Текст книги "Alien god"

Автор книги: Ursa Dox

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The sight of those bandages filled me with despair. He had cleaned this day off of him. He would heal and would go back to whatever sort of alien life he’d been living. Meanwhile, I...

I’d still be here. Alone.

Wondering how the ever-loving fuck I was going to make it through this.

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN Wylfrael

“Do you still wish me to bring her down to your chamber, my lord?”

I almost missed Aiko’s question. I’d been too busy running over the encounter with the prisoner, alternating between irritation and confusion.

“What? Ah. No.” There was no point, now. I did not even know what I had hoped to accomplish with that in the first place. I couldn’t understand her language, nor she mine. I’d gotten her to eat, which I considered a small victory, though a rather pathetic one. I doubted I’d get anything else useful out of her tonight.

I need to prioritise getting to Rúnwebbe as soon as possible. I had to be able to talk to her. To interrogate this little human with the summer-sweet eyes who seemed to oscillate so wildly between defiant and demure, willful and wary. This tiny invader who did not know enough of me to be afraid of me, but who felt it, sometimes, suddenly remembering the way one might remember a forgotten object in another room. I could see it when her eyes went white all the way around the gold. And when her heartbeat hammered in her throat.

An impossibly slender column, that throat. Stupidly thin, if you asked me.

Which no one did.

“Don’t you think her neck is too skinny?” I huffed as Aiko and I reached the landing outside my bedroom. “It’s a miracle she made it across the cosmos at all with a neck that breakable.”

“My lord?” A concerned warble had entered Aiko’s voice. She was right to sound worried. I sounded like a half-mad fool.

“Never mind. Thank you for everything, Aiko. You are dismissed,” I said, rubbing my fingertips viciously across my forehead. Aiko bid me a guarded goodnight, then turned tail and disappeared down the stairs and into the tunnel.

I went into my room. It was essentially a larger version of the one I’d just left upstairs, complete with a bed, a bath laid into the floor near the fire, a table and two chairs, and a smaller chamber with a toilet and washbasin off to the side.

My eyes landed on something that had not been there before. Though I’d dismissed them, either Shoshen or Ashken had brought a bowl of stew and a goblet of ale and left it all on the table for me. Considering how many stairs it took to get here from the kitchen, I was betting it was Shoshen.

Good lad...

I sat down heavily in the chair and took up the goblet, staring at it broodingly. The goblet was made of silver tree crystal carved into such a thin cup that it was transparent as a newly-formed sheet of ice. Inside, the ale was a dark umber swirl.

I tilted the glass, letting the firelight filter through it, turning the brown to red. But that reminded me of the light hitting the human’s hair upstairs, and suddenly all I could feel was the fine, silken strands sliding across the skin of my hand.

I chugged the ale, fuming.

Was I going to have to make sure she ate every meal?

The Sionnachans would be too timid for such a task. But I didn’t have time to watch her at every meal, making sure she didn’t starve. I still had to deal with Skalla. My fangs tightened, wings tensing against the chair’s back when I thought of him out there, unhinged and unleashed, with no one to hold him or help him or stop him. No one to help those he encountered, either.

Curse the council!

I finished the last sip of ale and wiped a violent hand across the back of my mouth, breathing heavily. They should have opened their gates! Without their power, there was no way I could deal with Skalla. Even Maerwynne and I together hadn’t been able to stop him and bind him. And even if I could somehow track him down and subdue him without killing him, what then? Bring him back here?

Impossible.

I thought of trying to hold Skalla prisoner here, the way I was doing with the human, and laughed bitterly. I’d be dealing with a lot more than pouty refusals to eat, that was for certain. I’d likely be faced with dozens of Sionnachan corpses in Skalla’s wake, and I absolutely refused to let anything like that happen. It was why I’d fought with him, forced him out of this world and nearly died facing him when he’d appeared here so long ago.

I ran my thumb back and forth over the crystal goblet, remembering what Maerwynne had said. That he was going to find his mate, cure his star-darkness, and join the council. Considering that seemed to be the only way to find out what was going on in Heofonraed, it seemed a decent enough plan. But finding one’s mate could take eons. Would he even find her in time? Before his star map went out like a candle burning down into nothing?

I blew out a weary sigh when I realized that I should be doing the same as Maerwynne. Trying to find my mate before this star-darkness began to affect me, too. But I couldn’t in good conscience begin such a search now and leave all my other duties unattended. Not while Skalla was smashing his way through the cosmos.

But the only way I’ll be able to speak to the council about Skalla is if I join, and I can only join if I have a mate...

My wounds ached, and my head throbbed at the maddening circle of it. I couldn’t let Skalla continue his berserker rampage. The only way to stop him required that I find my mate. But finding my mate could take many mortal generations, which meant Skalla would continue his rampage anyway.

I hurled the goblet. It hit the wall above the fireplace, shattering into a dizzying storm of falling fragments, like snow.

“Oh, my lord! Let me help you clean that up!”

I rose, finding Aiko on the landing outside, staring wide-eyed at the mess.

“I suppose neither you nor Shoshen quite knows what it means to be dismissed for the night,” I replied wryly, trying to keep the bite of impatience out of my voice. I should have closed the door.

“Forgive me, my lord! I was bringing the firestone you requested for the landing!”

I noticed the flickering light out there now, catching on her orange and white mane of fluffy hair.

“Thank you. Now you may go. Get some rest,” I said wearily, approaching the door and laying my hand on it.

For the second time, she said goodnight and hurried down the stairs. I liked her, and her brother and father, but stone of the cursed sky I hoped they’d all stay away now, in the other tower for the night, so that I could have half a heartbeat on my own to think.

But despite my need for solitude, I called out and stopped her before she disappeared.

“Aiko?”

The Sionnachan instantly turned back to look at me from her place below on the steps.

“Yes, my lord?”

I wasn’t seeing Aiko now, but rather the human’s little face as I gripped her hair, her delicate throat exposed, her eyes narrowed in accusatory triumph. I could practically hear the echo of her voice in the hallway. In my head. Lord Wylfrael...

I blinked away the memory, focusing once again on the waiting servant on the stairs. For a moment, I thought about telling Aiko, “Never mind,” and sending her on her way once more.

The human is my prisoner. I need to know more about her people, what their capabilities and goals are, what their crimes were. I do not need to wonder about things like –

“Find out the prisoner’s name.”

If my command surprised Aiko, she did not show it. She merely gave me a silent “yes” with her fists before finally descending for the night.

I closed the door this time upon re-entering the chamber, trying to give myself some space and silence to think. But thinking didn’t get me very far. My thoughts chased each other, each duty before me seeming more important than the last but unable to be completed until I dealt with other things first.

But I wouldn’t be able to deal with anything at all, except maybe handling the tiny weak human, if I didn’t get some rest. I could feel my power retreating, sputtering like wind-whipped flame inside me. Before I could even attempt to do anything else, I had to let my strength recover.

I stripped out of my blood-stained trousers and tossed them aside. I ran a little water into the intricately tiled bath, splashing it over my legs and my wings, washing any remaining dried blood away. My wings were in good shape, at least. Luckily Skalla hadn’t shredded them. Wings took so much longer to heal than the wounds on my torso would.

Naked, I stalked across the room, water dripping on the floor in my wake. I tossed myself on top of the white sotasha fur bedspread and lay on my back, wings spread out beneath me, my hands behind my head. I glared up at the room’s ceiling, wondering what the human was doing on the other side of the crystal. Even being unfamiliar with her species, I knew she was exhausted. Had she fallen into bed, like me? Or was she still awake, pacing the room like a caged animal, thinking of ways to escape?

She won’t escape. Of that much, I was certain. If she tried, I’d hear her on the stairs outside my room, even in my sleep. And if she did somehow get past me, she’d never make it far in all that snow.

Trying to content myself with the fact that at least one part of this situation was under control, I let my eyes slide shut.

But behind closed lids, all I could see was her face as she said my name.

And I did not feel in control at all.

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN Torrance

I forced myself to stay awake for as long as possible, in case anyone came back. But no one did. Before collapsing, I did a sweep of the room, familiarizing myself with everything. With relief, I found that the extra room off to the side wasn’t some interrogation room or torture closet, but what looked like a room with a toilet and alien sink. It wasn’t a design I was used to, but it was close enough that I could tell. There was a tiled basin built with a hole into the floor for squatting over. Above it was what appeared to be a sort of tap coming out from the wall for rinsing down the contents. A similar tap was positioned above a high, tiled sink. There was no mirror, which was probably a good thing. I didn’t need to know what a mess I looked like after today.

I made use of the toilet, my legs shaking at the simple exertion of squatting. Not seeing anything that resembled toilet paper, I used water – frigid cold, making me yelp – to splash against my skin. I braced myself against the cool crystal wall, dripping and waiting to air dry before I pulled my panties and trousers back up.

Ultimately, I decided not to bother. My panties were soaked with sweat from the stress of the day, and I had no desire to put them back on against my freshly rinsed skin. I peeled off my panties and trousers, then stood on quivering legs, cold water rolling in beads down to my bare toes.

Dressed only in the plain grey T-shirt issued by the crew on the ship, I stepped up to the sink – too high, meant for someone much taller than me – and noticed a small crystal jar of something on the edge. The jar was green, which gave the white, creamy contents an olive cast. Soap? God, I hope so.

I scooped some onto my finger, giving an experimental sniff. It smelled vaguely floral, and I wondered what kind of flowers this world had. Then, my heart sank at the thought I’d probably still be here when spring rolled around to find out.

If I’m still alive by then.

I pulled the lever on the tap and water gushed out. Warmer this time, thankfully. The creamy stuff spread into a smooth, fragrant lather over my skin before rinsing away clean. I decided to repurpose it as laundry detergent, and gave my panties a quick wash, too.

Holding my wrung-out panties in one hand and my trousers in the other, I peeked out of the small bathroom. Still nobody in the bedroom. Good. The last thing I needed was to meet an alien now with my pants down. Literally.

I hurried over the smooth pink floor to the bed. I circled around the massive piece of furniture so that if anyone came in right now, I’d be blocked from their view from the chest down. On either side of the bed, instead of bedside tables, were tall sets of crystal shelves carved into the wall. A few of the shelves had items, including what looked like spare linens or things that might serve as towels. I laid my panties to dry in what I hoped was a discreet spot then wriggled into my trousers. Once I was covered again, I felt brave enough to head back out into the main room.

My snowsuit, boots, and socks had been dumped in a damp, messy pile and were still where I’d left them on the floor. I retrieved them and put them on the shelves by the bed, too. I wanted to make sure I knew where everything was in case I needed to dress quickly for some reason. Too bad I don’t have my rock hammer.

That thought struck me like a blow from the very hammer that had entered my mind. Bereft, I stared at the clothes on the shelves. The only items I had left in this entire world, and they weren’t even mine. The clothing, right down to my underwear and bra, was a uniform forced on me by the ship’s crew. There was nothing of old Torrance, nothing of my real life, left anymore.

Nothing except me.

The little energy I had, fuelled by the boost in calories from the stew and adrenaline, seeped out of me like someone had pulled a plug out of a small drain somewhere inside me. The air around me became a physical weight, pressing down on my shoulders until I could barely breathe. I didn’t want to lie down, didn’t want to sleep. Didn’t want to make myself even more vulnerable than I was even for a moment. But I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay standing for long.

With my last dregs of strength, I went to the chamber’s door and tested it.

Unlocked.

I couldn’t even manage excitement at that fact. They didn’t need to put a lock on my door because they knew what I knew. That I’d never survive on my own beyond these walls. That, combined with the fact that Asha Wylfrael could probably just slam my door shut with a wave of his hand, not even touching it, meant that a physical lock wasn’t needed.

What does he want with me?

We didn’t understand each other, so it wasn’t like I could give him any real information. Maybe he wanted to punish me, but then why put me in a beautiful room and make sure I was fed?

A new horror gripped me. There was no doubt in my mind he was male. Could he want me for something even worse than just keeping a simple prisoner?

My stomach dropped, and I clutched the door for support. Clearly, there was interspecies breeding present here, considering how some of Asha Wylfrael’s features so closely resembled those of the fox people and yet in other ways, he looked completely different.

Now I wished there was a lock on my door. To keep him out. Not that it would do much good against someone of his obvious power.

I stumbled over to the bed. Hoisting myself into it was a feat of strength I didn’t know I had, but, arms like noodles afterwards, I managed it. My wrist throbbed, pain I’d forgotten and ignored until now. I shook my head at the redness there, the beginnings of the bruise. Striking myself with the hammer seemed like it had happened a lifetime ago instead of earlier today. I wondered if Suvi and Min-Ji and the other women had escaped on the ship, or if they’d been killed. By him.

A choked sound ripped out of my throat. A sob without tears. Gasping and shivering, I got under the thick, white fur and burrowed into the pillows and mattress. Like a child hiding from monsters, I pulled the fur duvet up and over my head, curling into the darkness as if it would protect me.

But it wouldn’t. I knew it wouldn’t.

I wasn’t a child anymore.

And the monsters, it turned out, were very, very real.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN Wylfrael

I woke at dawn. I could tell the sun was rising by the soft bloom of colour warming the walls of the chamber, making the deep pink into something almost orange. The crystal walls were too thick to let in the starlight at night, necessitating firestone lanterns. But sunlight penetrated with much stronger rays, making the castle glow almost as if from within during the day. When the sun rose, it warmed this tower first. Then, it trekked above the centre tower, the Day Tower. The third tower was the Eve Tower, which lay closest to the mountains where the sun set each night.

I sat up in bed, stretching my wings experimentally. Good. The shallowest wounds, the ones created by the human weapons, had already healed during sleep. The deeper ones, inflicted by my cousin, would take longer, though.

I bit back a rush of impatience at that. I didn’t have time to sit around here waiting to heal. I gave a grim, short laugh when I remembered that things could have been worse. I could have been on the brink of death, forced into an ages-long slumber to recover, the way I had been after my last fight with my cousin.

I slipped out of the bed, feeling a sharp ache all around my torso and back where Skalla’s claws had dug in so deep. My tail snapped back and forth, my wings flickering with tension. Where are you, cousin?

A soft rap at the door pulled me from thoughts of Skallagrim.

“Enter.”

Shoshen opened the door and came in, ears flattened.

“My lord. I heard you rise and wanted to bring you fresh clothing.”

I took a bundle of soft Sionnachan leather from his hands.

“You heard me rise?” I asked, lifting a questioning brow. Sionnachans had excellent hearing, but not good enough to hear me from the servants’ quarters in the Day Tower.

“Ah, yes. I have been out there for some time.” He pointed out the door to the landing. “I did not want to wake you, so I waited to hear movement.”

“You’ve been waiting out there since before the sun rose?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Ashken, Shoshen, and Aiko exemplified the Sionnachan spirit. Loyal, industrious, and gentle.

“Thank you,” I said. Shoshen looked pleased, a smile tugging at his orange face.

I pulled on the fresh trousers, along with one of my vests, and a pair of boots, no doubt taken from my old room in the Eve Tower.

As if sensing my thoughts, Shoshen said, “Your old room is ready too, my lord, should you choose to use it.”

“I will remain here for the time being,” I informed him. As long as that human was in the room overhead, I wouldn’t sleep anywhere else. “Have you heard any movement upstairs?”

“None, my lord.”

Hmm. Was that good or bad? I knew nothing about human sleeping patterns or needs, but the silence above made me uneasy.

“Some breakfast, please. For the human and for me,” I said to Shoshen.

“Yes, my lord!” He left.

I wasn’t even hungry. In all honesty, I just wanted to give Shoshen something to do that would provide me with a little uninterrupted quiet.

But it was too quiet. Shoshen was right – no movement from above. My jaw ticked.

Before I knew what I was doing, I had sprinted up the stairs and yanked open the door to the human’s room.

My eyes scanned the dawn-flamed chamber, muscles tensing at the idea that she might have collapsed somewhere on the floor during the night. But I did not see her anywhere on the floor, nor in the bathtub. The door to the water closet was open, and she was not there, either.

Which only left the bed.

I knew she was there before my eyes landed on the lump under the white bedding. Her distinct scent was strongest over there, laced with the fragrances of clean, soft fur and soap. I stole over to the bed, staying silent in case, like me, she could be woken by sound. I wanted the chance to observe her unnoticed. To look down at this interloper, my prisoner, without her speaking my name and looking back.

My gaze fell on her sleeping face, and my entire body stilled.

Every time I see this human, she is different.

Removing her protective gear and outer clothing had turned her into another creature entirely. Sleep, it seemed, did something similar. Gone was the panic and tension, the fight and the fear from her face. No more terror, no triumph. She was on her back, only her head, neck, and hands visible. Every feature had smoothed, her brow relaxed, her fingers slack against the fur. Tiny breaths made the furs rise and fall. She looked nearly innocent like this – an innocent invader. Dawn brushed her pale skin and dark eyelashes with pinkish-gold, gold that I knew would match her eyes if she were to open them. Standing over her like this, I was reminded of the first words I’d said to her, out there in the snows of Sionnach.

Wake up, woman, and tell me just what you think you’re doing in my world.

The question was still there. The urge to wake her, though, was not. Now that I knew she was alive, I could rest a little easier in this moment of quiet. This moment with no running, no fighting, no making sure she followed me or ate.

“Why can you not always be this easy to deal with?” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest.

A little pucker appeared between her brows, as if, even in sleep, she wished to display some sort of defiance against me. Instinctively, I snapped open my wings and arched them overhead to block some of the light hitting her face.

Her face once again relaxed, a silken sigh emitting from parted lips. I adjusted the angle of my wings to better shade her, and it was only when the movement made one of my wounds throb in protest that I stopped to wonder what in the blasted stars and stone I was doing.

She was my prisoner! I was not here to help her sleep better.

Let her face the dawn. Face me.

My wings drew back in a movement so quick it made dark hairs rustle around her face. The pucker of tension between her brows returned as the light flooded in, and that both satisfied and bothered me.

I was allowing the human to do far too much of that. Bother me. She was weak. Pitiful. A fragile creature who’d had to build a machine just to get here at all. I was a god. I could smash the stone of the sky with a single blow of my fist and cross the universe with one beat of my wings.

And yet...

And yet, I was left unsettled, on edge, wings flickering with tension and fangs grinding, all because of the little human sleeping in this bed.

I should leave the chamber now. Leave, and not return until I have Rúnwebbe’s web so I can properly question her.

The door stood open from when I’d come through it as if agreeing with my assessment and beckoning me outwards.

I did not go.

I flung myself into the chair by the fire and waited.

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