Page 55 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
A melody reaches my ears, and I pause mid-step, searching for its source.
“What’s wrong?” Olivia asks in a hushed whisper.
Leading her away from the path we were on and instead in the direction of the sound, I follow where it guides me.
“Janik.” Horek growls my name, but I don’t stop walking.
Olivia says my name as well, but my entire focus is finding where that familiar song comes from. We pass several rooms until I come to a stop outside an open set of doors. Within the roomis the queen. She sits in a chair with a curved base that allows it to rock back and forth while she sings a song I’ve hummed countless times for as long as I can remember.
She must sense our presence because her eyes open and she fixes her stare upon us. Uponme. She continues singing while I add my own voice, humming the music in complete harmony with her until the song is over.
“What is that?” My voice is rough. The question? A plea.
“It’s something I used to sing to my sons when they were still too young to walk.”
Sons?
“I didn’t realize you had more than one.”
Queen Veroneek smiles, but it’s with heartbreaking sadness. “I don’t any longer.”
My feet draw me closer as if they are in control of my entire body. “What happened to the other?”
“He died.” Her voice catches on a sob.
“What was his name?”
“Barrik.”
Barrik.
My head aches and I grip it tightly, giving it a little shake to try and clear the pain away. A soft hand caresses my cheek and I open my eyes to stare into the queen’s. Ones the exact color of mine.
Chapter 23
Olivia
I have no idea what’s going on, but given Horek’s whispered curse, it’s a big deal. My gaze bounces between Janik and the queen as some strange interaction happens between them that I don’t understand. What was the song they were singing? And how do they both know it?
“We need to go,” Horek breaks the eerie silence that’s hung in the air since the two Bohnari stopped singing and began this intense study of each other.
His command severs whatever connection Janik and the queen have and she drops her hand from his cheek. Neither can look away from the other though.
“Is it possible?” Queen Veroneek asks in a hushed whisper that’s so full of hope.
“I don’t know,” Horek answers. “But if we don’t leave now, more of our people are going to die.”
This seems to shake the queen out of whatever stunned state she’s in, because she straightens to her full regal height and a visible change comes over her.
“Go. Do what needs to be done to save the city first. We can figure out the rest later.” There’s a note of promise in her voice.
“Janik?” I approach him carefully, because he’s still staring at the queen, his eyes filled with anguish.
I thread my fingers through his. He’s trembling but squeezes my hand almost painfully. Like he needs an anchor. Whatever it is he needs, I’ll be there for him. Finally, he comes out of the stupor that held him in its grasp. He takes in a long shuddering breath.
“I’m fine. Let’s go.” He turns us away from the queen and retreats from the room as if he’s being chased.
Horek catches up, and he can’t stop casting glances at Janik while we hurry through the palace. I want to ask what the fuck is going on, but there’s too much tension.
