"You are on Reazus Prime. It was a prison planet," Keldor began, his deep voice resonating through his chest and into mine as he cradled me close. "Now? Now, it is a place where many go to get lost. A place where they can live their lives without the interference of others. Though some still try to leave. It is not a simple task since few ships that come this way ever intend to go back."
We passed through a doorway into a dimly lit corridor; the walls formed from smooth, gray stone that absorbed the faint illumination. Our footsteps echoed hollowly, the only sound apart from Keldor's voice and the soft rustle of his wings.
"That's a nice way of saying it. You mean it's a place where criminals go to hide," I said, my tone laced with a hint of wariness.
"Sometimes, yes," Keldor nodded, his gaze steady and unflinching. "There are many who are hiding from those who would kill them. There are also those who are not criminals who come here to escape difficulties they cannot overcome on other planets. Some beings here are descended from those first prisoners. It was rare, but not unheard of for females to be sent to Reazus Prime. For some species, there are males who are breeders. My neighbor's race is of that kind. They have male omegas who can breed and carry their offspring. I believe Devkon's parent was an omega."
I nodded, taking it all in. Not everyone who came to this planet was a criminal. That was good to know, though the thought of being surrounded by potentially dangerous individuals was still unsettling.
We emerged into a spacious living area; the walls formed from the same smooth stone as the corridor. Tall windows spanned one side of the room, offering a breathtaking view of a rugged, alien landscape. Twin moons hung low on the horizon, bathing the craggy peaks and valleys in an ethereal, bluish-purple glow. The sky itself was a tapestry of unfamiliar constellations, glittering and shimmering like diamonds strewn across a canvas of deepest indigo.
"What about you? How long have you been here? Were you a criminal or someone who needed to get away?" I asked, tearing my gaze away from the stunning vista.
Keldor paused outside a door before gently kicking it open with one booted foot. Inside was a luxurious bedroom, a massive bed piled high with plush furs and silken sheets in rich jewel tones took up only a small portion of the space. Dark, heavy drapes covered the window, but I saw flashes of that otherworldly landscape through the gaps. Soft lighting glowed from sconces set into the walls, casting a warm, flickering ambiance.
"I am a special case," he said, his tone taking on a somber note as he crossed the room and gently deposited me on the bed. "I am the only one of my kind on Reazus Prime that I know of. I was but a youth when an insurrection occurred on my planet. Most of the royal family were slaughtered." He paused, his gaze haunted. "That would have been my fate as well, but someone had the brilliant idea that I might be useful. They only needed to secret me away in some place where I could be retrieved if needed. They chose Reazus Prime, as no one would think to look for a prince on a prison planet."
"A prince! You mean you're royalty?" I gasped, my eyes widening as I took in his regal bearing with a new perspective. The way he held his head, the confidence in his movements, the air of command that emanated from his very being--it all made sense now. He was impressive whether or not he was royalty, but knowing his true lineage added an extra layer of mystique.
As I thought about everything he'd said, my mind snagged on the detail that Keldor had been here during the time Reazus Prime had been a prison planet.
"How long has it been since Reazus Prime was a prison planet?" I asked, my brow furrowing slightly. He didn't appear to be old, at least by human standards, but then again, I had no idea what the lifespan of his species might be.
Keldor pulled back the sheets and settled me down on the plush bedding, a look of concentration creasing his stern, handsome features. As he spoke, the rich timbre of his voice filled the room, resonating deep within my bones.
"I do not know how long Reazus Prime had been a prison planet before I arrived. I had never heard of it before I came here." He shook his head slightly, as if dislodging the memories. "Reazus Prime did not gain its independence until the mines were no longer profitable. Once that happened and the residents revolted because of the even harsher conditions, the planet wasmore or less abandoned, letting those of us here to survive on our own. I had already been on the planet for many generations of other races by that time."
I tried to wrap my mind around the concept of generations passing while Keldor remained an ageless constant in this ever-changing world. "How old are you?" I whispered, almost afraid to hear the answer.
A low, rumbling chuckle escaped him. "Very old, little one." He patted a clawed hand gently against my shoulder, the scales smooth and cool to the touch. "Now get some sleep. I will go prepare you some nourishment. If you aren't hungry now, you will be shortly now that your body has woken from stasis."
Questions continued to swirl through my mind, a maelstrom of confusion and curiosity. "But how did I end up here?" I pressed. "I don't remember anything. I don't remember leaving Earth, or being taken by aliens. I don't even remember who I am, which is the most frustrating part of this whole experience! So how did I end up here?"
Keldor hesitated, his brow furrowing as if weighing his words carefully. When he spoke, his deep voice was laced with grim undertones. "There was a ship flying near our planet," he began. "A ship full of females of your species. It was a slave ship. Rumor is that something happened to the ship, and it exploded. No one knows for sure. Only that something happened that caused all the females in stasis pods to be expelled from the ship. Some of those pods landed on Reazus Prime. However, that was many months ago. There were rumors that escape pods made it to the surface. Few of those rumors have been confirmed. Confirming those rumors would be too dangerous for the females. Even on this backwater planet, we have heard that human females are universal breeders. For that reason alone, it is best that no one knows for sure where such females are."
My head spun as I tried to process his words. A slave ship? Explosions? Escape pods? The pieces didn't quite fit together in my addled mind. "Universal breeders?" I echoed, grasping at the unfamiliar term.
"Females who can procreate with almost any race," Keldor explained patiently. "There are a few exceptions where breeding would be impossible. There are some races where it is only possible to breed with one of their own kind." He rose to his feet, his massive wings unfurling slightly. "Enough. You need rest. I will prepare food and be back soon. Try to get some sleep."
And with that, the dragon turned and strode from the room, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving me alone with my whirlwind of thoughts and the eerie silence.
It was all a bit much to take in. My brain got muddled and confused at the enormity of what Keldor had told me. I would think about it all later. For now, I would rest and dream of my sexy alien savior.
I smiled at the thought, settling deeper into the plush bedding as the weariness washed over me once more. My eyelids drooped. I blinked, fighting the alluring pull of slumber for a few precious moments.
I smiled again at the thought of Keldor being my alien. Aliens weren't supposed to exist. And yet, here was proof in the form of a tall, muscular alien with scales and large, magnificent wings. Wings! I should be scared, shouldn't I? But Keldor wasn't scary in the slightest.
Sexy? Yes, undeniably so, from the chiseled lines of his face to the powerful physique that radiated raw, primal strength.
Intimidating? Definitely, with those piercing, ancient eyes and that commanding presence that filled every space he occupied.
But scary? Not even a little. In his arms, cradled against that muscular frame, I had felt utterly safe and at peace.
With a contented sigh, I allowed my eyes to drift shut, surrendering to the welcoming embrace of slumber. For now, at least, the mysteries could wait. In this moment, cocooned in the plush warmth and bathed in the flickering amber light, I was home.
Chapter 3
Keldor
