Alien Gift Read online

  Alien Gift

  Tracy Lauren

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  © 2018 Tracy Lauren

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by U.S. copyright law.

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  Chapter 1

  Gorrard

  It is another late night and still, I cannot sleep. So instead, I traverse the muddied path that leads to the gates of Beacon. A swim in the bathing room might help me clear my mind.

  Recently, my thoughts have become heavy. The absence of my family and friends has weighed on me for years, but lately the pain feels as if it is from a fresh wound. I had always believed that once my people found this planet, our lives would begin again. And that seems to be true for everyone, except for me.

  This rainy season has dragged on for months now. It is almost as if the weather here is a reflection of my dour mood. Though, to be fair, I am not the only one who has been impacted by the unending dreariness of the rain. We all have, really. But the resourceful humans, who also make Beacon their home, have decided to do something about it.

  For the past few weeks they have been organizing a holiday to break up the monotony of the season. Between all the decorating and planning, it is obvious that the mood in the village has been lifting. More and more often, I find myself drawn here, wanting to be a part of it all. I long to be a member of a community and feel connected to something larger again.

  If I am truly honest, though, what I really find myself longing for is family. Each night at the village’s communal dinner, I see my King and his mate together. Their loving bond is potent, the very foundation of family. And they are not the only ones. Others have found mates here too. It seems that all around me Vendari are Awakening to the humans. I shake the thought from my mind and climb the steps leading to the bathing room.

  Lost in my own ruminations, I do not immediately notice the human climbing from the pool. Her position is on the opposite end of the room and she does not hear me enter. I stop suddenly in my tracks. Her body is slender and her flesh as milky white as snow. She is nude. Water cascades down her back and over her pert and rounded ass. I instantly recognize this human as my dear friend Holly. One of the newest members of our village.

  Normally, Vendari are not modest about nudity, but something inside me heats and I feel as if I am spying on my human friend. Embarrassed, I turn and hurry from the room, hoping Holly did not notice me. But to my dismay, she calls my name and I hear her soft, bare feet slapping against stone, pursuing me. I slow to a halt just outside.

  “Gorrard? Hey! I thought that was you!” She beams at me, cinching a thin white robe at her waist. She steps into the rain without regard for the cold, wet spray and stops right in front of me. “What are you doing up so late? Planning on going for a swim?”

  “No,” I tell her quickly, but as she waits for me to offer her some other explanation for my presence, I realize I have none. “Yes, I mean. I did not think the bathing room would be occupied at this hour,” I tell her.

  “It isn’t,” she says, with a bright smile. “Everyone else is sleeping. You’re more than welcome to join me, if you want.”

  “I thought you were getting out?” I ask.

  “I don’t have to be.”

  “I would hate to disrupt your plans for the evening—” I begin, but she stops me.

  “Gorrard, you aren’t disrupting anything. As a matter of fact, you’re my absolute favorite person to spend time with,” she tells me, smoothing her hand up my good arm. “Come on, let’s go for a swim together,” she urges. “You can keep me company.”

  My honor wavers and I want to say yes, if only to steal another look at her soft and feminine form.

  “Holly, an old male like me has no business swimming alone at night with a young and beautiful female like you,” I tell her. Unfortunately, my words only make her smile deepen.

  “I’d hardly call you old,” she laughs. “And you’re not so bad looking yourself,” she says, a little more seriously.

  Her hand resting on my arm draws my attention downward. That’s when I notice the state of the thin robe she wears. Rain pelts the flimsy material and renders it nearly translucent. It clings to her body and my eyes fall to the soft swell of her breasts.

  I do not know if it is my loneliness or the intimate bond that Holly and I have built over the past few weeks, but in that moment, I nearly agree to join her. Thankfully, voices at the gates tear my attention from the young and beautiful female in front of me.

  It is Rennek and his mate, Kate, returning from the airfield. Protectively I step in front of Holly, not wanting them to see her practically exposed body peeking through her robe.

  Now that others are here, it is as if a spell has been broken. I suddenly feel very embarrassed for allowing myself to become so enchanted by the idea of taking a nude dip in the pool with Holly. She is my friend, a friend that relies on me for support. I should not be ogling her when she is vulnerable.

  “Excuse me, Holly,” I say, turning her around and giving an encouraging push toward her room. “I must go speak with my king.”

  I ignore the annoyed sound she makes at me and hurry to join Rennek and Kate. “Welcome back,” I call.

  “Hey Gorrard!” Kate waves when she sees me.

  “How was the meeting with Madreed?” I ask as I join them, and we all make our way up the temple steps to get out of the rain. Effortfully, I try not to look back to see if Holly is still standing there.

  “Good. She expects to have information soon about possible locations of more humans,” Rennek tells me. “Perhaps you might be of some assistance on our current subject, Gorrard. We all know the other colonies are busy building up their villages, but Kate and I were just discussing what the outcome might be if we requested their aid in recovering more humans.”

  “Wait! Before you answer that,” Kate interrupts, “Speaking of the other colonies. I noticed a comm on our main link today that was addressed to you,” she tells me, and I groan out loud.

  “Yes, Kate, I saw it as well,” I assure her.

  “And? Do you ever plan on responding to this poor girl?” she presses.

  Since the other kingdoms arrived on Elysia, an old friend of mine has been trying to contact me, and Kate has made it her own personal mission to have us reconnect.

  “I do not wish to speak with Yemala, Kate. The last time I saw her we were both youths. I am no longer a young male, yet Yemala has been in cryo for the past thirty years. She has not aged.”

  “But you were both adults, right?”

  “Only just barely,” I sigh.

  “Look, Gorrard, this girl has been holding a torch for you all this time. The least you can do is go see her.”


  “For Yemala it has not been so long,” I remind her. “In time she will forget about me and find interest in a male her own age.”

  “But you two have a history!”

  “For me it is ancient history. Besides, I do not even know if Yemala would recognize me after…” I trail off, not wanting to point out my scars, broken horn, and cybernetic arm.

  “Gorrard, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re a handsome guy. Yemala would have to be blind not to see that.”

  “Kate, it is his decision to make,” Rennek tells his wife. She whines in protest but takes his hand in hers.

  “I know, I’m sorry, Gorrard. I just want to see you happy.”

  “You need not apologize. I appreciate your concern,” I say, giving her a slight bow.

  “This is the last thing I’ll say,” she tells me. “At the very least, you should go see her. You both deserve the closure.”

  My focus is drawn to Kate’s hand in Rennek’s. For a moment, my mind flashes to Holly’s gentle touch on my arm, but I push that thought from my consciousness. I have been lonely for such a long time. Too long, really.

  “What were you saying about recruiting help from the other colonies?” I ask, changing the subject.

  The three of us talk a short while longer, and I assure Rennek and Kate that the other kingdoms would be very much willing to devote resources to the recovery of more humans. Vendari thrive off of protecting those in need, they would be honored at the request for assistance.

  It is even later now, so, I bid Rennek and Kate goodnight and head back to my ship in the airfield. Though I have been invited to live in the village, I choose instead to remain on my ship. It is lonelier than the village, but I think it is where my friends Gile and Mire feel more comfortable, so I stay out there for them.

  The walk back to my ship is a slow one, and I lose myself in thought. I am ashamed by my reaction to Holly this evening. Holly is my friend. She relies on me. To look upon her with hungry eyes feels like a violation of the trust she has in me.

  I force myself to think instead of the times I shared with Yemala so many years ago. We were so young then. Still, at the time I thought she might be the female I would one day Awaken to. Slowly, I start to talk myself into going to see her, if only for closure. But then I think of all the messages she has tried to send me over the past few months and I begin to hope for something more. I wonder if perhaps it is not too late for me after all.

  By the time I reach my ship I am resolved. Tomorrow I will go and see Yemala and I will let fate decide what is in store for the two of us.

  Chapter 2

  Gorrard

  I step out of the steaming shower, maneuvering the confined bathroom facilities my ship offers. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I wipe the condensation from the mirror. For a moment I allow myself to study my reflection. I appraise the scars along the right side of my face, my shattered horn… my greying mane.

  I have aged 30 years since I last saw Yemala. We were teens barely past the Vendari age of majority when we boarded the ships to Elysia. I remember looking into her eyes and kissing her goodbye. She promised me that I would be the first person she would look for once we awoke from cryo. According to her king, it seems like she kept her promise. I, on the other hand, have been too caught up in my damned reflection to go and see my old flame. Today that changes.

  I take the time to dress in traditional Vendari clothing. It has been so long since I have worn garments such as these. Unfortunately, they do not cover all the tattoos I have gotten over the years, and I worry that I might offend Yemala’s parents. I tug at the neckline, feeling like a fledgling dressed by his mother, but I want to look nice for Yemala, so I endure.

  “Ayo!” I call to Gile and Mire as I enter the bridge. “I am heading out, my friends,” I tell them, my smile wide.

  Gile jumps from his seat, whistling at me. “Look at you!” he extolls. I stand a bit taller and puff out my chest.

  “What do you think?” I ask. “Will Yemala like what she sees?”

  “Doubtlessly,” Gile tells me with a slap to my back.

  I glance over at Mire. While he does not look especially pleased, he tries to hide it as best he can. He is a good friend.

  “Do not look so glum, Mire!”

  “I am not glum. I am glad you have decided to pursue your old mate—”

  “She is not yet my mate,” I correct.

  “But soon she will be and things around here will change,” Mire prophesizes.

  “Change can be a good thing,” Gile puts in.

  “It can,” Mire admits begrudgingly. “Regardless, you deserve a mate and a family after all these years of waiting.”

  “Thank you. It means much to hear you say that. But do not plan on life changing just yet. I do not know if Yemala will want me, or more importantly, if she will ever Awaken to me.”

  “Of course she will want you! Why else would she send you so many comms?” Gile interjects.

  It is true, Yemala has sent many messages over the past months, and lately they have grown more frequent. Before today, I had not responded to any of them. I believed it would be best if I left Yemala alone to move on and to find love with a male her own age. But, with the help of Kate and her persuasion, I have decided to let go of my concerns about our age difference and my appearance and finally pursue love.

  Today I will arrive in Yemala’s village to surprise her with a visit and maybe, just maybe, this time when we look into each other’s eyes, our hearts will Awaken to one another.

  “I must depart. I cannot leave Yemala waiting any longer.” With a few last words of encouragement from my friends I head out. I grab my raincoat, slinging it over my broad shoulders and make my way toward the ramp.

  I plan to take one of the smaller vessels across Elysia to the colony Yemala’s people have settled in. I am consumed in thought as I walk, considering all the things I might say to Yemala. Will she be angry with me for waiting so long to see her?

  As I near my ship’s gates they slide open for me, but before I can step down the ramp I run head first into the small huddled form of a human, hurrying to escape the rain. We crash into one another and the poor creature slips on the ramp and falls bottom first, down into the mud.

  Chapter 3

  Holly

  “Damn it!” I cringe at my state. I’m flat on my ass in six inches of thick and sticky Elysian mud. The stuff is splattered all over me and my arms are coated up to the elbows. My hood has fallen to the side, and in rain like this, that means I now look like I stuck my head under a freaking faucet. The worst part is the plate of cookies I was bringing Gorrard slipped from my fingers and landed face down in the mud. They’re ruined. My heart sinks.

  “Holly?” Gorrard calls my name with shock lacing his voice. It’s like a lightning bolt straight to my soul. “Are you alright?” he asks, jumping off the ramp and hurrying to help me up.

  When I look up at the strong and sexy alien pulling me to my feet, I can’t help but smile. The humans aren’t wrong when they liken the Vendari to Gargoyles, their bodies are all stony grey skin and corded muscle. Others might think that Gorrard looks ferocious… and they wouldn’t be wrong, but he’s also ruggedly handsome. He has harsher features than the half Vendari males who live back in the village. He’s more raw and animalistic, with thick scars running down one side of his body and one of his proud horns snapped midway. His fangs flash at me as he talks, causing my heart to flutter and my hands to tremble a bit from nerves. I’m not scared of him. No, quite the opposite, in fact. Gorrard is my own personal hero. He rescued me from what could have easily been a life of slavery and abuse.

  We humans had spent weeks on a UPC ship going through hell, and then one day a red gargoyle with wings burst into the room and brutally murdered all of our captors. He was a fearsome creature, something straight from a nightmare. Don’t get me wrong, he saved us too. Well, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he exacted the revenge we had all been hoping for.
But in my heart, it was Gorrard who rescued me.

  Once the red gargoyle had finished his task he was still crazed, mad with rage. He couldn’t speak, he couldn’t stop pacing. Steam was literally billowing out of his nose. The other women and I were too afraid to try and calm him. We all huddled in the corner, fearful that he might turn on us.

  Eventually he settled, pulling one of my fellow captives against him no less. Then he fell over onto his side and passed out from fatigue. Still, we all sat there trembling, not knowing what to do next. Then, I looked up at the door the red gargoyle had ripped from its track. Alien men began to press their way into the room. My fellow captives all stifled screams when they saw our rescuers—we didn’t know who they were or what they wanted. All we knew was the brutality these new aliens were capable of.

  But the first person I locked eyes with told me everything I needed to know with one look, Gorrard had rounded the corner and his eyes found mine immediately. When I looked at him, I knew he was there to save me. He didn’t hesitate for a second. He never broke my gaze. He simply strode over to me, bent down and hauled me up into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck and begged him to not let me go. He promised he wouldn’t.

  He held me during the entire journey to the colony on Elysia, stroking my hair gently. And though he didn’t say much, his presence was comforting. I knew right then that something was starting between us. Unfortunately, nearly two months have gone by and he still seems oblivious to that fact. I don’t worry too much about it though. Eventually he’ll have to realize that I’m madly in love with him. I mean, I’m out here in the airfield practically every single day trying to spend quality time with the guy. How much more obvious can I be?