Page 50 of Captured By The Alien (Starbound #2)

“The doctors say he’ll be fine,” said Ela. “Just give him time to wake up.”

“He’s been unconscious for hours,” Kara fretted. “Are they sure?”

“He was lucky. No internal injuries, one lacerated serpetrus, and a probable concussion. But you were luckier.” Ela eyed the bruise on Kara’s forehead, the bandage on her sprained wrist. “If he hadn’t taken the impact of the blast, you would be dead. His natural armoring protected him.”

“That, and the fact that the explosive was inside a rakhawood cabinet when it went off.” Rhyn came through the door carrying a plastic bag. “We found this inside the dressing table in the main bedroom. Luckily rakhawood is the hardest timber on the planet so it tempered the blast.”

He held up the bag and the three of them peered at the blackened, twisted mess inside.

“What is it?” asked Ela.

“According to the investigators, the remains of a necklace.”

Kara did a double-take.

“Oh my God. It’s that awful heirloom Daa’sten brought with him. Some vintage treasure from the royal vaults.”

“I remember,” nodded Ela. “He said a messenger delivered it with instructions from Vahn that you were to wear it at the wedding.”

“But it was awful so I shoved it in a drawer.”

“Lucky for all that you did.”

They turned to look at Vahn, still unconscious in bed. His face was relatively unscathed, save for a cut on his cheekbone and bruising round his jaw from flying debris. He’d taken the brunt of the blast on his back, where his scales had saved him from major injury.

His serpetrus would be tender for a while, and he’d probably be sore when he woke. But he was alive and Kara had spent every minute since the explosion thanking the stars for that mercy.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “How could anyone know he’d want me to wear that particular necklace?”

“I’ll bet you the moon of Xantis he didn’t,” said Rhyn. “Whoever booby-trapped it just said that to make sure you’d wear it. Thank Vannla you had the taste to ditch it.”

“So why did it explode when we went back to our room?”

“At a guess I’d say it was activated by Vahn’s proximity,” said Ela. “It was probably meant to go off when you stood next to him during the ceremony. It’s a small device but enough to take you both out. Maybe some of the wedding guests too.”

Rhyn’s fist tightened on the bag.

“We all know who did this.”

“We don’t have any proof, we can’t make accusations,” began Ela, but Rhyn shook his head.

“Only the Zhaal and a handful of high-ranking officials have access to the vaults. And of all those who do, just one wasn’t at the wedding yesterday.”

“Baelon,” said Kara. Anger and despair vied in equal measure. “But why would he do something like this? When we’re so close to peace for the first time in years?”

“Because he’s a megalomaniac,” scowled Ela. “He wants Earth’s subjugation, not friendship.”

“And the throne,” said Rhyn. “Let’s not forget the throne.”

“So arrest him,” Kara demanded fiercely. “Send your soldiers and lock the bastard up.”

“We can’t,” said Rhyn. “Ela’s right. We don’t have proof. Only circumstantial evidence.”

“But we know it’s him,” she insisted. “We can’t just do nothing.”

“We won’t,” Ela promised. “But we have to move carefully. For a start, he’ll be wondering why no-one’s said anything about a bomb blast.”

“Good.” Rhyn smiled viciously. “That’ll get him worried.”

“But if we reveal the Zhaal was attacked, it will unsettle people. It will almost certainly jeopardize the peace process.” Ela frowned. “Which plays right into Baelon’s hands.”

“We can’t allow that,” said Kara firmly. “What have you told people so far?”

“Nothing yet,” said Ela. “The royal quarters have been sealed off to everyone except us. The doctor and Vahn’s bodyguards are sworn to secrecy. The main bedroom is a mess but the rest of the wing is undamaged. So far no-one is any the wiser. But eventually people are going to notice the Zhaal’s missing.”

“Not necessarily,” said Rhyn. “He’s just got married. Everyone will naturally assume he’s, ah, spending time with his bride.”

“That won’t work forever,” argued Ela. “We need to come up with something. Get ahead of it.”

“Why not just tell the truth? That he survived an assassination attempt?”

“Think it through, Rhyn. If we can’t prove who was behind the attempt, Baelon could point the finger at anyone. He might even blame the humans. We can’t take that risk.”

Kara went to the bed and stroked Vahn’s brow. He’d been moved to the smaller bedroom he’d occupied when his father was alive – though it was still bigger than her entire apartment on Earth.

She listened to his breathing for a few moments. It was shallow but steady.

Please wake up, my kalehshun . I need you.

She turned to the other two who were still arguing.

“We keep the ruse going for now,” she said decisively. “I don’t want anything to derail the peace deal. Vahn wouldn’t want that either.”

“But he’s clearly in no state to continue negotiations,” said Ela gently.

“There's barely anything left to do. Rhyn can take his place until he wakes up. Which will be soon.”

“But if he doesn’t…”

“He will,” said Kara firmly. “Very soon. We just have to hold the fort till then. We’re not going to let Baelon win.”

“But Kara,” Rhyn began. She turned on him.

“Zhaalini,” she said sharply. “I’m Zhaalini Kara Castellian and I am ordering you to keep what happened here a secret until he wakes. Is that clear, both of you?”

Numbly, they both bowed their heads and left the room.

Kara felt like shit. They both loved Vahn nearly as much as she did, and had certainly known him for much longer. They were just as worried as she was.

But she knew, in her heart, that Vahn wouldn’t want anyone to know he’d been attacked and incapacitated. That was the warrior in him.

Still, she ought to apologize. She would need Rhyn and Ela’s support to get through this. She went to the door to call them back in and stopped.

Rhyn had his arms round Ela and the two were embracing.

It was such an unexpected sight that Kara ducked back to avoid being seen. She lingered by the door, watching, wondering if this was just two friends comforting each other or something more.

Despite her stress and anxiety, she really hoped the latter. This crappy day could really use some lightness.

She heard a sound behind her and turned. Vahn was moving.

“Oh, thank God,” she breathed. She rushed to his bedside and took his hand. He turned his head towards her, his yellow eyes blinking open.

“Vahn, you’re awake. I’ve been so worried.” He focused on her voice, and then her face. He looked confused. She stroked his brow. “It’s okay, my love. You’re safe. Do you need anything? Water or…” she faltered as his expression hardened.

With a violent shove, he pushed her away and struggled to sit up.

“How dare you touch me, you filthy vermin.”

“Vahn, what do you…”

With a snarl he flicked out a serpetrus and threw her backwards. She shrieked as she was propelled through the air, her yelp cut short when she slammed into the wall.

Rhyn and Ela came rushing in.

“You’re awake,” said Rhyn unnecessarily. Vahn looked at his friends.

“What the drek is going on?”

“You’ve been unconscious,” said Ela soothingly. “But everything’s okay now.”

“No. I mean that. ” Vahn gestured contemptuously towards Kara. “What is a drek’aa Terran doing on Vraxos? And what in the name of Ayanlesh is it doing in my bedroom?”

Kara struggled to stand, her stomach churning with dread .

He’s just confused . The blast disorientated him. He’ll remember in a moment.

As if in a dream, she watched Rhyn and Ela talk to him, explaining what had happened. Trying to calm him down.

She didn’t hear what they said.

All she could concentrate on was Vahn’s face. On the hatred in his yellow eyes as they rested on her in disbelief.

Just another moment. He’ll remember. He has to.

Sobs lodged in her throat, sobs she fought to keep in. She knew if she started crying now, she’d never stop.

The moments ticked by. But the look in his eyes didn't change.

To be continued in Married To The Alien (Starbound Book Three)