Chapter 8
The tall alien stalked toward her, causing her to reflexively swallow.This regent guy makes me so damn nervous. Nervous and... curious.
She hadn't expected to be taken to his quarters and fed. Nor had he seemed the type to answer questions, and yet that is exactly what he had done.
The Supreme Regent was a handsome creature, she had to admit that now. His eyes were striking, his body in peak form. His smile caused her stomach to flutter.
Snap out of it,Doc, she told herself.You're mixed up in something big here. You've got to keep your wits about you.
He moved back toward her, his skin yellow as a canary.
"Your time’s up," he said, bending to lift her up by her shoulders.
"Put me down!" Her legs dangled, but this time she didn't bother trying to kick him.
"Are you working with the Hareema? Yes or no?"
"For the last time, I don't know any Hareema!"
His features tightened, and his hands gripped her harder. "This is going to hurt."
"What?"
A wave of light started at his chest and flashed down his arms. Before she could blink it was flowing through her. A burst of electricity.
Sylvie screamed, her body twitching as the shock burned through her. She went limp, her head lolling on her shoulder as her mind rebooted. Pain lanced her, running along her nerve endings and burning the tips of her fingers and toes.
"I'm sorry," she heard when she was able to focus again.
"Bastard," she managed to whisper. She felt herself being lifted into his arms. She watched the ceiling as he carried her through an opening into another room. The chamber was a series of purple stripes that again reminded her of a seashell.
He placed her on a soft surface that moved ever so gently, like the smallest of ocean waves. His hand pushed back the hair that had fallen into her face, his action gentle and almost loving. It was too much.
"Go away," she muttered, having only the strength to bat at his arm ineffectually.
"I had to be sure," he said. "Now I know you're not Hareema."
"Of course not. I told you my name was Sylvie."
She caught his smile and wanted to curse him for being so handsome and so cruel. He was no longer yellow, but a dark green, almost blue – like the ocean or the sky.
"The Hareema are able to impersonate any living creature, including humans. I had to make sure you hadn't been replaced."
"You could have just asked me."
The bastard laughed. "This was the quickest way. I don't have much time, so expediency was required."
He continued to stroke her hair, his eyes moving along her face as if memorizing her features.
"Now that you know I'm not a replica, will you let me go?"
The muscles in his face grew tense. "Not yet. Just because you aren't Hareema doesn't mean you and your species aren't working with them."
"I swear to you, I know nothing about these shape-shifting aliens. My flight was perfect until we hit the atmosphere of your planet. Something happened, and my ship crashed. Your men picked me up and put me in a cell, and that's all."
"I wish I could believe you," he said, leaning closer. His voice was smooth but firm, like polished stone.
"Then believe me." The words were whispered because of his closeness. It was so damn hard to catch her breath with him staring into her eyes.
