Sneak Peak
(This book is a standalone novel. It is part of the ‘Lords of Astria’ series, which can be read in any order.)
J ane felt something shift in the atmosphere. The crewman gasped, and bowed deeply from his waist. Revi dismissed him with a wave of the hand and turned his full attention to the Earthling in his arms. The door closed silently behind the feathered crewman, and Jane took in her surroundings, marveling at the industrial decor and Spartan interior.
Revi watched her warily, uncertain about what the expression on her face meant. He didn't understand the breadth of her emotions, and they confused him.
"I'm afraid that we didn't know we'd be bringing you on board in this manner. I had hoped to have better quarters readied by the time we chose our... Our..." He seemed utterly lost as to how he should explain the situation to her.
Revi set Jane down gently on a small bed that was at the corner of the room, positioned so that the head looked out the window at the field of stars that surrounded the ship.
"By the time you found your what?" Jane's wariness and fear were giving way and making room for her curiosity. She shrank away from him, her eyes like saucers.
The fear was still there, just below the surface, but never in her life would she again get the chance to converse with, well, what exactly was he? She gave voice to her question. "What are you?"
Revi seemed to expect the question, or at least he was not all that surprised by it. He fiddled with the buttons on his sleeve and reached a hand out to hers. Jane held herself still and allowed him to take her hand, though she did not return his gentle grasp.
His hand was strong and almost twice as large as hers. Jane shivered with the sudden sense of powerlessness she felt in his presence. She was acutely aware of the way he towered over her and that she was entirely alone with him in a place where no one would come to her rescue.
Jane trembled as Revi loomed over. She wanted to pull her hand away but hesitated, unsure if that would anger him. "Am I your—your—prisoner? What – what are you going to do with me?"
Revi looked at her sorrowfully, as if he were wounded that she would ask him such a question. "This is not how we would have wanted it. You should have been courted in a manner that would befit your future status."
Jane looked at him uncomprehendingly, her hand warmed by his. He squeezed it gently. "What does that mean 'courted?'" she asked as she looked down where his fingertips touched hers.
How was it possible for him to look so human, and yet so superhuman at the same time? On earth he had seemed larger, but somehow more approachable. Here on this ship, he exuded an air of regality in his posture and in his speech that would have marked him as someone special, even if she hadn't seen the other crew members making way for them as he carried her through the hallways.
She felt the heat of his body, so close to hers. Jane didn't know why, but even in her fear, being near Revi still felt safe somehow, comforting.
She repeated her question again, “What do you mean you intended to court me, Revi? We just met. I... you're... none of this makes sense.”
Revi ran his fingers through Jane's long, silky hair and peered deeply into her eyes. She trembled again, though not with fear this time.
“ I mean, Jane Jenkins, that you are meant to be our bride.”
A Lords of Astria Romance
Gemini – Taken by the Alien Kings
A Sci-Fi Menage Romance
By
Juno Wells
Copyright
© 2015 Juno Wells
All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author’s imagination.
Please note that this work is intended only