Protector: A Scifi Alien Romance Read online

  Harper was watching Madeline’s face intently. “There’s good here, Madeline, if you look for it.”

  Madeline’s throat tightened, and she didn’t respond.

  “Lore’s a good man and he’s a good fighter under all the flair,” Harper continued.

  Rory gave a decisive nod. “And the man is mighty fine to look at.”

  “And he’s nice,” Regan added.

  “The last thing I need right now is a male of any description,” Madeline told them. “The ones I’ve known in the past have always proven untrustworthy. Except for my son.”

  Regan’s face turned sad. “I’m sorry. You must miss him.”

  “I haven’t given up on seeing him again one day.”

  “Madeline—” Rory began.

  Madeline held up her hand. “Don’t worry. I’m being realistic about our circumstances, but I will exhaust every option first.” She set her shoulders back, the low-grade throb in her stomach making her wish for an antacid. “For now, we have a party to put on in order to find Blaine.”

  Behind them, voices echoed as guests started entering the room. Showtime.

  Chapter Four

  Madeline was too busy to think of anything except the party. She checked in on the chefs, the bartenders, and the entertainers. The burning in her stomach was growing, but she didn’t have the time or desire to eat. The place was packed with guests mingling, talking, and laughing. Many had gathered around the water dancers, enjoying the show.

  Then the gladiators arrived.

  Instantly, the room felt more crowded. Most of the gladiators towered over everyone else in the room. Some of them had showered and changed, but some of them hadn’t. Galen had told her many of the fans enjoyed seeing the gladiators sweat-slicked and blood-splattered. As Madeline scanned the room, she could see that several of the guests loved it.

  Raiden, Thorin, and Kace instantly moved toward their women, ignoring anyone trying to gain their attention. Madeline watched for a second, as Thorin swept a smiling Regan off her feet. She looked tiny compared to her alien gladiator. Raiden tugged Harper to his side and she rested her head against his chest. Kace leaned over Rory, pressing a sweet kiss to her lips.

  Something inside Madeline clenched hard. She didn’t want that, so why did it make her feel so damn jealous?

  Against her will, her gaze swept the entrance, seeking a tawny-haired gladiator.

  There was no sign of Lore. Turning, Madeline busied herself checking the food service, and ensuring the hors d’oeuvres were making it out among the guests.

  “I just got our guests of honor settled.”

  Galen stepped up beside her. A dark look was on his face, and he nodded his head toward the side of the room where round couches had been set up.

  Her gaze zeroed in on the couple lounging on a blue couch and the burning in her stomach increased. There was only one word to describe the pair…scary.

  The man was rough-looking, with a heavy jaw, dark eyes, and scars crossing his face. Although he was seated, she knew he’d tower over almost everyone in the room—gladiators included. The woman beside him was tall and slender. She had her long, leather-encased legs crossed, and was stroking the back of a near-naked male sitting at her feet. As the woman sipped a drink, Madeline got a good view of the woman’s sharp face. Her cheekbones looked like blades, and her almond-shaped eyes were a glittering gold. She smiled and Madeline hissed in a breath. The woman had a mouthful of pointed, sharp teeth.

  “Cerria loves men,” Galen said. “Word is Vashto indulges her and likes to watch.”

  “I don’t really care what they like, I only care what they know.”

  Galen gave a single nod. “Just be careful.”

  In the next instant, Lore entered, looking around the room with a smile. He’d showered, and was dressed in a black shirt and black leather pants. He looked delicious, and still an awful lot like a pirate.

  Instantly, three curvaceous arena flutterers converged on him, and Madeline felt her throat tighten.

  “Madeline?”

  As one of the kitchen staff grabbed her attention, Madeline forced her gaze away from Lore and his admirers. She followed the woman into the kitchen to deal with a problem over some live bug dish that was being served. Madeline averted her gaze from the slimy, black, slug-like creatures, her stomach turning over. Apparently, these things were a delicacy. With the problem finally solved, she headed back into the party.

  Drinks were flowing. People were laughing. Vashto and Cerria were watching the water dancers with interest. Everything was running smoothly.

  Madeline felt someone come up behind her, warm breath puffing on the back of her neck.

  “Where have you been hiding?” Lore drawled.

  She spun to face him. This close to him, she smelled the scent of his freshly washed skin. “Taking care of some things.”

  “Organizing things and working too hard.” His gaze moved to the giant aquarium filled with the dancers. “You’ve done an amazing job, Madeline.”

  “It’s all to get our special guests to open up.” She eyed the couple. Cerria was sitting in the lap of a naked male, laughing uproariously. “If we get something that we can use to find Blaine, it’ll all be worth it.” She turned back to see him looking at her dress.

  He fingered the tiny strap that tied up behind her neck. “I knew this Bollian silk would look fabulous on you.”

  She arched a brow. “Perhaps you should have bought a whole dress, not half of one.”

  That charming grin. “You have lovely shoulders and legs. I enjoy looking at them.”

  She huffed out a breath. The man was incorrigible.

  He touched her hair, sifting some of the strands through his fingers. The look on his face made her heart clench.

  “You’re incredibly beautiful, Madeline. With or without the silk.”

  No one had ever called her beautiful. Smart, sharp, cunning, bitch…she’d heard all of those before. But no man had ever looked at her with such curiosity or desire—like she was something precious for him to uncover.

  “Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “Are you ready to start your show?”

  “Are you ready to be my assistant?”

  “Not really, but let’s get this over and done with.”

  He took her hand and led her over to the small stage that had been set up near the windows.

  Madeline moved up to the tiny microphone device the staff had brought in. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to welcome you to the House of Galen.”

  Cheers erupted.

  “I hope you’re enjoying our celebration.”

  More cheers and lifted drinks.

  “Now we have something extra special for you.” The lights lowered, leaving the guests in dim light. “Our own showman gladiator is going to put on a very special show. One you can’t see anywhere else. One that will wow you and leave you a little breathless.”

  Murmurs rippled through the guests. Madeline saw Cerria pressed into Vashto’s side, watching the stage with acute interest.

  “Please welcome Lore, son of Uma, grandson of Xilene.”

  She stepped backward as Lore strode forward. A single beam of white-blue light illuminated him. He stood tall and straight, looking both mysterious and approachable.

  He threw his arm up, then turned one palm skyward. For a second, nothing happened, then the spectators closest to the makeshift stage gasped.

  A tiny bubble of water appeared on his palm.

  Madeline stared. It looked like a tiny crystal or diamond. He lifted his other hand over it, until the small bubble of water was pressed between his palms. Then he started moving his hands apart, like he was working taffy, pulling the ball bigger and bigger.

  The crowd, and Madeline, watched, mesmerized, as the ball of water increased in size. Soon it was over a meter wide.

  “If my lovely assistant would please bring me that small box behind her.”

  Madeline grabbed the glimmering metallic box and
moved up beside him. The spotlight was far brighter than she’d imagined and she fought not to blink.

  “Open it.”

  She flicked open the lid. Inside was a tiny, polished, multicolored rock. She frowned. What was he going to do with that?

  He pulled out the tiny rock and tossed it into the bubble of water. She watched the rock sink slowly, then a second later, it burst open, turning into a brightly colored fish.

  Madeline’s delighted gasp matched the crowd’s. As the small creature swam around the ball, the guests applauded.

  “Now, let’s make this more exciting.” Lore snapped his fingers and the fish disappeared. He gripped the water orb on either side and again worked it until it grew even larger. The giant blue sphere floated in front of him until it was as tall as he was.

  “And now, I need my lovely assistant’s help.” He held out a hand to her.

  Madeline set her hand into his.

  “Your turn,” he told her.

  “What?”

  “Trust me,” he murmured.

  She didn’t trust anybody, but strangely enough, with his big, warm hand holding hers, she let him help her step inside the ball of water.

  Madeline expected it to actually be an entire ball of water, but instead it was only a giant bubble. She could breathe just fine and float around. She held her arms out, feeling like she was as light as a feather.

  Lore raised his hands up and the orb of water lifted off the ground. Madeline’s heart leaped in her throat. Trust him. He won’t hurt you.

  She looked down and saw the crowd looking up at her in awe. She was grateful the fabric of her dress clung to her legs and didn’t give them a view of her underwear. A giddy laugh caught in her throat. She glanced at Lore and saw he was motioning for her to spin around.

  What the hell? Recalling skills from her days as a high-school gymnast, Madeline turned in a somersault, a laugh escaping her throat. She kicked and floated back upright.

  Below, Lore leaped up onto a table until he could reach her bubble. He touched the sides again, enlarging it more.

  Then he climbed inside with her.

  “This is incredible,” she said breathlessly.

  “I thought you might like it.” He held her hand, and, with his other hand, he waved forward. The ball of water moved out over the party guests. They were all reaching up, women laughing, men looking on wide-eyed.

  Lore moved the bubble around the room. Inside it, they spun around together and Madeline turned a few more somersaults with his help. Soon, the orb was floating back over the stage.

  “Ready for the finale?” he asked.

  Madeline wasn’t sure she was ready for anything, where this man was concerned. But she nodded anyway.

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Then he kissed her.

  His taste exploded in her mouth, and at the same moment, the water disappeared. Madeline felt herself drop, and a startled scream lodged in her throat.

  The next thing she knew, she was held tight in Lore’s arms as he landed on the stage, flexing his knees slightly at the impact. Madeline clutched at his shoulders, watching as the water splashed across the floor around them.

  Then Lore lifted a hand and waved it in a wide arc. The water ignited, bursting into a ring of flames around them.

  The crowd went wild, applause filling the room. The spotlight flicked off, leaving Lore and Madeline in firelight.

  “That was amazing. How do you do it?” she asked. “The water? The fire?”

  She saw his smile in the dim light. “Don’t you believe in magic?”

  “No. Magic doesn’t exist.”

  “Well, then you should know that a showman never gives his secrets away.”

  He set her on her feet and snapped his fingers. The flames shut off in an instant. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her off the stage. He tugged her around a large support pillar, giving them the illusion of privacy.

  “You must practice all these illusions a lot.” She frowned to herself. Surely something this elaborate would have required him to set things up beforehand? But she knew for a fact he hadn’t been up here earlier.

  He held his palm up. A small flame flickered to life in the center of it.

  Madeline gripped his thick wrist, studying all around. She just couldn’t see how he could do it. She reached out and flicked her finger through the flame.

  It was hot.

  Lore leaned down and blew out the flame. Then he lifted his hands and ran them up her bare arms. She felt the warmth radiating off his skin. She stared hard at his strong forearms and gasped. The veins in his arms were glowing a warm gold color.

  “You can’t always trust what you see.” He reached out and tapped his finger over her heart, just above her breast. “You have to trust what you feel.”

  Madeline wasn’t sure she could trust anything right now. Especially not with his warm touch sending parts of her that had nothing to do with magic and illusion up in flames. And she knew she really couldn’t trust how she felt, because all the emotions inside her lately were just a big, painful jumble of confusion.

  Suddenly Galen’s stocky silhouette appeared. “Looks like you did too good of a job.”

  Lore’s hands tightened on Madeline. “Why?”

  “Vashto and Cerria want to meet you both.” The imperator’s face was serious. “Tread carefully, but make it good.”

  Chapter Five

  As Lore walked across the crowded room, he instantly spotted the couple lounging on a blue couch. His muscles tensed.

  He didn’t like the look of them. The man was big, tough, and scarred. He had faint patches of a scale-like pattern on his skin, so he had some reptilian heritage. The woman sat on the seat back, her legs tucked in close beside Vashto. He was idly stroking them, his fingers disappearing occasionally under her clothing.

  The woman was all sharp angles, with slanted eyes and high cheekbones. Her skin was a deep amber color. Her gaze locked with Lore’s and she lifted a hand to tap her nails against her plump lips. Her hands were tipped with long claws. She licked her lips.

  Vashto’s gaze landed on Madeline, hot, hungry and predatory. Lore pulled her closer to his side.

  “Welcome.” Cerria’s voice was a deep, raspy purr. She waved a hand at the couch beside her. “Please join us. We enjoyed your show immensely.”

  Lore sat down, careful to put himself between Madeline and the couple. Cerria reached out and scraped her claws down Lore’s arm.

  “I also enjoyed your battle in the arena. You fought well, gladiator.” A nictitating membrane flicked over her eyes. “We won money on you. A lot of money.”

  Vashto leaned forward. “And your show here this evening was…entertaining.” The man’s voice was a deep rumble. His eyes ran down Madeline’s bare legs and his tongue flicked out to lick his lips. It was thin and forked.

  Lore reached over and pressed his palm against Madeline’s thigh. She was as tense as a new recruit in the arena. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Madeline and I work very well together.”

  “We like shows and fights and delicious things.” Cerria bared her teeth and reached out to touch Lore’s chest.

  Madeline’s hand shot out and grabbed the woman’s wrist.

  Cerria pulled back with a narrowed gaze. Madeline pressed her palm over Lore’s beating heart. He liked the feel of her touch as much as he liked seeing her stake a claim.

  Lore cleared his throat, knowing that they had to walk a delicate line of keeping Cerria happy and not letting her sink her sharp teeth into them. “I’ve always been interested in fighting…and gambling. Both are fascinating games and tests of skill.”

  Cerria leaned forward, seemingly diverted. “Exactly! Fun and challenging.”

  Lore inclined his head. “It’s part of the reason why I ended up here in the arena.” He shrugged. “But sometimes—” he glanced around, lowering his voice “—I don’t find the fights that exciting anymore. They feel too…staged.” He scowled. “And I don�
��t get time to bet on any good fights anymore.”

  Cerria’s face lit up. “We can hook you up.”

  Lore stilled. “Really?” He glanced at Vashto and the man nodded.

  “If you want to fight, really fight, we can suggest your name. And as for betting—” Cerria scraped a nail down Vashto’s neck “—we can get you in to bet on the bloodiest, goriest fights in Kor Magna.”

  “I might be interested in that.” Lore made another show of looking around and lowering his voice. “It has to be between us. Galen can’t find out.”

  Vashto’s brows pulled together. “No, I can imagine you wouldn’t want to cross a man like Galen.”

  “He can be…brutal,” Lore said.

  “Really?” Cerria’s voice turned considering, her gaze scanning the room for the imperator. Then she leaned forward, crossing her long legs and licking her lips. “These are secret fights. Really good secret fights. They aren’t pretty or flashy.” She poked out her tongue and ran a claw down it, until a line of red blood appeared. “Lots and lots of yummy red blood.”

  Lore pretended to look interested. The woman clearly got off on other people’s pain. “They’re fights to the death?”

  “Yes.” Cerria’s voice was breathless.

  Vashto nodded. “Still keen?”

  Lore nodded. “Let me know.”

  “There’s going to be a big fight in a few days,” the man said. “It’s hidden.”

  “How do I get an invite?”

  “Tomorrow night there’s a party,” Vashto said. “People attend, have fun, enjoy the pleasures on offer…and some people will receive invites to the fight.”

  “I love a party.” Cerria clapped her hands together. “Come! Come!”

  Lore nodded. “I’d love to.” He felt Madeline stiffen beside him.

  “And how about right now?” Cerria drew her claws down Lore’s cheek. “How about a private party, gladiator? My man likes to watch me being a bad girl.”

  Lore tasted bile in his mouth. “Tempting.”

  Madeline shifted closer. “But no.”