Page 21 of Alien Knight Steals the Bride

“Are you ignoring me?” Juliette steamed, wrapping herself in the warming blanket she’d found earlier. “We’re having a discussion here.”

Torrin finally turned to her, his eyebrows raised. “No. We are not.”

“Excuse me?” Juliette retorted angrily. “I most certainly think we are. I want to come with you. No. Correction. Iamcoming with you.”

He stepped close, diving his hands into her long silky tresses, his thumbs brushing against the pulse points in her neck. He kissed her until long after her stiff posture softened and she leaned into him. He needed her surrender. Her unspoken promise of tomorrow before he said anything more.

“Juliette,” he said, nuzzling her hair. “I need to know that you are here. Safe. Protected. Cappra may not look dangerous, but it is. People disappear here. Good people. I cannot allow you to risk yourself like that.” He held her close, swaying them slowly, comfortingly, side to side.

“I see,” she mumbled into his chest, sighing with disappointment, her shoulders slumping. What had she expected, after all? She shouldn’t have asked him in the first place. She didn’t need his permission. His approval. She’d been on her own far too long, making her own decisions, living with the consequences of those decisions, for too many years to start asking for permission now, or waiting for it. She hugged him, squeezing so hard he coughed. She couldn’t help herself. Her heart was breaking. Shattering into a million pieces as she mentally said her goodbyes.

Torrin kissed her long and hard. Something felt off. She’d acquiesced, given him what he wanted, so why did he feel as if she were already pulling away from him? Distancing herself? Not just until he returned from his mission, but forever? Squeezing her just as tightly, he vowed, “I know you’re not happy with my decision. I will come back as quickly as I can, and then we can discuss anything you want. Promise me you’ll be here when I get back.”

Juliette pulled away, shaking her head sadly. “I don’t make promises, remember?”

Torrin pulled her back into his arms, hugging her almost desperately. “Don’t leave this ship,” he ordered. “If you want to end our relationship, I can’t stop you, but Do. Not. Leave. This. Ship.”

“And if I do?”.

“If you leave, I’ll find you and put you over my knee. This time it will hurt.”

She pulled away again, fuming. “I’m not a child. You wouldn’t dare.”

Gaze narrowing, he growled, “Try me.”

“We’re done here,” Juliette said, slicing her hand angrily through the air.

Torrin met her glare, his own face an angry mask. “Not by a long shot. Don’t test me. I meant what I said.” And with that, he turned and left.

Juliette watched him leave, following his progress until he was out of sight. “That makes two of us.”

Chapter Ten

Cappra – Evening

Torrin slowedand melted into the crowd unnoticed. He’d jogged several miles from the Space Port on the outskirts of the city. Cappra was a thriving metropolis, with millions of visitors from every planet represented in the Intergalactic Council each year. Tall glass buildings reflected the many lights of the city as dusk gave way to the darkness of night. He’d traded the clothing he’d procured on Mora Five, along with a few black market items, for the traditional garb worn on Cappra. A close fitting, synthetic shirt and loose pants, with a soft, furl-ike overcoat and boots.

Happy revelers intermingled with others just trying to get home, their faces drawn and tense. He followed the rhythm of the crowd, unhurried and seemingly without any real destination.

He needed to focus on his mission to find and retrieve a missing Lumerian Orb, yet his thoughts continuously strayed back to Juliette. She’d been furious at his order to stay on the ship. He was a Lumerian Knight, with years of training and experience. He knew how dangerous this planet was. He couldn’t allow her to accompany him. She was smart and resourceful, he’d seen that for himself on Mora Five, but this mission was something else. He’d felt a sense of unease from the moment they’d landed. Juliette could be angry as long as she stayed on the ship. He could never risk her life. In a few short days she’d become his everything.

Looming up ahead on the right like the giant palatial monstrosity that it was, the Ambassador’s residence gleamed pearly white behind a row of buildings, lights glaring from every window. The residence looked innocent enough, free of foul play, and yet in his gut he felt a growing dread the closer he came. His stomach churned and the hairs on the back of his neck and arms rose as if charged with electricity. He’d been to many places. Many worlds. Nowhere else came close to making him feel like turning back like this place did. Turn back and get as far away as he could.What the hell is going on here? This place belongs to an Intergalactic Council Member. Or the Ambassador, which is essentially the same thing, as he or she acts as a liaison for the Council Member. Some of them have been known to take a bribe or two, but surely they wouldn’t conduct such business from their own homes?

Torrin and the others on the street turned a corner and came to a standstill. The street was blocked off and people were beginning to gather for what appeared to be some sort of street gathering, or parade, blocking his destination. Both to the right and left were narrow side streets, nearly abandoned. Apparently everyone was attending the parade. He needed to get into the Ambassador’s residence. He’d just have to cut across the parade.

Spotting a large, rowdy group of young men who seemed like they intended to cross the parade, he maneuvered his way close to them. As they entered the street, he kept his head slightly down and toward one of the boys, nodding and laughing on que with the others. He had no idea what the parade was meant to celebrate, but the music was loud and blending in was easy.

As soon as they were across, he split from the group and headed down a side alley, leading him closer to his destination. Picking up an empty bottle from the ground, he sniffed and nearly gagged. The contents were rancid and foul.Perfect.

Dousing his back with the contents of the bottle, he made his way to the back entrance, his gait uneven, as if intoxicated or feeling unwell. Since he was quite tall, he also slumped a bit, so as not to alert or intimidate whoever was guarding the door. His plan was to gain entrance without causing a stir. To do that, they needed to think he wasn’t a threat.

As expected, a guard stood to each side of the door. Not unkempt, they were still surprising. They wore mismatched uniforms, one in dark blue and the other black, continuously shifting their attention from him to the door, their movements agitated. Nervous. “Stop,” the guard said, one hand wrapping around the laser pistol strapped to his thigh, the other held palm up.

Torrin’s look of confusion was genuine as he wobbled from one guard to the other. These two untrained fools couldn’t be the regular guard for an Ambassador. Something was very wrong with this picture. Taking a chance, he purposely stumbled into the guard on the right, an older, portly humanoid man, breathing heavily as he slurred, “Where’s the regular guard?”

“None of your business.” The humanoid shoved Torrin back, cringing. “Ugh, you reek,” he shuddered, “like something dead and rotting. Come back when you’ve cleaned up. No beggars welcome here.”

Torrin continued his ruse, waving his hand and pointing his index finger back toward the door, slurring, “Need in.” He bent forward slightly, making a scrubbing motion. “I clean floors.”

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