The Dark Prince's Prize

Chapter 5-1

CHAPTER FIVE

Adalard gripped the strap of his bag and followed Mason down a narrow hallway to a room with a large window, polished dark wood floors, and bright white walls with a high ceiling. Paintings depicting different mountain landscapes hung in strategic places, adding color to the room. There was a large fireplace with several logs in place, ready to be lit.

“I guess the first thing I should do is properly introduce myself. I’m Mason Andrews, Paul’s ranch manager. The woman in the kitchen is my wife, Ann Marie. You’ve already met Samara. Ann Marie knows about you and others like you. Samara doesn’t, and we’d like to keep it that way despite the fact that you already appear to have broken that rule. Speaking of rules, I need to go over a few of them with you, Mr. Ha’darra,” Mason said, speaking as he motioned to a comfortable chair in front of the fireplace.

“Prince Ha’darra or Adalard,” he corrected.

Mason paused in the motion of picking up a rectangular remote from the narrow table between the chairs. Mason clicked a button and the fireplace flared to life before he sat down.

Adalard studied Mason. He was about the same age as Paul. His hair was gray with streaks of brown, and his brown eyes were serious.

“I think it might be best to call you Adalard. Calling you a Prince or your Royal Majesty might create more questions to answer. The key is to keep a low profile. Ann Marie and I have two teenage daughters, Marie and Vicki. I’ll ask that you stay away from them and Samara,” Mason began.

“No,” he replied, sitting back.

Mason frowned. “This isn’t open for discussion. My daughters have no idea that aliens exist, and they aren’t going to,” he said.

Adalard waved his hand. “Your daughters are safe. I am no threat to your children. It is your request that I stay away from Samara that I cannot agree to,” he replied.

A knock at the door prevented Mason from answering right away. Mason rose to his feet when Ann Marie came in with a tray. She gave him a nervous smile before she placed the tray on a side table.

“I thought you might like some refreshments while Mason goes over the rules with you,” she stated, giving her husband a pointed look.

“I’ve told him to stay away from the girls,” Mason said.

“Good,” Ann Marie replied with a relieved smile.

Clearly the man didn’t want his wife to know that he had only agreed in part. That was good because as far as Adalard was concerned, the subject was closed. There was no way he could stay away from his mate—even if he wanted to. The moment she left, the restless pull of his energy searched for hers, and it was only going to get worse.

Ann Marie handed him a cup of hot liquid.

“Thank you,” he said with a bow of his head.

She handed another cup to her husband and placed a plate of freshly baked pastries on the table between them. Adalard sipped the hot beverage and recognized it as some kind of tea. He scanned the room, giving the couple privacy when Ann Marie kissed her mate before exiting the room, and closing the door behind her.

Mason sat down in the chair across from him and sighed. “I hope you don’t mind tea. Ann Marie is worried I’ve been drinking too much coffee lately and has cut back on my caffeine. The pastries help make it manageable,” he said.

Adalard tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. “I did not come to your planet for tea and pastries,” he dryly replied.

Mason sighed and sat back in his chair. “Why did you come?” he asked.

“My brother and his mate have come to retrieve her mother. Trisha asked that one of us check in with you and tell you she, Paul, and the other women who were taken off your world are happy,” he replied.

“That is good to know. It would have been nice to see Paul again. I take it he has settled in to living among dragon-shifters and golden creatures. By the way, that’s another rule—no shifting. Dragons aren’t indigenous here on Earth,” Mason said.

Adalard shook his head. “I am a Curizan. We do not shift into dragons,” he answered.

Mason stared at him in silence for a minute before he spoke. “If you are different from Trisha’s guy, then what do you change into?”

Adalard debated on whether to share the differences between the Curizan and the Valdier with the human. Mason moved in his seat as he waited for Adalard to respond. The man’s aura was strong. Adalard did not detect any hostility or darkness surrounding Mason. He did detect pain, though.

“What have you learned about us?” he asked.

Mason chuckled. “In other words, you don’t want to divulge any information until you know what we know.”

Adalard bowed his head in acknowledgement. “Yes.”

Mason silently studied him. “How do I know you are one of the good aliens? You can’t blame me for having some reservations. You mentioned Paul and Trisha, but I need something a little more substantial to go on,” he said.

“The fact that you aren’t dead should speak for itself. I could kill you before you draw the laser pistol your mate handed you when she kissed you.”

Adalard ignored Mason’s surprised expression and continued. “Paul has found his mate with Morian Reykill, Priestess to the golden symbiots that are the dragon-shifters’ constant companions. The Curizan need no such companions. We have our own… talents,” he said, holding up the laser pistol he had taken from Mason.

“What the hell!” Mason cursed.

Adalard tried to keep his amusement contained when Mason lurched in his seat and slid his hand behind his back. The laser pistol Ann Marie had tucked into the man’s pants was gone.

“The Curizan have no interest in taking over your world, human,” he wryly said, rising to his feet and holding the pistol out to Mason.

“Then why are you refusing to stay away from Samara?” Mason demanded, taking the pistol and holding it between his palms.

“That is no concern of yours,” he replied. “What other questions do you wish answered?”

Mason frowned. “Why did you need a lift? I mean, couldn’t you have just beamed down or whatever you guys do?” he asked.

Adalard walked over to the window. His eyes followed a smaller, boxier version of the vehicle Samara had picked him up in as it traveled along a road leading away from the house. He focused on the blue wisps trailing behind the vehicle.

“Yes, I could have beamed down, but it has its limitations. My transport is secure for the moment. I landed a few miles from this location. Samara came along and offered me a ride. I could hardly refuse,” he said with a smile in his voice.

“Trelon and Paul came up with this list of rules. They said it was only a matter of time before more of you guys showed up. That’s why Paul set up the ranch in a trust the way he did,” Mason said.

Adalard turned and looked at Mason with a raised eyebrow. “Did they also tell you that Curizan warriors don’t like to follow the rules?” he inquired.

Mason chuckled and pulled out his reading glasses. “Actually, I believe Trelon said we’d be lucky if any of you guys followed directions. Paul insisted that they at least be given to everyone so that when he kicks their butts, they can’t say they didn’t know it was coming,” he replied, scrolling through the notes on his phone. “Okay, rule number one: No fraternizing with any of the women on the ranch. Rule number two: No killing anybody,” Mason read out loud.

Adalard shrugged, turned toward the window again and looked back at the road where Samara had disappeared. He dismissed all the rules Mason was listing. He suspected that most had already been broken if Trelon was involved in the creation of the list.

“I will need lodgings,” he announced.

“I’ll set you up at the homestead. How many of you can we expect?” Mason asked.

“One, just myself,” he replied.

“I’ll get my coat,” Mason said.

Adalard absently nodded. “I’ll meet you outside.”

* * * *

“Is everything alright?” Ann Marie asked with concern.

Mason shrugged and caressed her cheek. “This one is different from the last—but I think so. Why don’t you and the girls go stay in town with your sister for a bit?” he suggested.

“Mason Caldwell Andrews, what aren’t you telling me?” she demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

Mason gazed into her eyes before he wrapped his arms around her and tightly held her. She relaxed against him and hugged him back. He rubbed his chin along her temple.

“He’s an alien. I want to make sure you and the girls are safe until I know for sure that he is harmless. You three are everything to me. We’ve talked about this before. It’s just a precaution. Besides, the girls leave to go back to school in Boston on Monday and this will make it easier on you,” he said, loosening his hold on her and looking into her eyes. “I promise.”

“You’d better. Stella is going to have a ton of questions thinking that we are fighting—or that you’ve gone back to the military,” she grumbled.

“It will only be for a few days. Tell her you’ve been worried about her since Harry took off,” he teased.

“Oh, God! Now you’re just being cruel. I’ll tell her you have a squadron of Navy Seals you’re training. That will work,” she chided before kissing him. “I love you, Mason. Please be careful.”

“Everything will be fine, love,” he promised. “I’d better go before the alien prince thinks I’m planning something evil.”