Craving: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 8) (17 page)

"
H
ey
, soldier," said a familiar voice. "You really should wake up. You've been off the ventilator for an hour now."

Kai was on the edge of consciousness, floating in a timeless state. He couldn't put his finger on the last thing he remembered, and he didn't want to.

"Let me sleep."

"You've slept for three days. Now it's time to wake up."

Kai's eyes fluttered open. He struggled to focus his eyes. When he could see again, he found Jenn's sweet face leaning over the bed.

"You know," said Jenn, "if you were human you would be walking around the next day after your operation. We made allowances for an alien."

"Humans are a fearsome race, even if you are diminutive."

"We have a song about that somewhere. Short people will get you every time."

"I am sure your music contains cultural references about how wonderful humans are, just like every other civilization. Can I have some water?"

"Are you trying to sweet-talk me?"

"I will do whatever is necessary. I'm exhausted."

Jenn made a little gasp which she tried to hide by covering her mouth with her hand. Jenn didn't cover her eyes, and Kai saw tears gathering at the corners.

"Why are you crying, sindare? I'm right here."

"I almost lost you, again." She held a cup to his lips with a straw, wiping her eyes with her hands. "You've got to stop these near-death experiences. I can't take the stress."

He took a few sips, then pushed the cup away.

"I'll make you a promise. I'll stop almost dying."

"That's fine, as long as you don't start dying."

Kai laughed briefly but stopped when the movement inundated his body with pain.

"What kind of surgery did I have?"

"Heart surgery."

"We don't have surgeries for hearts," he said, wondering if she was teasing him again.

"The Anquesh might not, but my people certainly do. Human doctors operated on you. Between Earth medicine and Anquesh healing speed, you should be back to normal in a couple of weeks."

"It feels like my chest was cut open."

"It was. You should see the surgical saws. They are
enormous
. Any of you people who sees one will marvel at your bravery for enduring it. You don't have to tell them you were asleep when they cut you open."

"Humans are annoying. Come here."

"Why? What are you going to do to me?"

"I'm going to shut that pretty mouth of yours."

"How do you plan to do that?"

"Simple." Kai pulled her sharply to him and kissed her passionately. Gods, he was grateful to be alive. Her lips were luscious and tender. Kai wanted to ravish her mouth. In the end, Jenn broke away.

"Easy there, soldier. You aren't cleared for active duty yet."

"Consider that a down payment for next time."

"Don't worry. You owe me the balance plus interest." She gave him a quick kiss. "Get some rest. I need something to eat. Suddenly I feel ravenous."

"Wait a minute. You woke me up to tell me to go back to sleep?"

She laughed. "Of course. You're in a hospital, aren't you?"

* * *

A
few days
after his surgery, Kai stood on the bridge of the Ruvien, watching the approach to Anquera. Jenn stood beside him, hooking her arm around his waist. She was ready to support him if he suddenly felt weak. It seemed like he was regaining his strength quickly. Jenn knew his rapid recovery was related to her post-operative ministrations.

Kai was slowly beginning to realize there were things about Jenn he would have to accept. One of them was her dedication to caring for the sick and injured.

There were no Similcue ships around Anquera. On the trip, Kai had sent inquiries to various posts through the empire. No one had reported seeing enemy vessels.

The Anquesh had beaten back an enemy and made a valuable ally. On any other day, they would be preparing to celebrate.

But Jenn wasn't getting a feeling of happiness from the crew. There weren't any Anquesh ships around the planet, and the palace wasn't answering their communications. The world appeared uninhabited.

"We'll have to go down in person," said Kai with a sigh. The last thing he wanted to do was face Warrel, but he had to know the truth. If Warrel had survived the Similcue attack, he would be somewhere safe in the palace.

"I'm going with you," said Jenn. "I am the ambassador from Earth."

"Of course you are." Kai hadn't considered going without Jenn.

After their shuttle had touched down on the landing pad of the palace, a security team fanned out ahead of them. Their weapons were out and armed, but it turned out security was not necessary. The building seemed deserted.

Jenn held onto Kai's arm as they walked through the gardens. Even this far inside the interior, they saw no guards and no servants.

"This is strange," said Kai. "I thought we would see someone on patrol." When they arrived at the audience hall, the doors were ajar. They cautiously proceeded down the length of the corridor.

"Is anyone here?" Kai called. His words echoed off the walls, and no one responded to him. "This way." He led the group to a conference room behind the throne. The door was locked.

"Should I blast it open?" asked the security chief.

"I don't think that will be necessary." Kai opened a concealed panel near the door and pressed his palm against it. The door clicked open. "Only a select few have access to this room. I consider myself fortunate that the Emperor thought I was worthy."

Warrel sat at the end of a long conference table. His head rested on the table, and an empty wine bottle lay next to him.

Kai strode toward Warrel and checked his pulse.

"Is he dead?"

"Yes. Dead drunk and unconscious." Kai shook Warrel, slowly at first, then more vigorously when he didn't get a response. "Wake up, Warrel! What happened here?

Warrel slowly regained consciousness. When he lifted his head, Jenn saw he hadn't shaved for a few days and his clothes were wrinkled.

"Look who's here," Warrel slurred. "The great Kai Imwaden, Anquera's biggest traitor."

"Where is the council?"

"They decided to save themselves and abandon me. The city is in ruins. The Similcue have destroyed it."

Warrel tried to let his head drop onto the table again, but Kai grabbed his collar and yanked him up.

"You're not done yet. Where did Renquel go?"

"I don't know where anyone went. Away. He left and took his daughter with him. She said she won't marry me now. I'm not enough of a warrior."

"Kai," said Jenn. "Leave him alone. He's not useful like this."

"He wanted to kill you, Jenn."

"At one time, but look at him now. I had my revenge when I saw his condition."

He nodded at two of the soldiers. "Take Warrel to his room. It's on the second floor. You can't miss it. It's opulent." They pulled Warrel to his feet. He protested weakly but let them drag him out of the room.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Make some calls and find out why the nobles have turned into cowards."

K
ai made
call after call on Anquera's communication system trying to contact any of the nobles. No one answered him.

"You're being too nice," Jenn said. "You are calling them and leaving messages. Maybe they're avoiding you. You know they see your communications - the system tells you someone's listened to all of them. Kai, they have responsibilities to the Emperor and their people. It's not right for them to pack up and leave. They need to be here. Start hitting them where it hurts. Tell them to show up tomorrow or you're going to start confiscating their property and money."

"I don't have the authority to do that."

"Do they know that? And besides, if everyone else is gone, and only one person remains, they're effectively the Emperor and the entire government."

"You might be right. What do you know about being too nice, anyway?"

"I used to have that problem myself."

"What happened?"

She smiled. "I met you."

* * *

K
ai recalled
the crew from Anquesh ships in orbit to fill positions in the palace until he found regular staff. Soon the building was populated again, with guards in the halls and staff in critical areas. He assigned attendants to Warrel and made sure they kept him out of trouble. Kai called Sevit and asked him to survey the city and surrounding areas.

Before long, Sevit contacted him with a preliminary report. "People have evacuated the city, mostly to the surrounding hills. They have formed tent communities, but they lack food and medical care. Conditions are dreadful."

"Send the doctors down and any extra supplies."

"Already on it, sir. The Earth doctors want to help too."

"Great. Each one should have an Anquesh security guard protecting them, preferably those who can translate. Let's make sure there aren't any accidents."

"Yes, sir."

"I think that is all that can be done for now," said Kai, settling back onto the bed.

"Come here," said Jenn. "You look beat."

Kai was about to stretch out and give his recovering body a break when they heard a knock at the door.

"I'm sorry, but you have a call from Minister Renquel."

"Don't take it," said Jenn. "He had his chance earlier. Let him wait."

Kai shook his head. "He has influence, and I need to treat him with the same respect I want to receive." He activated the communications system in his room.

"My security tells me there are Earth ships in orbit around our homeworld."

"Yes, minister. They are our allies now. We helped to defend their planet, and they will assist in the defense of ours. With their help we have driven off the Similcue. With luck, we took enough of a bite out of them so they won't bother us again."

"I see," said the minister tightly. "Let me ask you a question. Who are you to think you can order me or any of the other nobles around?"

"I'm not asking your permission. Warrel is incoherent. The next in line is the former Emperor's brother, Hanton, but he is missing. Do you know where he is?"

"Hanton was so disgusted with Warrel that he took the rest of the fleet and left."

"You seem to know quite a bit. Are you in communication with Hanton?"

Renquel said nothing.

"Tell Hanton we need him here. If other people are willing to step up, you won't need to listen to my commands."

"You know I can't control what he does."

"It will be better if we work together."

* * *

I
n the morning
, Warrel had sobered up. Someone had cleaned and dressed him, and he looked almost respectable again. After inspecting Warrel's appearance, Kai judged he was capable of attending court. One by one, various nobles slowly entered the room. There wasn't a hundred percent attendance, but there were enough to form a quorum.

With Jenn by his side, Kai announced the treaty with Earth was valid and binding. Some of the nobles grumbled, of course.

"Would you rather have the Similcue on your doorstep again? They're gone for now, but we know they're coming back. We need to be ready to fight." Kai pointed his hand at the nobles. "You abandoned your people at the time they needed you the most. Without them, you wouldn't have your positions. To build our government again, we'll have to design a new system, one which includes everyone."

"By whose authority?" protested one of the nobles.

"I have twenty-five warships above this planet giving me the authority. Let's keep things simple. Warrel will remain Emperor, but his powers will be limited. He'll represent Anquera during negotiations with other planets. The nobles have land and wealth, and they'll be allowed to keep it as long as they don't interfere with the new government. We are going to try the Earth system and elect legislators from the people. You can either work with us or leave, but change is coming."

No one spoke a word.

"The council is finished." The nobles got to their feet and started milling around the room, grumbling.

"Is this going to work?" Jenn asked.

"It's your idea. Don't you know? I think so. By the time the Similcue return, we'll have pulled together the people and the government will be strong enough to fight them off. Speaking of fights, don't we have an unresolved wedding battle? We need to find out which of us is stronger."

* * *

I
t was a typically
hot Anquera day when Jenn walked out into the arena for the second and final time in her life. She wasn't nervous now. Jenn looked forward to losing and becoming Kai's bride. A spectacular future stretched in front of her, offering her opportunities that she would have missed on Earth. She wouldn't only be the Earth's ambassador. The Academy had offered her a position as a physical therapy instructor. During the day, she would help train the first generation of Anquesh therapists. During the night, an alien would ravish her body.

Not bad for an Earth girl.

The people of Anquera tricked into the stadium, filling the stands. More were watching the broadcast at home. They cheered as she crossed the sand.

Jenn knew the noise was for her. They had watched her fight for Kai's honor the first time. They saw her work to assemble the fragments of the Anquesh Empire into a coherent whole. And when the people elected Kai Prime Minister, she was by his side again.

In many ways, Jenn had become a symbol of Earth to Anquera. Humans were no longer hated enemies or honored enemies.

They were allies.

Jenn walked to the center of the arena, ready to face her adversary. Kai came out of the tent.

"I love you, sindare. Are you ready?" he asked.

She grinned back at him.

"I love you. I'm always ready for you."