Page 12 of Alien Knight Steals the Bride

“Another Caldorian. I didn’t recognize him, but we knew the base commander; he was the one who granted us permission to be there in the first place. We followed them out through the fires just before the building exploded.”

Juliette paused to take a breath. Calm herself. She hadn’t realized how difficult the retelling would be. “We were on our way to another building, one that he said would be safer, when we were ambushed. They shot the commander and the other Caldorian, then blasted the rest of us with stun guns.” Juliette had to pause and take a few deep breaths before she could continue. The memories were so fresh, her heart pounded as if she was still there. Still trapped.

“What happened to the commander?” Torrin asked gruffly.

“I’m not sure. I couldn’t see very far because of the incubator thing they put me in, and I couldn’t move, but they loaded him next to me. He was bleeding. A lot. I don’t know if he made it or not, but he was alive the last time I saw him. I couldn’t do anything. Couldn’t help. Couldn’t escape. I just had to lie there. Helpless,” she said, rage resonating through her. She pursed her lips to hold her tears in check. She refused to cry. “Someday I’ll make them pay for what they did.”

“Continue. Please,” Torrin said gruffly.

Juliette scrubbed a hand over her face, smoothing away signs of stress. She couldn’t afford to appear weak. Where she’d come from, weak got you killed. “When they finished loading us, we took off. I don’t remember anything after that. They must have tranquilized us because when I woke up those creepy guards were dragging me from one ship onto another. I don’t know where they took the others.”

“Did they say anything to you?” he whispered.

“I don’t have a translator. We were scheduled to get them after the orientation,” she whispered back.

When Torrin finally spoke, his voice was full of sadness. “I am deeply sorry that you were put through that, and I’m glad you’re here with me now.”

Juliette strained to hear Torrin’s words, they were almost too low for her to catch. Her lips quirked sadly. She patted his arm, aware that he was trying to make her feel better.

“Turns out, we’re not so easy to kill.”

”You’re recovering remarkably fast. I can’t even see any scars. I had no idea Caldorians could heal this quickly. You are Caldorian, right?”

“I’ve always healed faster than most. I really thought this time... well, let’s just say you’re a miracle worker,” he smiled back. Their eyes met. Held. Reaching out, h touched a lock of her long black hair. Something shifted inside Torrin. The same instinct he’d had the first time he’d seen her on the Vilitos ship rose up with a vengeance. Clicked into place.Mine.

“Not a miracle worker,” Juliette said with a twinkle in her eye, “A nurse.”

“Mynurse,” he said, his deep voice full of promise, holding her gaze in traditional Caldorian fashion, letting her know of his interest in her.

He must finish his original mission to find a stolen Lumerian Orb and visit his brother before he could properly bind Juliette to him forever, but he wasn’t the type to allow an opportunity to pass him by. He was finally free. Healthy. Whole. He’d never been the type to wait. He always set a goal, made a plan. Worked tirelessly until he succeeded.

“I’m so relieved you’re feeling better. I was worried.” Juliette’s long black lashes swept slowly over haunted, misty gray irises. Her head drifted sleepily to one side, only to jerk upright, repeating the same motion just moments later. “So glad.”

“You are exhausted, Juliette Rosen. You must tell me how you came by this name as we travel to Earth. Tell me everything about yourself, and why a Targo would allow you to keep its offspring.” Torrin frowned. “They are very protective of their young.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, unable to hold back a yawn, absently placing a hand on his chest. “I haven’t had much sleep the past few days while you were healing.” She yawned again, smiling sheepishly. “She gave them to me when we were on the other ship. They’re psychic. Telepathic, you know. She asked me to keep them safe. Take care of them. She didn’t think the Vilitos would let her live much longer. They’re just babies,” she said, yawning yet again. “They sleep unless they’re hungry, which she said wouldn’t happen for several months. What else could I do? They’re so cute.” Her eyes drifted closed on the last word, this time staying closed, her breath relaxing in slumber. She was literally falling asleep while talking.

“Cute?” Torrin raised his brows incredulously, whispering, “Cute now, maybe. But in a year or two you might not think they’re so cute.” He shook his head ruefully before gently reversing their positions, lowering her to the makeshift bed she had created for him while he was unconscious.

Done intentionally or not, she had touched him first, an unmistakable sign of her interest in him. She trusted him to take care of her. Careful not to touch the Targo babies, he murmured softly, “At least by then they should have formed a bond with you and won’t try to kill you while you sleep. I’d hate having to kill something you love, but I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe.”

He looked to where he thought the giant blue Targo had collapsed after he’d been hit. The creature was no longer there. Searching room to room inside the small cargo ship didn’t take long. There was no sign of the beast.It must have left the ship when we landed.

Returning to Juliette and the tiny Targo babies sleeping contentedly, he whispered, “This is why the Targo was so willing to help us escape. You had already won it over. Amazing. They’re dangerous predators, rarely bestowing their friendship, let alone allow anyone near their babies. You are special. A rare and priceless gift.”

Torrin raised his hand to rub the heavy scruff on his jaw as he watched her sleep, combing absently through his thick brown hair. He sat quietly, his mind refusing to be completely sidetracked from the Vilitos guard’s words.Was the guard telling the truth? Has my king bound himself to a human? And she somehow transformed? When was he on Earth? Where had they taken his brother?

He’d tried his best to cut himself off from Sevron from the moment he’d been taken, wanting only to spare his brother the pain he knew was coming. As time dragged on, days turning into months, his pain and torture unending, fever set in followed by hallucinations. He’d felt Sevron reaching for him. Trying to find him. Comfort him. He’d done his best to cut off his own emotions. His feelings. Sever their bond.

He’d only just held on, surviving endless months of torture because he’dhadto endure. Not for himself. For his family. For Sevron. His mirror twin. The death of one twin was rarely survived by the other. Torrin had been preparing to die, hoping to break their connection to give his brother a better chance at surviving once he was gone.

Torrin squeezed his eyes closed and reached out with mental fingers. Desperate. Yearning. Searching. Reconnecting. Only the faintest flicker of unease whispered through their connection. A warning. He cried out, bellowing in frustration and anger, unable to fully connect.

Chapter Six

Juliette’s eyes snapped open. Adrenaline pumping, she rolled to a stand. No one was around, but she could hear muffled voices. Three days had passed as Torrin repeatedly traveled the short distance into the area she’d gone looking for the maju water. He’d discreetly searched for Taeger, if that was even his real name.

Juliette had done her best to describe the cloaked men who had sold her the maju water, but Torrin had been unable to locate even a trace of their presence, and no one was talking. Juliette was glad they’d stayed a few extra days on Mora Five. She’d secretly gone out after him each time, looking her fill. Who knew when she’d get the chance to visit another alien world? Plus, she used the opportunity to get in a bit of exercise. She hadn’t been as dedicated to staying fit when she was in nursing school, and the short runs she took were already paying off. She wasn’t stupid. She’d been careful. She remembered how to stay in the shadows.

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