Tamed By the Alien Pirate by Celia Kyle Page 0,64
split-second decision, one that turns my stomach, but one I know to be correct. There’s no time to rescue Swipt. I have to run if I have any hope of reaching the bridge and saving not only my life, but the lives of the rest of the crew.
“No, don’t leave me, Commander!” Swipt’s features twist into a mustachioed human male, a face I know intimately from my nightmares. “Don’t leave…”
The bulkhead slams down in front of him, sealing him into the damned section of the ship. Tears stream out of my eyes as I rush to the bridge doors and take a seat at the pilot’s console. Solair, our captain, lies sprawled over his own console, blood covering its silvery surface.
This doesn’t look like the Queen’s bridge at all, but there’s no time to question it. Neither is there time to question why Marion is on the bridge when she has no duties here.
“Hull integrity is down to sixteen percent, Sergeant. I don’t think we can survive re-entry.”
“We have to.” I growl, my fingers dancing over the console keys. “I can’t lose you, Marion. You’re my jalshagar. I know I never told you but…”
“Marion? Who are you talking to?”
I glance up and see her lovely, plump face is crossed with utter discombobulation. Then enemy fire rips open the bridge, and she’s sucked out into space. Throwing off my crash webbing in a panic, I leap toward the sundered hull, already knowing I’m too late.
The force barrier appears, hemming me in and preserving what little atmosphere remains on the bridge. Marion’s face turns white, crystals of ice forming a mummifying cocoon over her form.
“No. No.” My fists beat ineffectually against the barrier. In the main view screen, a fleet of Ataxian Rippers streaks past, likely the same one that devastated our ship. I turn my rage on them instead.
“Butchers. Monsters. At least have the courage to finish the job.”
But they streak away, seeking other targets. Leaving me alone, the sole survivor, railing against fate on the bridge of a now-derelict vessel. It was all my fault. I should have ordered all hands to the shuttle bay. There may have been a chance then. Maddeningly, Marion’s corpse drifts in front of the view screen, her face frozen in a silent scream.
“No.”
My scream echoes off the narrow confines of my tidy office near the cargo bay. Glancing around, I wipe the drool off my face and come to the realization I’ve just awakened from a nightmare—a very familiar nightmare twisted with past and present weaving together in one traumatic tapestry.
It was just a dream, but it felt so real. My memories of the terrors of Horus IV mingle with our current condition. Marion… of course I dreamt of her. My fated mate, though I caution myself that I have no confirmation of that as fact, yet.
But there’s just something about her, and it goes far beyond her generously curved body or her deep, soulful eyes. Perhaps it’s because she, like me, has dedicated her life to serving others. Her role with the Frontier women is similar to my own; simply put, she tries to get everyone what they need for life on a star ship. She also shares galley duties with Jax, something he’s quite happy about. It gives him time to indulge his taste for holovid soap Operas like Galactic Standards, now in its seventeenth season.
The connection I feel with Marion goes beyond words, perhaps beyond description. There’s very little known firsthand of the jalshagar experience, given that most of our female population was wiped out centuries ago. Thus, I don’t know if what I’m feeling for her is truly because she’s my destiny or because I’m simply attracted to her—albeit in a profound and deep manner.
There’s only one way to confirm a jalshagar bond—with a kiss. Unfortunately, I don’t often get to spend a lot of time with Marion. Both of us are quite busy, especially with the whole crew gearing up for our upcoming, potentially deadly mission.
Mission. I thought I’d left that word behind when I quit the Alliance military. A privateer ship like the Queen is meant to search for profit, not battle. Yet we’ll all need to be warriors now, even my dear, sweet and gentle Marion.
I stare at the pad on my desk and tap its screen off. I’m nearly done with the inventory anyway and know which supplies we have enough of and which will need to be replenished.
Among the more troubling items on my list of proposed acquisitions are weaponry and medical supplies. Many Kilgari don’t carry weapons day to day, relying on the armory if the need should ever arise, but Solair wants all crewmates, human and Kilgari alike, to at least have side arms.
Then there’s the bandages, gel pads, dermal regeneration agents and the necessary equipment to disperse them. Normally I would consider what we have on hand to be sufficient, and I’m not a man given to being miserly with the captain’s money, insofar as I think it’s prudent to stock up.
But now we’re heading toward battle, like as not. The Project Blue Dawn villains and their Star Crusher mercenaries aren’t going to just let us waltz into their secret base and download all the files we need to clear our names. The IHC has branded us terrorists—or at least as those giving succor to them.
My belly rumbles, and I grimace as a wave of fatigue overtakes me. I’ve not eaten in… how long? Perhaps not since yesterday when I began the inventory. I decide to head to the galley to break my fast.
The fact that Marion might be there is merely icing on the proverbial pie, as humans say.
Wait, it was pie, right? Their colloquialisms are so puzzling.
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About the Authors
Celia Kyle
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes paranormal romances. It goes without saying that there’s always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way. Today she lives in central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
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Athena Storm
Athena Storm is the pen name for two authors who fell in love with writing science fiction romance as they fell in love with each other.
She's the Athena. And he's the Storm. Athena hopes that one day it won't be a boyfriend/girlfriend writing duo, but a husband/wife team. But she's not pressuring at all. Not one bit.
Science fiction is the biggest love for the writing duo, and they've been doing the writing for quite some time now, building a universe that readers can get lost and explore in. Filled with big bad alien warriors, sassy human women who give as well as they get, hilarious situations, and enough steam to melt stars!
The duo have created the Athenaverse, where all books in all series are tied together. You can start anywhere but once you do, you'll want to explore them all!
When they get married, they plan to continue writing science fiction romance forever. But again, no pressure on the marrying part. Not at all. (Not like writing Happily Ever After ALL Day won't give you any ideas on its own, right?)
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Also by Athena Storm
Reaper’s Pet Series:
Caged Mate
Caged Prey
Standalones In Athenaverse:
Mercy’s End
Bride to Beasts Series:
Zuvok
Zerberu
Vyker
Soldiers of Hope Series:
Hope In A Time Of War
Marauder Mates Series:
Sorta Seized By The Alien
Totally Taken By The Alien
Untamed
Beauty and The Alien
Conquered Mates (An Athenaverse Collaboration with Tara Starr):
Warlord’s Property
Alpha’s Prey
Brute’s Challenge
Alien Torturer’s Pet
Champions of Ataxia Series:
Gladiator to Mate You
Hating You Mating You
Scent of My Mate
Warriors of the Alliance Series:
Yaal
Duric