Page 1 of Taming the Alien Outlaw (Brides of the Bohnari #2)

Olivia

I’ve never been to an actual wedding before, and definitely not one held in a palace.

As happy as I am for Quinn and Horek—and I truly couldn’t be happier for my best friend—there’s a small seed of envy that has rooted itself in my belly.

Not because I wish it was me up there with Horek, but because Quinn didn’t even want to come to this planet in the first place, let alone get married.

I, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get away from Earth and find myself a husband.

That’s the whole reason twenty of us humans are on Bohna, after all.

When a special address by the President popped up on one of the few digital billboards stating an advanced alien species was seeking women for a bridal lottery, I was intrigued.

Especially when she mentioned that only women of child-bearing age from the bottom tier were eligible.

I couldn’t sign up fast enough, even though I knew, at the time, that I’d be leaving everything—including Quinn—behind if I were chosen.

Cora sits beside me, and another ping of envy strikes. I have no desire for my own mother to be here, but I used to wish mine loved me as much as Cora loves Quinn. The woman did move to an alien planet to be with her daughter because neither could bear to be separated from the other.

I shift my gaze to Horek, standing at the front of the coronation room, where he and Quinn are saying their mating vows before nearly the entire population of the capital city of Preska.

There are perks to being the cousin of the prince and nephew of the queen.

He’s the reason Cora was able to travel to Bohna.

Horek did it to make Quinn happy. I love that so much for her.

Selfishly, for me as well, because my best friend’s mom has always treated me like a second daughter.

I cast a glance around the room at all the Bohnari males present. Several of them have approached me over the last few weeks for a date, but sadly, not a single one caused that giddiness of a new crush. They’re nice guys, but something was missing with all of them.

“She’s glowing,” Cora whispers in my ear.

“That’s what love does to a person.”

“Still searching for the right one, are you?” Cora asks quietly.

“Yes.” An image of a Bohnari with a charming smirk and long, curling horns flashes in my mind. No, not charming. Cocky is more like it. Annoyingly cocky. I-want-to-wipe-that-smug-grin-off-his-face cocky.

Thankfully, the crowd cheers, signaling the end of the ceremony and distracting me from my thoughts, and I join in. Along with Devon and Lindsey, I rush forward and throw my arms around Quinn, tears filling my eyes.

“Congratulations, babe. You and Horek are absolutely perfect for each other.”

“Thank you for being the best friend I could ever ask for,” Quinn says.

“Be happy.”

Queen Veroneek stands next to Horek with a gracious smile.“Let us depart to the banquet room for the feast,” she calls out.

With a number of guards leading the way, everyone exits except the seven of us and Alik. Queen Veroneek steps forward to hug Quinn too. She speaks quietly and then releases her. The prince and she dip their heads, and they’re the next to leave.

Even though it’s only through marriage, Quinn’s related to both of them now.

I don’t want to do anything that would make my best friend or her new husband look bad by committing some royal faux pas, though Queen Veroneek has been nothing but gracious since we arrived.

I finger the necklace around Quinn’s neck.

The same one I’d tried talking her into buying for herself the first day we arrived on Bohna.

“You know, I’m not one to gloat, but I told you you’d look amazing in this thing.”

She laughs. “We both know you’ve been doing nothing but gloating the last few weeks.”

I suck in an exaggerated shocked breath. “Not me.”

Quinn gives me a one-armed hug, since Horek holds her against his side. “I love you, Liv.”

Blinking back tears, I squeeze her hard. “Love you, too, Quinny.”

Finally, we allleave the coronation room as well and make our way to the banquet hall. Just as we reach it, I stop and swear.

“Crap, I need to go get something in my apartment.”

Devon gapes. “What in the world do you need this very second?”

I cast a devious glance Quinn’s way. “A mating present.”

My best friend lays her hand on my arm. “You didn’t have to get me anything, but since I know you’re going to say that of course you did, I won’t push the issue. Can you give it to me tomorrow?”

“Let’sjust say it’s something you two are definitely going to want tonight.” I waggle my eyebrows suggestively which makes Quinn turn beet-red.

She glances over at Cora and back at me. “Oh my god,I’m going to kill you.”

I grin madly. “You can thank me later. Look, I’ll take a guard with me and be right back.”

Before anyone can argue—because they will—I wave and take off. Just outside the room is one of the guards I’ve been friendly with.

“Would you mind running back to the dormitory with me, please? I need to grab Quinn and Horek’s wedding gift that I forgot.”

“Of course,” Lorik replies.

We head through the corridor and turn a corner that leads down another long, empty hallway. I walk beside him, but let him navigate, because I’ve only been inside the palace twice and I’ll get us lost.

“It was a beautiful ceremony, don’t you think?” I fill the silence, because I’m one of those people that has to.

“Yes, it was,” Lorik replies. “The commander and his heart’s fire’s mating brings hope to our people.”

A fact none of us can forget. We—fine, I —might be hoping for love, but the whole reason we’re here is because the Bohnari need women, not only to wed, but to be born. Now that Quinn and Horek are married, they get to start on making those babies. Not that they haven’t already.

We arrive at the lift that will take us down to the base of the mountain and step inside. The doors close behind us, and Lorik presses a button. It’s a smooth ride without any jerky starting or stopping motion.

“There’s going to be a few more mating ceremonies soon.”

“But yours will not be one of them.” It’s not a question.

I wince at the way Lorik watches me. With that crestfallen expression of someone who knows they don’t stand a chance.

“Every Bohnari I’ve met so far has been incredibly nice, and any woman would be lucky to have them as a mate.” God, could I sound any more like a bad cliché? I might as well just say, “it’s not you, it’s me.”

“Nice sounds…boring.” He points out, and he isn’t wrong. “It does not say the female is swept away with passion or that the male’s mating fever burns out of control without causing madness.”

“I know, and I’m sorry.” I wish I felt something more than friendship for Lorik.

Quinn explained the whole mating fever thing to Devon, Lindsey, and me. How every Bohnari male is afflicted with it, but they’ve been able to dampen the effects by inhaling some ground-up plant that can only be found on a neighboring planet.

Except, it’s not the best solution, even if it’s currently the only one available.

Even to the rebels. That’s where us humans come in.

The Bohnari need to find mates or the mating fever burns so hot and without ceasing, that it essentially causes them to become figurative beasts who only want to destroy and kill. Or fuck.

There are rare occasions that a Bohnari will find his heart’s fire, which is what happened with Horek and Quinn.

He doesn’t have to inhale the plant powder anymore, and while the mating fever still burns through him, Quinn is able to keep the murderous and uncontrolled rage contained.

It’s what they consider fated mates. Most males are happy enough to find a female to sate the fever completely without her being his heart’s fire.

It’s sort of what happens in a human marriage anyway, isn’t it? The insatiable need mellows out?

The streets are mostly quiet, since nearly the entire city is at the palace for the wedding feast. I guess Lorik’s decided I’m not worth conversing with anymore, since it’s only his friendship I’m interested in. While I understand his disappointment, it hurts a little.

Guards continue to patrol, because there’s still the threat of the rebels that hide within the rainforest outside the city limits. The damn image of a smirking Bohnari tries to wiggle its way out of the mental compartment I locked it in.

He’s the reason the Bohnari male died in the explosion the night of the first welcome banquet. I recall the shocked disbelief on Janik’s face that day in the city center when Quinn and I ran across him. As if he’d had no idea someone had been killed. I’ll give him credit for being a great actor.

A noise down a nearby alley jerks my head in that direction, and Lorik stiffens. We both stop and I strain my ears for…any other sounds. Except there’s nothing. In fact, it’s way too quiet. He snags my arm and drags me forward.

“Come, Olivia. We must hurry.”

Lorik doesn’t have to tell me twice. I pick up my pace, while he comms another guard.

Before he can get a word out, though, a massive, cloaked figure charges out of the darkness and tackles him with a predatory growl.

The two roll along the ground, trading blows.

A second figure steps out of the shadows, and I back away but trip over the curb and land on my ass.

“Fucking hell.” The pain ricochets through me and I have to catch my breath.

The other cloaked being joins in the fight against Lorik.

I scramble to my feet, and although I know I’m far out-muscled, my rage against injustice surges, and my rash, unthinking impulse takes over.

I rush forward and jump on the back of the first guy, wrapping my arms around his neck and legs around his waist. All while screaming obscenities in his ear.

Lorik and the other person continue fighting, although the former is struggling.

“Get the fuck off him you overgrown shit-stain.” I tighten my hold on his neck and he whirls around, taking me with him. “You think you’re a tough guy ganging up on someone? You’re nothing but a pussy.”

A person with far more self-preservation would have run to try and find a guard, but not me. I’ve never been one to back down from bullies. Even those who are obviously male and who could, no doubt, kill me with a single blow. Except this guy’s not hurting me. Hell, he’s not even trying.

The next thing I know, he’s somehow managed to untangle my limbs at the same time he divests himself of his cloak and binds me with it.

I look up and meet the far too familiar eyes of a male I keep trying to forget.

Son of a bitch. For a second, I swear there’s a flash of light—similar to a match being struck—that bursts in their copper depths, but it’s gone so quickly I had to have imagined it.

Rationality hits, and I open my mouth to scream, but the sound doesn’t reach anywhere, because Janik’s lips cover mine.

He swallows down my cry, and I freeze at the powerful sensation that explodes between us.

He deepens the kiss and slides his slick tongue along the length of mine.

God, he tastes good. A grunt of pain from the two males still fighting brings me to my senses.

I bite down hard.

Janik curses and draws back. Blood appears on his lips, and the coppery taste hits my tongue.

He bends, and his shoulder digs into my gut as he throws me over it so I’m face-down and ass-up. I struggle within the confines of the stupid cloak he’s got wrapped around me. When I can’t get loose to fight and punch, I do the thing his stupid kiss prevented before: scream.

Janik takes off with me and my cry ends on a harsh exhale as all the air’s expelled from my lungs by the hard bounce against his broad frame.

“Put…me…down…you…jackass.”

He doesn’t listen. Instead, his pace quickens. Pounding footsteps follow, and I have no idea who’s behind us, since I can’t lift my head without my hair obstructing my view. I knew I should have worn a fancy updo . Even if I can’t see what’s behind me, maybe I can see what’s beside us.

I turn my head to catch a glimpse of what buildings we’re passing to determine what direction we’re going.

Except it’s no use. Everything’s a blur.

I’m distracted by the nausea and the woozy sensation from all the blood rushing to my head.

He’s making so many turns, I’m completely lost. I’m not sure I’d be able to find my way during daylight hours.

“Damn it, Janik.” It comes out on a breathless whisper. If I could draw in more air, I’d scream, but every time I try, the wind is knocked out of me.

He continues ignoring me while the air gets cooler and darker.

Like we’re someplace lights don’t reach.

Finally, he slows from a rapid clip to a jog to a brisk walk.

My head is pounding and stuffy from all the blood pooled in it.

Now that I’m not bouncing around, my fighting instincts kick in, and I struggle within his hold.

“Listen to me, asshole. Put me down right now, or I swear I’m going to barf down your back.”

Janik comes to an abrupt halt, and then I’m flying in mid-air, suspended for only a split second before I’m on my feet.

My hair is a tangled mess, dangling half in front of my face.

The worst case of head-rush hits me, and black spots dance in my eyes.

I meet the gaze of the cocky bastard who just kidnapped me and open my mouth to spit out some insult, but the words don’t escape.

Instead, everything around me goes dark.