Page 33 of My Alien Sunshine

Astra squeezes my shoulder. It hurts but nobody has comforted me in so long I take the pain without letting it show, worried she’ll stop. “Not all of them are bad,” she says. “I know you’ve only run into the worst filth in the galaxy, but there are good people around, too. I promise.”

That is difficult to believe, at least until I remember Faelin. There’s no doubt he’s one of the good ones.

Cai’s familiar voice sounds from the ceiling. “We are about to drop out of hyperspace,” the AI announces. “The captain requests everyone comes to the bridge, guest included.”

“I guess we’d better go,” Astra says, her voice tight with worry. “Does Nala have any injuries?” she asks Nikolai, pointing at his handheld scanner.

He checks the screen, then shakes his head. “Lots and lots of bruises, but nothing more serious. Do you want some painkillers?”

“Do you have some that won’t knock me out?” I can’t afford to rest yet, not before my baby is safe.

“I think so. Let me check the database to make sure they’re safe for you. Go ahead, I’ll catch up with you both.”

Astra jumps off the bed and takes my hand, leading us out of the room. “Come on, let’s find out how the guys are going to rescue Faelin and your daughter. I can’t wait to meet her. And you,” she calls to Nikolai over her shoulder, “don’t take too long.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Nikolai calls back, giving her a mocking salute.

Under different circumstances, I’d be happy to be around humans again. Hell, I’d be elated just to be around nice, friendly aliens for a change. But right now, I can’t even spare a smile at their shenanigans. Ellen is all I’m thinking about.

Chapter 18

Faelin

My head throbs. I want to groan from the pain but I hold the sound back, not wanting to let anyone know I’m awake in case they’re waiting to knock me out again.

I do a quick mental assessment of my body. Everything aches and my head feels like a fucking pulsar has taken residence inside of it but I don’t have any broken bones or more serious injuries.

Even without opening my eyes, I notice two things—the heavy weight of a metal collar around my neck and the warmth of a tiny body curled up by my side. Relief from Ellen being next to me outweighs the outrage of being collared. I brought that on myself by threatening Drayth, but what choice did I have? I needed him to focus on me and not on the little girl that now sleeps peacefully next to me, using me as a portable heater, no doubt, since the metal floor we lie on is so damned cold.

I risk peeking with my eyes squinted open, unsurprised to see the bare walls of an empty room, similar to the one where I found Ellen the first time. Perhaps it is the same one.

At least we’re alone and I can safely look around for weapons and escape routes. Not that I expect to find any. Drayth isn’t a criminal mastermind, but he isn’t completely stupid either.

The room doesn’t have any hatches we could open and the air vents are too small for even Ellen’s doll to squeeze through. The panel by the door is offline. D’Aakh could probably hack into it and get the door open but I don’t possess such skills. There’s nothing to be used as a weapon, either. In fact, there’s nothing here at all. My guess is that this used to be a storage room that has been cleared out and turned into an ad hoc holding cell.

No way out, no tools I could use. A slave collar around my neck. The prospects might seem grim, but I don’t let that bother me. There’s always a happy ending. My happy ending will be Nala throwing herself into my arms after I’ve rescued her daughter. Oh, and me killing Drayth. That will be a happily-ever-after for many people, I presume. Apart from Drayth, of course.

Since there’s nothing I can do at the moment, I stay on the floor, letting Ellen sleep. She snores lightly, her adorable half-human, half-Syndoran nose scrunched as she takes deep, calm breaths. I can definitely see Nala in her features. I fight back the sudden paternal urge to stroke her wild hair. She needs to sleep.

Did Nala really think I wouldn’t want her if I knew she had a child? I love her even more!

I don’t even pause to consider my thoughts, unsurprised by the realization. I love Nala. How could I not? She’s strong, caring, and deeply passionate about her daughter. One day, I hope to find myself loved by her too. For now, I soak in happiness from having not one, but two females I can love and protect.

Sadly, the protection part will be necessary sooner than I’d like and now that I’m wearing the slave collar, I’m not sure I’ll do a stellar job. I’ve never worn one of these before, but I know whoever’s holding the controller can send me to my knees with just the touch of a button. Or knock me out cold.

But my friends are close by, I know that. I have absolute faith in them. They’ll come for us. All I have to do is keep Ellen safe until then. If necessary, I can keep needling Drayth to keep his attention on me. If he’s torturing me, he isn’t hurting her.

Ellen whimpers in her sleep, her tiny body jerking. “Shh,” I soothe, my fingers sliding through her wild curls. “Everything is alright.”

She jerks awake, her wide eyes darting around the room. “Mama?” she cries out, the first tear already making its way down her striped cheek. “Mama!”

I gently squeeze her shoulder to get her attention. I’d pull her into my arms but I don’t want to scare her more. I’m not sure she wants my comfort anyway. I’d promised to bring her to her mother but only managed to get her hurt.

“Mama’s not here, little one,” I whisper when she looks at me. “But she’s coming, I promise. Would you—”

Ellen throws herself on top of me before I’ve finished the sentence, sobbing into my chest. I wrap my arms around her little body, wishing I could magically whisk her away from this place. “Failin! You’re okay! Master Drayth hit you and you wouldn’t wake up.”

It takes me a moment to realize some of her tears are tears of relief. I know she probably only cares for me because I’m the singular kind soul in this place, but her concern for my health has my chest puffing out with joy.

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