Rhal Part 2 (Scifi Alien Serial Romance) (The Ujal) (2 page)

A rush of adrenaline flooded his veins at the thought of another touching her, another male stroking her smooth skin and then tasting every inch of her body. On the heels of the surge came a roiling anger that had become his constant companion.

But why? Cara was better off without him, but that knowledge did not soothe the uneasiness inside. The darkness grew stronger each day, each breath, each beat of his heart. And it was worse when he delved beneath the waters to Tau. His body felt as if he’d splinter and break, his scales no longer smooth and slick against his body. Instead they seemed to fight the current and urge him to return to land.

Return to Cara.

But he would not.

His attention strayed to the parking lot, deviating from the recruits as they performed human push-ups. They were excellent for upper body strength while on land. Their two-legged forms needed to be fit and strong and each exercise assisted them when they donned their fins as well. No matter their groans, they would perform their duties as guards and warriors. They had long ago learned that threats did not only come from the sea but from land as well.

To make it worse, he forced them to perform the task on the damp beach. They would train themselves in both body and mind. Their will keeping their aquatic forms at bay.

A low groan drew his attention and he whipped his head around in search of the male who made the sound. He paced along the line of younglings, his bare feet sinking into the wet sand. His own scales stirred, anxious for him to… get away from the waters? He did not know why his body betrayed him, but each passing day encouraged him to seek medical attention. Yet he did not wish to reveal weakness.

The king’s assassin unable to control his scales? He would become a target. Tave liked to believe every Ujal was good at heart, but Rhal knew better.

Another groan and he focused on the pink male trembling at the end of the row. He strode toward the struggling youngling. He lowered to a crouch, bringing his face even with Sudal’s as he pushed up.

“Hold it, youngling.” Sudal hissed and lowered himself, held the position and then pushed up once again with a deep groan. The flutter of his pink scales stained his shoulders. “Hold it.”

He lowered once more and then raised himself. “Fuck you,” he hissed.

Rhal smirked and placed his hand on Sudal’s shoulder. On the next descent, he added his weight to the male, not all of it, but enough to make his task more difficult. “I thank you for the invitation, but I enjoy a female’s touch.” He increased his pressure on the next lowering. “You must search for another male to sate your needs.”

Sudal growled, anger overtaking him, but now that he was focused on Rhal and not the emergence of his scales, the evidence of his nature retreated.

Rhal remained in place, taunting Sudal with his presence for three more push-ups before he finally rose and strode down the row of males. They moved in time with each other, their sweat slick human skin shining in the sun’s early rays. Their breaths were a low chorus that joined the gentle roar of the waves that threatened them. He glanced at the sun once more and then focused on the ebb and flow of the sea on the shore. Soon the tide would rise and bathe them in briny waters. He would torture them, allow the ocean to lick at their feet, and then allow them to retreat. Each day he pushed harder, each day he required more of them, but he knew their hardships would benefit the Ujal.

And so he made them work more.

Squealing tires tore his attention from his younglings to the parking lot. Distantly he recognized the males jumping to up, abandoning their training as they sought the source of the sound. He could not discipline them for their actions. Every Ujal, regardless of status, was on edge with the constant threats to the station and their rulers. They were vigilant and ready to leap into action despite their incomplete training.

The vehicle slid to a stop before the main entrance, blocking traffic and now his adrenaline pumped for an entirely different reason. He recognized the small vehicle, its orange—despite Cara’s claims it was coral—color familiar to him. But it was not Cara behind the wheel. No, it was… Niax? Why was Niax driving his mate’s—friend’s—car in such a way? Why—

Rhal had no other questions. Not when Cara herself tumbled from the vehicle, her legs unsteady and trembling as she caught herself on the door. Niax quickly rounded the front, but did not attempt to help her. In fact, he restrained any who reached to assist her. Fury surged, anger that a male—an honorable male—would refuse to help a female in need.

He broke into a jog toward the gathering crowd, but that quick lope turned into a race as Niax’s words reached him.

“We need to get her to medical! Make way!”

Others reached for Cara and she shied from every single one, human or Ujal. She took a shaky step forward, and then other, and on the third, she stumbled. When she attempted to take a fourth and steady herself, Rhal was there, sweeping her into his arms and cradling her against his chest.

“Rhal, no!” He ignored Niax’s shout and instead stared down at Cara.

At the tears in her eyes. At the pain in her features. At the… shimmering coral scales along her jaw?

“Cara?” he murmured, unable to believe his eyes.

She’d found a mate at IGM, then. An Ujal mate. Another male had the joy of touching her body, filling her with hatchlings, making a life with her. She whimpered and cursed the male that was not at her side. It was clear she needed assistance and it was Niax who brought her to UST.

Was her mate Niax?

“Dammit, Rhal. She does not want anyone to lay their hands upon her skin,” Niax hissed but it was worry and not rage that filled his face. If Niax were her mate, Rhal would already be missing his head for daring to touch another male’s mate.

Cara did not wish anyone to touch her? Yet Cara nestled into his arms and sighed against his chest. “What happened?”

“We need to get her to medical.”

“You will tell me as we go.” Rhal spun toward the entrance and glared at the large crowd.

“
Move!
” Rhal bellowed the single word, his vocal chords releasing a mixture of Ujal and English as he demanded they make way.

They scattered, the Ujal—even the strongest of them—burst into a rainbow of colors while the humans paled with fear. They should be afraid. His female—no, she was only his friend for he had pushed her away—was in need of medical attention.

He strode down the pathways to medical, everyone diving from his path as he purposefully moved through the station. No one stopped him or hindered his journey and several paused to ensure the doors were wide when he approached. He distantly heard Niax shouting orders and speaking into his cell phone. Rhal hated the technology, but appreciated its existence at the moment.

Finally the doors at medical parted to reveal a line of doctors and nurses awaiting their arrival. A large bed on wheels—a gurney if he recalled correctly—sat close to the doorway.

“Place her here.” The first male jumped forward and beckoned at the gurney. He appeared human, yet his coloring—the unnatural purple hair and eyes—told him he spoke to an Ujal. “Explain your mate’s condition.”

Rhal placed her on the pristine white surface, but he did not wish to release her. The male stared at Rhal and he had no explanation. His first response was to demand he fix his female yet she was not his.

“Niax?” Rhal snarled at his fellow guard.

“I came upon her at her home by the sea. I attempted to assist her from her seat and at our touch, scales appeared on her skin. She was surprised. She claimed she has not mated an Ujal.”

“Not mated. Impossible.” The doctor’s attention shifted from Rhal to Cara. “If you are not her mate, please step away from the female while we determine the extent of her condition.”

A male stepped forward, one of medical’s guards, and reached for him. Rhal ripped his arm from the male’s grip only to have Niax grasp his other arm. His friend was stronger than the medical personnel and easily wrenched him aside.

“Give them space, Rhal. Allow them to see to her,” Niax murmured.

“There is more than you said. There must be. Who is her mate and where is he, Niax? I will hunt the dishonorable male myself and rid her of his sorry existence. He should be at her side, so where is he?” Blood would be spilled. To leave a female alone to be assisted by another was a weakness. This stranger did not deserve a mate such as Cara.

“She claims there is no one, Rhal. Truth, she was surprised.”

Rhal snorted. “Impossible. You know a human cannot become Ujal without mating.” He shook his head. “No matter. I will find him and then I will determine if he is a worthy male.”

“Rhal, you cannot simply kill another because—”

Rhal turned his attention to Niax. “I have killed for less, Niax. A look, a whisper… Sometimes that alone was enough. Never forget who I am at heart.”

Niax glared at him. “I speak the truth. She has not mated. There was no evidence of a male in her home. I mentioned that a change could be initiated through even a small exchange of genetic material from her true mate and she paled as her scales emerged further. I believe—”

The truth struck him, the knowledge that despite his best efforts, the worst had happened. She had mated. She had tied herself to an Ujal male. She had… become his despite his greatest efforts to avoid such a thing.

The female lying on the white sheets, her coral scales a harsh contrast to the pale fabric, was his. Somehow he’d… She’d… Air whooshed from his lungs as the truth pummeled him. He gripped his fellow guard’s shoulder, using the male to keep himself upright as his knees weakened.

“Niax,” he released the male’s name with a harsh exhale.

“Rhal?”

“She is mine.” He dug his fingers into Niax’s shoulders, his body failing him. Surprise and joy suffused him quickly followed by regret and heartache for Cara. “
Mine
.” He could not help the possessiveness in his tone.

His.

His and in trouble, her body failing her for some reason. The doctors flitted through the room, females and males attending her. But it was not the
best
male and his
best
female. They were under the sea in Tau, caring for Vados’ young and Rina’s growing hatchling.

Rhal stumbled to the doorway and slammed his palm on the pad. It parted immediately and he grabbed the first male he could find. He did not care who he spoke with, only that they could deliver a message. He met the male’s blue-green eyes. He ignored the guard’s fear, evident as teal scales pushed down both arms.

Rhal had no doubt his eyes were crazed and his face coated in his fury and worry for Cara. The male glanced past him and his eyes narrowed, the corner of his lip lifted. But a rough shake had him staring at Rhal once again.

“Go to Tave. I am calling in one of his blessings. I need Faim here immediately.” He growled the words, snapping them out one after another.

“You want me to—”

Rhal rose to his full height and allowed the menace that lived within his soul to push back his fright. He stared at this guard, letting him receive the full brunt of his rage. “Go to Tave. I’m calling in a blessing. Get Faim here. Now, run.”

He shoved the male and was gratified when he raced down the hall. His feet did not carry him quickly and Rhal noticed the lack of firmness in his body. When his mate was secure, Rhal would evaluate every male stationed at Tau. They could not have weak defenses. The principessa was important to their people, but Cara was essential to
him
and he wanted to ensure all Ujal could care for her—defend her—if necessary.

Chubby males could not do so.

“Rhal! Cara needs you!” Niax’s shout had him rushing back into medical.

Yes, Cara—his mate, his one—needed him. And only him.

Forever.

She did not know it yet.

Cara slowly regained consciousness, swimming from the depths of her cloudy mind until light surrounded her. Swimming. Heh. She floated in that place between awake and sleep, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness.

Yes, she enjoyed it until… a gruff and growly voice cut through her peace. The speaker snarled at everyone, overriding timid words and low whispers. It raged and roared, demanding things, growing increasingly agitated the more the others denied him.

She recognized the voice, the tone, if not the words. If she woke enough, she could tell them to give in already. He’d get his way whether it was against policy or not. She’d also let them know their fear would only cause him to terrorize them more. It was best to give him what he wanted and leave him alone.

Unless it was her. She could get through to him, badger and poke until he gave her an annoyed sigh and did what
she
desired.

Who was her gruff and violent speaker? Rhal. Of course, it was Rhal.

Why had he hunted her down when he didn’t even want her?

She’d ask him as soon as she was able to open her eyes. They seemed glued together, her lids clinging to one another, keeping them tightly shut. Dammit. She groaned and lifted her hand, frowning when it seemed heavier. And was that tape stuck to her skin? She tried her other arm. At least that one wasn’t covered in tubes? She brushed at one eye, wiping away the grit from dried tears until she could easily open her eyes to find exactly what she imagined.

Well, exactly-ish.

Rhal was there, yelling orders she still didn’t understand. But what was he doing here? Wherever here was. She looked around the room, taking in the sparse decor, the single chair next to the bed and the tubes—IV lines—connected to her. A hospital? Medical? She squinted and tried to read one of the IV bags and spied the UST logo. Okay, medical at the station then. She tried to remember how she got here, why she wasn’t at home moping any longer. Coffee, sunrise, guys running, Niax, and then…
oh
.

Rhal yelled more; his questions echoed in the small space, and she groaned before calling out to him. “Rhal.” Her voice was low and she barely heard herself. “
Rhal
.”

He spun toward her, his eyes wide and scales decorated his skin? The midnight color twined around his arms, disappeared beneath the sleeves of his shirt and then rose along his neck. His black hair was a mess of knots and flyaway strands, and the bags beneath his eyes told her of his worry.