Taken By The Alien Hero (Romance, Alien, Adventure) (3 page)

Twenty minutes later the three of them were seated in the cockpit.

“There is no version of this that ends happily, I’m afraid,” said Zaffa “If we report our mishap with the pirates the Authority will send an escort to rendezvous and immediately take Ilham into custody. If we lie and say that the pirates took her they will spend a great amount of effort and time to look for her and anybody caught with her will certainly be dealt with harshly. If we simply run we all become fugitives and even the guilds cannot save her if she is caught.”

“So what do we do?” Ilham’s voice shook. Roshon instinctively reached out to comfort her. Zaffa watched in alarm as Ilham’s posture became more relaxed once they made contact. The bond between them was extremely strong, despite its newness.

“We turn ourselves in,” Zaffa pronounced.

“What?” Roshon was incredulous.

“Ilham’s duty to her guild requires her to appear for the insemination. She will do so. She will admit to taking a lover during her fertile time. There will be hell to pay for it, but she is precious to them and has had a spotless record thus far. They will be lenient.”

“What about me?”

“You, Mister Nandu, will not get away with anything less that 50 lashes. But you will be able to escape with your life and your vessel and maybe even your pay. I will see to that.”

“I meant, what if I do not agree to let her be inseminated,” Roshon bit back his disgust at the word.

“You have no choice. If you interfere you will be killed. If Ilham refuses she will be turned out of her guild, publicly flogged and jailed.”

Tears filled Ilham’s eyes. What had she done to them all? Roshon scooped the female into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. Fifty lashes meant nothing to him, but the thought of Ilham publically flogged or turned out of her guild was deeply sobering.

“Mister Nandu, it may be best if you refrain from touching Ilham for the remainder of this trip.”

“Why?”

“It is my belief that yours is a bonded race. What transpired between you two was not entirely your fault. It was bio-chemical. But, prolonged exposure to each other may make the effects longer lasting and create difficulties when it is time to disembark.”

Roshon chuckled grimly.

“Lady, if it is as you say and I have to walk away once we reach Alarias Prime, then I am going to spend every moment I can as close to her as possible.”

“Your intentions are admirable but have you thought of Ilham? It will be very difficult to leave your side. She may suffer greatly,” Zaffa reasoned.

“I choose to suffer,” Ilham interjected. Turning to face Roshon, she cupped his face in her hands. “There are no females on your planet because the males willingly gave up those who survived the plague. When the time comes, you and I will both find the strength to do as they have done.”

“Ilham…”

“Zaffa, I have made a decision. I will not deny myself these few hours of peace. Even if it is only my hormones talking, I will not miss out on this feeling.”

Facing Ilham’s resolve, Zaffa gave up. She could not forcibly separate them even if she were so inclined.

“You have four hours. Go, I can keep watch here. “

The lovers unceremoniously took their leave. Zaffa hid her smile. She was old enough to remember what bonded mates were like. She had been a young girl when the plague hit. Before that she remembered how jealous she had been on females from bonded races. Their romances were guaranteed. Biology ensured that the males they took as mates would put their needs above their own and keep the fires burning brightly in their relationships. It wasn’t love at first. It was need and instinct, but love was almost guaranteed to follow. It had been too long since the joy of bonding had existed in this quadrant. It was a shame that it would have to be extinguished so soon.

Roshon and Ilham had barely secured the door of his bunk before he took her again. Gathering her dress around her waist he entered her from behind and hissed as her tight warmth surrounded him. Ilham positioned herself to allow him deeper inside her. Their bodies moved in unison as Roshon slowly pistoned his throbbing cock in and out of her wet heat. He tugged at her earlobes with his teeth and cupped her ample breasts in his hands, making her purr softly.

This time when they orgasmed, it was a quiet crescendo. He carried his mate to bed and scorched her body with simmering kisses. He took her mouth and drank deeply the sweetness of her lips. If these were his last hours with her, he would not rush them. For these few hours, he would be the mate that he had never dared to hope he would have the opportunity to become.

“Are you sore?”

“No, but I will be, I assure you,” Ilham whispered. Roshon rolled onto his back, pulling the female across his body and settling her on his chest.

“This is not love.”

“It is not?”

“This is deeper than that, princess. In a few hours, I will give you away to save both of our lives. If I merely loved you, I could not do that.”

“So I am not to mistake your decision for simply casting me aside to save yourself?”

“Yes. I am not casting you aside. I am saving you. If you are harmed in any way there will be no…I won’t take it well.” Roshon fought back his emotions.

“You too, must stay well. As long as we both live, there is a chance that I will return to you.” Ilham rested her ear against his chest and let the sound of his heartbeat lull her to sleep.

Roshon lay awake letting his thoughts run wild before deciding to get some rest. This run was almost over, and then he would try to put as much space between him and Alarias Prime as he could. If this was what it was like to be bonded to a mate he was thankful to whatever gods there were that he could experience it, even if only for a few hours.For the first time, he pitied the grim and joyless man his father had become after losing his mother and sister. What else is left to life once you lose your heart and soul?

Upon arrival, Ilham and Zaffa were taken into an examination chamber while Roshon sat in the corridor, flanked by an armed guard. He became uneasy and impatient as the minutes ticked by. What was taking them so long? Alarm rose in Roshon as he saw Ilham come out of the examination room. She had tears in her eyes and refused to meet his gaze. They had bound her wrists and were leading her away. Roshon gained his feet but was stopped in his tracks by Zaffa’s hard glare.

He had to remain cool. If he interfered he would only make it worse for Ilham. No doubt she had stuck to the plan and confessed to bedding him. Now she would answer to the tribunal. Zaffa had promised to do all she could to protect Ilham. All he could do was hope that it would be enough.

Even as the speckled Alarian Safety Officer bound his own wrists, his mind was on the female they had hauled away. As soon as she was out of view he felt panic begin to choke him. He needed her in a way that could only be explained by their bonding.

“Mister Nandu, you are under arrest for crimes against the Union of Planets, the Central Authority and the Progenitor’s Guild of Alarias Prime. You are bound by law.” The Officer seemed almost gleeful as he read the pronouncement.

“I am bound by more than that,” was his reply. Roshon fought back an urge to run to her, kill the small Alarian males that surrounded her and escape from this place.

Things were going as planned. Roshon spent two days in an Alarian prison while the Gild and the Authority decided what to do with him. On the third day, Zaffa came to see him in his cell.

“You are a sight for sore eyes. How goes the battle?”

“Just as we expected, I’m afraid. You must know that the only thing saving your neck is you compliance. You must continue to comply. It is essential that I am able to argue that you two were both at the mercy of your biology.”

Roshon nodded grimly. He would not be the one to endanger his female, even at the cost of his own life.

“Got it. I’ll be good. What about Ilham?”

“It is more complicated for her. It is not just the authorities, but the male who was due to participate in the insemination, who must all be appeased. This male seems to be offended and is kicking up quite a stir.”

They both understood the plight of the male. Roshon had taken something out of turn and claimed it as his.

“What are our chances?”

“For you, this will all be over this evening. You will be paid in full and sentenced to 50 lashes in the citadel’s courtyard. Then you will be ordered off-world and escorted out of orbit. It is the best I could do for you.”

Sadness filled Zaffa’s eyes. The stoic female’s lip quivered for just a second. Roshon knew there was something she was keeping from him.

“Tell me.”

“What?”

“Tell me whatever it is that you think I cannot handle.”

Zaffa leaned close to the imprisoned male.

“She suffers without you. She will not eat and has become…violent towards the Wards here. She is as strong as most Alarian males and I trained her in self-defense myself. Her behavior will not be tolerated. She is making it difficult for herself.”

Roshon didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. His female fought for him.

“Thank you Zaffa.” The two clasped forearms like warriors and parted ways. Moments later an Officer came to Roshon’s cell to prepare him to receive punishment.

Ilham waited in her chamber for the Wards to come and escort her to the tribunal for their final decision. This place had been her home since infancy yet today she felt trapped and suffocated in its walls. The food made her nauseous and the presence of the male wards set her teeth on edge. She was obviously not herself. She needed to see Roshon, to know he was alright. She had not been allowed any news about him since she was taken into custody.

Roshon was marched into the courtyard where a whipping post had been erected for the occasion. While they removed his shirt and chained his wrists above his head, the members of the tribunal took seats under a tent to witness the punishment. Roshon willed himself not to shake or cry out. He was not a religious male, but he silently asked whatever gods may care to listen to help him to keep calm and return his female to him. Moments ticked by slowly as they all waited for the lashing to begin.

His nose caught a familiar scent of jysum and sunshine. He opened his eyes and strained to look around. It truly was Ilham. She was being escorted to a seat with the members of the tribunal. Behind her walked Zaffa. She caught Roshon’s gaze and shook her head almost imperceptibly. He must not resist. He craned his head around again to catch another glimpse of Ilham. She looked thinner and afraid. The sight of her nearly broke him.

An elderly male rose from his seat and read the pronouncement.

“Roshon Nandu, of Dortaki, you are hereby sentenced to 50 lashes for crimes against the Progenitor’s Guild, to be executed immediately and witnessed by the members of the Alarian Justice Tribunal. You are hereafter to be escorted out of Alarian space and banned from any planet in the Alarian Confederacy for 5 solar years.”

The first lash bit into his back and caused his eyes to water. He quickly regained composure, refusing to let his female see him suffer. Why was she here? Was this some sort of threat? A punishment? Perhaps they were making an example of her for any who dared defy their authority. Roshon only knew that he must not cry out in front of her. She would suffer more if she saw him broken. He willed himself to stay on his feet as blow after vicious blow rained down on his back.

When the 30th lash landed Ilham saw Roshon’s knees buckle. He had remained silent during the whole ordeal. Though his back was laid open and raw, he did not flinch or shy away from the whip. He had endured. Now it seemed he was at the end of his endurance.

When the 40th lash landed Roshon’s legs gave out completely. Blood ran freely down his back and onto the sands of the courtyard. He had not yet uttered one word or complaint nor begged for mercy. For a moment, his gaze met hers and Ilham’s resolve snapped.

Roshon was delirious with pain, but he could’ve sworn he saw Ilham run towards him, throwing her body between him and the Ward sent to administer the punishment. He tried to focus for his female’s sake.

She was being attacked by Alarian males. Three had tackled her to the ground and were dragging her away. She was shouting something and he could not quite make it out. Roshon forced his broken and exhausted body to focus. They were hurting his female! He couldn’t let it go on!

With every ounce of strength, he had left in him he roared. All activity ceased as the male strained against the chains that bound him. He was wild-eyed and half mad. They were going to hurt his female and he had to get to her. That was all he knew. He pulled against his bonds impotently calling her name desperately.

“Ilham! Don’t fight! Come here! Don’t hurt her!” he begged. He had never begged anyone for anything in his life, but he would beg for the life of his female.

Ilham freed one leg and kicked an attacker in the face, knocking him unconscious. In a smooth series of motions, she dislocated the arm of the second and bit the third until he freed her. Running to Roshon, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her tear stained face into his neck. He sighed with relief and smiled at the spotted female.

“I am okay, Ilham. Be good. Don’t fight.” He crooned in her ear as if she were an upset child. She nodded obediently and slowly made her way back to her spot.

There was a loud murmur among the members of the tribunal. Roshon could not tell what they were saying, nor did he care. After several minutes the Ward was instructed to finish the last 10 lashes, Roshon only remained conscious for 8.