Chapter 20
Midori's pulse quickened as the ship drew ever closer to Zyranth. The ship had just flown through its third and final wormhole. Each time, she experienced the strange sensation of being stretched while simultaneously falling. It was a strange phenomenon she didn't much enjoy and made the food she'd eaten earlier sink like a stone in her belly.
She'd slept soundly in Cael's quadruple arms, so profoundly happy to give herself completely to him. He made her feel safe. Loved. Wanted. So many things she hadn't felt for so long. But after they awoke, she felt nervous energy radiating off Cael. He tried to hide it, but she knew he was worried about what lay ahead.
There was little they could do but wait. Baelor's quarters were lavishly appointed, and both Midori and Cael took advantage of the amenities available. They bathed, dressed, and ate. There were even entertainment devices, but the closer they came to Zyranth, the harder it was to distract themselves from the danger ahead. They both knew Cael's uncle, Bres, wanted Cael out of the way. It was imperative they get to the Council of Elders without Bres knowing they were there.
A room alert rang, and the door swished open. Baelor entered, leaving two hulking guards standing in the hall. He waited for the door to close behind him before he spoke.
"My liaison will meet us at the docking bay and will escort us directly to the Council of Elders. The Council doesn't know you're coming. Bres has spread tales amongst them of your desertion, saying you've left Zyranth after stealing a fortune from the treasury. If we'd told them you were coming, they'd have you imprisoned first and asked questions later. That would give your uncle more than enough time to see you taken care of, my prince."
"Who is this liaison?" Cael asked.
Baelor shook his head with a grim smile. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. And for your safety and theirs, I won't until you're safely in front of the Council."
"All right then."
"We'll be there momentarily. Let's head to the gangway, so we're ready to move once we land."
Cael looked over to Midori and took her hand, squeezing it in one of his. She nodded, forcibly ignoring the butterflies in her stomach. Baelor led them out of the room and they followed him, flanked by the two guards to the belly of the ship.
The interior of the Zyranthian ship was sleek and round with gleaming metallic surfaces in shades of deep green and burnished gold. The walls curved gracefully overhead in sweeping arches etched with ornate symbols which seemed to glow faintly from within. To Midori's eyes, everything looked almost organic, like the innards of some vast living creature. She'd been much too distracted to observe her surroundings when they were first escorted on the ship, but now she marveled at the beauty and technology as they made their way forward.
Midori's stomach twisted with nerves as they approached the exit. She squeezed Cael's hand tighter, her palms growing slick with perspiration. Cael's unease was palpable. The taut lines of his jaw and the tense set of his shoulders betrayed the turmoil simmering beneath his outward calm. His silver eyes narrowed as he looked through the windows, no doubt strategizing their next moves.
As the ship lowered through the planet's atmosphere, Midori caught glimpses of the land through a foggy crimson haze. Towering spires of blackened metal loomed in the distance, silhouetted against a blood-colored sky.
The ship docked, the door opened, and Baelor stopped just short of the exit, one hand raised for them to halt. He turned to face Cael and Midori, his expression grave.
"Once we exit, do not speak unless spoken to. Let me handle the introductions. And Cael . . .” He hesitated, seeming to weigh his next words carefully. ”Brace yourself. You may encounter some surprising allies on our way to the Council."
Midori's heart stuttered in her chest as Baelor turned on his heel and strode through the exit without another word. She exchanged a loaded glance with Cael before they followed, the guards falling in behind them. Though his expression was guarded, she could see the intensity burning in his silver eyes. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for.
As they disembarked, Midori's breath caught in her throat at the sight before them. Russet skies swirled with hues of amber and crimson. Gracefully arcing buildings seemed to glow from within, their crystalline spires reaching toward two small moons, one pale blue, the other a deep orange. And in front of them, the palace rose like a sparkling emerald jewel.
Midori's eyes widened as a lone figure approached from the palace entrance. At first she assumed it was a servant or aide coming to greet them, but as the woman drew near, her regal bearing and exquisite beauty became unmistakable.
Cael tensed beside her, his grip on her hand tightening almost painfully. Midori glanced at him in confusion, but his gaze was locked on the approaching female, his expression a mask of disbelief and apprehension. The woman was Zyranthian, with azure skin and shimmering black hair that tumbled past her shoulders in elegant waves. Her features were flawless, from her high cheekbones to the lush curve of her full lips. She moved with effortless grace, each step regal and poised in a shimmering gown of iridescent blue which clung to her lithe form like a second skin.
As she neared, Midori saw the woman's silver eyes flick dismissively over her before fixing on Cael with an intense, hungry look that made her stomach twist. There was a possessiveness there which made Midori's skin prickle with unease.
Who is this bitch?
"Cara . . .” Cael's deep rumble was strained, his tone somewhere between shock and wariness.
The Zyranthian woman's full lips curved into a smile which didn't reach her eyes as she came to a halt before them.
"My prince," she purred, dipping into an elegant curtsy, though her gaze never left Cael's face. "I knew you would return to me eventually." She raised and put two hands on her hips and crossed her two upper arms over her chest.
Cael's eyes darted between the woman and Baelor.
The guard opened his mouth to speak when another figure emerged from the palace entrance behind Cara, and he immediately clamped it shut. An older Zyranthian man approached, flanked by a group of heavily armed guards. Opulent robes of deep purple and gold swathed the man's portly frame as he waddled toward them.
"Well, well," the older man drawled, his tone thick with disdain. "The prodigal prince returns at last. And a hero at that, saving an Earthan female from a slave ship." His lip curled in a sneer as he raked his gaze over Midori with obvious distaste. "I must say, I don't understand Lord Krissayr's interest in the human females. Seems unnatural to only have two arms."
Cael gave a curt nod. "Hello, uncle."
Midori felt her stomach twist as Bres feigned concern for her well-being. His beady eyes skimmed over her with undisguised disdain, as if she were something unpleasant he'd stepped in. She squeezed Cael's hand, drawing strength from his presence.
"Of course we're all relieved Prince Cael rescued this poor human female from the clutches of those depraved slavers," Bres said with an oily smile. "The very idea of subjecting innocent young women to such horrors is abhorrent."
The bald-faced lie made Midori's skin crawl. She shot a sideways glance at Cael, whose jaw was clenched so tightly the muscle in his cheek twitched. He said nothing, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.
"You must be utterly exhausted from your ordeal," Bres continued in a saccharine tone. "Allow me to offer you the hospitality of the palace. We'll see you both settled into guest quarters where you can refresh yourselves before the audience with the Council."
Cael's nostrils flared, but he inclined his head stiffly. "Your generosity is appreciated, uncle."
The mocking curl of Bres' lips said he knew full well his nephew's gratitude was feigned. "Thank you, Baelor, for returning my nephew to me. You'll be handsomely rewarded for your loyalty. You may return to your assigned station."
Baelor gave the regent a curt nod, turned on his heel, and returned to the ship.
With a grandiose sweep of his arm, Bres gestured for them to follow. "This way, if you please. Cara, my dear, be a good hostess and help me see to our guests' needs."
The beautiful Zyranthian woman's smile was as cold as the glint in her silver eyes as she dipped into another mocking curtsy. "Of course, Your Grace."
As they ascended the broad palace steps, Midori couldn't shake the notion they were being led into a trap. What was Bres doing there? Did Baelor double-cross them? She pressed closer to Cael, her heart thundering against her ribs. What new dangers awaited them within these opulent walls?
The interior of the palace was just as breathtaking as the exterior. Vaulted ceilings arched high overhead; the gleaming metalwork etched with intricate designs seemed to shimmer with inner light. Massive windows looked out over a stunning cityscape of soaring spires and sweeping architecture. Despite the beauty surrounding them, Midori felt strangely ill at ease, as if the weight of the ornate palace was pressing down on her.
They followed Bres and his entourage through a dizzying labyrinth of corridors and anterooms, all sumptuously appointed with plush fabrics, glittering metalwork, and priceless artworks. At one point, Midori caught a glimpse through an archway into some kind of indoor garden where towering alien trees shed glowing petals onto a courtyard pool.
At last, Bres paused before a set of ornate double doors. "Here are your quarters, my dear. I'll have attendants see to any needs you may have. Rest well. Tomorrow we'll send you back to your home or on to the planet Rivia, wherever is your desired destination."
Midori stepped into the opulent chamber, her senses assailed by the lavish surroundings. The room was massive, easily the size of her entire apartment back on Earth. Plush carpets in rich shades of crimson and indigo covered the floors. Ornate tapestries depicting alien landscapes and strange mythical beasts adorned the walls. A sitting area was arranged around a circular fire pit sunken into the floor. The couches and chairs looked deceptively cozy and inviting.
Despite the grandeur, Midori felt a prickle of unease creep up her spine as Bres ushered her inside. The heavy double doors shut behind them with a dull thud of finality.
"I hope these accommodations meet with your approval," Bres said with an unctuous smile which didn't reach his eyes. "The finest the palace has to offer a . . . guest of your status."
His lip curled slightly on the last word, as if the very notion of extending hospitality to a human offended his sensibilities.
Midori forced a polite smile, her heart thudding in her chest. "They're lovely, thank you."
Bres' icy gaze swept over her in a way that made her feel small and insignificant. "Yes, well, make yourself comfortable. The attendants will see to any needs you may have to prepare for your journey." His smile took on a mocking edge. "I'm sure you're quite eager to leave after such a harrowing experience."
He exited the room, giving Midori one last glimpse of Cael's concerned eyes from the hallway before the heavy doors slammed shut with a resounding boom. Midori jumped, her heart leaping into her throat as the metallic clang of locking mechanisms echoed from the other side.
She was alone. And very much a prisoner, despite the opulent trappings.
Panic seized her, her chest constricting as she looked around the lavish cell with fresh eyes. What would become of her now? Where was he taking Cael? What would become of him? A thousand terrifying scenarios raced through her mind, each more horrific than the last.
She forced herself to take a deep, steadying breath, fighting against the tide of fear threatening to overwhelm her. Cael wouldn't let anything happen to her. He promised to keep her safe, no matter what. He'd never stop trying to protect her.
On shaky legs, Midori crossed to the windows, gasping at the breathtaking vista spreading out before her. She was high in one of the palace's crystalline towers, affording her a sweeping view of the entire alien city below. Ornate buildings and enclosed walkways spanned the distances between soaring emerald spires. Strange hovercrafts ferried four-armed Zyranthian citizens along sleek thoroughfares far below.
Beyond the city limits stretched a landscape of stark, haunting beauty. Towering mountains of deep violet hues loomed on the horizon, their jagged peaks casting long ominous shadows. Dense forests of alien vegetation blanketed the valleys and plains, their gnarled branches twisted into bizarre, unnatural shapes. The skies blazed in a kaleidoscope of crimson and burnt orange, the twin moons hanging like eerie jewels amid swirling clouds streaked with indigo and amethyst.
The raw, unsettling majesty of this alien world struck Midori to her core. She was so very far from home, from everything and everyone she knew. Trapped at the mercy of forces and beings she didn't understand.
Tears pricked her eyes as she pressed her palm to the cool window. All her hopes, her dreams, now narrowed to one singular goal—escape this gilded cage and return to Cael's side. She would not be separated from him again. Not after everything they'd been through.
Eventually, exhaustion overtook Midori as she paced the lavish confines of her room. The emotional turmoil of the day, coupled with the lingering aches and pains from their ordeal, became too much. She sank onto the plush bedding, her eyelids too heavy to keep open any longer.
Sleep claimed her almost immediately. Her dreams were a tangled mess of disjointed images and sounds—the sinister leer of Bres' beady eyes, the haughty disdain in Cara's beautiful features, Cael's anguished expression as the doors slammed shut between them.
A sudden noise jerked Midori from her fitful slumber, and her eyes flew open. Heart pounding, she bolted upright in the bed. For a disorienting moment, she didn't know where she was. The lavish surroundings were alien and strange. Then it all came crashing back—the palace, their separation, the fear of what awaited them both. Cael . . .
The metallic groan of the door reverberated through the chamber. Midori's breath caught in her throat as the locking mechanisms thudded and released. This was it. Cael had come for her, just as she knew he would.
The door swung open with a soft hiss, and a familiar figure slipped inside. Midori opened her mouth to call out Cael's name, but the words died on her lips.
It wasn't Cael at all.
The Zyranthian woman swept into the room, her movements regal and poised. Cara's flawless features were as breathtaking as Midori remembered, from her high cheekbones to the lush curve of her full hips. Silver eyes regarded Midori with an imperious disdain.
"You . . .” Midori's voice was little more than a strangled whisper. "Who are you?"
The Zyranthian woman's lips curved in a cold smile, sending a shiver down Midori's spine.
"I am Cara. I'm Cael's betrothed."