Page 58 of Captured By the Alien

“I spent no more time introducing Kara than any of the other contenders.”

“No? You waxed lyrical over her heart and courage.” Baelon’s jaw tightened. “You described anedekhuman as being equal in every way to the Vraxians. It was an insult to each and every one of our fallen heroes who have perished in the war.”

“That’s not what I intended.” Vahn appealed to Rhyn. “I was merely explaining her inclusion inshaa’baara.”

“Of course you were. Baelon’s exaggerating.”

“Do not try to sweeten the truth, Rhyn. Her presence is offensive to our people.”

“Not all of them. There are many who see her as an emissary of reconciliation. Your Majesty, I assure you thereissupport for Kara’s presence in the contest.”

“Okay. Good.” Vahn let his shoulders relax slightly. “But thank you for reminding me to stay neutral, Baelon. Indeed, I am grateful to both of you for your counsel.”

Rhyn and Baelon bowed.

“Well, I’d better go speak to General Fury about the Earth visit,” Rhyn said casually. He sauntered to the door. “If you don’t see me around in the next few days, ask her where she’s buried my body.”

“Be nice,” Vahn cautioned. Baelon also got up.

“I should go too. I have final checks to make. Good evening, Zhaal Talvahnax.”

Alone in his royal offices, Vahn was mired in indecision.

He knew he had to project a neutral attitude towards all theshaa’baaracontestants – Vannla only knew what political fallout would ensue if there was even ahintthat he favored one above the others. But he couldn’t stay away from Kara.

Going to her the other night had been a risk. If they had been discovered, it would have been damaging for them both. He knew he should stay as far away from her as possible until the challenges were complete.

But he couldn’t stop thinking about her. The sweetness of her lips. The breathless way she’d admitted her love. The press of her small luscious body against his.

Drek’aa beresh.He couldn’t stay away. She was like a drug to him. And in any case, he reasoned, didn’t he have a duty to prevent the onset ofteshekalehshwhich would hinder her performance?

Yes. He did.

It didn’t escape him that he was simply trying to justify what he’d already decided to do. But he didn’t care. He needed her and damn the consequences.

I’m the ruler of the entire Vraxian Empire, he mused ruefully as he made his way to the secret passageway.But my heart is ruled by a human.

Twenty Five

The party was in full swing. Daa’sten had organized it to celebrate their successful introduction ceremony, and to give the Potentials a chance to let their hair down before the start of the challenges.

Kara wasn’t sure what she was drinking but it tasted enough like a vodka and tonic for her not to care. She listened to the music playing, a strange composition of tone and pitch which sounded discordant at first but then became weirdly compelling. It was utterly different to anything she’d ever heard before.

“It’s not designed for ears,” Vysh explained. “It contains subliminal harmonics that directly stimulate your brain. Different music can make you feel different emotions. This one is for confidence.”

Well, it was working. For the first time since she’d arrived on Vraxos Kara began to feel… not happy, exactly. But balanced. As if she was finally finding her place.

She tried to get to know some of the other contenders a little better. Clearly the music was working on them too – or maybe it was the drink – because no-one shied away from talking to her.

Except Layahn of course. It would take a ton of vodka to unclenchthatwoman’s butt.

Kara spoke at length to the delightfully daffy Inyria (“my friend told her sister who told her father who toldmyfather that some Vraxians think the humans aren’t real and the war is fake,”) and the forthright Lyrith (“is it true that human males carry their gonads outside their bodies? That’s disgusting.”)

There was also Hespia, Zanthara, Vecca, Risane, Gendril, Borth, Chanya, and one whose name she simply couldn’t remember but had lustrous white-blonde hair which almost reached the floor so was immediately christened in her mind as Rapunzel.

She liked all of them well enough. But as a soldier she couldn’t help instinctively assessing them to figure out which would pose the biggest threat in the challenges.

Inyria and Rapunzel wouldn’t last long, she decided. Hespia and Risane both looked insanely fit and seemed intelligent enough to make it to the final. And she had no doubts about Vysh. But the real danger was Layahn.

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