CHAPTER 2
Lena was relieved Rafa and Aaliyah left her in peace most of the time.
She knew they were keeping a close watch over her, but they didn’t push her to talk.
Being on a ship, even a small fighter, brought back too many bad memories of Ngozi and the abuse she suffered at his hands.
Ngozi, the crazy prince of the House of Nekbet, one of the more powerful of the six Houses on Raiden.
She knew now that Ngozi had planned to use her to eventually enslave her people again, plans thwarted by Abby when she asked the Laizahlian Hunter, Gauge, for help in freeing Lena from his claim.
Gauge, a male she could only vaguely remember, but whose deep voice helped keep her anchored after the memory block in her mind began to fail. She sometimes hated the invasion of her private thoughts, but also accepted she wouldn’t have survived long without him.
Why did he even care? She had heard Hunters like Gauge were cold, emotionless creatures.
They did their job, hunting down rogues who escaped their own world.
And they protected the humans on Earth from species who wanted to exploit their weaknesses—Slavers and Raiden warriors who hoped to claim a healthy human female.
That’s how Gauge ended up involved with Lena.
Ngozi’s brother Nicolai had ignored Laizahlian orders when he claimed Abby from Earth.
Gauge was sent to take her back, but Abby had fallen in love with the prince by then and chose to stay.
She and the prince were lucky the Hunter hadn’t taken her from him anyway.
Abby asked Gauge to help Lena, and he agreed to try. Without his help, Lena would have been stuck with the crazy prince for the rest of her life. She shuddered just thinking about it.
Lena turned to look over her shoulder when the door swished open.
Aaliyah stuck her head through, her expression worried. “Um, I hate to bother you, but can you come up front for a minute? We might have a little problem.”
A shiver raced down Lena’s spine as a premonition of doom dropped a shadow over her thoughts.
“Sure,” she replied, climbing slowly to her feet.
She smoothed down the uniform Aaliyah had given her, not used to wearing such confining clothes.
Back home on the cliffs overlooking the sea, she would have worn soft leather pants and a halter top to cover her breasts.
Here on the ship, they covered almost every inch of their skin in a material Rafa had explained was nearly indestructible.
It even protected them, at least to some degree, from serpent fire, which she found hard to believe, though she didn’t argue.
All Lena knew was that she found the material confining, making her feel even more trapped in the small fighter craft.
After following Aaliyah to the pilot’s area, where Rafa sat studying his instruments, Aaliyah motioned for Lena to take a seat in the co-pilot’s chair next to the big Raiden warrior.
She studied his black and burnt-orange armored skin, a color considered just beneath the red of royalty.
If he had carried the same red pattern as Ngozi, Lena would never have accepted his help, not trusting any Raiden royalty, not even Abby’s mate, Nicolai.
Aaliyah stood behind Lena, her delicate, clawless fingers resting on the back of her chair. “Okay, Rafa, have Nick repeat what he just told us.”
Rafa nodded as he flipped a switch on his instrument panel. “Nekbet Base, this is Fighter Alta Twelve. Request you repeat the last message sent?”
A voice Lena recognized as Prince Nicolai’s came back a few seconds later. “Fighter Alta Twelve, to avoid war between Leviathan serpents and the six Houses of Raiden, we request you return to Nekbet Base with Alpha Saeran’s daughter, Zephralena.”
Lena frowned as she stared at Rafa. “What does he mean by ‘to avoid war between Leviathan serpents and Raiden warriors?’ I’m nobody, unimportant. Why would they fight over me?”
Rafa shook his head, the red vertical pupils in his eyes flashing briefly. “Request more details, Nekbet Base.”
There was nothing for a moment, then Nicolai responded, sounding less official.
“I’ve managed to scramble the signal, but it won’t hold for long.
Prince Kiernan’s shaprata is maturing. His father is furious that his plans to claim Samantha fell through, so now they’re desperate to find a suitable mate before it’s too late.
I believe the king intends to have his son claim Lena.
The serpent daughter of an alpha is a much better choice than a Raiden female. ”
“But he can’t,” Lena replied, rising terror causing her heart to race. “I’ve already been claimed. It is a proven fact that two Raiden males cannot claim the same female.”
“But Ngozi’s essence was stripped by the Hunter,” Rafa said. “We don’t know for sure, but it could leave you open to another Raiden’s claim.”
“I won’t go back,” Lena snarled, beginning to rise. She stiffened when Aaliyah reached out to stop her. “I would rather die than let another Raiden warrior sting me.”
“Nobody is going to let that happen,” Aaliyah said, giving Rafa a pointed look. “But we might not have a choice but to go back. Nicolai would not ask us to return unless it was an emergency. He knows the danger it will put Rafa and me in.”
“Why?” Lena shook her head, bewildered. “I mean, why would Raiden warriors threaten to break the treaty between our people?”
“You know why, Lena,” Rafa said softly, keeping his gaze on his instrument panel.
He must know how much it bothered her to hold the attention of any Raiden warrior, even one trying to help her.
“King Caelium is desperate. He says he will destroy the Cave Dwellers cliff homes if we don’t bring you back. ”
“Why can’t he find another mate? The prince wanted Samantha. He could even go to Earth and claim another human. Why me?”
“It’s complicated,” Rafa said, glancing over at her.
“The Sabula king has always been jealous of the House of Nekbet. It’s why he wanted the crown prince to mate Abby’s sister.
He thought it would raise Sabula’s worth in the eyes of the other Houses.
Since he obviously can’t have Samantha, he decided he would take Ngozi’s lost mate.
It is well known that a Laizahlian Hunter stripped you of Ngozi’s essence.
The Leviathan-Raiden cross is a strong one, possibly even stronger than a Raiden-human cross.
Ngozi may be insane, but he’s not stupid.
When his shaprata began to mature, he would have studied the Leviathan lines and only chosen the best of the best for himself.
King Caelium is determined to mate his firstborn son to a strong female. ”
But she wasn’t strong, not anymore. “There are many Leviathan females who would be open to mating a future king to one of the Houses. I can’t do this, Rafa. I can’t.”
“We know, sweetheart,” Aaliyah said. “Like we said, we won’t let him force you. But if we don’t return, Kiernan may try to destroy your father’s home. Who knows how many of your people will be killed, innocent women and children. I don’t think we have a choice here.”
Lena began to pant, feeling as though she couldn’t breathe.
“I feel your fear, young one,” Gauge said in her mind. “Tell me what is wrong?”
Lena ignored Rafa as he turned his attention back to Nicolai. “They want to take me back to Raiden, Gauge,” she replied telepathically, feeling the panic begin to bubble up inside. “A prince for one of the other Houses wishes to claim me. I can’t do it again. I would rather die!”
Gauge remained quiet for several long seconds, but Lena could sense he was thinking about what she’d said.
“Tell Rafa to take you back to Abby. You will be safe with her. I will arrange to come to Raiden personally to handle this situation. It will not be possible for the Raiden prince to claim you, young one. You have nothing to fear from him. If he does sting you, he will die.”
“Are you sure? If you stripped me of Ngozi’s essence, what is to stop him?”
“It is not important right now. Trust me, Lena. I will contact Abby through our bond and make sure she and Nicolai keep you safe until I arrive. I’ll need to gain permission from our council to visit Raiden.”
“Okay.” Lena took a shaky breath, her throat creaking when she swallowed.
“I guess I’ll see you at the Nekbet palace.
” She shivered, but for a different reason this time.
The male had become a lifeline to her over the past few months, but he was still a different species, a powerful vampire, and he was male. Could she really trust him?
“Be calm, Lena. No one will hurt you. I will see you again soon.”
He broke the connection, the loss of his calming influence leaving Lena rattled. She turned her gaze to Rafa, finding him studying her intently.
“Who were you speaking with?” he asked, his red pupils flashing briefly.
“The Hunter, Gauge. He said to take me back to Abby and he’ll meet us there. He said it wouldn’t be possible for the prince to claim me. He’ll explain when he arrives.”
“So he didn’t say why not?” Aaliyah asked, curiosity in her tone. “I mean, it’s good, right, that the prince can’t claim you? Not that we would have let him force you.”
“He didn’t say.” Lena noticed the worried look that passed between Aaliyah and Rafa, then Rafa turned his attention back to Nicolai. “Fighter Alta Twelve to Nekbet Base. The alpha’s daughter has agreed to return to Raiden. We will arrive back within the week.”
This time when Lena tried to stand, Aaliyah didn’t stop her. She kept her eyes downcast as she walked around Rafa’s mate, needing to be alone with her thoughts for a while.
Why had Gauge said she couldn’t be mated to another Raiden warrior?
Did that mean Ngozi still held a claim? It’s what she’d always suspected, and the faint abaci pattern on her body only helped prove it, but Lena would rather die than be returned to the crazy prince.
Bad enough she had to deal with his evil presence in her mind, in her memories and dreams. She would find a way to end her life before she let another warrior sting her.