In Enemy Hands Chapter 11.2 and Ch 12.1

Adlar breathed deeply, then let his fear go. Fear was the mind-killer. He did not fear; he was fear.

“Better?”

“Yes.” Adlar stepped back. “Thank you.”

Several more unit hours had passed, but he was calm now. They’d find out how Varo got off planet then he’d… well, he’d take of it. Then he’d go and get his mate. Nothing was going to stand in the way of him and the male he loved. If he had to kill a couple of Yesris to do it, so be it. And if he found Varo harmed, the king had better pray to his Yesri god for help.

Not that it would do any good.

Another few unit hours passed. At some point he lay on the couch in Omori’s main living area and dropped off to sleep. The soft murmurs of conversations floated around him as Omori spoke to people about the feeds, but he ignored it. Nothing in Omori’s voice changed signaling a lead so Adlar let himself go deeper.

The voices faded and blessed peace stole over him. He drifted; his mind was pleasantly empty. As he relaxed his thoughts focused on Varo. That blond hair and those sparkling brown eyes called to him. He reacted to seeing his mate.

A yearning filled him as he watched the two of them kiss then touch. Clothes fell to the floor. A bed draped in white was close enough for them to fall into and make love. The fact he saw Varo in his dreams was no surprise.

No, the surprise was it was him with his legs in the air being plowed.

Never had he thought about bottoming. Oddly enough, watching Varo over him didn’t stir any feeling of repugnance. In fact, his excitement he felt in his blood said he’d have no problem letting Varo make love to him. He trusted Varo like no other, outside of his brother.

“Adlar?”

One word and Adlar was wide awake. He sat up on the couch and swung his legs onto the floor. The look on Omori’s face said it all. “Who?”

“They found something.” Omori ran his hand through his hair. “I-I’m sorry. It’s Maylar.”

Fury filled Adlar, but he pushed it back. Omori’s face showed signs of stress and shock. For once he looked old. Old and tired. Adlar hated that look on his brother’s face. The man looked… not only shocked, but devastated.

“Omori?”

Omori ran his hand through his hair again and jerked at the tangles from the all the previous times he’d do that.

Adlar came off the couch in a hurry. He grabbed Omori’s hand. “Hey how, easy. No one wants you to be bald.”

“I can’t believe he did this. I… why? What was he thinking? I trusted that male. Frack, we both did. I… I cared for him, Adlar. I didn’t love him like a mate, but I did care for him. I shared with him so many things… including you.”

Adlar hugged Omori. He had no idea Omori’s feelings went that deep for Maylar. “Okay, tell me what you know.”

Omori signed and stepped back. “The feed shows Maylar showing up and then you leaving your rooms. You said they were going to sightsee and the feed does shows them leaving. But… one of the techs didn’t like how images looked. He examined the feed and found the image of them leaving was faked. It had been spliced in. They never left your rooms.”

“Then this was no spur of the moment thing.”

“Maybe. Maybe not,” Omori said. “A shielded comm to someone in security is all that would be needed. I’m sure it wouldn’t take long to find feed of Varo and then of Maylar and splice that together and added it to the feed outside of your rooms. Anyone who worked in Security would know how to do that.”

“And we can’t track a shielded comm.” Adlar clenched his fist. “What happened next?”

“Another feed from a shuttle bay shows two A’moor wrestling with a large container.”

“A’moor, huh?” Adlar said. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. There’s no mistaking the designs on their clothes. We couldn’t get a read on their faces though. They were covered.”

 “The same organization Maylar is part of. Interesting.”

“Isn’t it?” Omori asked. “After they loaded the container, one left the bay while the other took the shuttle out. Radar showed the shuttle ascending. Just as my private code was activated, the shuttle transport was activated.”

“So whoever was on the shuttle transported off. I’m assuming this shuttle is the one that carried Varo out of here?”

“Yes,” Omori said. “We traced the transport back to the palace, to one of the many conference rooms. And wouldn’t you know it, the feed in that section was on the fritz.”

“No question this was an inside job then,” Adlar said.

“We still don’t have an ID on the two A’moor or who helped in Security.”

“Ah, but we know whom to ask, don’t we?” Adlar growled.

“Maylar,” Omori agreed. “Want to bet he’s not with a client?”

“I think he may actually be,” Adlar said. “He went to a lot of trouble to do this. He might’ve pulled it off if it hadn’t been for that techie. I say we make a call on Maylar. Can you find out his client? And do it quietly? Last thing we want is for him to know we’re on to him.”

“He mentioned a name. The male is located outside of town.” Omori told Adlar the name Maylar left on his comm.

“Huh. Interesting. I thought that male used females for feeding. Doesn’t matter. If the client is out of town that leaves you out. No way can you leave here without the Royal Guard involved, and there goes stealth. That means it’s just going to be me.”

Omori grabbed Adlar’s hand. “You aren’t going to like this, but I’m going to ask that you don’t kill him.”

“Oh frack me running.” Adlar jerked away. “Maylar deserves to die.”

“And I’m asking that you don’t kill him. I promise he’ll be punished, but don’t kill him. Please. Do this for me.”

Adlar dropped his head and signed. “Fine. On one condition.”

“Which is?”

Adlar glanced up. “He lives as long as I get Varo back. If for some reason Varo dies, then Maylar dies. A life for a life.”

Omori took a deep breath then nodded.“Agreed.”

After another quick hug, Adlar left and returned to his rooms. The silence haunted him. The place smelled of Varo. Everything he looked at reminded him a conversation they’d had, or a laugh they’d shared.

Adlar hurried to where he kept weapons and strapped several on him. As he left the room, his reflection in one of the windows stopped him. Night had fallen. Stepping to the window he stared up at the sky.

“What are you doing now, my mate? Are you safe?” He touched the cool glass. “I’m on my way, Varo. Hold on.”

With that, he headed toward his shuttle. He couldn’t wait to see Maylar. While he’d said he wouldn’t kill the other male, he never said he wouldn’t kick Maylar’s ass all over the planet.



~We're getting close to the end, y'all~

Chapter Twelve
Varo sat in the shuttle pilot seat, still unable to move. Even though he fought his body, he couldn’t raise a finger. Listening to Command trying to hail him nearly drove him mad. No matter how loudly he yelled in his head, not a peep came out.
He didn’t even twitch. Frustration rose when nothing happened. His body stayed still. He could blink. He could swallow. He breathing was fine. He just couldn’t move his limbs. All he could do was sit there and stare at the Satellite Surveillance Network the shuttle was rapidly approaching.
Maylar, being ever so helpful, had told him everything. Varo knew he’d get through the grid no problem, then the shuttle was program to jump to warp. Maylar had even activated the autopilot… for Yesri space.
He had to do something before—
“Varo? It’s me. Adlar. Can you speak to me?”
Oh gods. That was Adlar. Varo closed his eyes, fighting not to scream. Okay, scream silently since all he could do was breathe at the moment.
“I really need you to say something. Just tell me what’s going on. Talk to me.”
Tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. This was so fracking wrong. He sniffed. Now he’d picked up Adlar’s favorite cuss word. The tears ran faster.
“Varo? Can you hear me? Please, my princeling. Please respond.”
He squeezed his eyes close harder. He certainly never thought he’d hear such desperation in Adlar’s voice. Such pain. His Adlar wasn’t one to beg.
And now he was.
That star cursed Maylar. Varo opened his eyes. If he ever got his hands on Maylar, he’d happily kill that Helkan. As he watched the grid come closer on the screen, he knew he was running out of time. The shuttle’s radar showed an opening in the network’s grid. The shuttle was going to clear the network grind with no problem.
He cleared he grid with no problem. Of course. The one time he wished his vehicle would have been disabled it passes through no problem. There was a time not long ago he’d been celebrating such an easy escape.
Now all he could do was sit there and cry. Even that wasn’t going well for him. He couldn’t wipe the tears off his face as they trailed down his face. Cursed things tickled. There was a slight jerk as the wrap engine engaged almost immediately after clearing the grid.
It wouldn’t be long now.
He sincerely hoped the stun wore off before he reached Yesri air space. If he couldn’t talk to Space Control, they might blow him out of the sky. He was in a Helkan shuttle, after all. Then again, it wasn’t ever day a Helkan shuttle show up in Yesri space. They might just use a tractor beam on him instead.
He sat in the pilot seat, watching space zoom past. Not like he could do anything else. He snarled silently in his head as he tried to lift his hand. There was a tear slowly made its way down his cheek, over his jaw… and was now taking its sweet time winding its way down his neck.
What he wouldn’t give to be able to wipe his face. Or wrap his hands around Maylar’s throat. He distracted himself with thoughts of the other male turning blue under his hands, those yellow eyes of Maylar’s bulging.
His cheek twitched as he enjoyed the screen he’d painted in his mind. Oh yes, once Maylar passed out, he would.... Wait! His cheek twitched. Twitched ! He promptly shoved the pleasant daydream of strangling Maylar out of his head and focused on his face and… did it again!
Oh, that was the most glorious feeling ever.
Not only did his cheek twitch, his nose itched. Before he realized what he was doing, he’d wrinkled it in an effort to stop the itching. The itching spread over his body. Varo’s eyes crossed. Oh gods, the urge to scratch was madding.
Gritting his teeth… hey, he could grit his teeth! He glared at his right finger. Move your right index finger. Come on, move it! Move it now. It twitched, then moved. Yes! Varo fought back another round of tears.
He fought his body every step of the way, but right before they entered Yesri space, he regained control of his body. “Finally!”
Now that he could move, the first thing he did was try to override the shuttles navigation systems. If he could, he’d enter new coordinates and not end up in Yesri space. Anywhere was better than here. His fingers flew over the controls.
He slammed both fists down on the console. “Goddess, give me a break! Just one break!”
He couldn’t override the system. Panting, he looked as the shuttle signaled a decrease in speed. Everything slowed down as he dropped out of warp. And there before him was Yesri.
He was hailed immediately by the Yesri Space Control. “Unknown shuttle, identify yourself. You have entered Yesri air space. You have one unit minute to respond before we open fire.”
Varo blinked at the screen. “Well, that’s that. I die here. Shot down by my own people. Oh, the irony of that just—”
The shuttle’s control systems piped it. “Shuttle computer released. Manual control returned.”
Stunned, Varo stared at the shuttle’s panel. Then he leaped at the controls thankful to see Helkan technology was so similar to theirs. He knew how to work the shuttles control panel. “Oh stars! Thank you, Goddess!”
Frantically he opened a hailing channel and responded. “Yesri Space Control, this is Varo Kutchif. I repeat: this is Prince Varo Kutchif. Do not open fire. I repeat: Do not open fire! Scan, for stars sake, and verify that it’s me. I didn’t escape that nightmare of a planet to get shot down by my own people!”
Forgive me, Adlar, but they can’t know how much you mean to me or that I love you. I won’t give my father that kind of power over me. Or you.
Yesri Space Control responded instantly. “Helkan shuttle, stand by, but please halt descent.”
“Understood.” Now that he could access the shuttles controls, he did as they demanded.                                                          
“Scan completed. By the goddess, it’s great to see you, Prince Varo. Please continue descent. A tractor beam will engage shortly and bring you in. The king has been notified too. We’re so glad you’re okay.”
“Thank you,” Varo said. “It’s good to hear a familiar voice.” That’s a crock. I just want to go home.
Funny how home wasn’t what was in front of him. Varo collapsed in the pilot chair and stared out at the last place he wanted to be.
* * * *
Chaos ensued. Once he landed at the designated landing port, armed forces were waiting. This didn’t surprise him. Last anyone heard, he’d been taken hostage by the Helkans. No one escaped the Helkans. Ever.
But there he stood.
In a Helkan shuttle, no less. He envisioned the next several weeks full of nothing by debriefings and explanations. He’d decided to keep his versions of events as close to the truth as possible while on the way here.
The Yesri didn’t need to know he fell in love with his enemy, or that he planned to mate him. Nor did they need to know the male he loved was the only brother to the Helkan king. They also didn’t need to know he never planned to return, or that his loyalty was to Adlar… a Helkan.
If his father found out, he’d never see the light of day again. Or worse. His father would take him hostage to use against Adlar and the Helkan king. That was if he didn’t kill him outright. He and his father never got along well to begin with, and the male had a horrible temper.
After a guard thoroughly checked him for weapons, an armed escort took him the palace. No one spoke to him, for which he was grateful. He needed time to get his head straight and ready himself to lie through his teeth. And pray.
Once they arrived at the palace, the guards brought him to a private, well-furnished room. The floor was a gray stone shipped in from another planet. Very expensive, Varo knew. Also easy to clean. The walls were painted a lighter gray and bookcases lined one wall, the wood rich and dark. There were no windows. A table sat in the room laden with food and drink.
Varo wasn’t fooled. This was an interrogation room. Just one of the nicer ones. So they were going to get right to it, it appeared. Not even going to do a medical check to see if he had any injuries. Figured.
Varo was shocked to see only his father there. He’d assumed his father’s advisors would accompany him. Varo was wrong, and he didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad one. It didn’t matter either way. Varo stared at the male who fathered him.
King Drea Kutchif was an imposing male. He was the same height as Varo, but there the similarities ended. His Majesty had a barrel chest and massive arms that held an impressive amount of tattoos. With that chest and arms came a belly that stuck out over equally massive legs.
Other species often mistakenly thought his father was overweight and out of shape. They didn’t understand that layer of fat covered hardcore muscles. King Drea had the training of a warrior too, and was deadly. Deadly with a temper was never a good match. As a child Varo had seen the male snap an enemy’s neck.
King Drea indicated to the chair across from him with the bejeweled cup he held. “We are very interested in hearing your tale, son.”
Varo barely kept from rolling his eyes. His father employed the royal ‘we’ when referring to himself. So self-important. It annoyed him endlessly. Varo never heard Omori do that.
Varo silently braced himself. “Where would my Royal Highness like me to begin?”
King Drea waved his hand. “At the beginning, where else?”

It was going to be a long day.
TBC