Page 54 of Alien Prince's Fake Bride
Shit.I think I’m dead.
Suddenly the predator jerks and gives off a terrible screech through a throat that was never meant to produce sound. Its legs start to claw uselessly against the ground as it desperately tries to turn around inside the pod. It scrambles wildly, laying its head back and screeching again. A big pool of thin-looking blood is quickly gathering on the floor, the metallic scent mixing with the smell of rot.
I spot movement behind the dinosaur. Something is attacking it. Probably another predator.
The raptor falls to the side with a splash of its own blood, making the whole pod rock violently. Kicking its legs uselessly into the air, it tries to get back up, but there’s less force in its movements now.
A big shape climbs past it, using one of the hanging harnesses to pull himself around the dinosaur. “What a wonderful planet you’ve found, Umbra.”
I drop the rod in sheer relief as my knees nearly buckle beneath me. I’ve never felt such relief. “Mareliux!”
He thrusts Bellatriz into the raptor’s head. The glass sword goes deep, and the dinosaur’s frantic movements stop instantly. “That was getting tedious.” He shakes blood off the sword andglances at me. “I know some people like having dangerous pets, but this is ridiculous.”
I stumble towards him, splashing through the dinosaur blood until I’m embracing him, weeping with relief. “That was terrible! I was so scared.”
“I don’t blame you,” he says, big body vibrating against me when he speaks and pulls me close so firmly I can’t breathe. “Not the kind of enemy we usually have to deal with. But bad enough. Are you injured?” He grabs my shoulders and gently pushes me out from him so he can check. “I hope all those stains are from your pet.”
“I’m fine,” I sniffle. “But you’re not.” I point to several injuries on his hand, torso, and legs that someone has bandaged in a manner so careless that it has to be himself.
“It’s not bad,” he says. “The Vyrpy were taken by surprise. They had not expected that anyone would look inside the escape pods. They were likely waiting for a better chance. Shall we get away from that thing? It smells.” He takes my hand and helps me over and around the dead raptor.
Stepping out of the pod, I luxuriate in the smelly jungle atmosphere as if it were air straight from a pine forest in the Alps. “Thanks for taking care of it. It was about to eat me.”
“That’s how it sounded,” he agrees as he rips some leaves off a bush, then proceeds to wipe Bellatriz’s glass blade with it.
It’s a very fine sword, now that I can see it properly. It’s etched with fine, alien sigils or some kind of flowing decoration. The glass is so clear that it doesn’t reflect much light, and from some angles it’s so transparent it’s totally invisible and only the black hilt can be seen. That must be where the AI resides. The wholesword is probably five feet long, but Mareliux must be eight, and so he can comfortably keep it in his belt.
“So no cloth around?”the sword whines. “No moist wipes? We’re just usingleaveson me now?”
“Would you prefer I sheath you dripping with alien monster blood?” Mareliux asks, taking great care to get the sword clean.
I have to ask. “Why do you fight with swords? Why not use guns or some other weapon that’s more effective? No offense, Bellatriz. I just want to understand.”
Mareliux holds the long, crystal blade up to the light. No sunrays reach this far down. “Some would say the honor and beauty and tradition of sword fighting is enough. But we do sometimes use guns. Depends on the enemy. We fight a lot inside spaceships, where using ranged weapons is usually not a good idea. If the walls burst, we could be all sucked out into space and die. Against the Vyrpy we always use blades. Guns tend to not work well with them. They are fast enough to get out of the way of the shots. Blades are harder to dodge.”
“Theyarefast,” I concede.
“Such a fascinating conversation,”Bellatriz chirps. “Meanwhile, what’s the plan?”
Mareliux replaces the sword in its sheath and looks at me, raising an eyebrow. “Any ideas, Umbra?”
So I think that most guys would just make up a plan rather than ask a girl for advice. But this one, arguably the second most powerful man in the galaxy, has no problem with ego. At least not that kind. It sends a bright warmth through me.
Then I kick myself inwardly. Damn it, I don’t want to fall forreal!
I stare into the jungle, seeing movement everywhere. “I think we should get off this planet.”
He smirks. “Really? You don’t like it here among the monsters? I thought you made friends with that one.”
“I’m pretty sure the monsters here make friends with you by eating you,” I point out. “I wish they could be less direct.”
Mareliux nods, tendrils waving. “Good point. Yes, of course getting away from here should be our first task. Does your pod have a beacon? I’m not sure mine works.” He nods to a point behind my pod.
I walk a little to the side to see what he means. And there, in among the trees, I spot a big, black cylinder leaned up against a tree. “Your pod?”
“I think my AI hitched onto your pod and followed it here. Don’t ask me how. But I’m happy it did.”
I notice that my own pod is also badly burned and scorched on the outside. It’s dented and terribly scratched. “We’re both lucky to be alive.” I turn to look at him. “Mareliux?”
