Bonded to the Alien Lord: Sci-fi Alien Invasion Romance (Warriors of the Lathar Book 3) (6 page)

“You look…”

For once Karryl seemed lost for words as he approached Jane. Gone was the curt, overbearing manner, and the look of frustration he seemed to have permanently around her was replaced with one of awe.

“You can say it. She looks hot. If I were into women, I’d do her,” Kenna broke in, grabbing Talat’s arm as Gaarn extended his for Jess. Cat noticed Jess’s hopeful glance toward the door. Perhaps looking for a particular healer?

“My lady,” Karryl offered his arm. “Would you do me the honor of accepting my escort to the blessing?”

“I’d be delighted.” Jane smiled and inclined her head graciously. The light caught the tiny silver flowers and leaves the stylists wound through her short hair.

With all the women partnered, Karryl turned to Cat.

“Your bond-mate awaits, my lady,” he said with a small bow that surprised her. He’d never bowed to her before, or called her that. Did her marriage to Tarrick confer status within Latharian society on her or something?

With an out swept arm, the big warrior signalled she should precede him.

“A lady always walks alone to meet her mate, as an indication she has chosen him of her own free will.”

Huh. Interesting, and different from the human custom of giving the bride away.

“And the honor guard?” She pointed out the three warriors.

“To ensure no one interferes with your decision,” he replied, then his lips quirked. “Not even your mate.”

That was a new one. Cat blinked. So they’d gone from slaves and having no choice, to a situation where she seemed to have all the power. All because of a few marks on Tarrick’s wrist.

“And if I decided not to go through with it?”

“Then our duty as your guard is to take you away from the hall, by force if necessary.” Karryl’s smile grew broader, his relish at the idea of a fight clear, but it quickly disappeared. “Although I don’t want to fight Tarrick and Laarn, so please don’t do that.”

Cat shifted her grip on the bouquet in her hands and shook her head.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of backing out now. A gorgeous guy who actually wants to get married and have kids… do you have any idea how rare that is on Earth? Most men run a mile at the mere thought of commitment.”

All three warriors glowered, their opinion of Earth men obviously not high.

“Earth men are idiots,” Talat rumbled, which earned him a chuckle from Kenna, who patted his arm.

“That they are, handsome. But don’t worry, there are plenty of human women who will take one look at you and beg you to give them babies.”

A distant sound, like a clarion call, stopped the conversation and Karryl urged them all toward the door. “Time to go. We do not want to be late, not with the Emperor doing this blessing.”

“Good luck, Cat!” Jess called, ushered into line by Gaarn as they formed up behind Cat.

“Yeah, break a leg!” Kenna offered with a broad grin.

Jane rolled her eyes. “She’s getting married, you idiot, not acting in a play!”

The doors opened and Cat stepped out. A sapphire carpet snaked in front of her so she followed it, her steps in the delicate sandals soundless on the plush surface. Guards resplendent in palace uniform lined the route to the throne room where the ceremony was to be held. They looked ahead, expressions and stances like stone, but she caught a few peeking sideways as they passed. Every now and then, one of the doors along the corridors cracked open and she spotted long-faced oonat servants peering through. Several gasped in delight when they saw her and she smiled, feeling like a real bride.

And she was.

The dress might have been sapphire rather than white or cream, but it fit her like a silken glove, the skirts swishing around her ankles before flowing into a train behind her. Her hair was gathered on top of her head in an elaborate updo, complete with a delicate tiara she’d been told came from Tarrick’s family vault and she carried a bouquet in her hands. The tiny flowers looked like a cross between orchids and cherry blossoms—her two favorites. They were called Herris blossom and were apparently the symbol of the Imperial family. Only royal brides were allowed to carry them.

Huh. Her. A royal bride. Just three weeks ago she’d been convinced that the dire state of her love life meant she was destined to end up a crazy cat lady (substituting real cats with fluffy toy ones, because real cats on a station? Recipe for disaster.). Instead though, she’d hooked herself a hot, alien groom. But Karryl’s words about this being her decision struck deep. Was she ready for this? Did they
need
to get married formally? Couldn’t they just consider the marks on his wrist an engagement ring and date for a while?

Her heart twisted, rejecting all those ideas, and in one perfect moment of clarity, she realized why.

He’d kidnapped her, wanted her so much, he twisted the truth to get her, then saved her from one of his biggest enemies.

He’d killed that enemy for daring to lay a hand on her…

A wash of emotion filled her chest, the warm feeling filtering out to fill the rest of her body.

She loved him.

She was head over heels, hopelessly and totally in love with her alien lord.

Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes and she blinked rapidly to clear them. Alien makeup was probably waterproof, but she didn’t want to take the risk and look anything other than perfect when Tarrick saw her in her finery for the first time.

Nerves assaulted her as the carpet led to a large set of double doors. The throne room. Tarrick waited for her on the other side.

Before they reached the doors, two guards either side moved forward to open them.

Shit. This was really happening. Cat trembled, forcing to hold tightly to her flowers in case she dropped them, she shook so much. She would walk through those doors and the Emperor would bless her union with Tarrick. From what she’d been told, the marks on his wrist meant they were already married, but apparently a blessing from his Imperialness himself conferred more status on their union. Made it
special
.

Personally, she thought their relationship was already pretty damn special. Tarrick’s mating marks were the first since the last fertile Lathar female died decades ago. Ergo, special. No matter what anyone else thought.

The doors opened and a wash of noise hit her. What sounded like hundreds of people chattering, suddenly stopped to look toward the doors. Expectation filled the air, so thick she found it difficult to breathe.

They were all waiting to see her. Their first glimpse of a human woman.

“The Lady Cat Moore, of planet Earth,” a loud voice announced and she walked through the door, her head held high.

Murmurs and gasps rolled through the masses either side of the aisle. Her heart tried to climb into her throat at being the center of so much attention. She focused on Tarrick’s broad shoulders by the throne and started to walk. She could do this. Totally do this. Hopefully without tripping on her own skirts or otherwise making a damn fool of herself.

Her groom didn’t turn, a Lathar tradition she’d been warned about, but Laarn did. His eyes widened and he leaned in to whisper something in his brother’s ear.

Finally, she reached Tarrick’s side and he turned his head. Emotion and reverence washed over his hard features.

“You look beautiful, Moore Cat,” he whispered, reaching for her hand, his words unheard by anyone else as at that moment Daaynal stood.

Chapter Five

“Warriors, welcome!” His voice carried the length of the hall. “Today we gather to celebrate a momentous event and one I didn’t think we would ever see again. A true bonding.”

Shock resounded through the hall in a wave of utter silence. A bonding hadn’t occurred for decades. It required more than genetic compatibility, otherwise half the men in the room would have bonded to their Oonat broodmares.

Tarrick shuddered at the thought. To be bonded to a creature of such limited intelligence for the rest of his life…it didn’t bear thinking about.

“Impossible!”

“How can that be?”

“She is no Lathar!”

“No marks, no bond!”

“This is an outrage!!”

Within seconds the assembled warriors had gotten over their shock and the protests came thick and fast. Tarrick closed his eyes. He recognized the loudest voice among them. Maal J’nuut was a purist, one who regularly petitioned the Emperor about the preservation of Lathar genetics. He and his clan of fanatics believed breeding with other races should be banned and the Lathar should only reproduce through cloning. As they did. It was widely known that the J’nuut eschewed the use of the Oonat, to avoid diluting their “pure” bloodline. The rumors even said Maal refused to allow his warriors Oonat women for companionship and sexual relief.

Daaynal lifted his hand and all noise in the hall ceased. “As many of you are now aware, the K’Vass recently ventured into a backwater system and discovered a previously unknown to us species. One with a pleasing appearance and many females. As soon as contact was made, the healer with the K’Vass suspected that humanity—”

“Ha!
Humanity?
What kind of name is that?”

Daaynal, interrupted, glared at the commenter with an expression that would have frozen the fire-moons of
Dranratt.

“As
I was saying. Lord Healer Laarn K’Vass suspected humanity was genetically compatible with us.”

Daaynal cast a glance down at Cat and smiled. “I am glad to say his suspicions are correct and Lord Tarrick bears evidence of this.”

Stepping down from the dais, his uncle grasped Tarrick’s arm and lifted it. His sleeve fell back, baring the marks on his skin. Murmurs of shock rippled through the crowds.

“A true bonding has occurred. Furthermore,” Daaynal’s voice turned to ice, “the entire human species is now under my protection. No clan is to invade their space, or raid any of their planets or installations. Punishment for such a transgression will be death. No challenge. No appeal, just execution.
Do I make myself clear?”

There was no reply to the Emperor’s announcement, not that Tarrick expected there to be. No one argued with such a direct proclamation, not from a man like Daaynal. Ever. He breathed a sigh of relief. With a few short sentences, Daaynal had secured the safety of the human race until proper alliances could be put into place.

“Right. Now to the matter in hand.”

Daaynal stood before Cat and Tarrick and held out his hands. “Your hands please.”

Without hesitation, Tarrick reached out, pleased to see Cat did the same. Her beauty always stunned him, but seeing her in the traditional robes of a Latharian bride took his breath away.

“Blood calls to blood and soul to soul,” Daaynal intoned, his deep voice low and charismatic. “Soul calls to skin, woman to man, binding the halves of a whole together for all eternity. Lady Cat, do you take this warrior who bears your marks on his skin to bond-mate? To support and honor him for the rest of his life?”

She nodded, the light twinkling off the jewels in her hair. “I do.”

Daaynal looked at Tarrick, his expression grave. “Lord Tarrick, do you take this woman who has called marks in your skin to bond-mate? To protect her and honor her for the rest of your life?”

“I do.”

There was no other answer, he realized, standing there as Daaynal transferred their hands to one of his, binding them with a sapphire sash. Bonding them in the eyes of the ancestors.

“Then…as Emperor of the Lathar, I bless your bonding. May it bring much solace and be fruitful.”

Tarrick leaned in to brush his lips over Cat’s. Screw the warriors who watched, he had to touch her. She moved closer, her tiny body nestled against his and lifted her lips to his.

Before he’d registered the taste of her though, shots rang out in the hall. Energy blasts sizzled through the air, closely followed by grunts of pain and bellows of anger as warriors drew weaponry and fired back.

Tarrick whirled, shoving Cat behind him, out of danger. Fear for her pumped through his veins and in that moment he realized he would do anything, even sacrifice his own life, for her. She was his bond-mate, her life was his to protect…but it was more than that.

He loved her.

From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, he’d loved her. He hadn’t realized it at the time, telling himself all sorts of lies to cover what his heart had always known. Had known from the first moment he’d heard her voice. She was the other half of his soul.

“What the hells is going on?” Daaynal demanded, his champion already at his side. Both warriors had weapons drawn, a pistol in one hand and a blade in the other.

“We will not stand for this insult!” a warrior screamed across the hall, voice raised over the sound of energy bolts. The J’nuut were gathered in a knot at the side of the room, firing wildly around them with their leader, Maal, yelling purist rants from atop a table. His face was purple, twisted with hatred as he glared across the throne room.

“
He
wishes to dilute our blood!” Maal screamed, pointing at Daaynal. “To have us consort with sub-Lathar creatures and create…abominations! Destroy what we are! He is not fit to be emperor!
Kill him! Kill them all!”

“Well, he’s a sandwich short of a picnic,” Cat commented, peering around Tarrick’s shoulder even as he tried to push her to safety with the other women. However, trying to keep the human women behind the relative safety of the throne was like trying to herd
viisnaas.
They’d formed themselves into a tight group, eyes bright and focused as the battle raged around them. Both Jane and Kenna somehow managed to acquire pistols, and were using the throne for cover as they fired into the J’Nuut. Each time they did, warriors fell.

“Damn good shots,” Xaandril grunted, a rare show of approval from a warrior who hated pretty much everything.

“Down, stay safe, little Cat,” Tarrick ordered, shoving Cat behind the throne. When she tried to follow him, he pulled her up for a brief, hard kiss. “Please, let me protect you.”

*

“Yeah, he’s a keeper,” Jess commented as the two women crouched behind the throne as the battle raged in the hall. Concern threaded through Cat’s veins as she peeked out from cover. Damn Lathar and their warlike nature, not even a wedding was sacrosanct.