Alien General's Baby (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran Warriors Book 1) (5 page)

Kelly nods. Her jovial look disappears when she sees I’m dead serious. “We’ve got this, Jill. Trust me.”

“I hope so, Kell. I really hope so.”

“Dr. Archer, could you spare me a moment please?”

Senator Dimtri’s slithering voice makes my heart jump right into my throat. I turn on my heels. He’s standing in the doorway, flanked by his guards on either side. He’s truly the last person I want to see right now.

“I was hoping I could speak to you in private for a moment. I’m terribly curious to hear how your research is going.”

“Of course,” I say, doing my best to keep my voice from trembling. Behind my back I quickly pass the vial to Kelly, who slips it into her pocket.

I don’t have a moment to warn her to keep it secret before Dimtri’s guards approach me and escort me out. Their stern faces, coupled with Dimtri’s unfriendly smile, gives me a terrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“Right this way, doctor…”

I
pace
through the halls of my ship with a spring in my step. My mind keeps drifting back to Jillian, and my pulse increases every time it does. I can’t get her thick, brown curls or her curvy thighs out of my thoughts for even a second. Our bodies fit together so perfectly, it is as if we were made for each other.

Now that I’ve had a taste of mating, I never want to do anything else. Everything life has to offer seems a little duller compared to the ecstasy we both can achieve in each other’s arms.

I never thought I’d find a mate, and I certainly never thought it would be a human, but Jillian is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She’s perfect in every way. Intelligent, fierce, funny, caring. How wrong I was about humans! I’ve never felt better in my entire life than when I’m with her. Not even the adrenaline of a won battle compares.

The High Command is wrong about other species. They regard everyone as a threat, they manipulate the entire galaxy to amass more wealth, more power, more of everything, while our people suffer. Is it ever enough? Will they ever be sated?

I have no idea how things are going to go from here on out, but I do know that I won’t allow her to leave my side. Dimtri, the High Command, the Emperor — they’ve got another thing coming if they think they can take my mate.

If this leads to war, then so be it.

I know my men have my back. I know the other generals support me. I will fight to the end of this world for my woman.

Dimtri has called for me, but for the first time in a long while, I don’t dread the meeting. There’s nothing that could ruin my good mood.

Or so I thought.

“General,” he says. “I’ve heard you and the good doctor have gotten to know each other quite well.”

He is sitting behind his desk, having commandeered Koryn’s office. It’s one the many slights I’ve had to endure on his trip. His knowledge of what happened between me and Jillian surprises and annoys me, but it doesn’t change anything.

“My business is my own, Dimtri. Why have you called me?”

“On the contrary, Vinz. Your business
is
my business, as are the humans. I have some information you might be interested in.”

With a flick of his wrist his monitor turns on, and I recognize the image instantly.

It’s a scan of Jillian’s body. My eyes are drawn to a small cluster of cells located in her center. It can mean only one thing.

She’s pregnant.

I’m simultaneously elated that she’s carrying my child, and worried over Dimtri’s involvement.

“I suppose congratulations are in order, general,” Dimtri says. “You have unwittingly completed this mission’s true objective. We had our suspicions that the humans were compatible with us, and your tryst has proven it.”

“Where is she?” I growl.

“In a safe place,” Dimtri says. “For her own safety. I felt you were getting a bit too attached to the human. I wouldn’t worry about her anymore if I were you. When we arrive on Exon Prime tomorrow I’ll present her to the Emperor. I’m certain he will be most pleased.”

Dimtri is smiling widely at me, an ear-to-ear grin. He locked Jillian up just to spite me, and now he is enjoying every second of the torment etched across my face. For the first time in our rivalry he’s got a real leg up on me, and he is keenly aware of it.

“I demand you let her go,” I roar. “This is
my
ship, and she’s
my
mate!”

“I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” Dimtri says. “She’s too valuable an asset to us. Don’t worry, you’ll get your human female once we colonize their world. Their planet is dying. Their women will line up for a chance to live on Exon Prime. And if not, we’ll take them by force.”

“It wasn’t a question,” I say.

“Is that a threat, General? Are you about to condemn yourself to death, plunge our species into a civil war, all for a human mate? She’s the answer to all our problems, and you would sacrifice thousands of lives for your own misguided emotions?”

Yes
. My hands are balled into fists, itching to beat the senator to a bloody pulp, but I somehow manage to control myself. He’s gotten the drop on me, and if I strike now, harm may come to Jillian — and our unborn child. I have to make sure she’s safe before I make my move.

“Give me a reason, Vinz,” Dimtri hisses. “Give me a reason to wipe you and all other generals from the face of this universe, please.”

I relax my hands. My jaw hurts from clenching it so hard.

“Very well,” I say, biting down on my tongue. “I see your point.”

I turn and storm out the door, Dimtri cackling maniacally behind my back.

You may have won this round, Dimtri, but I intend to win the war. However, first I have to see Jillian.

I have to see the mother of my unborn child.

I
pace
up and down my cell. It’s the only way to keep warm — it’s damn near freezing in here. Dimtri did some sort of strange test on me and then his men escorted me off to the dark underbelly of the ship, giving me no explanation. An hour or so later Kelly was chucked into the cell with me. She had the results of the test, and caused such a ruckus outside the senator’s office when she tried to find me that he had her locked up here as well.

I feel guilty for being happy I’m no longer alone. Well, except for the two Zorans standing guard outside my cell, but they haven’t said a single word despite my pleas. They are wearing the emblem of the High Command, so I know they’re not Vinz’s men.

It’s only a matter of time before he comes down here and rescues me, I tell myself. If nothing has happened to him…

“Let’s have
the talk
,” Kelly says. She’s sitting on the bed, her feet tucked under her. She’s remarkably calm for the situation we’re in, but she never seems fazed by anything. “Tell me everything. How is he
down there
?”

I roll my eyes. “Is that the first thing on your mind? We’re locked up, and you want to talk about the general’s member?”

“Yes, yes I do,” Kelly says. “Now spill it.”

“Fine.” I show big he is with my hands, and her eyes open up wide.

“No way!”

“Way,” I smirk. Okay, maybe a little distraction from our dire straits is not so bad after all. “You can’t tell anyone, got it?”

“Oh come on, this is news! Like actual, interstellar news! The first human-Zoran couple. The gossip mags would pay me a fortune for this scoop,” she jokes.

“Don’t you dare,” I say. “I’ve got so much dirt on you, I can bury you alive.”

“Is that a challenge?” Kelly laughs.

“I’m allowed to have an adventure. Or two.”

“Girl, you can have as many adventures as your heart desires. Lord knows you’ve earned it.”

“I’m glad you approve.” I smirk.

“So what’s next? Do you expect him to burst through the door any minute now, looking for you?”

“Actually, yes,” I say. “He’s coming on very strong. He called me his ‘mate’ and said some stuff about a ‘clan’. I’m not really sure how I feel about it, to be honest. I mean, he’s amazing, but I don’t know if I’m ready to be a Zoran general’s mate, you know?”

“I don’t know if anyone is ever truly ready to be a growly alpha alien’s mate,” Kelly smirks. “Just roll with it.”

“That’s what I’m doing. Not that it matters at this point. First we have to bust our way out of here and then synthesize that cure and get it to Claire.”

“He’ll be here any minute,” Kelly says. “If I know Vinz, he’ll let nothing stop him. Certainly not that Dimtri or any of his goons.”

Kelly hasn’t even finished her sentence or we hear a rumbling outside.

“Let me through,” a low voice growls.

“W-we can’t,” the guard responds. “Dimtri’s orders.”

“Who would you rather cross, Dimtri or me?”

There is a pause, and then the door swings wide open. Vinz stands in the doorway, looking bigger than ever, every muscle in his body bulging. The guards walk away, staring at the ground, afraid to even make eye-contact.

“Are you alright, Jillian?” He says as walks inside. He scoops me up effortlessly and sits us down on the bed next to Kelly, his large hand resting on my belly.

“I’m fine,” I say, flabbergasted. “Why are we locked up, Vinz?”

“Dimtri locked you up to spite me,” he answers. “Did you manage to run the tests?”

“Yes, thanks to Kelly,” I tell him. “She managed to run an analysis, undetected.”

“And?” he says excitedly. “Can we save your kin?”

I swallow the lump in my throat. I don’t know how to break the news. I’m afraid it’ll shatter his world — but he has a right to know.

“There’s good news and bad news,” I say. “The good news is that yes; I think we can find a cure using the antibodies in your blood.”

“What’s the bad news?” he says. “Is it too dangerous?”

“The bad news is that it appears your DNA has been maliciously tampered with.”

Vinz’s eyebrows furrow, his palm still resting on my stomach. “What do you mean?”

“These are just preliminary results, as we didn’t time to do a full analysis, but… there’s some damage to certain strands that may indicate a loss of fertility.”

Silence.

“What Jill is trying to tactfully say is that something is poisoning you,” Kelly blurts out. “And you may lose your ability to have kids.”

Vinz scrapes his throat. “How is that possible when you’re pregnant with my child?”

“P-p-what now?” I stammer.

Now it’s my turn to be gobsmacked. Kelly clasps her hands in front of her mouth, cheering loudly. “Oh my god! You guys!”

“You are pregnant,” Vinz says, patting my belly. “With a Zoran child.”

The world spins in front of my eyes. I’m not ready. I’m
so
not ready for this.

“Th-that can’t be right,” I say, but the look in Vinz’s eyes says it all. He’s telling the truth. And he’s
happy
about it.

“I didn’t think that was possible,” I stammer.

“Neither did I,” Vinz answers. “It’s a miracle.”

His hands stroke my belly, and I rest my head against his chest. For a second I close my eyes as I let the news sink in. Of course I always wanted a family of my own, but I never thought it would happen so soon. Or with a Zoran general!

“Now what’s this about my DNA?” he asks.

I’m too flabbergasted to talk, so I let Kelly do the explaining. The damage we’ve found and the low birthrate on Exon Prime that Vinz told me about; that can’t be an accident. They’re linked.

“How did this happen?” Vinz asks. “Why did Zoran healers not see this? And how come Jillian is pregnant, if what you say is true?”

“It’s plain as day, so the only reason I can think of is that they didn’t
want
to,” Kelly says. “And why Jill is pregnant none the less, well, my best guess is both of you are still super fertile,” she smirks. “Is there anything you can think of that may have caused this? Anything you’ve eaten or drunk in the last few years that you didn’t do before?”

Vinz thinks hard for a second, before his face lights up.

“Quino,” he says. “It has to be quino.”

“The black bars?” Kelly says, making a face.

“Yes. The High Command instated those as mandatory meals for all soldiers, right around the time the troubles first started. Since then, no warrior has fathered a child. I’ve never made the connection. I didn’t know trust the High Command, but I never thought them capable of such villainous treachery to our entire species.”

His jaw clenches, and every muscle in his taut body tenses up.

“I have to go,” he says, getting up to his feet. “I have to prepare.”

“For what?” I ask.

‘For war,” he answers.

He starts to walk off, but I grab his arm. “Vinz, wait! What happens to us? Are you not freeing us?”

He looks down at me, and his thumb brushes my cheek. “Tomorrow we arrive on Exon Prime. Dimtri will present you to the Emperor. The entire High Command will be there. It is the perfect time to strike. Don’t worry, my mate. I won’t let anything happen to you. Trust me, and play along.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat, as the pit in my stomach grows.
Sure, I’ll play along as the bait as you, the father of my child, orchestrate an assassination of the entire ruling class of your entire species. No biggie.

With that he leaves, closing the cell-door behind him, leaving me and Kelly with a whole lot of news to wrap our heads around.

“You’re going to be a mom,” she coos. “I’m so happy for you!”

“Thanks,” I say. “I think.”

I’m so not ready for any of this!

H
ow could
I have been so blind? All those years the answer has been right in front of me. Right inside of me. In all of us.

Poison. The High Command has been poisoning our species for years. It all makes sense now. They stayed in power
because
of the troubles — of course they masterminded it! They genetically engineered our species weakness to profit from it, and profit they did.

Now the humans will be hailed as a solution, their planet conquered, their women enslaved and their riches stolen. All to ‘cure’ something the Command itself caused.

Not if I have anything to say about it.

I have fought countless battles, I have fought hordes of Ygg, I have risked life and limb for the Empire. Now, I will use those same skills to bring that same Empire to its knees.

Once I reach the safety of my private quarters, I tap my wrist-com to hail General Tyr. The direct line between two generals is the most secure connection in the entire universe — it’s the only thing I know for a fact Dimtri won’t be listening in on.

Please be in this sector, Tyr.

I need his help. I could face the High Command on my own, and probably win as well, but I also need to keep Jillian, Kelly, and my child safe from harm.

Pick up the damn com, you bronzed piece of—

“Vinz.”

General Tyr’s stern face stares at me, his holographic image filling the room. He matches me in height, strength and build, only his skin is bronze where mine is silver. Besides our skin tones, he matches me in every way — which is why we’re both generals. Ever since we met at the Academy we’ve been close as brothers: Both as much friends as we are rivals.

“What trouble do you need rescuing from now?”

I bite my bottom lip. I hate asking for help, especially from Tyr, but I don’t have a choice. For a second I consider hanging up and taking Dimtri and the Emperor down single-handedly – how glorious that would be! – but I can’t risk it. I can’t risk Jillian.

“Tyr,” I say. “Are you in the Alpha quadrant?”

“As a matter fact, I am.”

“Good,” I say, taking a breath of relief. “You’re going to want to hear this.”

I break him the news. I see the veins in his neck bulging as rage courses through his veins.

“And you trust these humans?”

“With my life, Tyr.”

“I’ll have my men run some tests, but if what you say is true, then there is only one way forward.”

“Agreed. We take them down. The Emperor, Dimtri, all of them.”

“Agreed.”

“Tomorrow, Dimtri will present the humans to the Emperor. Everyone will be there, it’s the perfect moment to strike. I need you there, because…”

I hesitate for a second. He has to know, but as a brother, he’ll needle me to hell and back for it.

“…because one of them is pregnant with my child,” I say. “I have to protect her. At all costs.”

Tyr smirks at me, a wide, ear-to-ear grin. “You? General Vinz? The silver butcher of Cotonia IV? Impregnated a mate? A human mate? Am I getting my facts straight here?”

“Yes,” I growl. “
Yes
.”

He laughs. “I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Neither did I,” I admit, “but you understand I have to save her. It’s the reason why Dimtri is so obsessed with her. He wants to conquer their planet, enslave their women. We can’t let it happen.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve got your back, Vinz.”

We discuss the finer details of our assault.

Tomorrow, everything changes. It’s a new dawn for Zorans everywhere. The High Command will be overthrown… or I will die trying.