Princess Claimed, page 13
part #3.10 of Ruthless Warlords Series
“Yes.” Relex corralled her from the other side. “There’s plenty we’d like to show you.”
The rapey vibes were strong with these two.
Disgust slammed through her. It was painfully clear these males weren’t above forcing an alliance through whatever means necessary, including preying on the innocence of a blushing, virginal, royal omega, taking what she’d never offered them in the first place.
The poor, real Princess Ariana of V’rali. She had to put up with a lot. Ari had chosen her because of their similar hair, build, and names, but it was feeling more and more like she’d done the real princess a favor when she’d sabotaged the royal shuttle and prevented her from attending the ball.
“Come.” Relex’s meaty paw landed on Ari’s back, practically shoving her forward. She rolled away, though she was careful to make it appear like a stumble forward, and slammed her balled fist right into Selex and his tiny little dick.
The Alpahhole tumbled over with a groan.
“Oh, dear me. How clumsy.” She backed straight into Relex and ‘accidentally’ snapped her elbow behind her—right into target two’s matching pecker.
Prince Relex let out a high screech, clutched his junk, and crumpled.
“Help! These two poor dears hurt themselves,” she cried, sounding as sweet and innocent as she absolutely was not, and drawing as much attention as possible.
“Let me get some ice.” She hurried away as a crowd closed in, her actions obscured by the perfect distraction.
She frankly couldn’t have planned it better.
She cut down a side hall and skirted the dwindling crowds until it was just her in the corridor. Then she ducked beneath the barriers and entered the closed-off section of the palace. The lights were off, the laser alarms in place.
She didn’t turn on the former and easily sidestepped the latter.
Thank you, omega abilities. They were sporadic at best but better than nothing.
Finally, she reached her destination. She gave a quick scan to ensure no one was nearby, stepped inside the study, removed the floating art from the wall, and exposed the safe behind. Then, with a whirl of her fingers, her gift leading the way, she turned the safe dial until click, it opened.
She was in.
Glittering jewel after jewel lay inside. The host of tonight’s ball, some big Commander yuckety-yuck Federation jerk, was as greedy as he was corrupt. Her senses pinged as her gift recognized the color, cut, and clarity of each gem.
But only one mattered tonight.
She pushed the others aside and grabbed the Prinzessin jewel, slipping it into the hidden pocket she’d sewn into her gown.
Then, setting everything back to rights, she slipped out and rejoined the party. No one the wiser.
Darla would be getting two desserts by the next sun’s rise.
Sister Lark and the others wouldn’t be happy with how she’d gotten the funds, but they’d overlook it since, without her efforts, the orphans would be in terrible straits—and they’d long ago labeled her trouble and given up on trying to save her soul.
What could she say?
She had a lawless heart.
It wasn’t as if the Federation or V’rali royalty suffered from her actions. They had more than enough to go around while Darla and the other omegas, abandoned and all too easily preyed upon in this harsh galaxy, had so little. She’d barely survived her childhood before she was rescued by the sisters and taken to the orphanage herself, and she never wanted others to experience the fear and insecurity she had.
The orphanage had become her home, her refuge, and though it wasn’t a perfect fit, it was something—and more than so many orphaned females had.
She saw no problem in breaking the rules if it meant keeping those she cared about alive.
Plus, if she was being honest, she also just really liked the excitement that came from being bad.
She hid a smile as she made her way out of the ball and into the gardens, a stunning array of flowers and planets from across the galaxy. All lit by tiny little solar lights that cast the entire space in a soft, welcoming glow.
Very pretty. But she didn’t have time for a tour.
The whole excursion had gone off without a hitch, leaving her just enough time to check in to her luxury suite on the decadent cruise shuttle, the Destiny—what else would do for a V’rali princess?—and blast off this planet before anyone noticed the gem was gone. Then, at the Destiny’s first stop, she’d slip away, make contact with the fence who would handle the payment and exchange with the Skolov family, and that would be that.
It really was the perfect scheme.
She was almost off the grounds, her gown hitched up to her thighs as she scaled the wall, when she heard a muffled cry.
She paused. Bit her lip. Had a momentary debate with herself. Any delay could cost her, making it easier for someone to potentially track her to the ship. Maybe even allow someone to discover the jewel was missing and get the word out. If that happened, there would soon be other enterprising bastards out to steal the jewel from her before she could get it to her fence.
She’d almost convinced herself she was hearing things when another pained whimper snaked her way.
Hells.
Jumping back down the wall, she crept along the perimeter of stunning shrubbery until she found the source of the cries—and her two least favorite princes.
Selex and Relex had moved onto another target and were now pressing a young female in a real tiara down onto a bench, laughing while she fought. One kept his hand over her mouth while the other shoved his hand up her gown.
Now, Ari was all for a nice rutting. She’d never met an Alpha who made her want to stay more than a night, but she’d met a couple of males whose deep, rumbled purr and taste for dominance had left her with a perfectly fine feeling about sex.
But not when it was forced or unwelcome. Not when the omega didn’t want to be bent and twisted to an Alpha’s will.
“You need to leave her alone.”
At the sound of her voice, the two princes whirled around.
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“She begged us to . . .”
Their excuses trailed off as they realized it was only her—and that she was alone.
Two predatory gazes glittered back at her. “Isn’t this lucky?”
“Not for you.” Ari’s rage grew. The young female thrashed in Relex’s hold. Her cheek and eye were swollen, her right arm hanging at an odd angle. “Let her go.”
“I don’t think so,” smirked Selex. “Now we can leave the ball with two princesses. One for each of us—and more money for the taking.”
Relex smirked and rubbed his dick. “You have a lot to make up for anyway, princess. Those elbows of yours should be designated lethal weapons.”
“That’s just the start of how I’m going to make you hurt.”
“You?” Prince Selex scoffed. “On your knees, V’rali slut. You’ll learn who rules you soon enough.”
She was a creature comfortable in the gray. A predator herself. But these two were true monsters.
Whipping out her dagger, she hurled it at her target. It wasn’t one of the princes, much as she would have loved to bury the blade in their thick, entitled hides. But they were bigger, faster, and stronger, and even if she took one down, the other would rush her. One strike was all it would take to lay her out.
Unless they couldn’t see her.
Which was why she sent her blade flying into the nearby fuse box. The instant the blade pierced the wires, the garden lights flickered out, plunging the area into darkness.
“What the hells?”
“Where is she?”
Robbed of their sight, Selex and Relex stilled, their heads whipping from side to side as they tried to find their bearings. Relex’s hold on the female loosened ever so slightly.
Ari took advantage, creeping around behind them, retrieving her dagger from the fuse box, and, without hesitation, burying it in Relex’s back. She would have liked to go for his heart, but even in the dark, his large arms might have found her.
With a roar, he turned, letting go of his captive as he struck out. But she was already ducking out of reach—and seizing the arm of the real princess. “Run.”
Taking advantage of Relex’s momentary pain and Selex’s bellowed demands to understand what was happening to his brother, she tugged the princess along.
All too soon, enraged footsteps sounded behind her, but she still had the advantage of the twists and turns of the garden and the ability to sense what was around her while the Alphas in pursuit could not. Making a sharp, last-moment turn, she pulled her charge behind a large set of silver palms leaves—and was very pleased to hear dual shouts of pain as they followed the scent trail and ran headlong into the tiny thorns that decorated the tips of the palms, their hair and clothes getting tangled within.
Now that would leave a mark.
Her smile grew.
They’d get out—sooner than she would have liked—but all she needed was a slight head start.
“Follow me. I’ll take you back to the ball.” Determined, using her gift as her guide, she retraced her steps, delivering the shocked, weeping omega safely back to the edge of the ball—where she could already hear a cry of alarm spreading.
Someone had discovered the gem was missing.
So much for an easy getaway.
“How can I thank you?” Shaking, the real princess clutched her arm tight.
“Just don’t keep quiet. Tell your family what those two princes did. They can’t be allowed to get away with it.”
The female nodded, her tiara sliding even farther off its regal perch. “I will. My Alpha is powerful within the Federation. Before this evening’s end, those two will be wanted fugitives. And you… you’re my hero.”
Her? A hero? Hardly.
“Stay.” The princess’s grip tightened. “Stay and serve me. My father will reward you. He will give you jewels and nice clothing. And once I am a prime omega, he will ensure you are given an advantageous match as well. You can live the life of a princess. Be safe in a castle and attend balls like this forever.”
Ari shivered. That sounded like a nightmare. “Thank you, but that’s not the life I’m after.” She was a thief and an outlaw, and that was the way she liked it. The only thing she truly wanted was for the omegas at the orphanage to have a non-leaking roof over their head and enough food to eat—and, maybe, some rotation, someone willing to share in her adventures with her.
In the meantime, she’d settled for getting herself and the jewel safely away from here.
With a few final comforting words, she left the omega and sprinted away.
There was still time to make it to the Destiny and get her scheme back on track.
With any luck, she’d never see Selex or Relex again.
18
PAVEL
Pavel cleared the ridge and roared in fury.
Axel fought two big Alphas single-handedly. Six bodies littered the space, indicating that his friend had already gotten in several lethal strikes, but he’d been injured in the process. Blood stained his chest and horns, and he wavered on his feet.
But it was the other struggle taking place that had Pavel’s stomach bottoming out.
Two huge Alphas had his angel cornered and were closing in, murder in their stares. One clutched his chest, the handle of a familiar paring knife embedded in his flesh. The other was covered in laser burns, likely from the smoking weapon that now lay on the ground a few arm’s lengths away.
His extraordinary omega had gotten in a few good strikes as well.
Unfortunately, her opponents were much bigger.
Horns snapping straight, he took off running.
“My brother and I are going to rip you—”
Pavel tackled the bastard reaching for her with two good hands, slamming him to the ground and tearing his throat open in one vicious yank.
The male was still gurgling and dying, a shocked look on his face, when Pavel swiveled and slammed his horns into the other bastard’s back.
His opponent folded, dropping to his knees and shrieking, almost taking down his angel in a tangle of limbs and flashing fangs. Luckily, she staggered back, just managing to stay upright—and kicked out, slamming her booted heel into her attacker’s jaw. “That’s for breaking the omega’s arm in the garden. And for all the rude things you said about me.”
The prince toppled backward with a groan, his eyes rolling upward before sinking shut. Not dead, but thankfully in a good bit of pain.
“Pavel! You came.”
He opened his arms wide.
She ran straight into them. “I was so afraid I’d never see you again.”
“I’m never letting you out of my sight from this rotation forward.” Relief slammed through him, his heart crashing so hard against his ribs, he thought a couple might break.
She was safe. Alive. And in his arms.
He held her tighter, absorbing that Axel had taken out one opponent and was about to finish off the last. Just as expected. The male was the best fighter among them.
Head resting on the top of her soft hair, he savored the silk of his female’s skin against his, the rise and fall of her chest in tandem with his own.
Nothing would separate them again.
“I’m fine too.” Axel called from off to the side.
He ignored his friend in favor of petting his omega, long slow strokes along her spine. He suspected it would be a long time before he forgot his agony over letting her go or the terror of seeing those Alphas barreling down on her.
If he’d been only a few heartbeats later . . . Except his omega had proven pretty capable of handling herself.
“Those were some seriously impressive moves. Pretty vicious for a princess.”
“Hmmm. About that.” She pulled back from his hold just enough to look up at him, her expression adorably nervous.
“Good thing you’re not a princess.”
She stilled. “You know?”
“The network came back on line. I saw the real Ariana of V’rali.”
Her gaze flickered away. “I remembered who I was when I saw these two jerks. I’m an orphan with no pedigree whatsoever. No fancy castles. I never even had a home until the sisters took me in.”
His chest went tight. The thought of her younger self out there, unprotected, was going to give him nightmares for a long while.
But that was the past, and he intended her future to look very different.
“I have no money either. Or power.” She paused and finally looked at him again. “You’re not disappointed?”
“Hells no.” He hauled her back up against him, needing her close. “All I care about is that your beautiful, outlaw heart belongs to me.”
She wilted against him, relief shimmering in her stare. Then she wrapped her hands around his neck and grinned up at him. “So you’re keeping me? For real this time?”
“Forever.”
“Good. Because it turns out I’m also a thief. A really good one. The kind an outfit like yours might need.”
“And bloodthirsty too.” They really were a perfect match.
“Yes.” Her unrepentant smile grew. “Though, in my defense, they were going to kill me.”
“I would never let anyone hurt you, beautiful.”
She studied his expression. “So you’re really okay with me not being fancy royalty?”
“I’ve got something even better. A flesh and blood fallen angel who knows how to hold her own.”
“Perfect for the Forbidden Sector,” she emphasized, just in case he had any doubt.
“Perfect for me.” He’d tell her a million times until the past was nothing but a memory, and his love for her the only certainty that mattered.
They had the rest of their lives for him to show her just how much he treasured her just as she was.
“You’re mine, and I’m yours. That’s what matters most. And I’ll bring down a million kingdoms, raze a billion galaxies, to bring you home and keep you by my side forever. Finders keepers.”
She leaned into him. Played with his hair. “For an orphaned omega pretender who only ever wanted to find her real place, there’s nothing more beautiful to hear. The name’s Ariel, by the way. Ari for short. But I prefer Angel.”
He’d never felt like more of a hero than he did at that moment.
Until he noticed the still-living attacker trying to slink off—with the jewel in hand.
“Excuse me for a moment, Angel.” He kissed the top of her head and then pulled away.
He let the bastard crawl two more painful lengths before he slammed his boot down on the fucker’s neck and pinned him in place.
“I’ll take that.” Without even blinking an eye, his angel bent down—while the bastard thrashed under Pavel’s hold—and pried the jewel from his hand. “I had to throw it at him as a weapon and gain myself some time.”
“That’s my girl.”
“I was supposed to steal it for some bigwig named Nikolai Skolov.”
Skolov? Of course. “I think I can help with that.” Everything was working out just fine—and now he had two reasons Skolov was going to be happy to see him. He could already envision their company’s rep growing by leaps and bounds.
“Excellent.” She dusted off the jewel, making it shine once more. “I’m thinking half will go to the sisters for the orphanage. We’ll use the other half to get our compound up to snuff and your shuttle expanded.”
“Up to snuff?” He kept his smile to himself. He’d once predicted she would turn his universe upside down, and he was right. He also knew he would love every minute of it.
“Yes.” She nodded, her plans already swirling behind her wide, excited eyes. “Darla and the other omegas are going to need somewhere to stay when they come to visit. The sisters are great, but they can be . . . judgy and strict. It would be nice if they could have a place where the omegas could be themselves.”
What she’d never had.
“And the shuttle expansion?”
She paused as if gauging his reaction to her bold statements. “I can’t sit on your lap every mission.”
