Alien Conquest: (The Warrior's Prize) An Alien SciFi Romance (18 page)

“Oh my god,” she gasped, gripping at the pillow.

He gripped at her, his arm still around her, held her tight to him and grasped at her exposed hip with his free hand, then began plunging himself into her at a pace. It was still slower than he would have liked, more careful because he had to be, but each time hips hips met her ass —and she moaned, he grunted with the effort of holding off his own climax— the pain melted away. Each gasp from her lips as he pushed his cock into the hot folds of her sex, each slow withdraw and forceful reentry, how she trembled and her muffled cries for more made him insane with passion. He drove into her over and over again until he couldn’t delay the moment any longer. With a groan into the soft skin of her throat, he came inside her, spasming with the force of it, the flood of ecstasy and warm satisfaction pouring through him. He gripped her tight, still deep inside her when she stroked herself to climax a few seconds later.

Then they lay trembling in each other’s arms, interlocked, the throbbing of their lovemaking matching the beat of their hearts. Reluctantly, Vega pulled himself from inside her and she rolled onto her other side to face him and kiss him hard on the mouth. He brushed at her hair, returning her kiss, tasting her, and it nearly brought his desire to bear again, but the kiss broke. She put her forehead to his, and together they lay there breathing, silent and recovering and just at peace with each other for the few minutes they had left.

“I mean it,” he whispered. “I want to marry you. I want forever with you.”

“I did too,” she said. “But how?”

“We’d have to get the domina’s permission.”

He opened his eyes and saw Alaina grimace. “She’ll never give it.”

“No,” he agreed. “So we’ll do it in secret. Then, when I win the lists and my freedom, they’ll have to let me take you with me.”

She looked at him, her eyes a little wide, and he saw wild hope in their depths. “Will that work?”

“Yes.” He smiled a little. “If we’re clever. And careful. And if I win.”

“You’ll win,” Alaina said fiercely. “I know you will.”

Vega’s smile broadened, his heart swelling with her confidence in him. “I’ll win.”

She kissed him again and he held onto her, to the moment, until there was a curt knock on the door.

“Behave yourself,” he whispered. “Keep yourself out of the cells. And I’ll handle the rest.”

He pressed a kiss to her brow and let go of her. She lingered a moment in his arms and nodded, resigned, tugging the hem of her dress back down. She crawled to the edge of the bed and then to her feet. As she shook out her dress, she cast him a look over her shoulder and smiled a little, then opened the door.

Three guards waited in the corridor.

None of them looked towards Vega in the bed. One of them took Alaina by the arm and pulled her out of the room, and another closed the door behind her. Vega let his head sag back against the pillow and closed his eyes, holding the memory of her in his arms close in his heart. It would have to be enough to get him through the long days ahead.

Alaina felt like her whole body was still on fire, even as the guards walked her down the corridor and towards the baths. It even took her a moment to realize they were taking her to the baths and not her own room, because her mind and heart were still too full of Vega. He wanted to
marry
her. And she wanted to marry him. And they were two totally different species and she couldn’t have cared less. Her hope of escape did not diminish even a little bit, but instead of trying to get home to a planet which held no real love for her, she would escape with Vega. And they would go wherever they wanted, anywhere, and Alaina knew she could be happy just so long as they were together. She wanted to see his home planet. She wanted to show him Earth. She just wanted to be with him, every second, every day, for the rest of her life. It was madness. She was giddy with it.

She barely noticed the slaves removing her clothing this time. Or the ones who led her down into one of the pools and scrubbed at her skin and hair. She let it happen and her mind drifted over and over again to Vega. She could think of nothing else, and she didn’t want to think of anything else, because he was her best thing. She thought she could endure any number of indignities so long as she could think of him and let everything else fall away.

They bathed her, dressed her, and braided her hair. This time they put her back in the
clostrata
beneath another sheer, silvery gown, and Gurun waited for her as she walked back down the corridor towards her room. He looked her up and down and grunted reluctant approval.

“This will do,” he grumbled, and waved a hand, indicating that she should follow him.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Upstairs. The domina and dominus are hosting and would like you to serve.”

Alaina frowned. “Hosting what?”

Gurun sighed, as if greatly put upon. “It is the day before the games, donara. Tomorrow, House Chara will fight House Ka’ani of the Jiayi for claim to a planet in the contested system. So today they meet to discuss the terms of the games.”

“And I’m to, what, stand there and be looked at again?” Alaina’s frown sharpened.

“No, you will
serve
,” Gurun snapped. “You will bring them food, wine, whatever they like. House Ka’ani does not use a donara, and the domina wanted them to see the prize that inspires House Chara’s cursii to fight as courageously as they do. Our illustrious house is bringing back an old tradition by having a donara and they want the other houses to see how well it’s going.”

“Fine.” Alaina tried to get the word out without sounding angry or indignant. She tried to remain calm and sound obedient, thinking of what Vega said, to keep herself out of the cells. “I’ll do my best.”

“Yes, you will. Or you’ll end up in the cells again.”

Alaina didn’t say another word as they went up the stairs to the higher palace levels. She really didn’t want to have to see Atticon again, but she kept telling herself to stay calm, to keep her head down, to just do as she was told and trust Vega would get them out of this. It might take longer than she’d anticipated with his wounds, but she’d seen him fight in the Arena. She knew he could fight his way free. Knowing he would find a way to take her with him sparked that beautiful ember of hope in her heart towards a full flame.

Gurun led her out of the elevator and into the gardens, through the winding paths which had been clogged with people the evening before but were deserted now. All evidence of the makeshift arena was gone. Not a single grain of sand or drop of silver blood left on the floor to remind anyone of what happened there. Alaina couldn’t help wondering what had been done with Lohar. Did he have a family on some distant Errai planet like Vega did? Would he be sent back to them? Would they be paid the rest of his life’s debt even though he hadn’t died in the proper Arena like he was meant to? She wondered if they were also farmers, or if Lohar had come from more warlike stock.

The sound of the string instruments brought her back from her musings, and she pushed thoughts of Lohar and his death from her mind as she followed Gurun into the garden’s center sitting area. The low couches had been rearranged from the night before, in a perfect circle now around a low table piled with food and decanters of wine. Apparently aliens had no sense that drinking wine all day long wasn’t healthy. Or maybe their bodies were different, Alaina thought, and it didn’t matter. Gurun stepped out of the way and she approached the circle of sofas, only to be brought up completely short.

Standing across the circle from her, holding a silver tray, was Yfia.

They locked eyes, and Yfia smiled at Alaina. Alaina returned the smile, so very relieved to see her again. She wanted to go over and hug her, and tell her about everything that had happened since last they’d seen each other.

But then she heard Atticon. “Donara, come here.”

And the relief and delight in her heart at seeing the pale Jiayi woman again fled. She bowed her head and went over to Atticon’s sofa as ordered, curtsying a little because she wasn’t sure what else to do. “Dominus.”

“Lift your eyes, donara, so that our guests can see your face.”

Alaina looked up. First, she looked at Atticon, whose expression was smug and self-important as usual. Lennai shared his sofa, sprawled back with a piece of fruit dripping juice down her arm. She didn’t seem to care. On the next sofa, a pair of Jiayi nobility lounged, looking at her with curiosity, their tall, twisting antlers shining and elegant in the garden light. And on the last couch, to Alaina’s surprise, sat Captain Rua. She expected to see him smirking, but he wasn’t. He was looking at her with plain surprise and curiosity. She figured he hadn’t expected to see her alive.

“What an interesting creature,” the Jiayi nobleman said, smiling. “Didn’t you buy her from Rua? In the same batch we got our slave?”

“That’s right,” Lennai confirmed, nodding. “I knew it was a risk but I just had to see what all the fuss was about. Rua, it’s been very interesting. I have a newfound curiosity about your race.”

Rua laughed uncomfortably. “We are a peculiar variety, my lady.”

“Do you have any more of them?” the Jiayi noblewoman asked. She looked at Alaina, plain desire in her eyes as they traveled from the top of Alaina’s head down to her toes. She blushed. “How delicious.”

“Not at the moment,” Rua said apologetically. “I’m afraid it’s quite a distance. I only stop when I’m passing by and I haven’t been to that system lately.”

“Well, you’ll have to keep an eye out for me next time,” the noblewoman said.

“Of course, my lady.”

“I find you despicable in the best way, Rua,” Atticon drawled. “Snatching up your own people to sell as slaves.”

“It’s a living, my lord.” Rua looked down into his cup and Alaina thought she could see some shame on his face, if she squinted hard enough. “And as you know, I had to work my way to my own freedom, just like anyone.”

“Yes, your ambition has gotten you far,” Atticon agreed. Then he smirked. “But I wonder if it will get you through the games tomorrow.”

Rua shrugged. “You don’t understand, my lord. And how could you? I would rather the chance to fight for my freedom than spend another day working for the Ankaa.”

The Jiayi nobleman snorted. “Disgusting race. I think you’re being very smart, Captain. Get as far away from them as you can or die trying.”

Rua’s smile was dark. “That’s the idea, my lord.”

“Well, you’ll have to get through Parape tomorrow,” Atticon said, holding up one finger. And then a second. “And Vega.”

Alaina heard Lennai make a frustrated noise, though she said nothing.

Rua laughed in disbelief. “You’re making the champion fight? Didn’t he nearly die last night, my lord?”

“What good is a champion that cannot fight?” Atticon asked. “Of course he’ll fight.”

Alaina’s heart fell right into her stomach. She’d thought Vega would be spared the games until he was healed. She looked to Lennai, but Lennai was studying the fruit in her hand and nothing else. Surely she wasn’t going to let this happen. She cared for Vega enough that she would put a stop to it.

“Donara,” Atticon said. “Go fetch us another decanter of wine. And you,” he spoke to Yfia, then. “Another plate of
colachi
, they’re my sister’s favorite.”

“Yes, dominus,” Alaina managed to remember to say. Then she hurried after Yfia, who turned and carried her silver tray away and down the garden path. There was a serving station around one of the corners, out of sight, and Yfia set down her tray and then pulled Alaina into her arms for a warm hug.

“I am so pleased to see you, child,” she gushed.

Alaina thought she might burst into tears, but staved them off as she hugged the Jiayi slave back. “It’s so good to see you.”

“You’re looking quite well,” Yfia went on, leaning back, and looked Alaina over. “Yes, very lovely. It seems life as the donara suits you after all.”

“No,” Alaina said, shaking her head. “It doesn’t. I hate it. And they’re going to make Vega fight tomorrow, but he’s hurt and I don’t know if he’ll survive it.”

There were the tears. Yfia’s smile faded and she pulled Alaina back into her arms. “Oh, my dear,” she sighed. “You’ve fallen in love with a cursu.”

“Yes,” Alaina admitted, as the tears fell. “Yes, and he’s going to die.”

Yfia held her, stroking her hair a moment. “Most of them do,” she murmured. “Yes, most of them do die. The man I love also came to the Arena to fight. I don’t even know if he’s still alive. I came all this way to find him because my heart was sick without him. I thought I’d see him in the Arena, but I haven’t been brought up to serve during the games yet. I hold hope, though. You must always hold hope, Alaina.”

“What if he’s dead and you’ll never know?” Alaina asked.

Yfia smiled sadly. “I’ll know. My heart will tell me. But for now it tells me he lives and that I shall see him again. And you
know
your cursu is alive so you mustn’t lose hope. Lord Atticon called him a champion, did he not?”

“But he’s so hurt,” Alaina said, exhaling a shaky breath. “He’s wounded and he can’t fight, Yfia. What do I do?”

Yfia was quiet a moment, just hugging Alaina and touching her hair, but eventually she leaned back again, looking down at her. Her hands drifted warmly up and down her arms and Alaina found it comforting enough that the tears ceased to brim against her eyelashes.

“You make him an alliance,” Yfia whispered. “That’s what you do.”

“An alliance?” Alaina shook her head. “I don’t understand. How? With who?”

Yfia nodded towards the garden. “With Rua.”

Alaina recoiled. “
Rua
? That — that — disgusting snake!”

“Yes, but he is a disgusting snake who would take an alliance,” Yfia said.

“Why? What is he even doing here?”

Yfia’s smile was soft. “He doesn’t want to work as a slaver for the Ankaa anymore. I heard my master and your master speaking of it before he arrived. He convinced Lord Atticon to buy his debt and tomorrow he fights for him in the games.”

Alaina stared at her. “But Atticon will want him to kill Vega.”