We remained silent, moving through the woods, utter darkness all around us, and I had one thing on my mind. Saving her, the woman I loved. Whatever happened, the decisions that had thrown our worlds together would decide our fate, but I would save her from the humans who had no real understanding of the Cenzan destiny.

  Even if it meant giving my life.

  My conviction strong, I adjusted the weapon. There was no human alive that would stop me. We neared the compound and began shooting, taking out the various guard stations with ease then plowing our way into the building. Pandemonium blended in with the mass destruction, debris flying everywhere. While Killer led the way, people screaming, cowering from the monsters threatening not only their livelihood but their very lives, I gathered all my strength. This would be done.

  I sensed her presence as we moved meticulously throughout the compound, heading to the lower floors, blasting our way through every door, every barrier. When we crossed over a threshold, moving into a darkened corridor, I gathered a sense of her fragrance. Throwing my head back, I issued a primal howl before taking out the lock and forcing my way inside. A foggy haze of thick smoke remained but I grasped what I was seeing. The growl returned, guttural and coming from deep in my bones.

  “I’d stop right there.” The bastard laughed, fueling the anger inside. I walked in cautiously, Killer moving to the right, covering the entrance.

  Captain Hicks had Fiona around the throat, some form of weapon placed to her temple. Her hands were wrapped around his arm, pulling, her face reddened from the pressure. She was gasping for air.

  “Let her go or you will die,” I commanded, inching closer.

  “Shandar,” she managed, kicking, struggling.

  “Stop right there. I wouldn’t even attempt it. You see, I found your weakness, Prince Drateq.”

  “I should have killed you like the bastards in prison,” Fiona snapped.

  The missing piece of her story. She’d killed the men who’d attacked her. I held even more reverence in my heart for the woman who stood like a beacon of true hope.

  “They were worthless, Fiona. I’ll give you that,” the captain laughed as he homed in on Killer’s presence. “Well. Well. The rats have come home to nest. We meet again, Lieutenant Michaelson. Once a traitor, always a traitor.”

  “Name’s Killer for a reason,” the lieutenant spit out as he moved in a stealth-like formation toward the captain.

  “Always thought you were more of a chicken shit,” Captain Hicks chortled, darting his eyes from right to left

  “She doesn’t belong to you.” I knew my words meant nothing.

  “Well, she certainly doesn’t belong to an alien, a slimy, stupid yet greedy lizard. Miss Dupree and I have work to do.” Captain Hicks kept a smile on his face as he nuzzled into her neck. “You see, we have a strong history together.”

  Her eyes were wide, begging me to stand down. I allowed her to see into my mind, but the vision was cut short, the poison progressing. A chill was slithering into my veins, slowing down my blood flow. Soon, major organs would begin to shut down, rendering me paralyzed. We’d fallen into the perfect trap.

  “We might even cure you, keep you around as a slave. Would you like that, sweet sunshine?” Laughing, the captain licked the side of her face. “However, she’ll have to be a good little girl, but I have my ways of keeping her in line.”

  “Cocksucker,” Killer mumbled, drawing a nanosecond of the captain’s attention.

  Rage swept into my system. My mate was under attack. As I bellowed, ready to pump the weapon, she managed to kick Hicks in the balls, breaking the connection.

  He scrambled to grab her before aiming his weapon in my direction.

  Boom!

  I heard her screaming as I fell to the ground, anguish coursing through every muscle, every bone.

  “No!” Her wail penetrated the dense air as she pitched herself forward. “Shandar. Please don’t be dead. I can save you.”

  In the passionate embrace of her hold, I was able to see Logan Hicks, or what was left of him. At least I was able to smile.

  “Dead cocksucker,” Killer added, kicking the captain in the groin.

  “We have to get him out of here. Now!” Fiona screamed. I felt her fumbling with my uniform. “Shandar, don’t pass out on me. We need to get to the ship. I don’t know how to make that happen.”

  “Come on, princess. Let’s get the fuck out of here. You need to find this wormhole or portal location or whatever it’s called.” Killer’s voice boomed in my ears as he grunted, grabbing me under the arms. “You’re going to have to help me some with this, prince. I gotta be able to shoot. I doubt we’re home free.”

  His arm under me, both he and Fiona dragged me out into the corridor. My vision was all but gone, a cold chill encapsulating my extremities. There were continued cries, screams of agony, several additional blasts as Killer fought to get us out of the compound. Fire ripped all around us, heat licking against my skin. The stench of burning metal mixed with the scent of blood, the bitter taste lingering on my tongue.

  “God damn it!” Killer yelled over the melee, struggling to keep me in his hold.

  Another round of booms assaulted my ears, ringing, permeating. My throat was tightening, and I could no longer feel my legs.

  “We can do this. We have to do this,” Fiona said over and over again.

  “Hold on, princess. This is going to get hairy.” Killer’s bellowing voice, an anguished groan filtered throughout the area as he propelled us forward. I was able to hear the sound of actual gunshots, clinking noises as ammunition hit various machines. Breathing became labored, almost to the point of shutting down.

  “Shandar. Stay with us. Please.” Her whisper was soft, lilting even in the midst of utter chaos.

  When we were clear of the compound, the scent of the night air filtering through my mind, I tried to lift my head. “Ka-lek.” I slapped my hand on my uniform, trying to connect, desperately attempting to get us out of the bowels of hell. “Kalek.”

  “Captain Drateq.”

  I heard the strain in his voice, breathless. Anguished. He’d succumbed to the poison. “Initiate abort. Get out of there.”

  “Not. Without. You.” Kalek’s return reply was followed by complete silence. In the ship’s position, we were a target for any satellite, any fighter ship located in the area.

  “Shields,” I managed, knowing there was dead space.

  “Shandar. Come on. Think. Get us back to the ship. Go straight, over there.” Fiona’s request was laced with urgency and soon after she’d spoken the words, I could hear the sound of other humans gaining ground. We would be trapped in a matter of seconds.

  “I…” My throat was so dry, the thin walls of muscle closing in, cutting off my air supply.

  “I think this is it,” Fiona said, her voice strangled.

  “You better be right, princess ‘cause we’re running out of time. Come on, prince. Just hit the button. Let’s get the hell out of here,” Killer encouraged.

  “They’re coming. I can see them. Shandar, we have to go now!” She cupped my face, bringing my lips to hers. “I love you. Help us. Please.”

  I was thrown into another time, another space, a memory that I’d purged. Vlanea. Her face was pictured in my mind’s eye, her dazzling long, white blonde hair, her luminescent eyes. We were barely more than teenagers, together almost every day. I’d known she wasn’t my intended mate, although the fact had never been mentioned and I’d never asked my father why. She loved me, desperate for my attention, but our secret affair had been detected. I was required to say goodbye, following my father’s rules.

  “You are my sweet love,” Vlanea cooed. She swished her hips as she moved around me, her hand touching my arm, her fingers running through my hair.

  Her touch had always stilled me, and I was unable to stop tingling, longing, but there was no recourse. I grabbed her hand, swinging her around to face me. “We must talk.”

  “Why? It’s a wonderful day,” she insisted. “We could take a walk.”

  I shook my head, pulling her down onto a bench. I knew we were being watched, my behavior judged as a member of the royal family. And I knew I would break her heart. “We can’t see each other any longer.”

  Her lovely face twisted, anguish replacing joy. “Why?”

  “Because it is not allowed.”

  “I don’t understand. We’re so happy, so good together.” Vlanea began to shake, her tiny body shivering in an uncontrollable fashion.

  “Yes, and I adore you.”

  “But you can’t or won’t love me.”

  I kissed her knuckles, sliding her skin across my lips. “I’ve been forbidden to see you.”

  She jerked her hand away, her smile turning into a bitter hiss. Jumping to a standing position, she glared down at me. “No. This can’t be.”

  My throat was dry, closing in. “We must follow Cenzan policy.”

  “Cenzan policy,” she scoffed. “You will never be able to rule this land. You don’t have the guts.”

  “Vlanea, I must follow the protocol. You know that. You’ve always known that.”

  Her laugh was harsh, her expression one of amusement. “You mean your father won’t allow you to cross breed with a mutant, a taint on your society. I hate you! I will always hate you!”

  I was shattered, the memory pulling me into my own private nightmare. As she spoke of vengeance and retribution, walking away as if I’d never mattered, I knew she was right. For she was the child of our enemy.

  “Shandar. Please. Listen to me,” Fiona implored.

  This woman loved me, an unbridled love crossing galaxies and infinite time, and I refused to forsake her as I had my beloved Vlanea.

  With the last amount of my strength, I managed to find the transporter. There was no God for our people, no religion that provided hope in the time of desperate need. But for this moment in time, I willed the God afforded to the humans to intervene.

  And I pressed my fingertips to the unit.

  * * *

  “Vlanea, I need the saline solution. Now!” Fiona barked, her fingers working on my uniform. I could no longer speak, had very limited vision, and my body was completely paralyzed, but I was able to hear everything that was going on.

  “That’s not going to do anything,” Vlanea insisted as she ran toward us. “I’ve done every test, cross checked every formula.” Her voice was breaking up. “Every soldier is down. Every one of them. This is an epidemic. They’re going to die.”

  “Not on my watch,” Fiona insisted. “We don’t much time and you’re going to need to do everything I say.”

  “Is he even alive?” Killer asked.

  “You have no authority on this ship!” Vlanea insisted. “I am now ranking officer.”

  “Then your people are going to die.” Fiona’s words rang in the room.

  I heard the exasperation in Fiona’s breath sounds, could tell what she was thinking, but I no longer had the ability to connect with her mind. I struggled to make any sound, to draw her attention. There was much she needed to learn. There was no movement and no will of my own would allow me to engage. I was a prisoner in my own body.

  Just as had been planned.

  “Get the damn saline. I know what I’m doing,” Fiona snapped.

  “If the captain recovers, he will learn of your insolence,” Vlanea snapped.

  “If the captain and your people recover, I’ll gladly take any punishment you dole out,” Fiona rebutted.

  “Jesus, princess. You got spunk,” Killer chortled.

  I heard footsteps, a disgruntled sound coming from Vlanea. Then I heard Fiona’s whispered voice. “Killer, I have to trust you so listen carefully. Release whatever prisoners you think will help you and make certain we’re out of the atmosphere.”

  “Shit, princess, not certain if I can get them out,” Killer responded. “A few of them you probably don’t want out anyway.”

  “I don’t give a shit what you have to do, figure it out. We need help, any fucking warm bodies, and you’re the only person who can do this. If you’ve flown a fighter jet, then take the damn commands. Bring Kalek to me. Don’t tell him anything. He could be faking his condition, but if he’s not, he should still be able to hear you.”

  “Faking? You don’t trust him?” Killer was taken aback.

  “I don’t trust anyone at this point,” she said, anguish in her voice.

  Kalek. Hearing her concern, her condemnation of a man I trusted with my life was more horrific than anything. I couldn’t stop this. She had no understanding of the path she was taking.

  Killer sighed then gave a military salute. “All right then. I’ll do what I can, princess. Save him. I have a feeling there’s a hell of a lot more to this story.”

  She blinked her eyes in response, waiting only seconds before ripping open my uniform and placing her bare hands on my chest. Leaning over, she kept her voice little more than a whisper. “Shandar. You’re going to have to trust me. I can save you, all of you, but it’s going to take time. What Logan told me I don’t know whether to believe, but I’m following my instincts.” She shook her head, momentarily closing her eyes as she pressed her hands up and down. “Thank some Lord above. Your organs are still functioning. If Logan is right, your organs are already trying to heal you. I’m boosting your natural immune system. I know we have limited time, but oh, God, there’s so much to tell you. I just…” She swallowed hard, her hands shaking. “I know the identity of the person who betrayed you. He—”

  Her words were cut short as Vlanea walked back into the room, her eyes narrowed, her hands full of the requested liquid. “Is he all right?”

  I struggled to make any sound, any movement, scream out it wasn’t Kalek. If Zatar was in charge of this, his arrival could be imminent, and he would eradicate Fiona. I had to find a way to warn her.

  “He’s breathing,” Fiona answered, locking eyes with mine before moving with purpose to another table.

  “Explain to me what you’re doing so I can help.”

  “Redefining this genetic code then augmenting the existing formula. I’ll need some space to work.”

  Vlanea gave a quick glance in my direction. “Of course. Just tell me what I can do to help you.”

  “Make certain the others are kept hydrated.” Fiona kept her hands in her pockets and moved away, out of my line of sight. I strained to hear, to try to break through this damning curse.

  “I’ll gather some things and start with the weakest first. What happened on the planet? What were you told?”

  “Told? Nothing. Shandar and Killer simply blew up the facility.” Fiona’s answer was short, matter of fact. And a lie. Her trust was destroyed, and I had to wonder what Logan had divulged. Would she believe a madman over a man she… Loved?

  I heard certain clanging noises but had no way of seeing any of the activities. I had no way of knowing how many minutes passed, but with every passing nanosecond, I could feel my body failing. Every aspect of my life, my conversations with my father came into my mind. Why hadn’t he told me about the Cenzans coming to Earth all those years ago? And my mother? Had she been captured, or had she gone willingly? There were Federation buildings that I’d never entered, experiments that I knew existed. Could it be possible that other humans had been kept prisoners? Was my father responsible?

  Yes, he’d balked at coming to Earth, trying to prevent me from accepting this command. If he’d only told me the truth, things could be much different. Or would they? Would I have come, knowing the outcome, realizing that there was no other choice but to lie down and die?

  “What tests did you do on the humans?” Fiona asked.

  “Tests?”

  “On the prisoners.”

  Vlanea exhaled and I could hear the challenge even in her breath sounds. “Virility in both males and females. We were trying to make certain of mating capabilities.”

  “And Shandar wasn’t aware of these tests?”

  “Of course, he was. Captain Drateq knew everything that was going on.”

  “Mmm…” Fiona moved back in my direction. “Including the fact that you’d been instructed by the chancellor to test a new strain of a similar poison now infecting your people? An updated formula that was used on Earth fifty years ago?”

  Vlanea seemed frozen, sputtering. “I don’t understand.”

  “Does the captain also know that you then betrayed your kind, paid handsomely for helping Captain Logan Hicks of the United States in an effort to destroy your own people?” Fiona moved quickly, standing over me and in her hands, I could see a syringe pump.

  “No! That’s not true. I would never betray our kind. Get your hands off the captain,” Vlanea screeched.

  As Fiona mouthed the words ‘trust me’ she thrust the pump into my chest. I felt nothing but the same agony as one by one my organs lost their fight. Had the woman I’d dreamt about for so many years betrayed me? Had I lost my vision, my ability to command because of a single woman?

  Vlanea reached Fiona, yanking her arms, swinging and connecting a hard punch. Both females went down, scuttling on the floor.

  “You have no right,” Vlanea insisted.

  “You were going to allow your people to die,” Fiona huffed.

  I could see Fiona as she wiped blood from her mouth, backing away from Vlanea. A single finger twitched then a second and the constricting suffocation around my throat lessened. A series of visions rushed into my mind; my mother, her beautiful face. I heard voices, conversations, her vivid stories of Earth told to a little boy who had no understanding of what he was hearing. And so, the little boy blocked out the memories as if they’d never existed. I was thrown into a frenzy, my spirit almost broken yet my body was electrified.

  “No, I… I was told they would live, but be forced away,” Vlanea muttered as she fell against one of the walls, her body sagging.

  “And you believed a human over your own captain, a man you’ve loved since you were a child?” Fiona held up a small vial. “I have proof that you were involved.”