The Arcav Guard's Female Read online

  The Arcav Guard's Female

  Hope Hart

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Epilogue

  Taken by the Alien Warrior

  Chapter One

  Peyton

  The blaster recoils in my hand, but this time I manage to keep it steady— almost, but not quite hitting my target.

  I blow out a frustrated breath. In my mind, Udan is in front of me, dark eyes narrowed as he mocks me, threatening my friends. I shoot again, and this time I at least make a glancing blow. It wouldn’t take him down, but it would hurt.

  I stare down at my hands, clenched around the Arcav weapon. Once, these hands were used for healing. I would cut people open and save their lives. Now, I have only one goal: Find Udan and make him pay for what he did to us.

  I shoot again, but I’ve been practicing for hours and my hands are shaking with strain. These blasters are incredibly different from guns on Earth. I’d never handled an actual gun before, but the sleek Arcav weapons are different from anything I’ve ever seen in a movie on Earth.

  I want to see the look on Udan’s face just before I shoot him in the head. No, the heart. No… I smile to myself as I stare at my target. I’ll shoot him in the gut. Make it hurt before he dies.

  “Peyton, there you are.”

  Jessica reaches me, puffed and out of breath. We don’t quite know exactly how pregnant she is, since her baby isn’t exactly human. The Arcav are estimating based on human gestation periods and the size of the baby, but either way, she can’t have many months left. Ever since the Arcav rescued us and brought us back to Arcavia, Jessica has been frantically knitting sweaters with slits down the back for the baby’s wings. The Arcav can provide her with more than enough clothes, of course, but I think this is the one thing she can control, and she doesn’t go anywhere without her latest project clutched in her hands.

  “What’s up?”

  Jessica’s brow wrinkles and I have a sudden flashback to her screaming in horror when we were rescued… without the father of her baby. She got a little too friendly with one of Udan’s gladiators, and when Udan found out… he made us all pay for it.

  “You weren’t at dinner.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  Jessica sighs. “Peyton, I know you want revenge. I get it, believe me, I do,” she strokes one hand over her bump. “But this bitterness will eat you alive if you let it. You need to find a way to move on.”

  “I do have a way to move on. I’m going to kill him.”

  Jessica pales at the thought. “How?”

  “I’ve been talking to Harlow. She says that if I cooperate with Varian, I can have some bargaining power. The Arcav want these guys dead almost as much as we do. Slavery so close to their region of the universe makes them look weak.”

  Jessica sighs. “You don’t eat, you barely sleep. All you do is train and brood.”

  I’m suddenly unreasonably furious and I take a deep breath. Jessica doesn’t deserve to be the target of my rage.

  “I have to do this, Jess.”

  I don’t understand how she can be so calm. How she seems to be fitting in here amongst the Arcav and all their human mates. Our lives were stolen from us. I’m glad she’s found some measure of peace, and with a baby on the way, she sure needs it. But I won’t be happy until Udan is rotting in the ground.

  “What if it’s not enough?” Jess asks.

  I think of Shauna, who no longer speaks, the trauma too deep and vast to comprehend.

  “It will have to be.”

  We both turn as the door swings open. This part of the training center is usually quiet after dinner. I meet Vazta’s eyes as he steps inside. Obviously, everyone has figured out where I’ve been spending my time.

  I let my eyes wander over the Arcav’s huge body, even as my muscles tense, my fight-or-flight response activated. As usual, those ice-blue eyes darken at my fear, and he stops walking, likely in an attempt to prevent me from bolting.

  I had my blood test days ago and it simply proved what Vazta had known all along.

  They say he’s my mate, this huge male with the deep growl and constant scowl. They say he’s a gentle giant, and honorable man who loves women and children and has medals for his courage in battle.

  I don’t care.

  Jessica smiles brightly at him and I scowl. It’s easy for her. I was due to be tested for the mating gene the day after I was abducted. Jessica had already been tested and found to be free of any need to stay on this planet.

  My eyes fall to her bump and I sigh, disgusted with myself. Oh yeah, it’s way easier for her, what with the winged, fatherless baby she’s carrying around.

  Get a grip, Peyton.

  Vazta takes a step closer and I flinch. He lets out a growl and immediately cuts it off, but just like that, I break out in a cold sweat, eyeing the exit. There’s only one way out of here and it’s behind him, and the chances of getting past him are slim.

  He moves to the side, as if demonstrating that I can leave at any time, but it’s too late. I’m barely holding onto my control, hands shaking as I force myself to put the blaster down and step away from it. If panic hits me, I’ll end up pointing it at the huge male with the pained expression.

  “Female,” he says slowly. “You were not at the evening meal. Would you like me to bring you some food?”

  Terror has my stomach clenched, and the idea of forcing food down my throat makes me want to throw up.

  I’ve waited too long to reply, and Jessica nudges me with her elbow.

  “I’m fine,” I croak out. “I’m not hungry, thank you.”

  Vazta’s brows lower at this, and I let out a shaky breath. I need some fresh air. I move toward the exit, and Jessica follows me, looking as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. I know better. I’ve heard her crying out for Agaz in her sleep. Still, I wish I could fake it the way she does.

  My body trembles as I move closer to Vazta, and he stills, watching me as I approach. I hate myself for the way my body is constantly aware of him, even as fear makes my hands shake. He’s the kind of guy that if he’d stepped into my favorite bar close to Mercy West— the hospital I worked at— I would’ve sat up and taken notice.

  Now, though, I’m well aware of what those huge hands could do to me if I pissed him off.

  Don’t get me wrong. This huge, scowly male has done nothing to suggest that he would hurt me. Nothing except follow me around incessantly. But that doesn’t stop my hands from shaking whenever those icy eyes meet mine.

  Vazta

  My female stinks of terror, the acrid smell is making my horns straighten. I take a deep breath, fighting for calm, even as she takes slow steps toward me. I move further from the door, and she eyes me as if I am not to be trusted.

  Her friend smiles at me and sails through the door, but I can smell her fear too. She is simply better at hiding it. It does not help that my female is so small, with huge eyes, a wealth of hair, and the tiniest dots across her small nose. She inspires protection from all of those around her, and the scent of her fear has caused more than one Arcav to growl when she has neared.

  This just makes her fear us more.

  I do not know what happened to the human females. I know they were taken from their planet by the Grivath and sold
on Gule. Gule is a slave planet, and the thought of this fragile female around those sick beasts makes my claws extend.

  If I were a better male, I would walk through the door first. I am well aware that Peyton does not want me at her back. But I am desperate for her to see that I do not mean her any harm. Perhaps she just needs to see that for herself. As difficult as it is, I force myself to stay still as she approaches, watching me warily.

  She gestures for me to walk through the door first and I slowly shake my head. Her tiny hands fist as she hesitates and the scent of her terror is so offensive that I almost give in. She scowls at me though, scurrying through the door.

  I almost smile. Good for her.

  She continues walking, hurrying to get back to the medi-center and the quarters that have been set up for the human females. I sigh as I watch her small form move toward the pod. An Arcav guard I do not know will be taking her and Jessica back to their quarters, and my horns straighten further at the thought of her alone with another male.

  At that moment, Peyton turns, as if feeling my eyes on her. She takes one look at my horns and I can see her pale, even as she whirls around and moves toward the pod.

  I sigh again as Eve approaches and grins up at me, sweat on her face. Eve is another guard, and the only human female tasked with protecting Harlow— the Arcav Queen. She is panting slightly, obviously still recovering from her workout.

  “What’s up, Vazta?”

  I nod toward Peyton, who is getting into the pod that will once again take her away from me. Every instinct I have urges me to follow and my voice is bitter.

  “Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps it is my desperate longing for a mate that has convinced me this small human female is mine. I cannot be mated to someone so fearful of me.”

  Eve raises one eyebrow.

  “She did a blood test, right?”

  I remain silent as I watch Peyton leave.

  “Give it time,” she says. “They haven’t been here long. What they’ve been through…” she shakes her head and I fight the urge to press her for details. My female will tell me these things herself when she is ready.

  Eve is right. I know my female is fierce. She showed me this the moment I met her, when she upended a table, throwing objects at us in an attempt to protect the other females.

  My mood darkens further at the reminder of the health of the human females when they were brought to us. Peyton had broken ribs and torn tendons in her right ankle, along with numerous cuts and bruises. One of the females is so traumatized she does not speak, and then there is Jessica, who seems to be the most recovered of the group… if you cannot smell her constant anxiety.

  I have touched Peyton twice. Once when I protected Harlow from the flying objects, and once when I forced her to sit still for her healing. Both times, she looked at me as if I were a monster.

  I am scowling as I head back toward the palace to take my shift with Harlow. I have been banned from the medi-center, so my only chance to see Peyton is when she leaves to train. But tomorrow… tomorrow I will see her for longer. Tomorrow is the day that Peyton will petition Varian, asking to be returned to her planet. I have not spoken to her about this, but my friends have kept me informed.

  She will not be leaving me.

  Chapter Two

  Peyton

  Today’s the day. I’m shaking with nerves as I drink my coffee, thankful that the Arcav King’s mate is human so at least we have human necessities on this planet. Truthfully, Harlow has been amazing since we arrived. I know her hands are tied when it comes to some things, but she’s made sure we have everything we need, offered counseling to all of us, and made certain that we feel as safe as possible in our quarters.

  We’re still in the medi-center, but it doesn’t feel anything like a hospital on Earth. The room is warm and welcoming, with a large, attached bathroom and four beds. It’s as if Harlow knew we wouldn’t want to sleep apart, and we often push the beds together, sleeping close in the middle of the night, Shauna and Ruby curled up between Jessica and me.

  “Are you ready?” Ruby asks.

  I shrug. Ruby hasn’t decided if she wants to stay or return to Earth. She’s been told she needs to be tested, but for now, everyone is leaving her alone. Mostly, she wants to stay close to Shauna, who still hasn’t spoken a word.

  “I think so. Jess is going to come with me, and Harlow has helped me come up with a plan.”

  In truth, I was furious when I was told it was unlikely that I would be going home anytime soon. But if I’m going to be forced to stay for an indeterminate period of time, I may as well negotiate.

  I want revenge, and the Arcav are perfectly positioned to help me achieve that revenge. And Jessica? Jessica wants to find Agaz, who is likely still on Cilphi, if he’s alive at all.

  We all turn at a knock on the door and Harlow walks in, one hand cradling her huge bump. It’s not hard to believe she was a cop on Earth when you watch her take in a room, her eyes sizing us all up in moments.

  She nods at me. “Ready to go?”

  “Yup. Jessica’s coming too.”

  Harlow simply smiles at that, and we follow her out of the medi-center and into her pod, which Blake is driving.

  Blake’s a human, and he was Harlow’s partner on Earth. She usually brings him or Eve when she’s visiting us, well aware that the Arcav are too big and too volatile for most of us.

  Vazta’s concerned gaze floats through my mind and I banish it. I need to be on my game today if everything is going to work out the way I need it to.

  The palace is huge, and Jessica gasps beside me as we enter through a huge garden.

  “This is one of the side entrances,” Harlow says. “I figured you guys might want to see the garden.”

  I freeze at the sight of something furry basking in the sun.

  “Is that a cat?”

  Harlow grins at me, and we watch as the huge cat flicks its tail lazily, opening its eyes to slits as we walk past.

  “Yup. That’s Tom, my cat. Varian rescued him for me.”

  I can’t imagine the terrifying Arcav King handling the cat, and Harlow’s grin widens at the look on my face.

  “Tom clawed him to pieces. I think that’s when I started to truly fall in love with Varian.”

  I give her a small smile and we continue walking, making our way inside. This part of the palace is lush but still welcoming, with plenty of gel sofas tucked away near windows overlooking the gardens. We follow Harlow and Blake down the corridor, stopping at an ornate door.

  Blake checks the room, finally gesturing for us to enter and we all trail in. I blow out a breath of relief when I notice it’s empty, and Jessica shoots Harlow a grateful look. Now we can settle in and get ready to negotiate with the Arcav King.

  “Now remember,” Harlow begins as we sit down at a large table, “the Arcav see females as in need of protection. Stay calm, and whatever you do, don’t challenge Varian. Be polite, be gracious, answer exactly how we practiced, and you’ll be fine.”

  I nod, taking a deep breath and blowing it out as an Arcav male walks in. Korva, I remember, and I relax when he takes a seat close to the door.

  Varian arrives next, his hard face softening slightly as he gazes at his mate. He goes to her immediately, taking her mouth in his and then sitting beside her, his focus entirely on her before he scans the room, nodding at me and Jessica.

  Vazta walks in, his eyes going straight to me, and I narrow mine back at him.

  Eve sweeps in next, a scowl on her face which deepens when she spots Korva. I don’t know what’s happening between them, but I jump as he snarls and grabs for her hand. She backhands him and Harlow laughs, even as Korva growls.

  “Why do you smell like the human male?”

  Vazta once told me he could smell my fear. Obviously, he wasn’t lying.

  “None of your business,” she says, and I clench my fists as the tension in the room skyrockets.

  Eve eyes me. “So,” she says, grinning. “Did you h
ave some chirpy little birds follow you around and put your hair in that braid this morning?”

  I scowl at her, feeling my face flush. I’ve been told I look young and innocent my whole life. As a cardiothoracic surgeon, my looks have held me back. It’s tough enough being a woman in the field, and even tougher when you look like you’re still a teenager.

  Varian clears his throat as Eve finds her seat.

  “Is everyone here?” he asks.

  Harlow nods and reaches for my hand. I swallow, butterflies battling for freedom in my stomach as I feel Vazta’s eyes on me.

  “I will hear the first petitioner,” Varian says.

  I take a deep breath and get to my feet.

  “As Harlow has likely mentioned, I would like to go home immediately,” I say. We all know that Varian won’t let this happen. Mates stay in Arcavia, unless they can convince him they should be on Earth. Amanda did it, but she ended up returning once her mate showed up groveling at her doorstep.

  Varian raises his eyebrow. “My understanding is that you have had a blood test and were found to be Vazta’s mate.”

  I grind my teeth, reminding myself that I need to play nice if I’m going to get what I want.

  “I have an important and rewarding career on Earth, not to mention my family. I thank you for rescuing us, along with your hospitality so far, but I want to go home.”

  Harlow’s expression is approving when I flick my eyes to her.

  We wait while Varian considers. Unsurprisingly, he addresses Vazta.

  “What are your thoughts?”

  “Peyton is my mate, Your Majesty. She belongs with me.”

  Fury hits me. I belong with him? I am so tired of males of all species deciding where I belong.

  Harlow clears her throat and I take a moment to collect myself.