Page 37 of The Alien's Cruel Starfrost Domain

CHAPTER 11

IVRAEL

The first time Lara ran away, I wasn’t expecting it—not yet, anyway, having assumed my threats in the kitchen would give her an incentive to obey me, at least for a while. At least until I was ready for her to lead me to the Starfire crown.

I hadn’t counted on how strongly it would call to her.

But then the door to my bedchamber slammed open.

“The Evans girl has fled the manor,” Khrint announced unceremoniously, out of breath and gasping as he staggered into my sitting room.

“Dammit,” I cursed, surging to my feet from where I had been staring moodily into the fireplace. “Where did she go?”

Khrint shook his head. “I don’t know, Your Lordship.”

I inhaled deeply, trying to calm my beating heart. Just because she had run didn’t mean she was going to wind up in trouble.

Besides, perhaps this time she would find her power within herself, access it, and bring herself back home.

Home.

I laughed bitterly. That was probably where she thought she was headed now. Herhome. Back to Earth.

I wasn’t certain she even realized she needed a spaceship to get there—much less where she could find one. Still, it never hurt to consider all possibilities. And I had an ally who was better at that than anyone else I knew.

I tapped the emergency communications device on the wall. “Cyan?”

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite technologically-challenged duke,” her smooth alto voice rolled through the room. “Missing me already?”

Khrint jumped—both at the unaccustomed use of technology and, I suspected, at Cyan’s irreverent tone. I ignored his response and addressed her. “Lara Evans has run.”

“Run as in run away?” Cyan’s laugh tinkled through the speaker. “My, my. I’ve never known you to have such difficulty keeping a woman interested. Usually they’re falling all over themselves to stay close to you. Have you lost your charm?”

I snorted, leaning my forearm and elbow on the wall just above the speaker and microphone, resting my forehead on my wrist bone to create the illusion of privacy. “Oh yes, I’m sure you find this absolutely hilarious.”

“I do, actually. The great Duke of Starfrost, outwitted by an Earth girl. How entertaining.”

“Cyan—”

“Oh, fine. What do you need? Besides lessons in courtship, obviously.”

I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling. “In case Lara has learned where you are, I need you to ensure she isn’t able to access any controls or take you off-planet.”

“Please. As if I’d let anyone but you pilot me.” Her tone turned coy. “I have standards, you know.”

“I don’t suppose there’s any way you can track her?”

“Not without incurring the kind of magnetics we believe are harming your planet. Though I must say, watching you chase after her might be worth the risk.”

“Cyan.”

“Are you well?” Her tone shifted, genuine concern threading through the teasing. “Is the plan on track? Or are you too busy playing hide-and-seek with your runaway servant?”

“Everything is...” I paused. “Not on schedule, exactly, but it is progressing.”

“That’s about as clear as a sandstorm on Havint Prime. Care to elaborate?”

“It means I’ll see you soon.”

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