Free The Royal Pursuit by Ruth Ann Nordin

The other Nicals’ hair had
changed color since their initial interaction.
    “ I’ve been volunteered to
give you a bathroom break since I’m the only female in the group,”
Optima said, her voice void of emotion.
    Ann wasn’t going to turn down the
offer. Her bladder had been full for the past half hour. She raised
her wrists so that Optima could remove the chains from her. As she
stood up, Optima pointed the Paler gun at her.
    “ I can’t have the Queen of
Raz running off on me,” Optima said.
    “ I’m sure you’d outrun me
so why bother?” Ann replied. Even with a better pair of boots, it
would have been pointless to try. She’d never been great at
running. There was a reason she was the last person picked in gym
class when she was in school.
    “ We will go behind those
trees over there so you can get some privacy.”
    Ann glanced in the direction Optima
pointed at. She led the way to the spot, Optima following. She
didn’t know why Optima felt it was necessary to take her so far
away from everyone else. They weren’t even in hearing distance of
the others. A chill raced up her spine. Perhaps the Nical intended
to kill her out here.
    “ You can go behind that
bush,” Optima instructed, her back turned to her.
    Ann shifted uneasily. “Okay but it’s
going to take a while. I’m not used to being monitored while I
go.”
    “ Take all the time you
need.”
    Ann obeyed. After what seemed like
hours, she was finally able to go. As soon as she was done, she
returned to Optima. She was ready to walk back when Optima stopped
her.
    “ What is it?” Ann
asked.
    “ How does it
feel?”
    “ Better.” Why did the Nical
care how an empty bladder felt? Didn’t Nicals go to the
bathroom?
    “ No. Your pregnancy. How
does it feel to be pregnant?”
    “ Pregnant? I’m not
pregnant.”
    “ You can’t
tell?”
    Ann didn’t like the knot that formed
in her stomach. “No. I’m not supposed to get my period for another
week and a half.”
    “ It takes you that long to
discover such an important thing?”
    “ Well, for Earthlings it
does. I may rule Raz, but I am an Earthling.”
    “ Nical females can tell
right away when they conceive. We have also been cursed to know
when other human women have conceived.”
    “ Why is it a
curse?”
    “ Because we lost our
ability to conceive before the virus invaded our world. It’s
terrible to know you will never carry life inside of you when
others do it so easily. You weren’t even planning on this
pregnancy, but here you are and that child will rule
Raz.”
    Ann felt her face flush. She found it
disturbing to discuss such personal matters with a
stranger.
    “ You conceived five days
ago. You have a girl,” Optima revealed.
    Ann’s mind rushed back to the events
that transpired five days ago. She had taken the day off from her
royal duties to be with her family. It was the day she discovered
the Augurs’ desire to visit Raz.
    “ That man, the one who
wears white, is not one of us,” Optima quickly explained. “He came,
acting as our protector, but I fear he has malevolent intentions
for us. We don’t know who he is or where he came from, but I know
he has plans for your child. I overheard him talking to someone
about killing you if you were pregnant. If you were not pregnant,
they planned to sterilize you. Unfortunately, you are with child. I
am the only Nical who knows this, and I didn’t have time to warn
the others.” She peered around a tree and calmed when she saw no
one was coming for them. “There isn’t time to explain what we are
going through, but we do not wish you or anyone else harm. That is
why I have to release you.”
    “ You’re going to let me and
my friends go?”
    Optima shook her head. “I cannot do
that. We’re not that strong. You need to run as far and as fast as
you can. I know the man in white will want to come after you when
he discovers you’re gone. Run and don’t look back. If you must
stop, then do so in a cave. There