.”

Kara tossed her head imperiously, playing along.

“I can assure you I’m considered a great beauty where I come from. Men fall at my feet and women copy my every move.”

“Well, you’re certainly the only thing anyone can talk about on Vraxos.” Rhyn shook out his napkin. “You made it through to the second round of shaa’baara . A lot of people lost a lot of bets today.”

Kara was about to ask him if he was one of those people when the doors were thrown open and Vahn walked in. Everyone stood.

He surveyed the room, resplendent in a silken shirt slashed to the waist and a cloak that swirled about his shoulders.

His yellow-amber gaze rested on Kara for the merest second before passing down the table. Yet in that moment she found she could barely breathe. She was glad when he took his place and everyone else could sit.

Vahn nodded at Baelon.

“Good evening,” he said. He was surprised he could speak.

When he’d laid eyes on Kara it had taken all his willpower not to fall to his knees. He had prepared himself to see her but even so, her presence had almost rendered him an idiot.

She is my undoing, he mused ruefully, trying to concentrate on what Baelon was saying. He was introducing his niece.

“Of course, you know Layahn already. You grew up in the same circles, did you not?” Layahn put her hand on her chest and bowed her head in the standard greeting.

“That is correct. You may recall, your Majesty, that I joined your hunting party two seasons ago.”

Vahn didn’t, but he nodded politely.

“Of course. And congratulations on succeeding in the first round of the challenges.”

“Thank you, your Majesty.” Layahn shot a look at Kara. “I found it quite exhilarating.”

“My niece completed the task first,” Baelon said smoothly. “She is quite formidable.”

“Indeed.” Vahn turned to Rhyn before he could get embroiled in further conversation. “Good evening to you too, Rhyn. You’re faring well?”

“I am, your Majesty. May I present my dining companion, Kara, who also completed today’s challenge.”

“Our resident human,” Vahn said. His eyes met Kara’s and for a moment it was as if they were the only ones in the room.

The arrival of the first course heralded the start of a bittersweet two hours for Vahn and Kara. To be so close and yet not able to touch each other, to talk politely and not say what their hearts yearned to say – it was both a joy and a torment.

Kara watched his mouth curve into a smile and wished she could climb onto the table and kiss him. Vahn saw the delicate flowers painted onto her skin and wished he could lay her down and trace them with his fingers.

Kara tried to distract herself by talking to Rhyn, who was an amusing and charismatic companion. But halfway through dinner she noticed he himself had become distracted. His gaze kept shifting to a point somewhere over her shoulder.

When she turned to look, she saw General Solarun had entered the room and taken up a sentry position by the door.

Hm. That’s interesting.

She turned back to Rhyn.

“So, big brother,” she said casually. “Do you have a girlfriend?”

“I have many.”

“I mean, do you have someone special?”

His eyes flicked to Ela, so quickly she might have missed it had she not been watching for it.

“No. My role as an Imperial Advisor is far too busy. I have to keep my focus on Vahn. Especially now that we may be entering a new era of peace.”

“There’s a lot of negotiation going on, huh?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. Still, it makes a change.” He gave a small smile. “We’ve suffered war for far too long. Peace would be a novel experience.”

“And I suppose you’ve been working closely with the military to facilitate my mother’s visit?”

He stared at her in shock.

“You know about that?”

“She is my mother. If there’s anything I can do to help…”

Rhyn lowered his voice.

“Well, it would be extremely helpful if you could vindicate Vahn’s confidence by winning the shaa’baara contest . ”

“Yeah, I’m trying. Believe me. But in the meantime, what are you doing to keep my mother safe?”

“Don’t worry. The biggest bad-ass soldier in Vraxos is on top of it.”

“General Solarun, you mean? You think she’s bad-ass?”

“She likes to think she is. But I suspect that on the inside she’s actually just a soft little… no, I take that back. She’s bad-ass on the inside as well.”

“You like her, don’t you?”

His scales darkened a smidge and she smiled inwardly as he struggled to answer.

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s bossy, opinionated, and rude.”

“Uh-huh. You definitely like her.”

“Don’t make me regret sitting next to you.”

“Why don’t you tell her?”

“Oh thank the gods. Dessert is here.”

He stuffed his mouth with cake just to avoid answering. Kara’s gaze was drawn back to Vahn who was now engaged in animated conversation with Layahn. She had to admit, they made a good-looking pair.

Layahn was dressed in silver which rippled across her body like mercury. Her white hair was pulled into a thick and glossy pile, highlighting the graceful column of her neck. Her head bent close to Vahn to hear what he was saying. A shard of jealousy stabbed at Kara.

It was only then that she noticed Vahn wasn’t wearing his wrist braid either. She supposed it wasn’t surprising. He was trying to be discreet, like she was. But it left her feeling deflated.

It was too hard . All the pretending. All the worrying about what people would think if they knew she was the Emperor’s kalehsha. It was exhausting.

It didn’t get any easier when the band struck up the music and the doors to the ballroom were thrown open. Baelon turned to Vahn and loudly invited him to start the evening’s dancing by partnering with Layahn.

Vahn could hardly refuse without looking ungracious but even so, it was the last straw for Kara. As Vahn led Layahn from the table, she turned to Rhyn.

“I’m going to bed,” she said. “The challenge wiped me out. Why don’t you ask Ela to dance?”

“ Drek, you’re direct aren’t you? I told you, I’m not interested.”

“Whatever.” She gave up.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Vysh darting towards the corridor that led to the guest bathrooms. A waiter followed close behind and Kara smiled. At least someone was getting their oats tonight.

“Thank you for your company,” she told Rhyn. “Most Vraxians wouldn’t be seen dead with a human.”

“Fewer would be seen alive with one,” he smiled. “But it turned out to be rather entertaining. Goodnight, little sister.”

She left the party.