Table Of ContentEvernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2013 Alexandra O’Hurley
ISBN: 978-1-77130-297-5
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Marie Medina
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this
copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or
reproduced electronically or in print without written permission,
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are
fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
To the ones who gave me my start.
HER ALIEN AFFAIR
Aegarian Saga, 2
Alexandra O’Hurley
Copyright © 2013
Prologue
Millions of years ago, an alien race came to a new world filled
with lush vegetation and animal life. The ones that arrived were the
best scientific minds of their race, albeit a little on the mad side. They
came to experiment with new genetic material, which had been
outlawed on their home world. Once they had settled and made a
home base and laboratory, the scientists began using this material to
mutate the animal life they had found on this distant world.
A new race was created by these madmen, and was nurtured
through its infancy. Then a hundred year civil war broke out on the
home world, and the Great Empire forgot about the handful of
scientists left on the fledgling world. Eventually, the scientists died
from the ravages of the barbaric and untamed planet, or succumbed to
the ravages of time.
But the new race continued. Flourished, even.
Over a million years later, a historian stumbled on to ancient
documents detailing the plan for the distant world and the crazed
experiments they had conceived. That historian brought them to the
attention of the new Emperor and regime, fearful of what could have
happened so long ago. It was decided that a recon group would be
sent to the new world, to find out if anything had become of the
experiments. Had the scientists been successful? Was there anything
left of the experiment now? Was a new race created?
Once there, the group on the mission would be in for a great
surprise…
Chapter One
Arid desert spread out before the cruiser as it landed on the
hard packed sands of an uninhabited section of the planet. Taroth re-
checked the sensors as he piloted the craft below, noting the air
seemed rich enough to breathe and that there was life circling the
desert. It seemed they would find it easy to scout out the alien race as
well as hide their presence within the dunes. Just the thought of
getting off the ship and out of the confines after many long months
was enough for him to jump for joy.
Taroth felt his stomach clench. He was excited for the
opportunity to explore the planet, yet there were too many unknown
factors for his liking. Yet he had no choice. He’d been charged with
ensuring the safety of the mission and the lives onboard.
He turned to see the ten members that made up the scouting
party hovering near, gazing at the screen display as the cruiser landed.
All were anxious to explore the new world. Back at home, there had
been theories circulating about what they might find for months now.
Knowing the truth may be even more interesting than the guesses
formulated, which had his crew itching to rush out into the unknown.
The planet had once been the subject of an experiment long ago and
had been forgotten about until recently, when historical documents
had reminded their people of its existence.
Little was known of the end result of the experiment or what
had happened to the people left on the surface. A civil war had waged
on his home world during the experiment and that alone had
prevented the scientists on the surface from being checked on. This
was the first trip back after a million years. Anything could have
happened in that long a span of time.
They’d already determined there was life on the planet, and
from the structures they could witness from space, they knew they
were civilized. Could the population on this planet be as intelligent as
all those who made up the Empire? And if so, how did they now
handle this race? Did they make them a part of the Empire or leave
them adrift to potentially be destroyed by their enemies? The trip
would determine the planet’s fate.
Once the ship had settled, Taroth confirmed all readings were
correct before he opened the hatch in the rear of the ship and nodded
to the team they could begin de–boarding. The science team grabbed
their data recorders and packs and rushed off the ship. Two of his
highly trained soldiers had led the way out and began scouting the
close vicinity for immediate dangers without Taroth having to give
instruction.
Of the nine in the party, five were research scientists who had
approached the Emperor, initiating the trip. That team held science as
tightly to their bosom as some held religion, each ready to scan every
available parqua and speck in their path. The scientists spread out,
checking out the fauna directly around the ship, fingers twitching with
glee, their voices high with excitement. Taroth joined his men and
gazed over the barren terrain.
The wi’ mia was exploring as well, almost as enthusiastic as
the scientists. Taroth had sat with the healer only the night before and
listened to stories of potential plant life that could yield new medical
discoveries and prospective cures for their people. Most wi’ mia held
mythical medicinal abilities, but fortunately for this crew, their doctor
was a Boogdasharian as well, a unique race of beings, best explained
as half healer and half conjurer; their race wielded an amazing power
over any living organism’s energy.
The only ones not as thrilled at their arrival were Taroth’s
soldiers. Both men had voiced concerns about keeping the scientists
safe during their exploration, and Taroth knew his men were right.
He felt something odd in the pit of his stomach, just as he did prior to
battle. They all needed to stay on their toes.
Taroth quickly packed assorted weapons into a lbdall to wear
around his back on the trek into the closest populated area. His
second in command, Dar, used a pair of glintocks to scan the horizon,
looking for life forms or other potential dangers.
“Dar, do you see anything?” Taroth continued to pack his
weapons alongside his other warrior, Ta Hall. Taroth and Dar Jin had
been best friends since the academy, and had fought side by side for
years. He trusted his friend to judge the environment, just as he
trusted him with his life.
“Nothing but sand, and more sand, and a little more sand,
throw in a few cliffs and some small brush and, oh, did I say sand?”
Taroth smiled at the sarcasm, a side of Dar few people ever
got to see. Most saw Dar as a tightly–laced, humorless soldier, and
for the most part, that was what Dar was. He’d not had the best life
growing up, the shadow of their family always present. Taroth knew
there was much more to his friend than the stories he’d heard. Dar’s
father, Dak Jin, had many tales told of him that pushed the boundaries
of evil, but Dar wasn’t Dak.
“Nothing moving. I don’t think we were spotted,” Dar added
a few moments later.
“There are life forms bordering this entire desert. According
to the ship’s readings, there is a small grouping of life forms not far
from here, maybe ten secas to the north. I think we should head in
that general direction and come up behind them. Once we approach,
we can do an initial survey and see what we are dealing with.”
“Good plan, but I think we need to leave the children a little
farther from the border of the inhabitation. As excited as they are,
their screeching may get us sighted.”
Taroth grunted at his friend’s remark, trying to hide his smirk.
All three of the warriors had nearly pulled their hair out on the long
trip to this galaxy, none accustomed to being around a group of
young, frenzied scientists for long. Taroth was glad to be out of the
confines of the ship after being cramped with the group for nearly a
bi’near waiting to arrive. He was sure his men agreed.
“You had better not let them hear you call them children. My
ears are ringing from their overactive mouths as it is. I don’t need one
of them to start getting belligerent and start really berating me,
especially if it is from your mouth. My poor ears can’t handle the
pitch any longer.”
All three men chuckled, and Taroth turned to eye the rest of
the group, hoping they had not been overheard. As he looked in their
direction, Taroth gazed at Bak’Neel, the science team’s leader of
sorts. Her father had been the head of the Science Academy, and
she’d recently taken over his position after his untimely death.
Bak’Neel was the worst one of the group in his opinion. He hated to
admit the scenery was not half bad, though.
The female began to saunter over in his direction, doing
everything in her power to entice him. She wore an overly tight
jumpsuit that was obviously too small for her and left nothing to the
imagination, as it outlined each and every curve of her body. Taroth
felt his body stir, even when he willed his mind to ignore her
overtures. Once she was within arm’s reach, she pulled him close and
rubbed herself on him. He attempted to pull away, but her grip was
strong, too strong for a female.
“We can let them all go ahead and can catch up a little later. I
need some alone time with you.”
“I told you that I am taken.” Taroth attempted to pull from the
female’s grasp and ignore Dar’s raised eyebrow.
“You Aegarians and your silly marriage laws. You haven’t
Joined with that female yet. There is still time to play.”
Bak’Neel knew he was going to marry Dar’s sister once they
returned home, so her overtures were disrespectful, especially when
Dar stood not an aequa away. “Our race has mated this way for
thousands of years. It isn’t silly.”
Bak’Neel reached over and gripped his cock through his pants,
squeezing him tightly. “You need a fling before you Join. We are
both lonely and could use the company. It will take the edge off,
allow you to see clearly.”
Taroth pulled away from her clawing hands. “Do you not
consider Dar’s feelings? I doubt he would appreciate me fucking you
right next door as he considers my disrespect for his sister.”
Bak’Neel chuckled. “I do not care what he thinks, or feels. I
care about what we feel.”
“He is my best friend.” Taroth pulled completely from her
grasp and drew closer to his men, hoping she would back off.
“His family is a bunch of ruthless traitors. Why do you want
to entangle yourself with that lot? Is it not bad enough that you call
Dar a friend, but now you will bed his sister?”
Taroth saw Dar’s shoulders tighten, but the warrior stood firm.
How he held on to his control if he had heard Bak’Neel’s words, he
did not know. “Dar is not like his father. He has always been there,
fighting alongside me.”
“Will his sister be the same? Or will she be more like Dak?
And where will your allegiances lie?”
Taroth paused, no words coming to his lips to answer her
question. Fear of that very issue had filled him since he had
experienced the first sensations of Daya N’goul, the bodily reaction a
male of his race had when meeting his mate. When the feeling had
come over him, he had wanted anything but. He loved Dar as if he
were his own brother, but he did not want to marry into that family.
Yet, he was bound by law to do just that. D’Na Jin had appeared to
be meek, servile, and sweet, the opposite of Dak Jin. Not that he
appreciated a meek woman, he did not. If given the choice, he
supposed meek was better than the alternative of her being a sadistic
traitor like her father.
Regardless of Bak’Neel’s advances, Dar’s younger sister was
his promised mate. He would be Joined with her as soon as they
returned from the mission. His upcoming ceremony wouldn’t be
cheapened with Bak’Neel’s incredibly vulgar displays in her attempt
to bed him. It wasn’t against the rules for him to slake his lust with
another prior to Joining, but it was frowned upon.
Although there was something about Dar’s sister which had
not set well with him, either. He had sensed the onset of Daya N’goul
with D’Na, but it had not felt … right. Regardless, he was a man of
honor, and he could not break the laws of his people nor refuse to
Join. He respected his friend too much to dishonor his family in such
a way, even if Dak had done his best to pull them into the ashes with
him.
The first time he had met Dar’s much younger sister he had
gotten dizzy and erect, positive signs of Daya N’goul. Yet he had not
begun to feel love and devotion to D’Na. In all truth, he could care
less if he ever set eyes on her again.
Which was incredibly odd.
Every man he had ever known had gone brainless in love and
lust when he met his Daya N’goul. All Taroth could think about was
escape. Was there something wrong with her? With him? Shaking
his head, he brushed his thoughts away, as he had dwelled on them
much too long during the time trying to reach this planet, knowing
once he returned, he would have to commit to a woman he did not
want.
“You are setting yourself up for trouble if you marry D’Na.
Your body reacts to mine, I see it. Submit and all will be as it
should.”
Bak’Neel’s words brought him out of his musings. No matter
if his body stirred, he would not succumb. “And if I were to submit to
you, there would be no trouble? I do not know which choice is worse,
you or her.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he cringed.
Bak’Neel’s eyes rounded, and she began to smile. “You admit that
female is a bad choice for you.”
“I admit nothing.” Taroth pushed past her, kneeling to finish
packing his equipment. He kept his eyes focused into the packs he and
Ta Hall were completing. After a few moments of silence, he heard
her lush voice behind him.
“We should be ready to go soon. Is there a plan?”
Taroth glowered up into her inviting golden eyes, seeing her
passion waving back at him. He ignored it as best he could. It
amazed him that he could hold this woman in contempt, yet at the
same time he could barely think of anything but availing himself to
the desires she offered him. If he was truly mated to D’Na, he should
not feel the urge.
“We are going to head ni’or to the habitation we scanned just
before landing. It is small, only about three hundred life forms, and
within walking distance of the ship. We will keep you and your
group several hundred aegua back, allowing us to scout for any
potential danger. Then we will come back for you to follow us if
nothing is found.”
“So you three will be the first people to see the life forms?”
Her fake pout was annoying him more so than the lust in her eyes. He
hated a woman who used false sentiment to get her way. “Can’t I
come along with you three to help scout?”
Taroth turned away, rolling his eyes, before turning back to
her full of charm, rising to his full height. He placed one hand on her
shoulder and with the other he pressed one finger under her chin,
turning her face toward his. Two could play her game. If false
sentiment and pouting was her weapon, he could do it as well. “You
are far too important to this mission to be put in jeopardy. I could
never forgive myself if something happened to you the first day. Let
us do our jobs and inspect for dangers. It will not take long, and we
will come back for you as soon as we can.”
She bought it, thankfully, and smiled dreamily up into his
eyes. He pulled two fingers through a section of her bright red hair,
and kissed her forehead, more brotherly than sexual, before releasing
her. He pushed her toward the others to get her away from him. “Let
the rest of your group know what the plan is and be ready to go soon.”
****
Moments later they were headed toward the inhabitation,
about to encounter the first of the alien life forms. Taroth could tell
the other battle-hardened warriors were becoming a little eager as he
was at the prospect of witnessing an alien life form. Whenever there
was danger, their senses were heightened. Taroth knew from
