Zekke: A Scifi Alien Romance (The Azziarin Series Book 5) Read online

  Other books written by Hannah Davenport.

  The Azziarin Series

  Jakke (Book 1)

  Dazz (Book 2)

  Kollin (Book 3)

  An Azziarin Christmas (Book 4) (Mara’s story)

  Ambriels’s Quest

  Ambriel (Part 1)

  Ambriel’s Quest (The Conclusion)

  Chapter One

  Somewhere Above Earth

  “Commander, I’ve just received word that a shuttlecraft was shot down,” Padda, one of the bridge officers, notified Kavven.

  Kavven had previously served as Jakke’s second in command but now commanded his own ship. As one of the most trusted officers of the royal family, he was in charge of the whole Azziarin fleet.

  “What happened?” he asked as he rounded the desk and took the holo-pad from Padda’s hands.

  “Not sure. All the vids show that something struck the shuttlecraft and sent it spiraling out of control toward Earth. Nikkul is investigating it further, trying to find what caused the damage.”

  “I see.” Kavvan stared at the holo-pad with trepidation. Aydan, a long-time friend and second in command, wanted to see Earth; he was aboard the shuttlecraft along with seven others. A quick trip down and back, he said. Just this once, he said. Kavven needed him on the ship, but he had reluctantly agreed this one time. What a nightmare! “Did any survive?” He turned hopeful eyes to Padda.

  “We have a team on their way to the crash site.”

  “Thanks, Padda. Keep me informed.”

  “Yes, Commander.” As Padda left the office, Kavven leaned back in his chair and let memories of himself, Jakke, and Aydan play in his mind. As younglings, they were always up to something, inseparable until it was time to start training. Even then they sparred together. The three of them grew up and had remained the best of friends.

  Earth

  Aydan

  “Brace for impact! I repeat, brace for impact!” the computerized warning blared. The female voice filled his ears, drowning out the shouts of the others. Aydan tightened his harness and grabbed hold of the handle above his head. The rest of the soldiers did the same.

  His first trip to Earth, and something had struck the shuttlecraft and knocked out the navigation system. There was no way to maneuver the shuttlecraft as it spiraled out of control, heading toward Earth.

  He cursed the fates that brought him to the end. All the wars he’d fought, all the enemy troops he’d slain, and now he would die in an accident. Gritting his teeth, he gripped the metal bracing bar tighter as he thought about his poor mother. He was all she had left. Several standard years ago, his father died in a shuttle accident during a simple trade arrangement. There were no siblings, no aunts or uncles left. It was just him, and when she heard the news, there would be no one there to comfort her.

  While the shuttlecraft hurtled out of control, he glanced out the window. This is it, he thought as he stared at the Earth below. He had maybe a standard minute or two until the shuttle crashed and exploded on impact. Closing his eyes, Aydan let forgotten dreams float through his mind. The one thing he desired the most in life was a mate. He dreamed of filling his mother’s house with the sounds of laughter from his offspring. Growing up without siblings was lonely, even though he’d had Kavven and Jakke to play with.

  The shuttlecraft hit the ground hard and bounced several times as it scooted along the hard terrain. The metal groaned in protest, the stressed hull twisting at the seams. Parts flew everywhere as the craft tossed Aydan around, his head whipping back and forth. The impact was so great, his harness broke and threw him hard, his head smacking the wall with mighty force, knocking him unconscious.

  ~~~~~

  Riley was out hunting when she saw the shuttlecraft spiral out of control. When it hit the ground, smoke rose from the carnage. This shuttlecraft was different than the others, and Riley laid down her bow and raced toward the wreckage. It was doubtful that anyone survived, but there might be something useful she could salvage.

  The smoke hung think in the air, making her cough. Grabbing the collar of her coat, she pulled the end up over her mouth. “You can do it,” she reassured herself while she tiptoed over shards of metal and glass while she looked for anything she could use. There’s no way anyone survived this, she thought as she stared at the damage.

  An empty space, an opening, led into the craft. She dropped to her hands and knees and crawled inside. The gruesome site made her gag a couple of times, but she never threw up. White-haired aliens lay dead, blood pooled around them from gashes, their eyes frozen open in horror.

  Ugh, nothing in here is worth crawling around in this mess, she said to herself.

  Just as she started to leave, a low groan startled her, making her quickly scuttle backward, trying to get away. When she didn’t hear anything else, she eyed each alien until she spotted the one who had made the sound. Slight movement of his chest induced her to crawl over to him.

  Staring at his unusual, handsome face, she used her index finger and carefully traced the edges of his cheekbone. Puzzled by the fact she wasn’t afraid, she murmured, “There is just something about you…” A large lump on the side of his head drew her attention, breaking the trance. Looking around the wreckage, Riley knew she couldn’t leave him there. That would be a death sentence. “I’ll be back,” she said as she stared at him for a mere second before crawling out.

  Riley didn’t understand the odd attraction she felt for the alien. If she were smart, she’d leave him there, but something inside her tugged at her heart, and she felt a soul-deep desire to help this alien man.

  She ran as hard as she could, needing to get help. “Belle?” she yelled as she neared the house.

  Arabella, her sixteen-year-old sister, hurried outside. “What’s wrong?” she asked as she swiped her sandy blonde hair from her face.

  “I need some help. Tell Cassidy to watch the kids and grab some old blankets. Hurry, we don’t have much time.”

  Belle’s eyes widened as she vigorously shook her head once and then ran back inside.

  A minute later, Belle came rushing out again. “Okay, let’s go.”

  As they hurried back to the scene, Riley was panting with exhaustion. She hadn’t exerted that much energy in a long time. Belle seemed fine.

  The two of them trekked back to the shuttlecraft. “What is this?” Belle asked.

  “It crashed, and when I looked around, I found an alien still alive.”

  Belle halted her steps, before turning fearful eyes to her older sister. She grabbed Riley’s arm and gasped, “We can’t!”

  Riley knew it didn’t make sense, but she had to help. “Yes, we can. We are not leaving him here to die. Mom didn’t raise us that way.” With one hard swallow, Belle nodded slowly.

  They found the alien exactly where Riley had left him. The two sisters tried to lift him, but he was too heavy. Riley huffed out a tired breath and said, “Let’s try to roll him.

  It took every ounce of their combined strength to roll the alien on his side, but after a lot of pushing and pulling, they finally got the blanket underneath him.

  Trying to get catch their breath, Belle looked to Riley and said, “Jeez, his bones must be made of steel.”

  Riley just smiled at her younger sister and shook her head. Belle was right, and this would be harder than she thought. Getting back on her hands and knees, she asked, “You ready?”

  “No.” Belle threw her a grin and grabbed the end of the blanket. It took both of them, but slowly, they pulled the alien from the wreckage. “Are we taking him home with us?”

  Riley glanced at her sister and said, “Well, we can’t just leave him here.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  No. No, she wasn’t sure. But she didn’t want to explain to her sixteen-year-old sister that she had this overwhelming need to help him. Something deep inside tugged at her. A few times while pulling him out, she found herself staring at his face.

  Riley didn’t
worry about others finding her. Her family lived in the mountains of North Carolina, well hidden by mountains and trees. It was so secluded, you had to know the location to even find it. That’s the way her parents had liked things to be. They had a small farm near an apple orchard, and they were mostly self-sufficient.

  Riley’s mother had died the year before after battling cancer. At the age of twenty-three, Riley had moved back home to help take care of the house and her younger sisters. She had been the only one her mother could depend on since her dad’s death three years before, right after the twins were born. Her mother never got over the loss of her husband, and Riley often wandered if she just gave up. In any event, their deaths left her to raise the kids.

  It left a bitter taste in her mouth, but she loved her sisters. Belle helped out a lot, and Riley depended on her immensely. Cassidy, at age ten, would also pitch in and help take care of the three-year-old twins. They were a handful most days.

  They spent the summers raising a garden and canning vegetables. They kept a few chickens for eggs, along with a cow, so they had milk to drink—everything you’d find on a small farm. They hunted and fished to provide protein for the family. Her parents had always said they needed to be self-sufficient. As they watched the alien invasion on TV before the satellites were knocked out, Riley was grateful her parents taught them how to live independently.

  It took most of the day, but they finally made it back to the house with the injured alien. Cassidy came rushing outside, excited to see the new guest. Even the twins tried to help get him in the house. Living life sheltered from the evils in the world, her sisters were not afraid of anything.

  When they reached the living room, Riley and Belle let go of the old blanket and collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. Belle looked at her sister and said, “I can’t believe we did it.”

  “Neither can I.” She leaned back and sprawled out on the floor, vowing to get in better shape.

  “Are we going to leave him there?” Cassidy asked as she stared at the alien with white hair.

  “Unless you have a better idea,” Belle said as she sprawled out beside Riley. Both of them were spent.

  “I guess he’s okay there as long as we don’t trip over him.” Riley and Belle both chuckled. Cassidy looked back at her two older sisters and announced, “I made supper.”

  Riley closed her eyes and smiled. Yes, she acted as their mother, but they all did their part, took up the slack and helped when things needed to be done. All of them got along great and made the most of the situation.

  “As soon as I can muster enough energy to eat,” Riley said with her eyes still closed.

  ~~~~~

  His head hurt. What had happened? Why did his head hurt so much? Everything escaped him, and he couldn’t even remember his name. His mind was a blank slate.

  The light behind his eyes drew him from sleep, but when Aydan opened his eyes, he gasped. Almost nose to nose, big blue eyes stared back at him.

  “Haley,” a female yelled, “Get off him!” The little youngling giggled as she touched his face. The female scooped her up and gasped when she saw that his eyes were open. She was beautiful. Brown, shoulder-length hair framed her delicate face. Soft, round, blue eyes studied him. His eyes were drawn to the brown spots sprinkled across her delicate nose.

  “You’re awake,” she smiled. Who was she? For that matter, who was he?

  Another little female came over and straddled his body, giggling as she pointed at his eyes. “Wook, mama, kiddy.”

  “Kaley!” she exclaimed as she set the one youngling down and grabbed the other. “He is not a kitty.”

  The youngling looked serious when she pointed at him and said, “Kiddy Kiddy.”

  The female threw her hand over her face, dragging it down in a haggard gesture. She looked at him and said, “I don’t know if you can understand me, but I’m sorry. They are young and curious.”

  He spotted the two little younglings and noted they looked identical. Curly yellow hair bounced as they jumped up and down. He smiled as warmth spread throughout his body. The female spoke, getting his attention once again. “I promise, you are safe here. I’m Riley,” she pointed to the little females, “the one on the left is Haley, and the other one is Kaley. My other sisters will be back soon. Their names are Cassidy and Belle.”

  Riley, he thought as darkness claimed him once again.

  How long was he out? Where was he? As one thought after another floated through his mind, he slowly opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times, trying to clear the fog from his head.

  Rays of sunshine cascaded into the room through a window covered by thin flowered curtains, but the heat he felt came from the opposite direction.

  Slowly, he turned his head to see a massive stone fireplace. He closed his eyes and basked in the warmth of the crackling fire. Memories still escaped him as he tried to recall something—anything—about his life. Who was he? How did he get here?

  “You ’wake?” he turned his head to see a little youngling standing over him. He tried to speak, but only croaking noises came out. He carefully pushed up to a sitting position, and the youngling plopped down on his lap. “Kiddy ’wake,” she grinned.

  Aydan stared in awe. She was missing some teeth, and the ones she had were very tiny. How did she eat?

  “Mama, Kiddy ’wake!” another identical youngling yelled from his left.

  He whipped his head around and then immediately regretted it. “Aww…” He grabbed his head and felt the knot. Why did he have it?

  A female rounded the corner and stopped short. “Haley, get off him,” she ordered. The little one moved away and stood by the …. he couldn’t remember. Sish!

  The female squatted down in front of him. “I’m really sorry about that,” she smiled. Her face looked soft and warm, and he wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, tell her that it was all right. The little ones were not bothering him. Instead, he smiled back and regretted it instantly when her eyes widened in fear. Not knowing what had scared her, he turned his face away.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. When he glanced at her once again, her face held the same warm smile as before. “Can you understand me when I talk?” He nodded. “Okay, good. You’ve been out for a few days, and I know you have to be hungry. I’m going to get you something to eat and drink; I’ll be right back.”

  Watching her retreating back, he was startled when the two younglings plopped down on his lap. “Are wou a kiddy?” Not understanding anything the youngling said, all Aydan could do was stare. “I haf a kiddy. An’ dog. An’ cow. An’ bees.”

  As the youngling held up a finger for each item she had, Aydan looked at her and laughed. The other little female bent her head to see inside his mouth, and then stuck her finger against his lips, trying to pull them away from his teeth. “Wou got big tees.” Now the other little female joined in, trying to see in his mouth. With them sitting on his lap, he leaned back and turned his head.

  The other female, Riley, that was her name, came strolling in, carrying a tray. When she spotted the three of them, she sighed loudly. “Girls, what have I told you?” They scrambled away just as she knelt beside him. “I am so sorry. I can’t watch them 24/7, and I hope they won’t bother you too much.”

  She handed him a cup, which he gladly accepted. “It’s water,” she supplied. The cold liquid slid down his throat, moistening his dry mouth. When he handed the cup back, she handed him a bowl. The aroma was different, strange, but enticing. His stomach rumbled loudly. “See, I knew you were hungry.” She nodded to the bowl, “It’s vegetable beef soup. If you tolerate that, I’ll make you some real food.”

  The favors tasted odd on his tongue as they mingled together before sliding down his throat. He’d just finished the entire bowl when the door burst open. Aydan jumped to his feet, an automatic response.

  Two other females came strolling in, one younger than the other.

  “It’s your turn to milk the cow,” the younger one said.
<
br />   “I did it yesterday, so it’s…” They both spotted him standing there. The older one grinned. “Glad you’re finally awake, alien man. Did you know that you’re heavy? I’m still sore from that day.”

  Aydan frowned. What is she talking about?

  “Belle, I know it’s my turn to milk the cow, but I’m kind of busy. Be a sweetheart and do it for me while I fix breakfast,” Riley pleaded.

  Belle sighed loudly, gave her a look, then grabbed a bucket and left the house. When Riley looked back at him, she said, “That was my sister Belle, and this is Cassidy.”

  Cassidy stood wide-eyed, staring at him. Not understanding the reason, he frowned. What was wrong with him? “Cassidy, quit being rude.”

  Cassidy’s eyes reluctantly slid from his to Riley’s, “Sorry, sis.”

  “It’s okay. Come on, help me fix breakfast.” To him, she smiled and said, “Just rest. You’ve been through a lot.”

  He watched them walk away, still wondering what the sish was going on.

  The end for now

  Aydan (Spring 2017)