Alien Romance: Seized By The Alien: Scifi Alien Abduction Romance (Alien Romance, Alien Invasion Romance, BBW) (Celestial Protectors Book 1) Read online

  "Where is Prince Hestian?" Astrid demanded, "Take me to him. Now."

  "He- He's in the bathhouse," The man stammered, still staring at her open mouthed, "But, you don't have to go to him. You could come with me."

  Astrid wrinkled her nose in confusion.

  "No," She said sharply, "Take me to the prince!"

  The man looked more than hurt, he looked positively wounded and she saw him look away, scrambling for some excuse to keep her here. She made a disgusted noise and hurried off without him.

  Every other man she encountered said nearly the same thing, that she should go with them rather than find the prince, to Astrid's growing confusion. Some of them outright tried to grab her and take her with them, but Astrid pulled away and kept going, her frustration rising to a furious ire, until at last she heard the quiet splashing of water and realized she'd found the bathhouse.

  It was slightly detached from the rest of the palace, separated by a wide garden. Its construction was distinctly roman, open and airy. As Astrid descended the mossy stone garden path to where the bathhouse sat with an unobstructed view of the world spread out below the mountain, she realized there was only one person sitting in the steaming, blue white water. Hestian looked up as she approached, and frowned in concern.

  "What are you doing outside the women's quarters?" He asked, turning from where he'd been sitting against the edge of the bath in order to face her. Steam was gently rising from the surface of the clear, swimming pool sized bath and moisture glistened on his bronze skin. Astrid stopped, swallowing hard at the sight of him. In her anger, she'd forgotten momentarily how breathtakingly attractive he was.

  "I left," She explained, dragging her eyes from his muscular and glistening chest and trying to remember her ire, "I need you to take me back to my ship, right now."

  "That's impossible," He said simply, "The accords forbid it."

  "To hell with your accords," Astrid snapped, "I have been kidnapped and I want to go home!"

  Hestian stared at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he turned and began to rise out of the bath. Water slid over his sculpted muscles, hugging his skin like it couldn't bear to leave him. He was naked, and Astrid's suspicions that their reproductive habits were similar to humans were very quickly confirmed. Astrid's heart did backflips in her chest.

  "I cannot take an army against Orestes in defiance of the accords," Hestian said slowly, his cool assurance unshakable, the roll of his shoulder predatory as he moved towards her, "And I cannot relinquish the single advantage I have over my brother and risk the safety of this city and everyone in it. You are not leaving."

  With every word he moved closer to her, glistening in the sun. Astrid held her ground, though her knees trembled as he stepped close enough that she could feel the warmth of his body. His large, rough hands gripped her shoulders, slid down her arms leaving tingles in their wake, and finally caught her hands in a surprisingly gentle grip.

  "So forget that nonsense," He said, his voice low and inviting, "And join me in the bath. You will want to leave much less afterwards, I promise you."

  Astrid's breath caught at the proposition and for a moment she was sincerely tempted. Then she yanked her hands from his grip.

  "Like hell," She hissed, "If your accords are so precious, give me one of those riding beasts and I'll go back on my own."

  Hestian's eyes widened slightly at that and she sensed she'd shocked him somehow. But he recovered in an instant and leaned past her to fetch his clothing, which was draped over a rock behind her. He pulled on another pair of tight black pants and a loose, embroidered shirt.

  "Come with me," He said, brushing past her.

  "Where to?"

  He didn't answer. Astrid released an annoyed breath. He was clearly too used to people obeying him without question. She sat down on the rock he'd taken his clothes from and waited. After a few long minutes he returned, his eyes flashing with irritation.

  "I would like to show you something," He ground out, his sharp canines visible with every word, "The training arena. If you would be so kind."

  "Thank you," Astrid said, standing up, "Was that so difficult?"

  He gave an aggravated grunt and turned to leave. She followed this time, and he led her quickly through the halls and down several staircases, some of them outdoors, which descended the mountain a ways until they reached a detached, round structure not unlike a coliseum. He offered his hand as she descended the steep steps and Astrid, deciding snubbing his chivalry was unnecessary, took it. The steps were built with someone far taller than her in mind, after all.

  He led her into the arena, to a balcony that overlooked the central training grounds. Below, several men appeared to be training against one another in the wide, dusty space. They sparred with what looked like dull metal replicas of the laser lances they had used in the earlier battle, and grappled hand to hand.

  Their huge bodies, so much larger than human men, crashed into the earth as they threw one another, and the sound echoed like thunder around the coliseum. Astrid swallowed hard, intimidated.

  At the far end of the oval a man was in a pen with one of the eight legged riding beasts. They were circling each other slowly and Astrid inhaled sharply as the beast lunged, its sharp teeth bared in its long snout. The man dived aside, but not quickly enough. The teeth closed on his arm and he screamed. Others rushed to help him, throwing a bridle over the beast which they dragged back on to pry open its jaws until it released the man's mutilated arm. Others pulled the injured man away quickly.

  "These are the men of Nibiru," Hestian said, unmoved by the gory scene, "I want you to see them. To see their strength. And now I want you to know that, if he caught you alone, any one of those men would claim you in an instant."

  Astrid tensed, her hands gripping the edge of the stone balcony.

  "Do you mean-"

  "Yes," He replied, "Most of these men will never have the opportunity to take a wife or mate with a woman. If presented with the opportunity, any one of them would leap at the chance to bed a creature as lovely as you."

  Astrid shivered, suddenly more aware of how much danger she'd been in running through the palace halls alone earlier today. Had it been only the power of the prince's name that had kept them from making their move?

  "The Hesperides mentioned there weren't many women here," She said, turning to look at him, "Are there really so few?"

  He inclined his head in confirmation, then gazed out over the arena again.

  "Women are only born to women," He said, "We have a science that allows parthenogenesis, but the issue is always male. All women in the Shining City exist within the women's quarters of the noble houses. There are, at a guess, sixty in this part of the empire."

  Astrid's eyes widened in shock at how incredibly low that number was compared to the massive city she had seen.

  "It was no always so," He continued, "Once, there were many women, as many as there were men. But that was long ago. So long ago we no longer know the cause for their disappearance. A few thousand years ago, the women were horded by warlords, who bred them cruelly and constantly. But with the formation of the empire and the discovery of parthenogenesis, the women were freed to become the beacons of wisdom and respect they were meant to be.

  No woman breeds now except by her own choice, by the seed of her destined mate. It has led to the number of women dwindling further. But, by their own decision, it is better they die out entirely than suffer in the manner they once did."

  Astrid was silent for a long moment, considering all she'd been told. She leaned closer to Hestian with a shudder, unable to imagine how terrible life must have been here, and how lucky she was to have landed in this place at the time she did.

  "Destined mate?" She asked at last, "Like a soul mate?"

  Hestian shrugged, not recognizing the term.

  "My species has a very powerful mating instinct," He said, "We can recognize almost at once when the perfect companion is before us
. Our bodies know even before our minds do. When two destined mates find one another, nothing can separate them."

  He was looking as Astrid intently and she quickly looked away. After a moment he did as well. They watched the training in silence a while longer.

  "I will escort you back to the women's quarters now," He said, turning and offering his hand as they reached the stairs, "Do not leave them again without me."

  "And why am I so safe with you?" Astrid asked, taking his hand anyway as she climbed the tall steps. He paused, holding her delicate fingers carefully within his large, calloused palm.

  "My father," He said, looking at her hand as he ran his thumb over her fingers thoughtfully, "Before he died, he forbid me to take the throne until my brother was dealt with. And until I am king, I may take no mate."

  He smiled a little, and tugged her closer. She stumbled on the steps and fell against his broad chest, warm and solid against her. She looked up, startled, and stared into his intense, honey-gold eyes. His smile became a smirk.

  "That doesn't mean I may not dally, however."

  Astrid's face burned scarlet with embarrassment and she struggled quickly to get out of his arms. He released her with a low chuckle and followed as she stomped away down the hall, too embarrassed to think of a reply.

  Chapter Five

  He closed her in the women's quarters again, where the light through the windows had dwindled to a starry purple sunset. Mermesa, Nelisa and Aiopis were lounging in one of the comfortable sitting rooms, talking and laughing quietly and passing a strange kind of pipe between them.

  "Welcome back," Mermesa said, "I'm glad to see you're all right. None of the men gave you trouble."

  "They tried."

  Mermesa and Aiopis both laughed. Nelisa was occupied with the pipe.

  "I can see why Orestes wanted you for a war bride," Aiopis said, "He trains them to battle for him in addition to being his strategists."

  Mermesa shook her head at that.

  "It's foul how little he values them," Mermesa said, "To put them in danger that way."

  "Maybe they want to fight," Astrid suggested, "Maybe they were tired of being hidden away."

  "Then he should let them train," Nelisa said, "But it is counter to everything in the accords to put a woman on the front lines in the manner he does."

  "On my world women are just as capable of fighting as men," Astrid insisted, "They fight on the fight lines alongside the male soldiers every day."

  "On your world you have women to spare."

  Astrid flinched a little at that, but she realized they were right. The species wouldn't die out if a hundred thousand human women died in battle.

  "You're tired," Mermesa said gently, "We've prepared a room for you, just through there. Bathe and rest. In the morning everything will seem kinder."

  Astrid wanted to argue. She wanted to fight everyone right now. But she knew she didn't have time. So she wished them goodnight and slunk into the room they'd pointed out. It was a lovely room. She hadn't seen a thing in this place that wasn't lovely. And she did take advantage of the washroom.

  The tub, a recessed silver dish set into the floor, filled quickly with cool water that heated in a flash when she touched a button on the side. It was tempting to linger in the warm water, but she had too much to do.

  She cleaned off quickly and redressed, pulling her silver suit back on and then wrapping one of the loose garments they'd given her over it. The suit would draw too much attention, she needed to move stealthily.

  She didn't even need rope to get out through the window. The cliff beneath it was wide and easy to scramble along. She looped a few of the sheets they'd given her around her torso just in case before she climbed out and began scrambling down the mountain, glad she had experience with free climbing from her training.

  She made it down the mountain by the time the moon had risen and full night had fallen, and she slipped through the quiet streets of the Shining City in perfect silence. There was almost no one out. She guessed the people of Nibiru weren't inclined to nocturnalism.

  She could get through the city in an hour on foot if she stayed on the main road, she figured. With no mount it would likely take her all night and then some to cross the tundra. She was quietly grateful her suit was insulated for the vacuum of space.

  At least the cold wouldn't be a problem. She figured if she was quick and quiet she could sneak through Orestes's army and get to her pod. She'd only need a second to get in and start up the return process.

  Unbeknownst to her, a figure in a dark cloak slipped down the road after her, silent as a ghost, keeping its distance and watching her progress.

  Astrid was nearly out of the city when things went wrong. A man, one of Hestian's warriors, stepped out into the road in front of her. She froze briefly, then turned to try and run.

  "Don't."

  She went still at the threat in his voice, and realized he was holding a laser lance casually in one hand. She swallowed hard.

  "Go home," She said, trying to match his threatening tone as she stalked slowly towards him, "That's all I'm trying to do. We can both just get out of each other's way."

  His lance flickered on, the blue light humming in the silent night air.

  "Don't fight," He said, "This can be easy for you. I'll be a good mate. I can take care of you."

  "I don't want you," Astrid didn't care that it was harsh, she was in a hurry, "So just get out of my way."

  Instead, the man rushed her. Astrid dropped into a lower stance at once, remembering her jujutsu classes. Martial arts were her preferred way to stay in shape and build muscle as she trained, always preparing for the rigid demands she'd one day face in the astronaut program. The man was at least seven feet tall, as all the men here seemed to be, and built from years of training. Luckily jujutsu was a style all about defeating larger or armed opponents.

  As he lunged at her with the lance she side stepped, ducked under him, and got her shoulder under his ribs, using his own momentum to flip him over her shoulder. She heard him hit the ground, but didn't stop to gloat, hurrying to get away.

  Instead she jerked to a stop as he grabbed the loose robe she was wearing and dragged her back. She slipped out of the garment quickly, abandoning her supplies and leaving her in nothing but her flight suit, but not quickly enough.

  He was on his feet and reaching for her again. She tried to dart out of the way again and her eyes widened in shock as his hand connected with her head anyway.

  She'd underestimated his reach, used to human opponents. She reeled, stunned by the blow, and felt him grab her by the arm. She dragged him closer by his grip on her bicep in order to slam a palm into his ear and she heard him cry out in pain, releasing her.

  She turned, still dazed, to try and get away again, only for him to leap on her, pinning her to the ground. The sheer size of him knocked the wind from her lungs and she saw spots swimming in her vision as she felt him clawing at her clothes. She could get out of this, she could, she knew how, if she could just focus enough to remember...

  An animal snarl disrupted her thoughts. The man sat up and a second later something collided with him hard, knocking him onto his back and off of Astrid, who scrambled away, dragging herself a few feet away as she waited for her vision to clear. The man had dropped his lance and she grabbed it, clinging to it as she stared at the struggle.

  Another man was on top of her attacker, sounding less like a human than a cornered wolf as he tore into the man below him, whose pitiful attempts to put up a fight went entirely ignored by the second man. Astrid, her vision swimming, didn't recognize her rescuer until, as the first man gave a gurgling cry and fell still, he stood and turned towards her, blood dripping from his fangs.

  "Hestian?" She whispered, shocked.

  She flattened herself against a wall, the spear held out in front of her as he stumbled towards her. The look in his eyes was something wild and animal, utterly irrational. For a moment she was afraid he was going to t
ear her throat out the same as the other man's. She readied the spear to defend herself. But instead, he dropped to his knees before her and reached out to her, no more snarl on his lips. In sudden doubt, Astrid let the spear drop a fraction. He reached past in an instant and pulled her close, squeezing her against his chest. Astrid could hear his heart racing.

  After a confused moment, she realized he was trembling. He was afraid. From the way he was clinging to her, she could almost believe he was frightened to have almost lost her. But that didn't make sense. He'd only met her this morning...

  And yet she couldn't deny the way her heart swelled at how tightly he held her, his hand in her hair stroking it like he was trying to soothe her. Confusion and lingering fear left Astrid too flustered to resist as he picked her up and began carrying her back to the palace.

  By the time they'd reached the palace she'd regained her senses and she struggled out of his arms in the outer courtyard.

  "Take me back," She said, staring into his still bloody face unflinchingly, "I need to go home."

  He didn't answer, his lips drawing into a thin line. He looked away, eyes troubled.

  "I'll just escape again," She said, "I will keep escaping until I get home. I'm not going to stop!"

  He still said nothing. Astrid couldn't read the look in his eyes, conflicted and angry and something more, as he refused to look at her.

  "Answer me," She insisted, "Do you hear me? I'm not going to stay here! You don't own me!"

  He looked at her at last then, and something about the emotion in his tawny eyes pierced her heart and made her fall silent. He reached out carefully; his expression almost pained, and swept her hair back from her face.

  Carefully as though she were made of spun glass, he pulled her into his arms again. She let him, if only because she was baffled by this behavior after a day of masculine preening and crude propositions. He held her with incredible gentleness, nothing like the frightened abandon he'd squeezed her with before. He pressed his face to the top of her head, breathing in her scent for a long moment.