Page 9 of Touch the Stars
He turned away from the human male of no consequence who seemed to have abandoned his first device in favor of another more angular one.If it was the human equivalent of blankers, the male must know he was out of range.
“Put.Miss.Bergh.Down.Now.”
The inconsequential human male was speaking again.Miss Berghmust be the future empress’s name on her planet.Soon she would be known throughout the star system as Grand Empress of the Gharan Empire.The Great One.The—
A long, low growling sound came from the imperial belly.Of course!Lack of nourishment would explain her unusual weakness.That he could fix as soon as she was safely aboard, and the cruiser on course for Ghara.
Bang!
A loud sound resonated through the night air and something small impacted against his thigh with bruising force.He glanced down.Nothing seemed out of place except a small disk of metal in the sand next to his boot.
He raised his gaze to meet the male’s.A sharp, acrid odor tickled his nose and a wisp of smoke floated from the circular opening of the angular black object the male gripped.Some sort of weapon, then, not a blanker.It had a greater range than a blanker, too.
I must remember to include that in my mission report.
“Your clothes arebulletproof?”The last word did not translate, but there was no mistaking the human’s tone of disbelief.The male raised the angular weapon higher.“Stay where you are!”
Such a ridiculous order, but as something must be done about him and his smelly weapon...He tightened his grip around the empress’s legs as he moved around her odd, wheeled transport.
The male took a step back.“I said, stay where—”
He raised his blanker, then gave the trigger a light squeeze.Light flashed from the device and the male froze mid-step, his dark face stuck in an expression of wide-eyed shock.
But he did not faint.
This one must be sufficiently nourished.
A grunt of satisfaction rumbled in his chest as he returned the blanker to its belt case.Then he turned and set a loping pace in the direction of the cruiser.As soon as he had the empress comfortably ensconced aboard, he would return to deal with the inconsequential human.
Moments later, he strode up the ramp of the ship, then through the wavering portion of its hull.He followed the main corridor toward the ship’s imperial quarters.
“Neltai.”A door-size rectangle of the cabin’s wall undulated, and he stepped through it into the room.
He took in the space with a sweep of his gaze.Empty, white, and no furniture other than the bed.Although, the equally spaced columns of blinking blue lights along one wall indicated the presence of built-in storage drawers.The current grand emperor did seem to prefer the bare essentials in decorating.
Would his heir make different choices?
He transferred her weight to cradle her slack form in his arms.Given the bright colors of her clothing, the number of decorative pieces of ornament around her ears, and the delicate half-heart pendant around her neck, it was highly likely she would favor a more vibrant environment.
Reverence filled him as he gently lowered the future empress onto the huge bed.Her golden hair spilled across the white pillow and partially obscured her pale, round face.That would not do.He raised one hand and brushed it aside with gentle strokes.It was as soft as a silver moth’s silk against his fingers.Everything about her was the opposite of him.Her hair and skin fair, not dark.Her eyes brown, not blue.She was unique, intriguing…ethereal.
And still not awake, thankfully.If she was, she would be demanding answers to the questions she had asked earlier.Along with new ones like why he dared touch her in such a familiar manner.
If only there was time to lie next to her soft body until she wakes—
He jerked his hand back, squeezed his eyes shut, then blinked them open.Whywashe reacting in such an obscene manner?Such wayward feelings served no purpose other than to bring trouble.They must be banished.
Ghara awaited its next leader, and he stood here as his fingers twitched with the memory of her silky hair, well-formed thighs, and the firm globe of her bottom as he had carried her to the ship.Each cheek large enough to fill his hands.She had substance, and he liked substance.
“Stop!”
He gave his head a sharp shake.Nothingmattered but his mission and restoring his family’s honor.He gave the mattress a pressure test with his hands, adjusted it to a softer firmness for her comfort, then forced himself to turn away from the regal, golden-haired vision.There was one more task to complete before departure: dealing with the inconsequential male still frozen on the strangely paved roadway.
There must be no witnesses.
Kaitlyn.
Weird images flashed through her mind.Sitting on the warm car hood…a sheriff’s deputy…a giant of a man striding out of the desert…a flash of bluish light...
