I smile, however he can’t see it. “I can. Anything to get away from the Tribe of Fura,” I reply.

  He looks back. “I think we’ve gone far enough to do this. But first, Ariana, it’s important that you remain calm while on the akoga. They sense our fear and spook easily. I’ll take care of guiding him.”

  I place my hand on my hip. “I’ll have you know, Prince Atargus, I’m an accomplished horseback rider. Back in my teens, I could ride a horse like a pro. I even learned to ride bareback, so I can’t believe that the akogas are much different. Horses spook easily too. You told me to trust you back in the village, and I have. Now I’m asking that you have faith in me as well. I know how to ride an animal. Grab another so that we won’t wear him out.”

  “No, we don’t need to walk back to find another. He’s able to carry both of us. Besides, I’m never letting you go again,” he answers with a broad smile.

  Chapter 10

  ATARGUS

  Ariana grabs hold of the akoga’s mane as if she has ridden one before. I settle behind her and click my teeth. The akoga takes off in a gallop, as I want space between us and the village. He runs fast over the slick surface as the newly arrived blizzard dumps ice and snow on top of us. At least we’re far enough away that they won’t see the hoofprints. With the driving snow, the prints we are making now will cover quickly.

  After an hour of riding, I slow the akoga.

  “What are you doing?” Ariana asks.

  “We need to let him drink and eat. Plus, we need it too,” I say as I dismount.

  “I think we need to keep going,” she rebuts.

  “We’ll make better time if we allow him a rest.” I pull a few flax cubes from my pocket. We snack on the food and take a long drink. The snow piles up quickly, the path behind us now covered.

  Ice pelts us in the face, the akoga whinnies and shakes his head while trying to avoid it. Stinging bits hits his eyes. “Too bad we don’t have goggles for him,” I say as we trot along.

  “I know. Poor thing. Can’t we hide out until this lets up, give him a break and us a rest?” she asks.

  “We really need to make it to the city. Out here in the wilderness, we’re open to the Fura. We can’t risk it,” I explain.

  “Not even there?” she asks. Ariana points to one side of us.

  In the distance, a group of hills strike against the snowy sky. I’m surprised that she can see it. “It’s not a given that we’ll find any kind of shelter there. Those are not like the mountains behind us with the ice caves,” I tell her. We must keep going as the akoga will be fine. I click my teeth, making him move onward while holding onto Ariana. She’s weary and needs rest, but that must wait.

  The blinding snow picks up speed, the wind whipping it sideways. I swear I saw the same hills earlier. Where is the city? Going on pure instinct, I push the akoga forward, galloping wildly. Ariana nearly topples off. I know the city is nearby, if we can just hold on for a few more minutes.

  “Atargus, the akoga can’t see and neither can I. And we have the goggles. I’m not sure how much longer I can hang on without stopping for a break,” she complains.

  “Just a few more minutes,” I say as I search my mind for the length of measurement she can understand.

  “That’s what you said back there. Please, Atargus. I have a bad feeling about this.”

  My jaw flexes. She says it and I agree, only I don’t voice it. I must be strong for her, and show her that I’ve rightfully earned her trust. She hangs on, saying nothing more as I push the akoga just a little farther up the road. At least I think we’re on the road. I don’t see the road. Only white extends within my vision and darkness beyond. Fear scratches at my senses that we’re lost.

  “Okay, we’ll stop until the sun rises. This blizzard is making it impossible to see anything ahead,” I tell her.

  “Oh, my. I can’t feel my legs,” Ariana says as she hops from the akoga.

  The sun soon peeks over the horizon and the blizzard lets up. A new day greets us. Looking ahead, I fully expect to see the city. Instead, I sway backward when I realize the gravity of my error. Instead of Exi’vade’s flashy city, I see the backside of the village of the Tribe of Fura. Ariana sees it too as we both stare with wide eyes.

  “No,” she breathes and takes a step back.

  “It’s okay, we’re away from line of sight.”

  “What about the hunters? They come out in all directions,” she replies.

  She’s right. I nod as we quickly climb back on the akoga. Not to waste a single second of precious daylight, I steer the beast away from the village and then back toward civilization. We’d traveled in a large circle all night, having come to the back of the village.

  “We’ll travel near the river, cross over and head to the city this way,” I say.

  “You know the way?”

  “I have taken the akogas through here a time or two when training them. Our only hope is that the sun just rose and the hunters haven’t started out yet.”

  “And they are just realizing that you and I are missing.”

  “Precisely why we need to go now,” I reply.

  Ariana looks at the village. “If we’re caught…”

  I grab her hand. “We won’t be. Look in the sky, it’s clear.”

  “It’s cold.”

  I laugh. “We’re on an ice planet.”

  “Eradau is ice.”

  I pause. “Eradau is nothing like Exi’vade. For one, it’s beings like me, Eradauians. We don’t have a primitive tribe of creatures anywhere near us. And if we did, we’d take care of it. Exi’vade is a wild planet with very few real laws. Eradau is a royalty planet, the kingdom rules the place, and our rule isn’t cruel. We don’t have slaves,” I remark.

  Ariana climbs back onto the akoga. He’s eaten and drank plenty of water and can carry us to the city now that we can see. Though the freshly fallen snow leaves a trail, the sun rises and melts the top layers just enough to freeze them into ice. Before anyone comes in our direction, the path will refreeze, covering our trail.

  We stay off the main road. Today a group will come to the city carrying fabrics and other goods. “We will avoid the Furas by staying off the path,” I say as we make our way through the icy wilderness. The akoga soon grows tired, as he has had little rest over the night. We stop under a patch of tall shodall trees. The trees grow in the flatter lands unlike those around the Tribe.

  “How long will we stay here?” Ariana’s angst concerns me.

  “Patience. The akoga needs the rest. Give him another moment,” I say.

  She looks behind us. “I just remember how the Fura grabbed us the first time. Atargus, I can’t go back to that. I’d rather die than to live out my life as their slave.”

  I sit down beside her and pull her into my embrace. “I won’t let that happen again.” Ariana needs a strong mate, one who will protect her from all harm. She lifts her chin and lowers the face flap. A sweet smile stretches across her face.

  “I feel safe in your arms,” she tells me.

  I lean in after removing my own face flap. Her soft lips move with mine. Sweet arms wrapping around my neck. She moans softly and pulls back as a pink blush rides across her face. “We can’t do this here.”

  I sigh. “We shouldn’t, no. But I want to. I want to claim you right now. We need to get to the city, though. It’s the only chance we have of leaving this planet behind us.”

  The akoga moves swiftly down a hill. He stops cold at the edge of the wide river.

  “It’s frozen. Why isn’t he crossing?” Ariana looks back at me.

  “Come on, boy,” I say as I click my tongue.

  The akoga whinnies and backs away. I hop down from him and look over the river. The water flows fast beneath the ice sheet. “That’s it. He senses thin ice here. Come.” With Ariana and I on foot, I lead the akoga up the river, hoping to find thicker ice.

  Ariana stumbles over the uneven ground. “I wish we had our boots. These animal skin boots are good, but the other had better traction.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Will we ever find a place to cross? How deep is the river?”

  “Do you mean if the ice breaks, can the akoga carry us across, anyway?”

  She nods. “Yes. Horses can on Earth.”

  “The water is freezing cold. Akogas withstand the freezing temperatures just fine, but not while wet. They instinctively avoid water.”

  “Oh, great. We’re doomed.”

  “No, we’re not. The river has thicker ice. It’s just a matter of finding it,” I say.

  The river loops back toward the village. I don’t voice my concern over it, and maybe Ariana doesn’t realize it.

  The river bends sharply, the canyon walls surrounding it holds the freezing air over the surface. The ice here is so thick that it hides the flowing river beneath it.

  “Back on,” I say as I hold the akoga steady.

  Ariana climbs on and I settle behind her. The akoga steps onto the ice while I click my teeth, prodding him forward. Once we make it to the other side, I kick into his sides and he takes off into a gallop.

  “I feel better now,” Ariana says to me.

  I do too. “Yes, we’ll make it.”

  The detour in finding thicker ice on the river takes us farther away from the city. “I hope there are no more rivers.”

  “Oh, no. What if there are?” Ariana’s voice verges onto panic.

  “No, we think positive. We’ll make it to the city.”

  “Do you think that we’ll make it before the Fura arrives?”

  It’s a good question. “I don’t know. We’ll have to be vigilant. Eyes out at all times.” I click my teeth again as the akoga picks up his pace.

  When we come close to the road, we remain just far enough away so that no one can see or hear us. The Fura carries their goods and the guards likely expand their wake, searching for us, no doubt. Ariana says nothing as she clings to the mane of the akoga. Her body trembles, not from the cold, but from fear. It is just the two of us with no weapons against them. They removed the weapons from our suits, probably adding them to their own stocks. By now the search is well underway. The village is on high alert. They don’t take kindly to insubordination by slaves.

  The city comes into view. There’s only one way in or out, and we’ll converge with the road before we reach it. I tense, knowing that it will be a close one. Seeing that the way is clear, I prod my foot into the akoga, making him run even faster. Ariana looks behind us.

  “Oh, Atargus. The Fura sees us. They’re heading in our direction!”

  No! I won’t let them catch us.

  Chapter 11

  ARIANA

  The poor akoga gallops as fast as he can as Atargus kicks at his sides. My fingers twist through his mane while I hold on for dear life. The only comfort comes from knowing that the Fura also rides akogas. We’re ahead, and if our akoga keeps going, we’ll beat them to the city limits.

  Snow and ice stretch between us and the city. The Furans barrels behind us with their shouts. I don’t want to know what they’re saying. Atargus growls as he pushes our akoga over the long plane of white.

  “Will we make it?” I cry.

  “Hang on. Yes, we will make it, or I’ll die protecting you,” Atargus growls.

  He’s truly my hero. With grit and determination, the akoga rushes ahead, keeping the enemy behind us. The city edge greets us with little fanfare. It’s nothing more than shanties and ice huts. Where’s the city?

  “Is this the city?” I ask as we gallop through the streets.

  Atargus chuckles. “Yes, what were you expecting?”

  “I don’t know. Have you seen cities on Earth? Like, we have actual buildings, concrete streets, civilization,” I tell him.

  “This is the outer part. There is a thriving city ahead. Not like you imagine, I suppose. They have an airfield, a radio tower with communications to the stars, and merchants. That’s my aim, to get us to the airfield and find a ship.”

  “What about your crew?”

  “I’m hoping that they had the sense to find the city too. I’m hoping that since they didn’t come to the tribe lands, they found the city first.”

  I look back and see the Furans still riding hard behind us.

  “They’re still chasing us. Are we not safe here?”

  “They can claim they own us. They can’t have the authorities search for us, but if they catch us they can claim it. The city government has an understanding with the Furans, unfortunately,” he tells me.

  “What will we do?” Hope begins to flee quickly.

  “We hide,” he answers. We pivot between the shanties and huts as the akoga dashes through the icy streets. Behind us, there is soon nothing. I relax a little.

  “They aren’t on our trail, now.”

  Atargus stops our ride. “Once we dismount, I’m sending the akoga back to the main throughway. We can hide better without him.”

  We circle back, and he pats the akoga on the butt. The animal trots to the main road while we duck and run through the myriad of ice huts. The other natives of the planet are like Furans, only with gray skin. They largely ignore us while we wander through their back streets. Everything looks the same to me, white ice huts, ice packed roads, twists and turns.

  “The people here are nomads. They don't stay in the same place very long. There are lots of abandoned huts.”

  We slow our pace as he searches through the area. At the end of the road sits an abandoned hut, large and white, like all the others. After going inside, he pushes the giant ice door shut. The air inside feels a bit warmer. In the very center sits a small stove.

  “How?” I ask as I look around.

  “How what?”

  “No chimney, no pipe?”

  He grins. In a box against a wall are pellets. “Warmers. They burn with no smoke. It works very well here, keeping the roof of the ice intact.”

  The pellets light in the small stove and glow orange as the room begins to warm. Amazed, I pull off my gloves, goggles and face flap. Giant animal skins provide a soft place to sit while Atargus pulls food from his pockets.

  “I have food too,” I say as I pull out containers of water.

  “I figured you’d prepare for our departure,” he says as he hands me bread and other food.

  Though the food tastes like cardboard, I gobble it down as if I had a cheeseburger in my hand. We eat until we can’t stuff another morsel into our mouths.

  “Are we safe here?”

  “We’re as safe here as anywhere. They don’t welcome the Fura in these parts. They allow them into the merchant area to trade, and that’s about it. The natives here don’t like them and don’t approve of their lifestyle.”

  “You mean the way they capture slaves?”

  “Precisely.”

  “Yet, if they captured us, they could get away with it because of their stupid laws concerning the Fura?”

  “That’s a tough one, but yes. We give them time to hunt through the city, through the merchants for us. That’s the extent of what they can do. We’re back here in the nomads’ camp, they won’t come back here without the nomads coming after them.”

  “That’s why they let us through without a problem?”

  “We’re not Fura.”

  I settle beside him on the animal skin. The white fur provides a nice cushion. “What kind of animal is this poor creature?” I ask.

  “They are like, oh, I guess, like your white bears, with soft fur. They live among the canyons near the great waters,” he tells me.

  “Canyons? Great waters?”

  “Their sea.”

  There are so many similarities between the alien races and humans, yet they are so different, too. While I’m still reeling from the fact that I’m with an alien, my mind has begun to like the idea. Complete acceptance sinks into me while I glance at my blue prince. He’s so handsome and hot. At first, his dark blue skin was a little off-putting, but I’ve grown used to it. Now he makes my heart flutter when he turns his light glowing eyes in my direction.

  “Atargus? Do you still think of me as your mate?”

  He smiles and furrows his brow. “What kind of question is that? Yes, I do,” he replies.

  I look back into his eyes and he leans in, closing the gap between us. Our lips meet, this time it’s not so cold that we can’t kiss. This time the small pellet stove warms the surrounding air, while our bodies warm. I groan as we lie back and he draws me into his arms. No human male has ever kissed me like he does. My heart swells, my body warms. I want him. I want him to claim me.

  My hands wander over his buff body. He’s shed the ice suit, his bare chest flexing beneath my touch. Slowly I move down his belly, wanting to feel the appendage behind his pants. He grabs my hand before I make it to the spot.

  “We shouldn’t do this here,” he says.

  “What?” I sit up and look at him, his face alight in the orange glow from the pellet stove.

  “As much as I want to claim you, we shouldn’t do this right now. Not on Exi’vade. It’s a special thing for my people. We don’t have casual relations. When an Eradauian claims a mate, it’s a big deal.”

  Eradauians and humans are very different. I want to know more as I settle onto my side, resting my head into my hand. “How is it done on Eradau?”

  He smiles as his eyes flash at me. He settles on his side, his head resting on his hand as well. “For Eradauians, when we find a female mate, it’s something that we just know on both parts. It’s built into our DNA. A male finds his female and they dance in the mating ceremony,” he answers.

  “Seriously? You dance? Even if you’ve just met?”

  “Yeah, when the hearts know, they know.”

  “Even for the females?”

  “Yes. It’s built into our genetics.”

  A fresh worry creeps into my thoughts. “What if after you bring me to Eradau, you meet her? You know, your fated mate?”

  He smiles and shakes his head. “There’s no one on Eradau for me. Besides, when I met you I felt it. I know it. It’s hard to explain,” he tells me.

  “But how? I’m human. I mean, humans don’t do this sort of thing. Many don’t believe in the whole fated mates thing.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9