The Princess and her Bounty Hunter: Alien Romance (Fated to the Alien: The Psychic Matchmaker Book 2) Read online

  She had to live through this, had to fulfill her promise to keep Larka safe.

  “Brace.” The alarm was going off in the background, but she ignored it as she broke through the atmosphere. Tiana readjusted the ship’s speed and direction as a cross-wind hit it. Could this planet be any harder to read? She had expected the landing to be easier once out of the atmosphere, but she was wrong. Buffeted one way and then another. Pushed forward, then back, the ship stuttered through the remainder of the distance toward the ground, Tiana half expected the last engine to stall and end her mission, and her life.

  The grassland loomed closer in the window. What had looked like solid ground now resembled bog. The ship was going to be impossible to repair if it was half submerged in water. Pulling the control stick back, she lifted the ship’s nose, and kept it off the ground for a further hundred feet. Then it hit the ground. Spray shot up around her, but they bounced, going on another twenty feet before they hit the soggy ground once more.

  Not so much spray, but that didn’t hide the truth: the ground was too wet for the ship to land on and for her to do the necessary repairs. As she fought to keep going, the trees on the edge of the grassland grew closer. If she could just make it that far.

  Her arms ached, her back ached, her hands were frozen around the control stick, but still she fought. She was her mother’s daughter, born of the old world but brought up in the new. Fighting was in her blood, and she fought on, until at last she had to let the ship slide across the ground, before it broke up with the impact of each bounce.

  When at last the world stopped moving, she sat back in her seat, slowly flexing her fingers, making them work, making them release the only control she’d had on her future. Which was now no more than a stick of metal attached to a steering system that was dead. Just like the whole ship was dead.

  “Enough.” Tiana undid her seat belt and climbed out of her seat. The ship might be dead, but she wasn’t. The tilting of the ship told her the ground wasn’t firm underneath it. It also made walking difficult, especially coupled with the exhaustion that threatened her as the adrenaline rush she had experienced slipped away.

  The way she staggered from side to side must make her look as though she had drunk too much abslon. The fuzziness in her head was almost enough to confirm it, but she knew where she was, and what danger she was in. She had to get herself moving, and assess her situation.

  Tiana made her way to the ship’s stores, and opened all the doors. Taking down three large containers, she filled them with as much food as she could, adding survival gear, water purification tablets and a blanket being of the most importance, before sealing the lids on tightly, in the hope that they would stay dry once she left the ship. Her plan was to reach the trees on the edge of the bog and set up some kind of second camp. From there she could come back and assess the ship, its damaged engines and likelihood of repair.

  Only a momentary feeling of desperation was allowed into her head before she pushed it aside. She was not going to die here.

  Taking the supplies, she placed them next to the escape exit, but didn’t pull it open. She had to be ready; the ship might have already sunk enough that was soon as the door was blown, water would flood in. Only one way to find out. She pulled the lever. There was a hiss of air, followed by the smell of rotting vegetation, then the door swung open, and she assessed her chances of ever making it off this planet.

  They were not good.

  Chapter Three – Mak

  “Misha’Ha,” the girl exclaimed, and he could hear the worry in her voice, even though it was barely a whisper. “We must leave. There is a bounty hunter here. He knows your name.”

  “I am not leaving,” Misha’Ha replied calmly. “That’s him, I presume. What did you give him?” Footsteps came closer. He kept still, his breathing shallow and even.

  “Donaetea. I wanted him to sleep. I hope I haven’t killed him.”

  “He’s still breathing. The effects last around eight hours, we need to get him out of here. If the authorities find out you gave it him without his knowledge, there will be trouble.” The footsteps stopped. “Although he does have to drink it for it to take effect.”

  “You are very perceptive,” Mak said sitting up. “I’m not big on tea.” He got up, towering above the two women, and handing the full cup back to the girl. Who promptly took it off him and then threw it back in his face. Only Misha’Ha’s hand stopped her throwing the cup too.

  “It’s our best china, Driole, and we haven’t paid for it yet.” She loosed the girl’s hand and came closer to Mak. “What do you want, Virdian bounty hunter.”

  “I want information, of course. I am trailing someone, and that trail has gone cold.”

  “And what has that to do with me?” the witch asked, her eyes bright, defiance glittering there, hard, strong, and he could see why she had survived so long in a world that didn’t always understand or forgive her power.

  “You are going to tell me where my bounty is. And then I am going to walk out of here and never mention I know where you are to anyone. Particularly a certain princess.”

  “I will not help you with this bounty,” Misha’Ha said, and turned away from him. “I will not help you track someone down.”

  “But that power of yours can. And so you will.” He followed her, the other people in the tea room watching the exchange, which made Misha’Ha increasingly nervous. Her heart rate was fast, her breath shallow and quick. She might hide it well, but he was unnerving her.

  “Come through, we can talk privately there.” Her eyes turned violet as she looked back to him. Mak had seen just about everything there was to see in this universe, and nothing ever unnerved him. But this witch did.

  “Talk? Or are you planning on drugging my tea again?” He raised his voice enough for it to carry to the other patrons, who looked nervously at their own beverages.

  “Out now. Driole, offer our guests some complimentary cake.” The old woman moved quickly, belying her years, and he followed close behind her, letting his senses roam. If she planned to ambush him with her magic, he had to be ready.

  If she had magic. It was well known that a Jala’Ha witch could see things, things that hadn’t happened yet, or the places where things were hidden. But what other powers they had were shrouded in mystery. These women were never supposed to leave their home planet. But this one had.

  “Sit,” she commanded, and he did.

  Misha’Ha seated herself across the table from him, her eyes fixed on his face, making him feel uncomfortable, and he had withstood the looks from some terrifying creatures in his time. The longer she looked, the more her eyes bored into him. He wanted to pull away, but he couldn’t. Was she changing his memories? Making him forget seeing her? Would he end up a lump of mush after she fried his brain?

  “The princess has a bounty out on me?” Misha’Ha asked, suddenly releasing him from her deadly stare.

  “Yes.” Could she tell it was only a half truth? The bounty was for information, which he might decide to trade in if he didn’t catch up with his current quarry.

  “And what poor creature are you searching for?” Misha’Ha asked.

  “Here.” He took his taptab out of his coat pocket and set it down in front of her. The picture of a male appeared, and he gave Misha’Ha no more information. “I was close. I know you don’t want to help me, but believe me, it would be far better if I caught up with him first. This one is a piece of work, and I’m about the only one who would rather take him alive.”

  “I don’t doubt that.” She glanced at him, but there was no more of her deep probing, much to his relief. “Give me your hands.”

  “Why?” he asked, glancing down at her bony hands. Her nails were like long talons, just right for sinking into his flesh.

  “Because that is how I read the future. Of course it always works much better if you cross my palm with silver first.”

  “You mean, if I pay you? You did get the part about our deal being one set of
information traded for another.”

  “Do you want it to work or not?” She lifted her left hand, and thrust it under his nose. Mak dug into his pocket and retrieved a coin, not worth much, but it was silver. “Thank you.”

  “You are welcome,” he said politely, even if it was laced with a hint of sarcasm.

  She held in her palm, and then set it aside. “Hands.”

  He did as she asked, wanting it to be over with. The place was starting to give him the creeps. Not bright and airy, as the front of the tea shop was, this room was dimly lit, a strong smell of incense lingered on the air. Mak felt his senses becoming numb, his eyes growing heavy. If he didn’t know better, he would have believed he had drunk the tea Driole had given him.

  “There.” The old woman spoke, and he snapped awake.

  “Where?” Mak asked.

  “What you seek. It is at the point where day meets night, on the Jewel of the Trallic.”

  “The what?” he asked, shaking his head to clear the fog there. He could almost feel it, could almost see it floating around in his brain.

  “The thing you seek is at the point where day meets night, on the Jewel of the Trallic. Look for the aquamarine. Once you find it, you will know.”

  “Know what? That is a whole load of gibberish.”

  “It is all you will get from me. The clues are there, the truth if there, what you do with them is up to you.” She loosed his hands, got up quickly and then said sharply, “Now get out. I have fulfilled my side of the bargain; I expect you to fulfill yours.”

  He stood, bowed slightly and then left, her words joining the fog in his brain. The bright light of the shop made his head hurt, and he struggled to walk in a straight line. Had the witch drugged him? Dazed, he left the tea shop, not comprehending the words Driole said to him, but he was sure they were a Quarian insult.

  Once in the fresh air, he let Misha’Ha’s words sit with him, while he made his way back to his space ship. He didn’t understand them at all. Even after the cool air had cleared his mind, they sounded as if she were simply trying to trick him. He had been to all the galaxies in this sector, and some beyond, but never had he heard of the Jewel of the Trallic. The man he was seeking hadn’t had time to get any further. Not unless he found someone with a warp drive, and Mak knew for sure there were only three in the sector. Two belonged to world rulers and one belonged to a certain Virdian bounty hunter, and went by the name of Stellia.

  Once inside his ship, he punched the ignition button, strapped himself in and launched into space.

  “Stellia. The Jewel of the Trallic. Ever heard of it?” Mak asked the onboard computer.

  “What is this? A test of my memory banks?” Stellia answered in a voice that often verged on sarcastic. Whoever had programmed the voice must have had a sick sense of humor. It was like having a nagging wife on board, who always knew what you were doing, and what you were supposed to be doing.

  He took a deep breath. “No. It is not a test. I have information about our quarry. And that information tells me we have to go to the Jewel of the Trallic. So if you have anything that will help us, please share it with me.”

  He swore the computer sighed, in that resigned way reserved for talking to an idiot. “Jewel of the Trallic. An archaic name for the Cronolon Belt. Once part of the Alaton Empire, the Trallic was a group of five planets orbiting a sun, ruled by the Alaton Race. The Alaton…”

  “I don’t need the history lesson; I know of their downfall. Do you know which planet is the Jewel?”

  “The Jewel was so called because from space it looks like a habitable planet. There have been many attempts by difference races to settle there. But the water is polluted by underwater volcanoes, which makes the water viscous.”

  “Viscous?”

  “You get stuck in it,” Stellia answered sharply. She obviously thought he needed everything explained to him in simple terms.

  “I know what it means.” He thought for a moment. “Anything else?”

  “The creatures there have evolved to take the moisture out of the gloop, but it is too labor-intensive for other species to settle there. The only water you can drink is from the streams after rainfall. As soon as it reaches a large body of water it returns to its gelatinous composition.”

  “Great.”

  “And then there are the creatures themselves. Huge, big teeth. The kind you like.”

  “You mean deadly.”

  “Yes.”

  “And that is where we have to go. Unless this psychic is trying to get rid of me.”

  “Why would anyone want to do that?”

  “Because they do not appreciate me in the same way you do.”

  Stellia snorted. “Shall I plot the course?”

  He thought for a moment. “If the witch Misha’Ha is to be believed, then that is where we have to go.”

  “Misha’Ha. She is a Jala’Ha witch.”

  “That’s the one. I’m surprised she made it into your data banks. She may be trying to kill me to hide her whereabouts.”

  “I will watch you back, Mak,” Stellia said all too sweetly.

  He rolled his eyes. “Thank you, Stellia,” he said. “Tell me, is a certain Virdian bounty hunter called T’Makizomo in your memory banks? I hear he is the best bounty hunter in the sector.”

  With infinite patience, Stellia said, “No, Mak, you are not in my data banks. Maybe if you did something worthwhile, they might include you in the update.”

  “I’ll bear that in mind, Stellia.” And he settled back to rest his still muzzy head, while his ship entered warp, heading to the Jewel in the Trallic.

  Chapter Four – Tiana

  “Yuck.” That didn’t quite cover how disgusting it was to be standing knee deep in thick primordial gloop. That was what it reminded her of anyway, especially since it was filled with tiny creatures that crawled over her.

  She hated it. Hated it with a passion she saved for hating her brothers when they told her she was a girl and couldn’t learn to fight. It was that same passion with which she loved them. They were her playmates, her antagonists and her friends, and although she wasn’t supposed to learn, they taught her everything she needed to know. Meaning by the time she was a grown woman, she could fight, and fight well.

  Lances were her favorite weapon: the way the power vibrated in your hands as you held the electrically charged hilt. It had taken her six months to finally hit her eldest brother, Axil, in the chest and knock him to the ground, and a further two months to do the same to Cralik, who was five years her senior and quick on his feet. They treated her the same as they treated each other, despite her being a girl, and having a different mother. They loved her, not always siding with their father in his treatment of her.

  Maybe they were also united by the endless love of Tiana’s mother, Jolina. Their own mother had died in childbirth, so Cralik had never known her, and Axil had been four at the time, his memories of her soon forgotten. Jolina had come to Kalisov as their nanny, bringing happiness, love and laughter to the palace. She wove a spell over everyone, including the widowed king, who fell in love and married her, despite her lowly beginnings. Tiana might be a princess, but one half of her family tree were fishermen from the planet Rilan.

  She heaved the last of the boxes out of the ship, resting it on a solid lump of ground. Taking a deep breath, she lifted it and began the short but exhausting walk to the edge of the bog. The rest of her provisions awaited her, and she had promised herself she would eat when this last box was safely out of the bog.

  Treading carefully, she followed the trail she had memorized, knowing that one wrong move could send her and her provisions into a deep pocket of gloop they might never climb out of. Treacherous, that was an understatement.

  One foot sunk into the sticky substance, and she heaved her other foot up, ready to take the next step forward, when something brushed against it. Not looking down, she carried on, her eyes fixed on the edge of the bog, which was now only ten feet away. One foot u
p, one foot down, repeat.

  Across to her left, something stirred the thick gloop, making it swell. The thing brushing her leg had not been her imagination, and now it was heading back towards her.

  “Damn it.” She placed the box on a section of high ground and ran for the edge of the bog, hoping hard ground would save her from this thing. But if it was amphibian, she might well be about to die. Horribly.

  A sucking noise filled her ears, and the sticky watery stuff began to move away from her, dragging her with it, as if she was on the sea shore and the tide had turned. Two feet away from the bank, it felt as if she were treading water, and going nowhere. Reaching out, she tried to grab hold of a low branch; it slipped through her fingers.

  With the last of her energy reserves, she tried again. This time her fingers curled around the branch, and although it gave a sickening crack, it held, and she pulled herself out of the bog. Just as the creature loomed up, its mouth opening, lips peeled back, ready to strike. It was brown, the color of mud, its skin made up of scales. It moved in a slithering, sinuous way, sliding through the gloop, so close she could smell the decay on its breath.

  The fights with her brothers had taught her one important lesson. If you were weaker, if your opponent thought it had the upper hand, you struck first, and you struck hard.

  Pulling her leg back towards her like a wound-up coil, she quickly released it, jerking her foot out, until it came into contact with what she hoped was the thing’s neck. A satisfying gasp, followed by a strangled gargle told her she had hit her mark, and the creature slid down into the water. However, it was not about to give up, and the water swelled again, she could see how tight the creature was turning, bending itself in two and coming back towards her.

  She didn’t want to risk her luck again. The same move might not work, not if this creature had any kind of brain in its thick, ugly skull.

  Scrambling to the edge of the bog, her brain screaming at her legs to go faster, her arms to pull harder, she made it out as the thing erupted from the shallows, its teeth making a sickening snapping sound as it tried to make her its next meal.