Page 28 of Alien Knight Steals the Bride

Torrin waved a hand over the door panel. As soon as the door slid open, he and Taeger stepped through, followed by Seth and Greig. The other two, Elduin and Lyari, stayed back to maintain security in the hallway.

Opulence and excess reigned supreme inside the suite, but Juliette was decidedly absent. Diamonds and emeralds sparkled in the chandelier hanging over the large table at the center of the room. Gold chair backs glowed warmly, set against the dancing flames in the fireplace. Every luxury, every desire within reach. And all forbidden, planetary natural resources purchased from the black market. Torrin looked around in disgust.

“C’bor Ubrion,” he called out, decloaking. He wanted the bastard to see him. Know what death looked like when it came for him. “You have taken what does not belong to you. Where is Juliette?”

The side door slid open and C’bor walked through, a look of supreme confidence on his red face. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. Mywifeis resting and does not wish to be disturbed. She’s feeling a bit under the weather, you see. I’m not sure how you got in here, but you must leave immediately, or I will be forced to call my father’s guard. He’s a member of the Intergalactic Council.”

“Andyouare mistaken if you think your guard can help you.” Torrin responded in kind, reaching for his rune covered sword. “They’re all dead. Now move aside,” he snarled.

“Fine,” C’bor shrugged. “See for yourself. I was telling the truth. My wife isn’t feeling well.”

Torrin walked through the side door as C’bor stepped aside. There, curled into the fetal position on top of an extra-large bed, was Juliette. She appeared to be sleeping. There were no chains. No torture devices. For the first time, Torrin hesitated. Could he have been so wrong? Was she there willingly? Had she been so angry with him that she’d sought another?

“Juliette.”

She didn’t respond. “Juliette,” he said again, concern furrowing his brow. With shaking hands, he put his sword back in its scabbard, then reached out to wake her, only to yank his hand back in pain. She was scalding hot. “Juliette!” he shouted. “Wake up!”

Juliette moaned. Opened her eyes slightly. “Torrin?” she croaked.

Torrin sank to one knee next to the bed in relief. She was alive. “Juliette,” he whispered. “You are not well. Why haven’t you been treated by a doctor? Do you want to be here? Is this what you want? Did he speak the truth? You’re married?”

“I-I don’t know if we’re really married,” she whispered, happy to see Torrin yet too weak to raise her hand in comfort. “I agreed to marry him. I was trying to buy time.”

Torrin shook his head in confusion. “Time for what?”

A tear slid from the corner of her eye as she whispered brokenly. “Time for you to find me. I tried to follow you. Then everything went wrong. He’s an awful, depraved man. A butcher. Now my friend Balinora is dead,” she cried softly. “He killed her. Or had her killed. And I think I’m dying.”

Torrin sat on the bed and gathered her to him, wrapping a blanket protectively around her. Her eyes were glazed. She was burning with fever, and while he could withstand the blistering heat temporarily, her temperature was rising alarmingly. “I’m going to get you out of here,” he vowed.

C’bor, who’d been watching the exchange, sneered, “That’s where you’re wrong. She isn’t going anywhere with you. Sheismy bride, and wears my chains of obedience, which could only be placed upon her if she willingly agreed to be mine. She. Belongs. Tome.”

Torrin lifted Juliette, cradling her securely in his arms. “Then I’ll just have to steal her from you.” He pulled out his laser pistol and shot a hole in the side of the ship. Holding Juliette tightly, he ran for the opening and leaped through.

C’bor stiffened as he watched them drop to the ground unharmed. “Never! Juliette Rosen,” he shouted in the same commanding tone he’d used to force her obedience earlier, “you will die before leaving me!”

C’bor turnedfrom the window, straight into the path of Taeger’s waiting blade.

“My young friend may not fully understand the destructive power of obedience chains, but I do. You just sentenced the woman he loves, whom he asked to light his markings and presumably carry his children, to die.” Taeger shoved his blade deeper into C’bor’s chest. “And that is unacceptable. So, I’m going to help my friend, myking, steal her away from you. Do you know how to break obedience chains?”

C’bor looked down at the blade protruding from his chest, blood soaking through his silk shirt in an ever-widening path, then back to Taeger, unable to speak, pain and fear in his eyes.

“That’s right. I see you understand,” Taeger murmured into his ear, shoving the blade all the way through skin and bone to his beating heart. “Obedience chains can only be broken in death, which is why they were banned centuries ago.”

Taeger pulled the blade out and watched as C’bor crumpled to the floor.

Chapter Thirteen

Torrin raced away from the ship he’d just blasted as fast as he could, Juliette’s small frame never slowing him down. She was light as air. Fragile. Human.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Greig, Seth, and Taeger hot on his heels. Flipping his helmet back up, he shouted into the comms, “Transport two to medical.” He was nothing if not a fast learner, mimicking Taeger’s previous order to transport them exactly where they wanted to go.

Torrin held Juliette tighter as he waited for the transport process to begin, her face nestled in the crook of his neck. Nuzzling her hair, he was unprepared when the blanket he’d cocooned her in burst into flame.

Ignoring his singed eyebrows and blistering cheeks, he put her down as gently as possible, rolling her out of the blanket to get her away from the flames. “Cancel transport!” he bellowed, “and get medical down here. Now!”

Taeger, Seth, and Greig caught up to Torrin moments later as he was trying desperately to snuff out the flames emanating from Juliette.

Seth frowned as he bent down to help. “I didn’t know humans could do this.”

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