Page 45 of Captured By The Alien (Starbound #2)

Kara was waiting when Hespia and Vysh returned to the Potentials’ quarters for the last time. The two Vraxians had been summoned to see the Zhaal the morning after the final challenge.

Vysh already knew why and Hespia suspected.

“He’s going to tell us he’s chosen you, isn’t he?” she asked Kara. “He’s not even going to try to get to know us.”

“I’m sorry. But um…” she looked to Vysh, who nodded. “He’s my kalehshun. ”

Hespia’s mouth dropped open.

“ Whaaat? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because the Zhaal’s enemies would have used it against him. They’d say it was proof he was unfit. But now that I’ve won the shaa’baara no-one can question our right to be together.”

Hespia turned to Vysh.

“And you knew?”

“It wasn’t my secret to tell.”

“I guess not. Oh well.” She shrugged in resignation. “I suppose being a finalist is still a big deal. Let’s hear what the Zhaal has to say.”

What he had to say surprised them both. When they got back to collect their belongings they were both talking over each other with so much excitement that Kara had to stop them.

“Hey, one at a time. What happened?”

“He apologized for not choosing one of us as Zhaalini,” Vysh began. “And to make up for it he’s elevated our clan status to saji level.”

“Er…”

“One below the ruling clans,” explained Hespia. “It’s a huge boost for our families. And on top of that he’s given us both parcels of land.”

“Our own estates. It’s unreal.” Vysh’s scales were gleaming a soft purple. “Dalthar and I will have somewhere to build a home.”

A warm glow lit Kara from inside. Vahn didn’t really know these women and he certainly didn’t owe them anything. And yet he’d gone out of his way to make them happy.

The three of them hugged and made promises to stay in touch.

“Good luck with the wedding,” Vysh said as she left. Kara’s pulse jumped. The wedding. She hadn’t even thought about it.

She’d be marrying the Zhaal. There would be a prestigious marriage ceremony watched by every single person on the planet. She would be crowned the Empress of Vraxos.

And before any of that, the scariest part of all. She had to tell her mother.

That evening she took great care getting ready for her own audience with Vahn. She hadn’t seen him since her victory last night when she’d been battered and covered in blood. She knew he didn’t mind what she looked like but just this once, she wanted to be beautiful for him.

She bathed and applied perfume to her wrists and throat. She kept her make-up minimal, merely powdering over her fading bruises and accentuating the darkness of her eyes. But she took some time to style her hair into wild curls, reminiscent of how it had looked on Minerva-6.

She slipped on a long pale blue shift dress that matched the color of Vahn’s scales, but left herself barefoot and underwear-free.

Butterflies cavorted through her stomach as she examined her reflection in the mirror. She didn’t know why she was so nervous, except that finally, after all this time, there was nothing standing between her and her kalehshun .

Guards arrived to escort her to the Zhaal’s royal quarters. As they passed through the Imperial Palace, she noticed Vraxians whispering and giving her sidelong glances. She assumed they knew where she was going and why, and held her head high.

She’d never been to this side of the palace, she realized. An entire wing was given over to the Emperor’s residence, accommodation she assumed she would now be sharing. The thought made her warm inside.

By the time she arrived, she was excited to see him. The guards opened the ornate double doors and closed them behind her, leaving her alone with the Zhaal.

He was standing in the center of a sumptuous living room with his hands clasped behind his back and his serpetri coiled around his hips. He wore a billowing silk robe that fell open to show his muscular torso. Beneath it he only appeared to be wearing his usual tightly molded leather trousers that revealed his abs and his defined V cut to perfection.

He looked extremely masculine and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe.

“Hello,” she said, a little shyly. He was staring at her with an intensity that made her cheeks flush. He didn’t reply and she tried again. “I’m so happy to see you.”

This was his cue to tell her he was happy too, and that she looked amazing. But he didn’t.

“You lied to me.”

She flinched at the unexpected coldness in his voice.

“What?”

“The other day when I asked you if someone had hurt you, you said you ran into a tree. But that was a lie.”

“I didn’t… I mean, I did but it was a white lie.” She looked at him helplessly. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“It matters greatly. It shows you do not respect me and that you think it is acceptable to lie to me. To me!” He stepped closer and she fought the impulse to back away. “I am your Zhaal and your kalehshun . How dare you dishonor me?”

“Dishonor you? Hold on a minute. If I’d told you that Baelon hit me, you’d have killed him.”

“That was not your decision to make. I expect honesty from my mate at all times.”

Kara’s temper flared.

“I was looking out for you, you jerk. I didn’t want you going psycho on his ass and ending up in trouble. I was protecting you.”

“I do not need protecting by a human.”

“You do if it means stopping you from trying to kill a member of the ruling clan. How did you find out anyway?”

“You told me, kalehshun . When you were under the influence of intoxicating liquor.”

Shit. Kara groaned inwardly.

“But Baelon was with you yesterday at the final challenge. You didn’t attack him.”

“No. I waited until after the challenge. And then I attacked.”

“What?” She stared at his granite face. “Vahn, what did you do to him?”

“I did what any full-bloodied Vraxian would do to avenge his mate. I tore him apart.”

Kara felt faint.

“God, no…”

“I ripped each limb from him one by one and beat him to death with his own serpetri.”

“Fuck.”

“Then I plucked the scales from his body and bathed in his blood whilst bellowing battle songs at the top of my voice.”

“Shit, Vahn, you… sorry, you did what? ”

“And afterwards I used his intestinal fluids to paint a lovely mural in the bedroom.”

“You’re totally winding me up, aren’t you?”

Vahn threw back his head, laughter rumbling like thunder.

“Your face, little human. It is a picture.”

“What the fuck? Was that a joke? ”

“My best one yet. Tell the truth, kalehsha . I got you.”

Kara’s lip twitched.

“You got me good, snake-boy. What have you really done with Baelon?”

“I summoned him this morning and assigned him to oversee the new waste treatment plant we’re constructing on the edge of the city. That should keep him busy for a while.”

“You gave him sewage duty? And he accepted that?”

Vahn shrugged.

“He may be from a royal clan but I am still the Emperor. He is obliged to obey me.”

“I’m impressed. You kept your cool.”

“I didn’t want to.” Vahn stepped closer to Kara, so close he could inhale her delicious human scent and she had to tilt her head to look up at him. “I wanted to kill him for hurting you. I wanted it so much I could taste blood in my mouth.”

“So why didn’t you?” she asked, a touch breathlessly.

“Because I had to prove to you that I am more than just a violent alien.”

Emotion welled in her throat and she placed a hand on his chest.

“I already know that. And I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. I won’t lie to you again.”

Another rumble of laughter.

“Do not make promises you cannot keep, human.”

“All right. I’ll try not to lie to you again.”

“Good enough. Now, to the business at hand. I have been researching Earth customs and I believe this is what is expected of me.”

To Kara’s disbelief, Vahn got down on one knee. He produced a small box and held it out. Kara stared at it and despite his bravado, the Vraxian was touched with apprehension.

“What’s this?” she asked uncertainly.

“I asked your dressmaker to fashion it. I hope you like it.”

With trembling hands, Kara took the box and opened it. Her jaw dropped. Inside nestled the biggest sapphire she’d ever seen, mounted on a band studded with tiny sparkling diamonds.

“Oh. My. God.”

“Kara Cameron-Singh, my sweet kalehsha, will you be my Zhaalini?”

She didn’t answer right away. She made him wait. Slipping the ring onto her finger, she turned it this way and that, examining it closely.

After his charade about Baelon, it was the least she could do.

Vahn scrutinized her face, trying to discern her reaction until he could wait no longer.

“Beloved?”

She kissed him. It was a long, lingering kiss which scorched him to the core and left him in no doubt as to her answer. When she finally pulled back they were both grinning.

“Yes, snake-boy. Yes, I’ll be your Zhaalini.”

Then she pushed him onto the floor and showed him right there and then just how much she wanted to marry him.