Chapter 19
Cael's entire body throbbed with searing pain. The relentless beating he'd endured at the hands of the guards left him barely conscious, and he spent the day slipping in and out of awareness. His arms hung limp and numb, manacles digging into his wrists as they pinned him against the cold stone wall of the cell. Time seemed to blur, the hours melting together as he drifted between harsh reality and the merciful oblivion of unconsciousness.
At least Midori had been left in the cell with him. During his brief moments of consciousness, it comforted him know she was near and unharmed … although there was no telling how long that would last.
The clanging of the cell door as it opened snapped Cael out of his hazy stupor and back to the present moment. Through his swollen eye, he caught sight of Baelor's familiar form—his once-trusted friend, now a twisted embodiment of betrayal. Four other guards accompanied the commander and filled the cell, their menacing presence a reminder of how much control Baelor now possessed.
Midori slid off the cot and pressed her body against the wall, taking one of Cael's hands in her own. His fingers were so numb, he couldn't sense her touch. Midori's terrified gaze met Cael's, her eyes pleading for reassurance he could not provide. He could only manage a weak nod, a silent vow he would never abandon her, no matter the cost.
Baelor's voice cut through the haze of pain, each word like a dagger twisting in Cael's heart. "It's time to go home, my friend. Your uncle eagerly awaits your return."
The mocking tone sent a chill down Cael's spine, the reality of the situation sinking in.
"Your uncle will be most pleased to have you back in his clutches. And as for the human . . . " He turned his gaze toward Midori, a cruel sneer twisting his features. “Lord Krissayr has special plans for her. Just to make sure nothing goes wrong this time, I'll be delivering the both of you myself. Get him down from there."
Two of the guards opened the manacles, and Cael's body crumpled to the floor.
"Cael!"
Midori wrapped her arms around his shaking body. He attempted to stand, but his legs refused to work properly. Two guards grabbed him by his upper arms and dragged him along, his feet scraping against the hard ground until he could finally get them to move on his own.
They emerged from the dank cell block into the harsh sunlight of the compound. Cael squinted against the bright glare, his eyes struggling to adjust after so long in the darkness. Baelor led the procession, his stride filled with arrogant purpose. Cael's heart twisted at the sight of his former friend turned traitor. How could someone he once trusted so deeply have fallen so far?
As they crossed the compound, Cael caught glimpses of other prisoners being brought in—a mix of off-worlders and native Zebrans—herded off slave ships and shuffled between buildings like cattle. The haunted, defeated looks in their eyes chilled him to the core. Their little rescue attempt had only paused the operations of the compound for a short while.
At last, they reached the landing platform where Baelor's sleek military cruiser rested. The guards shoved Cael and Midori up the ramp. Once aboard, they were ushered into a small holding cell, the door clanging shut with a resounding finality. Cael collapsed against the wall, every muscle screaming for relief. Midori crouched beside him, her hand gently caressing his bruised cheek.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her eyes glistening. "This is all my fault."
Cael mustered what little strength remained and placed his hand over hers. "None of this is your fault, Midori. I made my choices."
The cruiser's engines rumbled to life beneath them. Cael tightened his grip on Midori's hand as the ship lifted off. He did not know what awaited them at their destination, but one thing was certain—he would fight until his last breath to keep Midori safe.
The cruiser lurched as it broke through the planet's atmosphere, and Cael braced himself against the wall. Midori huddled close beside him, her face etched with worry and confusion.
As the ship steadied its ascent, Baelor's voice crackled over the intercom. "I know you must have questions. I'll explain everything once we're safely away."
His tone was clipped and all business, a stark contrast to the mocking cruelty he'd displayed back at the compound.
Cael exchanged a puzzled glance with Midori. What game was Baelor playing? After such a brutal betrayal, Cael could scarcely believe his former friend now claimed he would explain himself.
Hours seemed to crawl by in tense silence before the cruiser docked within a larger vessel. The door to their holding cell slid open, and two guards entered. Cael instinctively moved to shield Midori, but the guards made no aggressive moves. Instead, they gestured for the prisoners to follow.
Baelor waited in the corridor outside, his expression unreadable. With a curt nod, he turned and led them deeper into the ship's interior. They passed numerous checkpoints and heavily armed patrols of Zyranthian guards. Cael's instincts screamed to fight, to attempt an escape, but he forced himself to remain calm and compliant for Midori's sake.
At last, they entered what appeared to be Baelor's personal quarters. As the door hissed shut behind them, the commander let out a deep sigh and turned to face his captives. The cold, cruel mask he'd worn slipped away, and Cael was stunned to see remorse and weariness in his old friend's eyes.
"I'm sorry it had to be this way," Baelor began, his voice heavy. "When your uncle assigned me to command the slave operation, I had no choice but to comply publicly. But in secret . . . " He shook his head slowly. "Cael, you have to know I vehemently oppose everything your uncle has done. This entire operation is an abomination."
Cael's mind reeled, struggling to process Baelor's words. All this time, had his friend merely been playing a part? Putting on a facade of cruelty to maintain his cover?
"Most of the guards are only following orders for the money. They've been paid well to overlook the laws against Zyranth's hand in slavery. Laws your own father crafted as king. But there are some of us who want to bring this to an end. We've been attempting to gather evidence to present to the Council of Elders, to expose your uncle's crimes and have him removed from power. But they require more proof than we've gathered so far."
Baelor's gaze turned to Midori, his expression softening slightly. "You are the key witness we need. With your testimony about being abducted and enslaved, combined with Prince Cael's revelation of his uncle's treachery, we can finally build an undeniable case to take before the Council."
Cael's thoughts spun as he tried to absorb this shocking turn of events. Could he trust Baelor again after such a cruel deception? Yet his words rang with the unmistakable tone of sincerity. If there was even a chance to end his uncle's evil reign . . .
Sensing Cael's hesitation, Baelor met his gaze. "I know I have much to atone for, my friend. But I swear on my life, if there was any other path to guarantee your safety, I would have taken it. There are eyes everywhere, and I've had to play my part well or risk the entire operation. My goal is to see your uncle removed from power and his crimes answered for. Will you help me?"
Cael's gaze shifted toward Midori, silently seeking her thoughts on Baelor's startling revelation. So much had happened, so much deception and betrayal. Could they trust his former friend's words now? Midori gave a slow resolute nod of agreement, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
Cael let out a deep breath and turned back to Baelor. "We'll help you. Whatever it takes to expose my uncle's crimes and restore honor to the throne." His voice was hoarse but firm.
Relief washed over Baelor's features. "Thank you, my friend. I know the depths of my transgressions, but I swear I will make amends." He moved toward a cabinet and retrieved a small cylindrical device. "Healing nanites. Should take the edge off the pummeling you took."
He handed the cylinder to Cael, who pressed it against his neck and sighed as the nanites rushed through his bloodstream, already providing relief as they healed his body from the inside out.
"For now, you both must remain confined here in my quarters until we reach Zyranth. It's for your own safety as much as for maintaining appearances. I'll lock the door on my way out and come for you tomorrow when we reach Zyranth." His serious demeanor softened. "Get some rest. We have a long road ahead of us."
Baelor stepped into the hall, and the door swished close behind him, leaving Cael and Midori alone in the dimly lit room. An awkward silence fell between them. So much had transpired, so many shocks and revelations to process.
Midori broke the stillness first, letting out a shuddering breath. "Do you really think we can trust him?"
Cael contemplated her words as he moved to the viewing window, staring out at the endless star field. "I don't know for certain," he admitted. "Baelor was once my closest friend. I thought I knew him better than anyone."
He shook his head, then turned toward Midori. Cael's expression softened at the sight of her concerned features. "But he's offered us a chance to expose the truth about my uncle's hand in Lord Krissayr's slave trade." He stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "I have to take that chance, no matter the risk. Not just for Zyranth, but for you as well. No one should fear being stolen away and used. No person is a commodity."
Midori leaned in, resting her head against his chest as his arms enfolded her in a protective embrace.
"I'll be by your side, no matter what comes next."
For a long moment, they held each other close, drawing strength from their bond. The future remained cloaked in uncertainty, but one thing was clear—they would face it together.
Midori leaned back, her deep brown eyes locked with his. Cael cupped her face in his hands, his thumb tracing her bottom lip. He searched her gaze, seeking reassurance this was what she truly wanted. Midori's hands slid up his chest, her fingers toying with the fabric of his tattered guard's uniform as she closed the remaining distance between them. In that heated moment, the rest of the universe seemed to fade away until there was nothing but the two of them.
Their lips met in a tentative feather-light kiss sending an electric thrill coursing through Cael's entire being. He pulled her body flush against his, relishing the press of her curves against his hardened form. Midori's fingers tangled in his hair as the kiss deepened, all hesitation melting away. Cael moaned as his cock hardened, his tongue exploring the recesses of Midori's mouth.
Cael's hands roamed the soft contours of Midori's body, committing every inch of her to memory through his eager touch. His four hands worked together to trace the slender column of her neck, the swell of her breasts, the flare of her hips. Each caress ignited a new spark of desire threatening to consume him.
When at last they parted, both were left breathless and flushed. Cael rested his forehead against Midori's, his arms still wrapped protectively around her waist. He felt the rapid flutter of her pulse, sensed the longing radiating from her very core.
"Midori." Her name slipped from his lips like a reverent prayer. He searched for the words to convey the depths of his love but found himself speechless.
Midori's fingers trailed along the sharp line of his jaw in a tender caress. "I know," she said, offering him a soft, reassuring smile. "I feel the same."
Cael claimed her lips once more in a fierce, hungry kiss, which left no doubt as to the passion burning within him. His hands worked at the fastenings of her tunic as Midori's clever fingers made quick work of his vest.
Clothing fell away in a scattered trail as they stumbled backward toward the sleeping alcove, locked in an ardent embrace. Cael's senses were overwhelmed by the intoxicating warmth and softness of Midori's bare skin pressed against his own. Her touch set his nerves alight with exquisite jolts of pleasure and need. This was nothing like holding her in the Zebran hut just yesterday. Where that was sweet reassurance and comfort, this was all fiery passion and need.
Unclothed at last, they tumbled together atop the bedsheets, bodies intertwined as one. Cael hovered over Midori, drinking in the sight of her flushed features and parted lips with unabashed adoration. One hand cradled the back of her head, while another trailed a blazing path down the curve of her hip and thigh.
Midori arched into his touch with a soft whimper, pleading for more. Cael was all too eager to oblige, his mouth blazing a scorching trail of open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone and down the valley between her breasts. His tongue swirled around one dusky nipple before lavishing equal attention on the other. Her back arched, a breathy moan escaping her parted lips as her fingers threaded through his hair, urging him on. He was more than happy to comply.
His hands mapped every inch of her soft curves, committing the plains and valleys of her body to memory through eager caresses. One hand cupped the swell of her breast as his lips continued down the taut line of her abdomen. Midori squirmed beneath him, her skin flushed and glistening with a sheen of desire. Cael sat up and drank in the sight of her splayed out before him. Midori was the most exquisite creature he'd ever beheld. Her beauty, her strength, her compassion—everything about her called to him on a soul-deep level.
"Cael," she said, her voice husky with need. "Please . . . "
A low growl rumbled up from his chest as he dipped his head to capture her lips in a passionate kiss. His fingers tangled in her dark tresses as his tongue delved past her lips to explore the velvet heat of her mouth. Midori melted into his embrace with a soft whimper, her nails raking deliciously down the planes of his back. One hand drifted down to part Midori's thighs, his thumb brushing teasingly against her slick folds. She bucked her hips against his questing touch with a strangled cry.
"Look at me, Midori," he said, his voice a low, gravelly purr against the heated flesh of her neck.
Midori's eyes fluttered open, dark and glazed with need to lock with his own molten silver gaze. Cael held her there transfixed as he sank two fingers into her molten depths. Midori threw her head back with a sharp cry of pleasure, sending desire lancing straight to his aching cock.
He pumped his fingers in and out of her tight velvet sheath, setting a leisurely rhythm as his thumb circled her swollen bud. Midori writhed and whimpered beneath him, her hands fisting the sheets as her hips undulated against his touch. The soft whimpers and cries spilling from her parted lips were the sweetest melodies to his ears. He curled his fingers in a beckoning motion, stroking her satin-slick inner wall as his thumb continued its insistent circles around her swollen pearl. Midori's thighs trembled, her head thrashing from side to side as her pleasure built in dizzying waves.
"That's it, my love," he purred, his voice a low, heated rasp. "Let me hear those pretty sounds."
Withdrawing his fingers, he leaned down and lapped at her glistening folds with broad, hungry strokes of his tongue. Midori cried out, her fingers burying in his hair to hold him against her throbbing center. The taste of her, a heady blend of sweet nectar and musky desire, flooded his senses and stoked the flames of his own arousal into an all-consuming blaze.
He caressed her before focusing his attention on the taut bud of her clitoris. Swirling around the sensitive bundle of nerves, he relished every desperate buck of her hips and keening moan torn from her throat. Slipping two fingers back into her molten depths, he set a steady rhythm, curling them against her spongy inner wall with each thrust. Midori writhed, whimpered, and clamped her thighs around his head, her heels digging into his back.
When at last her climax crested, Midori arched her back in a taut bow as she cried out his name. Her inner walls fluttered and clenched around Cael's fingers as she rode out the shockwaves. He gentled his touch, lapping up her sweet release as she drifted back down from her euphoric high.
Cael gazed down at Midori with naked adoration, drinking in the sight of her flushed features and tousled hair fanned out across the pillows. She was the most exquisite creature he'd ever laid eyes upon—strong, passionate, and resilient. His heart swelled with a fierce protectiveness and a bone-deep need to show her the depths of his devotion.
Leaning down, he captured her lips in a slow, smoldering kiss, which banked the flames of desire still simmering between them. Midori melted into his embrace with a soft whimper. Cael growled low in his throat, his hands roaming the lush curves of her body in a reverent caress.
Breaking the heated kiss, he nuzzled along the slender column of her throat, his tongue darting out to taste the saltiness of her skin. "You are so beautiful," his voice rumbled against the sensitive hollow beneath her ear. "Exquisite in every way."
Midori shivered at the heated praise, her fingers tangling in the lengths of his hair. He relished the way she arched wantonly into his touch as soft mewls of pleasure spilled from her parted lips.
"You are mine now, Midori." His words were both statement and question, a silent plea for her assent.
Midori's fingers threaded through the hair at his nape as she met his heated gaze. "Yes." Her voice was thick with need and a wealth of unspoken emotion. "Yours. Only yours."
A low, rumbling growl vibrated up from the depths of Cael's chest as he drank in the truth of her words. Moving with a predator's grace, he blanketed her body with his own in one fluid motion, his arms braced on either side of her head. The hard planes of his muscular form pressed deliciously against the soft give of her curves, sending sparks of white-hot friction dancing across his overheated skin.
His lips hovered a scant hairsbreadth from her own, his quickened breaths mingling with hers in the heated space between them. Midori's thighs fell open in blatant invitation, allowing his rigid spiral length to nestle against her molten core. With a low growl, he allowed the blazing tip of his stiff cock to brush against her slick folds in a maddening tease. Midori whimpered, her hips undulating in a desperate bid for more intimate contact. But Cael held himself in check with the last fraying threads of his control, determined to commit every moment of this to memory.
Leaning in, he captured her lips in a searing kiss, amassing the simmering flames of their desire into an inferno. Midori melted into his embrace, her fingers tangling in the lengths of his ebony hair as their tongues danced in a heated duel. Cael growled approval deep in his throat, savoring the taste of her, the scent of her arousal surrounding him in an intoxicating haze.
Trailing a blazing path of open-mouthed kisses along the slender column of her throat, he nuzzled into the hollow beneath her ear. "You are mine," he murmured in a low, heated rasp against the saltiness of her skin. "And I am yours. For all of my days."
Midori shuddered, her fingers tightening their grip almost painfully in his hair. "Yes." Her dark eyes were luminous with her own unspoken emotions. "Always."
That was all the encouragement Cael needed. Capturing her lips once more in a fierce, devouring kiss, he allowed the head of his cock to nudge insistently against her entrance. Midori's back arched as she mewled into his mouth, her hips canting in wordless invitation.
With one powerful thrust, Cael sheathed himself to the hilt in her welcoming depths. They both froze for a breathless eternity, savoring the sensation of being so intimately joined. Then Midori shifted her hips, drawing a strangled groan from Cael's lips as her tight walls caressed his aching length in sweet torment.
Bracing his weight on his elbows, Cael withdrew almost fully before driving home once more in one long, powerful stroke. Midori cried out at the exquisite friction, her nails scoring more delicious lines down his back as she clung to him. He set a relentless pace, each powerful thrust jolting her body and dragging her slick folds against his swollen shaft as it thickened to fill her.
The entire universe narrowed to this heated joining, to the slick slide of their bodies moving as one. They both groaned at the exquisite contact, their hips undulating in a timeless dance as old as the cosmos itself. Midori whimpered and cried out with each punishing thrust while Cael drank in every beautiful expression which crossed her features, committing them to memory for all eternity.
The taut coil of his impending release grew stronger with each powerful stroke, but he stubbornly held himself back. Not yet. Not until he could send her shattering over that blissful edge first. Angling his hips, he allowed the thick ridge of his cock to grind against her inner wall with each inward thrust.
Midori's eyes flew open, her mouth parting in a breathless cry. "Cael!"
His name tumbled desperately from her lips, sweet as any prayer.
He was undone.
With a low, guttural growl, Cael buried his face in the slender curve of Midori's neck as his hips snapped forward in a frantic, almost punishing rhythm. Midori cried out as her release crested in a blinding wave, her inner walls fluttering wildly around his pistoning length.
The exquisite clench of Midori's orgasm sent Cael hurtling over the razor's edge a scant heartbeat behind her. He froze, buried to the hilt as his own climax tore through him in a bone-deep shudder. Thick ropes of his release pulsed deep within her welcoming depths as he lost himself to the throes of ecstasy.
Long moments passed before either of them stirred, content to bask in the afterglow of their joining. Cael nuzzled the soft skin of Midori’s neck, placing a reverent kiss against her racing pulse.
When at last he shifted to roll onto his back, careful not to crush her, Midori curled against him with a contented sigh. Cael's arms wound around her slender form, holding her close. For now, they were sated. At peace. In this moment, they had each other—and that was enough.
But in the back of his mind, he couldn't help thinking they'd just made love as if they'd never see each other again.