A Magic King by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online Page B

pushed through her mouth and slid through her fingers, but only as a terrified whimper.
    "Jane?" Daken turned around, his expression shifting from frustration into concern. "Are you well?"
    She stared at him, unable to fathom that he was a person from another place, a totally different planet. They didn't have magic translator spells or inhabited streams on Earth. Then suddenly she realized—in this land, he wasn't the alien. She was. She was the stranger thrown here by some quirk of fate. Her friends and family lost to her forever unless she could find a way to get back.
    Assuming she could get back. She didn't even know where she was. What if she was in a totally different galaxy? Or universe? Hell, what did it matter? She could be on Moon Colony, but without a spaceship how could she get home?
    She moaned softly against her hand.
    Daken stepped to her side, his movements stiff and awkward as he tried to apologize. "I'm sorry, Jane. I shouldn't have yelled at you. My people are in trouble, and I..."
    She shook her head, the panic still pulsing in her veins. She knew if she tried to talk, it would come out as a hysterical scream. So she held her hands over her mouth, squeezed her eyes shut, and tried not to remember.
    "Jane?"
    She felt his hand brush her forehead, and she jerked away. She didn't know if a healer could read minds, but she certainly didn't want to find out now. He'd made it clear what he thought of her. His little fool.
    Well, this little fool was rapidly wising up. She stamped down the panic within her as she remembered who and what she was. Jane took a deep steadying breath, slowly letting her hands fall from her face.
    Okay. She was a stranger in a strange land who was probably vulnerable in countless ways. But she was smart, capable, and a quick study. From now on she would dedicate herself to learning everything she could about this new world. Even in the enlightened United States, an outer space alien would have turned the world upside down. Nutcases and legitimate scientists alike would have sold their souls to exploit an alien.
    She wouldn't allow that to happen to her. She would not be victimized. She sure as hell wouldn't tell her secret to Mr. Kingly Arrogance. It wasn't that he'd abuse her. He'd actually been quite kind, in a gruff, macho sort of way. But how would he react to a space being?
    No, it was much safer if he thought her crazy. Later, after she found a way to get home, then she would explain it all to him.
    "Jane?"
    "Uh." She swallowed. "Sorry. I... I'm okay now. We can go on."
    "Are you ill?"
    She couldn't look directly into his eyes and lie. So she watched the panther, pretending to be entranced by the cat cleaning a paw. "I'm fine. Just a little tired." She tried to smile. "You may have gotten a nap, but I didn't."
    Daken was silent, clearly waiting for her to look at him. She didn't. She watched the panther. Then he twisted abruptly toward the horizon. "We should make it to the main road soon and an inn soon after. Can you make it another hour?"
    "Yeah. Sure. Lead on."
    "You feel healthy?"
    "I'm fine." She could sense the heavy intensity of his gaze, and she slowly faced him, giving him her version of a blank stare. The gold in his eyes reflected the moonlight with an eerie glow. Then, abruptly, he spun on his heel and walked. She followed directly after him, a couple paces behind, needing the space to think.
    To their right, the panther slipped in and out of the trees, her steps silent and stealthy.
    * * *
    The inn was quiet, but not deserted. Jane judged it a little after midnight. Most of the patrons had already left. It had been eerie walking down the road, her footsteps echoing through the deserted street. The black panther had long since disappeared into the shadows surrounding the sleepy village.
    Daken pushed his way into the inn, and Jane followed, squinting as they stepped into a cozy main room with tables and a bright fire. The whole setting reminded her of a pub at a