Alien Guardian's Baby (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran Warriors) (10 page)

I
try
to pull Drax off Bokito’s bloodied body. He’s lost in a frenzy, his blue fists raining down upon the ape, battering him senseless.

For a second I fear he’s going to kill him. I know Drax is protective of me, but I never realized what he’s capable of. I should – he’s a Zoran general; he is a leader of the universe’s fiercest warriors – but I only know him as a loving, gentle giant.

A giant that’ll destroy anyone who threatens me and my baby.

“Come back,” I whisper into my mate’s ears. “Please.”

His yellow eyes are fogged over with rage, a red haze covering his pupils, but it lifts the moment he hears my voice.

“Isa?” he asks, his voice a low, animalistic growl.

“Yes,” I say, wrapping my arms carefully around his neck. “I’m here.” I kiss the top of his blue head. My elbow feels warm and wet, and I realize blood is trickling down his neck.

“You’re wounded!” I rip a piece of cloth from my shirt and use it to press down on his wound to stop the bleeding.

All around us the council members are frozen in place, unsure of what to do. I’m as in the dark as they are – I’ve never led anything in my life, let alone a coalition of different races that have been warring for centuries – but I can’t show that now. I have to be strong and decisive, like Drax.

If I can do that, then maybe the sacrifice of his men won’t have been in vain. If I can bring peace to this station, prevent a war between the Elohians and the Zorans, and provide a safe place for Tsula’s child and for my baby, then I’d have made a difference.

We’d
have made a difference.

I notice the Senator is sneaking towards the door, using the chaos to try and escape.

“Arrest that man,” I say, pointing at the Prymeta who is nearest to him, doing my best to keep my voice calm and steady.

I’m glad the Prymeta follows my order, if with a slight hesitation. He blocks the door, and Bogdan slumps down, defeated.

I rise to my feet, looking at all the different leaders in their multicolored alien eyes. I see wonder, amazement and fear in their eyes. If only Barb could see me now – Isabella Parker the grease monkey,
Empress
! Chief of
All
. Who knew!

I roll up my sleeve, holding out my arm. If I’m going to lead, I need to have their trust. Unconditionally. If that means suffering through the mind-bending
meld
… so be it.

“Go ahead,” I say, looking the Terulian chief in the eye. “See for yourself.”

He walks towards me slowly, one step at a time. The mark on my wrist pulses, and I bite down on the inside of my cheek, preparing for the pain. The room is full of whispers, but my stare does not waver.

He extends one dark-green finger and places it on the
De’Tsa
mark. Instantly my mind throbs with pain as my brain is flooded with images. Our minds meld together.
Kanuna Ma’Tza
is his name. He was born over 120 years ago, here on station. I can smell his mother’s cooking, I feel her warm hand on my forehead. I feel safe.

At the same time, I experience the memories Kanuna is seeing. Feeling. Experiencing. My childhood, mixed with ancient images, feverish dreams of my family history.
De’Tsa’s
history. Royal history.

Suddenly, my mind drifts to Drax. My azure-blue, proud, majestic warrior. My mate. My lover. I see him in all his naked glory, standing tall, his big, blue cock throbbing with energy…

“By Elohi!” Kanuna gasps as he steps backward as if zapped by electricity.

My cheeks are burning brightly, my breathing heavy.

Did he see the same things I did?

I need to get this mind-melding power under control, or else everyone will see my sex dreams!

“It is true!” Kanuna says. “She is Rayatol’s descendant! She is Chief!” The elderly reptilian drops down to one knee, swearing his allegiance to me. “As long as the sun burns, the Terulians will stand by your side, oh great one.”

I nod, accepting his offer. At least, I
think
that’s how you accept a pledge of allegiance. As long as no one realizes I have no idea what I’m doing, we’re all good…

The Xythian leader steps forward. “Impossible,” he says, and he extends his bony finger towards me. I wince at the thought of mind-melding with the haughty looking, white-haired man, but it’s a small price to pay for peace.

A second later our minds are connected. I’m shocked to learn of the man’s – his name is Xylol’ltan – and… he’s over one thousand years old! His village was destroyed, and I feel the pain of losing his home as if it was my own, my chest feeling as though it’s going to burst.

Thankfully this time I’m spared the embarrassment of sharing my Zoran-based sexual fantasies with the elf-like alien. He pulls his finger back, his face as shocked as Kanuna’s had been.

“Impossible,” he says again, “yet here you are! The Uniter has returned!” He walks back, muttering to himself.

“Xylol?” Nyva asks. “Do you pledge your allegiance to the Chief of All, like the Ama and the Terulians?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” he says, as if it was a mere formality. “Strange; very strange, yes.”

This leaves the Prymetas. With Bokito incapacitated, we all turn to his second-in-command: Aybo. This ape is smaller, his fur ginger rather than silver. I extend my arm towards him, but he wretches back.

“N-no,” he stammers. “I believe. I believe. No meld. No, no, no.”

He drops to his knees, placing the palms of his hands flat on the floor. I’m relieved he doesn’t want to meld minds. It’s exhausting, embarrassing and painful.

“Okay,” I say. “I accept.”

Nyva claps her hands. “Excellent,” she says, intertwining her scaly fingers together. “Excellent! The Tribes are united!”

“
S
lavery has been
a cornerstone of the Station’s economy for decades; you can’t—”

“I can and I will,” I say, cutting the malicious green blob off. “It is outlawed. Permanently. In this entire sector. All your slaves have been freed, and you are forever banished from this station. If I ever see you in this sector again, I won’t be as lenient. Now leave.”

The blob slides away, leaving a sickly green trail on the floor. All day long I’ve received visitors in my throne room, and the constant barrage of questions is wearing me down. Who knew being an intergalactic leader was such hard work?

“Who’s next?” I ask Tsula. I appointed her my chief advisor. There’s no way I could have done any of this without her working tirelessly by my side. She’s amazing. It’s only been a few weeks, but we’ve already accomplished so much. Bokito sits in prison, awaiting his trial, while the Prymetas have all condemned his warmongering ways.

We freed the slaves, and most criminals, raiders and slavers packed up and left when they saw the tide was turning.

“There’s a Suricat delegation who want your help salvaging
The Mongoose
, and after that the Zoran delegation are here to pick up Senator Bogdan…”

The Zorans
. I swallow the lump in my throat. Drax has been staying dutifully by my side, but I feel him growing restless. He’s a warrior at heart, and life here on Vortex Station is not what he’s built for. I’m afraid he’s going to leave with his kind, and I don’t think I can blame him…

…well, except for that fact our baby is inside of me. I already have a baby bump – this one is growing like cabbage!

“Send in the Suricats.”

* * *

“
L
uka
!”

My old Zoran friend comes walking down the hall of Vortex Station, his fire-red arms opened wide for me. He’s here to take Senator Bogdan back to Exon Prime for his trial.

“Drax! It’s good to see you!”

He hugs me tightly, squeezing the air out of me. He’s as tall as I am, matching my impressive frame beat-for-beat.

“We feared the worst when we heard of the
Eternity
.”

“Death can’t take me that easily,” I answer.

He grabs my shoulder, squeezing it hard. “You’re one tough bastard. Our Warrior-King Vinz is throwing a ceremony in your honor; you will be pleased.”

“About that,” I say. “Come. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

I guide the Zoran through the halls of Vortex Station as I tell him of my journey. Over the past few weeks this station has grown on me. A lifetime in the Zoran military had instilled in me a certain contempt for other species. The Xythians, the Terulians, the Prymetas, and of course, the humans… I saw them as savages, who lacked Zoran discipline and control.

How wrong I was! Isa has opened my eyes. She’s as strong, as intelligent, as capable as any Zoran I’ve met. What she lacks in pure physical strength she more than makes up for with her wit and determination. She’s taking to leadership like an Ama takes to water.

I couldn’t be more proud to call her my mate.

And that’s why I’m rescinding my military title.

My place is here, by her side.

“Luka, I’d like you to meet Isabella Parker,” I say as we walk into our personal quarters. “Isa, this is my friend, Luka.”

Isa is sitting on the couch, next to Tsula, preparing a meeting with the Xythians. Those two are a perfect match, as they’re both ambitious and determined. I don’t believe either of them have taken a moment’s rest in weeks.

Meanwhile, Yona is laying on the rug, babbling to herself. She’ll make a perfect friend to our little warrior.

“Ah, Isabella. The new ruler of Vortex Station,” Luka says as he extends his hand.

Isa shakes it, her small hand dwarfed by the big Zoran. “I prefer chief,” she says. “Ruler sounds so… aristocratic.”

“Apologies, chief,” Luka says with a nod.

I enjoy being around another Zoran for a change – all these other species are so small! Makes me feel like a giant. I savor the moment, for I’ll be around the small ones for a long time to come.

“Luka, there’s something I have to tell you. Both of you, in fact. I am resigning as general in the Zoran military, effective immediately.”

Isa’s jaw falls open, and Luka looks at me like I just watered down my
cuhla
.

“Are you sure?” Isa asks. She hops up from the couch and walks towards me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“I’m certain,” I answer. “My place is here, with you.” I rest my hand on her stomach, feeling her accentuated curves.

“But you’re a warrior,” Isa says. “I don’t want you to sacrifice your entire career for me.”

“Isa, I’m not sacrificing anything,” I say. I drop down to one knee so our faces are level, and she can see the honesty in my eyes. “You are my life-mate. I
want
this.”

Luka snaps back to attention. “I can’t say I understand, but I accept your decision, Drax. I will inform our King at once. He will not be pleased. You are a formidable warrior.”

“Vinz has his own human mate to worry about,” I say with a smirk. “He’ll understand. Perhaps you can take my place, Luka? You would make a fine general.”

He nods swiftly. “Thank you, Drax. I must go now – there is much to be done. Some… ceremonies have to be canceled.” He bows towards Isa and Tsula before heading out the door.

“You’re crazy,” Isa says. “Giving up your rank? Just like that? That’s insane.”

“I am crazy,” I answer. “For you.”

“Oh, brother,” Tsula says. “I can see there where this is going. Allow me to give you a moment.” She grabs Yona and heads out the door as she calls the Xythian delegation, telling them that Chief Isa is going to run a few minutes late.

Make that an hour.

I lift my mate up high in the air, my mouth finding hers as she wraps her arms around my neck.

“I said I’ll stay by your side forever,” I growl as I pull her clothes off. I’m desperate to feel her skin against mine “That was a promise I intend to keep.”

“Oh, Drax,” Isa sighs blissfully. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Isabella Parker. I love you, too.”

* * *