7. Adella

7

ADELLA

A light flashes on the console along with the blaring bell like ringing. Jax jumps back into his seat and his hands are moving all over the controls. He says something I don’t understand at all. I’m hazarding a guess it must be in his own language.

His own language. One that is not native to Earth.

It’s such a strange idea to contemplate. He’s not from here. Looking at him now, all smurf blue even if he is well over six feet tall, it’s evident yet unbelievable at the same time. And he’s a prince. This is almost like some kind of weird fairy tale.

“Sit back,” he orders and I do as I’m told.

I’m glad I did. As soon as I scoot all the way into the seat it feels like I sink into it and part of it wraps around me. It’s not uncomfortable, more like a weighted blanket that covers over my chest. An instant later I’m pressed into the chair. It feels as if every part of me is being crushed as the ship accelerates.

I can’t see outside but I sure as heck feel it. My stomach is tossed side-to-side as he maneuvers away from what I assume is the same enemy that came to Earth looking for him.

For me.

Me. That’s a sobering thought. The enemy alien, the dark or whatever they are, had come for me. To hurt him.

I should be afraid, but instead of fear I’m angry. Really, really angry. Furious is a better word. It burns white hot in the center of my brain that someone, anyone, would use me to threaten or hurt him. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

Something explodes in the ship behind us and Jax curses again. A heartbeat later and it feels like we’re flipping. A screen rises from the back of the console and on it are little red dots and what looks like the sights of a scope.

We continue to rock side-to-side, jerking up and down, and all around but Jax has his focus on that screen. The sights line up with one of the red dots and he slams his hand down on the console. An instant later the red dot explodes on the screen.

“Got it,” he growls.

Something on the screen flashes then we’re rocked. Hard. I yelp, unintentional but it’s terrifying as sparks fly behind my chair. Jax curses and then the ship is spinning. I don’t know if it’s planned by him or something is wrong. The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m having one devil of a time keeping my stomach and it’s contents inside my body.

I close my eyes and tighten my grip on the arms of the chair. Eyes and jaw clenched tight I try to keep myself from getting sick. The motion is more than and worse than any roller coaster I’ve ever ridden. Remotely I’m also aware that this is more dangerous than anything I’ve ever done.

This is war. My first taste of it.

“Hah!” Jax exclaims as it feels like we’re flipping head over heels.

I sneak a peek out of my closed eyes. The second red dot on the screen explodes.

The ship levels off and the chair slowly retreats, letting me free again. I lay there, waiting for my stomach and head to settle. I’m breathing heavily and my heart is matching the timing of that.

“Are you okay?” Jax asks. His voice is close and then his hands are on my face, cupping it. “You’re pale Ads.”

“I’ll be—” I cut off as my stomach tries to interrupt with it’s own statement of being very much not okay and I barely manage to keep the bile raging up my throat down.

“One moment,” he says and I feel him move away. I’m struggling too much to open my eyes and look but I hear him moving around the ship. Something opens and closes then he’s back. “Take this.”

Something touches my lips and, trusting him, I part them and a cold liquid enters my mouth. My stomach locks for a moment, refusing to let anything down, but I breathe through my nose and finally it lets the liquid pass.

The cold hits my belly and spreads out through my guts. It’s soothing and makes me feel relaxed at the same time. I dare to open my eyes and the dizziness eases. Jax is right there, close enough to kiss. He’s smiling.

“I love you,” I blurt out.

Probably not the most appropriate thing for the moment but it’s what comes out. I’m feeling so much love for him that I swear my chest is going to burst open and let my heart fly free. What was that old Meatloaf song? Oh yeah, Bat Out of Hell. It’s like that.

His smile is wide and brilliant and shows off his fangs. My eyes are drawn to them and for some reason I don’t know that I’ll ever truly understand I become so incredibly aroused. My motor is running hot.

“I love you,” he says, staring into my eyes. “With all my heart.”

“Are we safe?” I ask.

“For now.”

“Is there a bed?”

He gives me a sly grin and nods.