Page 8 of Alien King Crashes the Wedding

“I will help you find your brother. I am your king.” Dagan gave the commander a hard look. “You should have come to me sooner. I will instruct one of my guards to make contact with you first thing in the morning. As long as you sense that he is alive, they will not stop looking for him.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Commander Bashall said as he rose to his full height, which was nearly as tall as Dagan. “If you will excuse me, I still have a lot of work to do if I’m to be ready to assist yourguardstomorrow.”

Dagan sighed ruefully.Fucking mirror twins. Thousands of years of secrecy down the drain. As soon as I get Torrin back safe and sound, I’m going to kick his ass.

“Of course, Commander.” Dagan nodded his consent for the commander to take his leave and waited silently until he was out of earshot before turning to Cam, knowing his friend would be about ready to burst.

“Just like Torrin.” Cam rubbed his hand across his face, the sandy blond stubble rasping noisily. “He’s been missing for months. I’m almost afraid to hope he’s still alive. Imagine keeping a mirror twin a secret all these years!”

“I can’t say that I’m happy Torrin lied about his family, but at this point, Commander Bashall is the only lead we have. None of our efforts have gotten us anywhere. Whoever took him had time to cover their tracks flawlessly. His twin may be the only one who can find him,” Dagan acknowledged.

“I think he just blackmailed you into letting him help with the search and rescue,” Cam remarked as he visually followed the commander’s progress off the field.

“Indeed. Can you blame him? We would do exactly the same thing. It’s an issue that can wait. Right now, we need to find Torrin. For that, we need information. We also need to figure out what the Vilitos are planning so close to Earth, and why they need Torrin,” Dagan said with quiet menace.

Chapter Eight

Two hours later

Dagan stretched his stiff upper body, sinking farther into the hot tub and rubbing his thigh. Had his team won the maju water, his leg would already be healed. He imagined Sasha rubbing the soreness out of his muscles and groaned.

It was dark, and he’d chosen the hot tub farthest from the banquet hall, surrounded by shrubbery on three sides. Most of the guests, both human and Caldorian, were more interested in playing in the well-lit swimming pool or hot tubs closer to the food and refreshments that were set up near the doors. He preferred more privacy. He had doused all but one of the flickering maju stones, leaving him in deep shadow. He wasn’t in the mood to share his space with a bunch of rowdy warriors.

The jets of hot water should go a long way toward easing the soreness from his body. Dagan stretched first one leg then the other. He had some nasty scrapes and bruises all up and down his body. He regularly trained with the Lumerians to keep his own skills sharply honed, but today he’d used the game to work out his frustrations, pushing himself and the other warriors. “Gareth, Falden, I know you’re here,” Dagan said to the empty air, knowing his two best warriors would never leave him unprotected, even in the middle of a secure Caldorian base.

Falden responded first, partially deactivating his spectral cloaking armor so that Dagan would be able to hear him, while his large warrior’s body, wavy black hair and chiseled features would remain hidden. Invisible. Gareth followed suit, allowing only his voice to be heard.

“Your Majesty?” inquired Gareth from behind Dagan, just out of reach of the water’s misty spray. It was unusual for their king to call out to them, especially when they were fully cloaked and in an open area. It made Dagan look like a deranged fool talking to himself.

Dagan sat forward in the water, his forearms resting on his knees, his head bent down slightly so that if anyone came his way, they wouldn’t see him talking to himself. “You know as well as I why we needed to come all the way out here, and why we need to stay, but now my woman is here as well. That changes things, at least from my perspective. I won’t leave Sasha here. Until she’s ready to leave with me, we stay,” Dagan informed them. “Falden, I’m giving you full access to my resources for you and your Lumerian Knights. I want answers before we leave here,” Dagan ordered.

“Understood, Your Majesty,” said Falden.

“Second, I still hurt like hell, you bastards.” Dagan sighed and added, “Tell the others I’m ordering them to drink maju water, not just your team. I want everyone in top form while we’re here, especially with the Vilitos getting closer every day. Their excuses just don’t sit right with me.”

“They’ll have the water before the night is over,” Gareth said, his deep voice full of approval.

“Speaking of Vilitos, I have set up a communication channel for Commander Bashall,” Falden interjected. “I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow. I have to agree with him. I think the Reptilians have Torrin. Those cagey, cold-blooded lizards have been a thorn in Caldor’s side for centuries, trying to get at our technology. Now they have Torrin and they’re headed for Earth. What do they need from Earth that they couldn’t get through the regular trade channels? They’re not an approved trade partner, but it’s easy enough to get whatever they want from someone whoisapproved. Why come all the way out here? Why try to break through Earth’s security? It doesn’t make sense,” Falden said grimly.

Gareth nodded. “We’re working on a search and rescue plan for Torrin. As for extending your visit, we’ve already begun preparations for additional time here. News of your interest in the little human has already reached Caldor. Not everyone is pleased,” he cautioned seriously.

“No. I expect not. All the more reason to make her safety a priority. Be discreet. I don’t want to spook her,” added Dagan.

Falden’s voice held amusement as he offered, “We’re cloaked. Invisible. Can’t be much more discreet than that.” His low, gravelly voice deepened even further as he added, “I also have to agree with Gareth. She’s making enemies she doesn’t even know about. Her security must be a priority, but we’ll be stretched too thin with the additional warriors working with Commander Bashall, our own mission, security for you and now for Sasha as well. We can send for Korva’s team. They can be here in three days. Until then, I think Vander and Cassiel’s teams should see to her security.”

Dagan nodded. “Good choice. I like Korva. I think Sasha will, too, eventually.”

Falden scanned the area before continuing, “It would be easier if we had the other Sectors backing us up out here.”

“The other kings have no interest in working with the Council, even if it’s for a good reason. They’ll change their minds if you’re successful here, so make it happen quickly. If anyone on the Council makes a move against me or mine, I need you to be ready for war, not out looking for long lost relatives.” Dagan sighed heavily before adding, “You’ve been looking for a very long time, old friend. Perhaps it’s time.”

Falden’s lips tightened and his emerald eyes flared. “I can’t stop until the Elders are found. Don’t ask me to quit looking now that we finally have access to Earth. I know there’s a clue here, and I’ll find it. My people are depending on me. We’ll be ready for the Council, no matter what they throw at us.”

“Very well,” Dagan agreed.

“We have some ideas we could run past the base commander. With your go ahead, we’ll start implementing changes immediately,” Gareth added.

“Do it. Knowing the two of you, you’ve probably already made arrangements to inspect training operations here on the base as leaders of myRoyal Guard.”Dagan struggled to keep a straight face, for he suspected they enjoyed filling in for his royal guards. It gave them the opportunity to interact with other groups of people, and be seen. “I like Commander Bashall, so make sure your Knights play nice. No fucking pranks.”

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