Page 16 of Kenan's Mate
“Town?” I stare at the blue gown he’s still holding. “A trip to town and I’m to wear that?”
It’s an elegant dress with layers of sheer silk, ribbons adorning the sleeves, and lace trimmings. It’s fancier than the bridesmaid dress I wore for my cousin’s wedding last year, a black-tie event, since Cousin Tammy married a senator’s son from New York, whom she’d met in college.
Another reason my parents had pushed for Harvard. They wanted me to marry well, just like my cousin. If I carved a successful career path in the sciences and married a wealthy man, surely I wouldn’t end up like my brother, sprawled in a pool of blood in a dark alley after a drug deal gone wrong. Ever since I’d spied the ripped up acceptance letter in the trash, my life hasn’t quite been my own.
Heggal hangs the dress over a chair and gives me a pointed look, nodding at my untouched breakfast. I sigh dramatically then take a sip of juice. Flavors explode across my tongue. It’s delicious and tastes similar to orange juice, but I would kill for a cup of coffee right about now. There’s a thin, fried meat reminiscent of turkey bacon, and a cheesy dish that reminds me of quiche. I eat nearly the entire offering before pushing the tray away.
“Thank you, Heggal. It was quite good.” As he approaches to take the tray, I grasp his forearm. “Is breakfast always served in bed?”
Yes, child. Or, in your cage, if you sleep there. But Prince Kenan is an early riser and often skips the morning meal to oversee the goings-on in the towns.
“How close is the nearest town?”
A short walk through the forest. It’s beside the Carmuit Lake. It’s one of five towns on this mountain, and Prince Kenan and his warriors keep order in these five towns.
At my startled look, he continues.
The towns are relatively peaceful, but the prince acts as mediator when a dispute between neighbors arises. On occasion, when a crime has been committed, he serves as a judge, and even as executioner. Since the male humans are finally gone, his warriors will now mostly help repair buildings, homes, and bridges. With only a number of human females left on Tallia, and theStargazerand Capital Acres destroyed, a time of great peace has arrived. Now Kleaxianscan travel and settle anywhere on Tallia they wish, including the continent on which Capital Acres was located. Before their victory against the humans, that continent was entirely claimed by humans.
I release his arm and he takes the tray.
A time of great peace.
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Between Capital Acres and theStargazer, thousands of humans have died for this so-called peace, along with my only way of returning to Earth.
The door slides open, and Heggal departs. Now that I’m alone, I bolt out from under the covers and rush to the window.
I gasp at the sight.
Kenan’s home sits at the top of a high, green mountain. Not far in the distance, I glimpse a sandy shore and what must be the clearest, bluest lake in existence. Boats glide slowly across the water, and there’s a large, busy dock. Beyond the dock rests the town. On the edge of the town, nearest to the trees, there’s a sleek gray ship.
My stomach roils. I can’t be sure, but I think it’s one of the warships that attacked theStargazer. I return my gaze to the houses, not wanting to dwell on the attack.
Most of the roofs reflect the sun, and I speculate the town runs on solar power. The roofs that don’t reflect the sun are green.
It could be a town on Earth, in fact. My father installed two large solar panels on our roof last summer, while many of our neighbors have green roofs. It was a growing trend and the last I’d heard before leaving Earth, politicians were discussing making it law that at least fifty percent of a homeowner’s roof must be a green roof, with a well-tended garden during the growing seasons, or be covered with solar panels.
But the sun, significantly larger than that of my homeworld, and the twin moons, visible but faded to white in the daytime, hover in the light blue sky, taunting me with the reminder that I’m far from home.
My gaze drops to the gardens surrounding the house. Flowers in every color gleam with morning dew. Large, oval red fruit clings to the shorter trees below. A stone path weaves through the gardens, and several servants tend to the plants. I wonder if the force field is deactivated during the day, partly because I long to go exploring and partly because I’m contemplating running away.
A huge figure emerges from the forest and my heart thumps faster.
It’s Kenan.
He must be returning from his early morning duties. From what Heggal has told me, he takes care of his people. How long has he lived on this mountain? Why are none of his family members with him? Perhaps I should ask Heggal.
Before Kenan can look up and glimpse me standing naked in the window, I turn and rush to the bathroom to prepare for our trip to town. As I shower, I contemplate all Kenan said to me before bed last night. Everything from his declaration that most human females likely had it worse on Tallia than me, in regard to how harshly their Kleaxian mates would treat them, to his announcement he preferred I share his bed rather than make me sleep in the cage.
At least he kept his word last night and didn’t hurt or fuck me again. He kept an arm draped over me, and at several points I awoke to find him spooning me against his chest, but he otherwise left me untouched.
The warm water sprays over my sore breasts as I work a lather of soap on my stomach then reach between my thighs to cleanse any of his remaining seed from my privates. Though I’d showered after he claimed me yesterday, I’d still felt the trickle of his semen escaping down my thighs for hours afterward.
Though my pussy is tender—the numbing salve has worn off—I rub soap between my legs in hopes of preventing pregnancy. It’s a futile attempt, I know, being so many hours since he pumped me full of his seed, but I don’t wish to conceive a child on this strange world. I should have cleansed myself more thoroughly last night, but thoughts of pregnancy hadn’t entered my mind then.
If the opportunity to escape ever arises, I want to leave without any hindrances or second thoughts. A baby would complicate that, not to mention the fact I don’t want to bear a man as cruel as Kenan a child in the first place.
Besides, I’m eighteen years old. Even if circumstances were optimal and I had a kind, loving boyfriend or husband back on Earth, I still wouldn’t be prepared to become a mother. Watching Sheila struggle with an unexpected pregnancy had only reinforced my desire to practice safe sex, after I eventually lost what she humorously referred to as my V card. I miss her jokes and her laughter, and I mourn the inability to call her or pay her a visit.
