Page 19 of Taming the Alien Outlaw (Brides of the Bohnari #2)

Olivia

The room is in chaos. I’ve barely been able to restrain Mak ever since the guards took Janik.

She lunges and snarls at anyone who approaches and for a minute I almost fear she’ll turn on me.

Instead, she finally gives up, lies on the floor, and cries.

She doesn’t stop, and my heart breaks with each whimper.

“What the fuck is happening?” Devon crouches next to me.

“Whatever it is, Janik doesn’t know either.”

She cocks her head. “You sound awfully sure about the guy who kidnapped you, held you captive, and dumped his pet off with you like he couldn’t be bothered.”

“It wasn’t like that.” I lay my cheek on Mak’s head.

“She was the one who followed me when the rebel snuck me out of their camp. She also had a chance to go with Janik later that night. He was waiting outside the dormitory, hidden within the trees. She started toward him, but I think he communicated in some way that she needed to stay with me.”

“You have a lot of faith in a murderous criminal.”

“He’s not a murderer,” I snap.

Devon raises her palms in surrender. “Sorry, my mistake.”

“No, I’m sorry. You’re right to question things. I sure am.”

She squeezes my hand. “Are you finding any answers?”

I laugh, but none of this is funny. “Only more questions.”

“Olivia, Devon, we need to head to the safe room. Just until Horek and Alik say any danger has passed.”

I scramble up off the floor and Devon’s right behind me. I call for Mak, but she doesn’t move. I squat in front of her and cradle her snout. Animals have always been a mystery to me, but I know grief when I see it.

“He’s going to be fine. Do you hear me? He’ll be fine. We need to go though and get somewhere safe. Janik would want that.”

Sluggishly, Mak rises. She clings to my side as the queen and several guards guide us out of the throne room.

Alik and Horek had departed the instant Janik had been dragged away, leaving us with a small contingent of guards, including Bannik.

I’d been shocked to see him, but I suppose it makes sense that he’d be here to appear innocent of any wrongdoing if he’s a spy for Janik and not Alik. I’m still not certain.

We finally reach the panic room where we’d holed up after the explosion. Despite its appearance inside, it’s alleged to be the safest room in the entire palace. There’s no tech in here aside from the locking mechanism on the door.

Tapestries that have to been centuries old fall from their rods attached to the walls near the ceiling and drape all the way to the floor.

They display vivid and detailed battle scenes, but some also show off a delicate garden filled with flowers and trees.

The colors are still vibrant and not at all aged.

Unlike the last time we were in here no fire burns. Devon makes her way over to one of the plush chairs and plops down with a heavy sigh.

“Bet you’re second-guessing your decision to come with, aren’t you?”

“Hell, yeah, I am.” Her smile softens the harshness of her words.

“Nothing this exciting would have happened to us on the bottom tier.”

“I’m not sure this is my idea of exciting?”

Since we could be locked in here for hours, what better use of our time than to learn more about each other.

“What is your idea of exciting then?” I sit on the sofa nearest her. Mak climbs up as well and lays her head on my lap with a quiet whimper.

I glance over at the queen, but she’s intent in conversation and otherwise occupied with the guards. Good luck getting the phinnek down.

“So?” I arch my brow.

“It might sound lame, but just being here—on Bohna—is exciting. Living on this planet where I’m free to do whatever it is I want without worrying about credits or where my next meal will come from.

Breathing fresh air and the simple pleasure of smelling flowers is exciting.

” Devon shrugs and laughs awkwardly. “Like I said, kind of lame.”

“I don’t think it’s lame at all. It’s lovely and I’m glad you’re living your exciting life. You deserve it. Hell, we all do.”

The queen steps away from the guards and comes to us. She studies Mak for a moment. “Your phinnek reminds me of Beck.”

Since I’ve yet to meet the prince’s pup, I’ll have to take her word for it.

“Your rebel also looks familiar,” she says.

“I’m not sure he’s mine.”

Queen Veroneek chuckles. “My dear, he is most certainly yours. Anyone with eyes could see that.”

My face grows hot.

“He looked at you like Horek looks at Quinn,” Devon points out.

This only reinforces my speculation I’m his heart’s fire. I’m not sure how I feel about that.

“Trust in him, my dear.” The queen pats my shoulder. “A good male will become a better male when he finds his heart’s fire.”

“Except what if he’s not a good male to begin with?” That’s part of my conflict. I’ve always been in the corner of those less fortunate. I fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. Normally, Janik would be the prime example. But now, after this?

“Good doesn’t mean without flaws,” the queen says.

“My Danik was far from perfect, but deep down, he was good. He cared about his people and always made sure they were taken care of and provided for. He often spoke before he thought, but he could also admit when he was wrong. He treated me like I was his whole universe and he loved his children.”

Children? “I didn’t realize Alik had a sibling.”

Grief pours from Queen Veroneek. “A brother who died in infancy.”

I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you, dear. It was a long time ago and while the pain is still present I try to remember Barrik’s smile and his laughter. He was such a happy youngling.”

My heart aches for her. I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child.

The comm on one of the guard’s wrist beeps. We all wait with bated breath that things are well. Or at least as well as they can be considering the attacks on Preska and with the knowledge people are dead.

The queen confers with the guards while Devon and I wait. Moments later, she returns to our side.

“The danger has passed. Horek will be here shortly to escort you both back to the dormitory. He is asking that no one leaves the premises until at least tomorrow.”

“Understood.” I nod.

“After today, you might have to drag me out of my apartment,” Devon jokes, although maybe she’s not kidding.

“Now, dear, you won’t find yourself a mate by staying inside.”

“Maybe we can make all the males come to us,” she says.

“You come up with the best plans.” I grin at her.

“The perks of always being inside my head, I guess.” Devon shrugs, but I can tell she’s pleased by my compliment.

I glance over at the queen. “Do you think I might be able to get some lulesh berries for Mak before we head back? I think after this, she deserves an extra treat.”

“Of course,” the queen says. “I’ll comm down to the kitchen and have the cook gather some for you. Horek can take you past there on your way out.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” I curtsy slightly even though Queen Veroneek’s never required it of us. For a royal, she’s awfully casual.

She waves off my formality, but I can tell she’s pleased.

I stand up, earning a huff from Mak, and make my way to the door. Before I reach it, I pause and glance back at the queen. “Would it be terribly presumptuous to ask you to check on Janik for me? I know it might not be appropriate.”

“Of course. It has to be difficult for him to be separated from you, all things considered.”

“You’re far too kind, Your Majesty.”

“Once with the title was more than enough, dear,” she lightly scolds me. “You know how I feel about that.”

“Still, I truly appreciate you doing that for me.”

“Of course. Your Janik’s reaction earlier can’t be faked. I believe there is more to what happened. It’s a matter of finding out what.”

I agree. Janik is arrogant, but he’s not evil.

If he was, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to ensure his rebellion didn’t include killing people.

Konek was the first and I believe that really was an accident.

But this, today? This was different. These were targeted attacks meant to cause casualties, which doesn’t fit.

Or maybe I’m trying to make him out to be something he’s not.

“Thank you again.”

She nods just as one of the guards opens the door and Horek strides forward. He’s covered head-to-toe in copper-hued dust.

His gaze lands on the queen. “The healing facility is at capacity. We are going to try and send some of the non life-threatening injuries to Toveeka. I’ve asked Merik to use Alik’s shuttle to transport them.”

“Thank you, Horek,” Queen Veroneek says.

He glances at Devon and me. “Are you ready?”

“More than,” Devon tells him.

“Come.”

The two of us and Mak follow him through the palace toward the lift.

“How many dead?” I’m almost afraid to ask.

“At last count…ten. Close to sixty more injured and approximately half of them are critical.”

Devon gasps. “God, so many?”

And each and every one of them are being blamed on Janik.

No wonder Alik had him thrown in the pit.

He has to be going mad in there. Quinn asked Horek to describe it to her once and she told us all about it.

How it’s a tiny sensory deprivation chamber that’s absent of all light and sound.

By the time people are let out—if they’re even released—they’re never the same as when they went in.