Zayn Read online

  Zayn

  Alien Kings 1

  A.R. Ford

  Zayn

  Alien Kings 1

  Copyright 2020 © A.R. Ford

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, scanned, faxed, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Please contact the author to obtain permission to use parts of the book for other purposes.

  Printed in the United States of America

  First Printing, 2020

  www.authorarford.com

  [email protected]

  The characters, places, and events in this book are figments of the author’s imagination. Any similarities with persons living or dead is merely a coincidence.

  Warning:

  This book contains mature themes and potentially triggering material intended for adults 18+. If you are offended or triggered by such material, please do not buy the book.

  Chapter 1: Zayn

  The interior of the study became stifling. For a chamber as expansive as the study was, the sensation seemed strange to me. Half a dozen Lonusians could easily fit in the space with room to spare. Tinted, insulated windows kept heat, or cold, from pervading the space. The obvious source of the change came from the King of Lonus N88 sitting behind the desk. My father. Not that he scared me. The rolled scroll sealed with red wax he held in one hand resulted in the change.

  The seal separated with ease when my father ran a claw along the edge of the parchment. He examined the contents of the scroll before delivering the news. “Vuqrad Esnael, and his wife, Shef’al, have petitioned on behalf of their daughter, Tilqis, to become your mate. They assure us she can produce the required heir.” A sigh fell from pursed lips as he folded his hands on the desk. “This is an important decision, Zayn. It may be the only way to ensure your uncontested rule after your mother and I leave this world.”

  The study seemed more cramped than it had when I first entered. Glancing out the window, at the shelves lining one wall from floor to ceiling, and the books it contained, provided a much-needed pause. Resistance demanded that I do anything other than acknowledge the inevitable. My betrothal to a fertile Lonusian female from a northern territory. A female I did not know.

  “Tell me, father, how would you feel to have a strange mate foisted on you? And do not dare bring mother’s name into the discussion to avoid the question.”

  Father leaned back in the chair. His face remained impassive as mercury eyes scanned my face. “I would have been as irritated as you are at this moment. We do not always find the one we love, son. Finding your mother was the most difficult task of my adult life. This decision is one I cannot make for you.”

  “Gods!” Unable to sit still any longer, I leapt to my feet and prowled toward the window. I stood looking out at the royal garden, unable to enjoy the place that normally gave me a sense of peace. “I suppose I have no choice in the matter.”

  Silence stretched between us. The antique grandfather clock standing in one corner of the study ticked in time with the thoughts racing through my mind. The weight of indecision tormented me. Should I accept a woman I did not know as my mate? Or take a chance that the throne could pass to someone other than its rightful ruler?

  The possibilities presented by any ruler other than the Bolden family line placed Lonus N88 in danger. Decisions focused on advancing technology without regard for the risk became commonplace before my grandfather assumed rule of our world. The damage done by past regimes created a superstorm of toxic pollutants that rendered our females infertile. Our people risked extinction. My grandfather’s sweeping changes improved the quality of life by removing hazardous waste from the world. In addition, he created a governmental division focused solely on the creation of clean energy sources.

  The generations-long issue came to rest squarely on my shoulders. The only purported fertile mate presented to me was Tilqis Esnael. A female I did not know. My suspicious nature demanded the claim of her fertility be investigated. A plan I fully intended to act upon once this meeting ended.

  “I will accept Tilqis as my mate. We must hold the ceremony tomorrow. To delay would risk everything.”

  My father joined me at the window. His hand came to rest on my shoulder, fingers tightening in a way that communicated his understanding. “It is a difficult decision, Zayn. I do not envy you. As rulers, we must make sacrifices to ensure the survival of our people. Lonus N88 is indebted to you. Another generation of Bolden monarchs will advance the changes my father made, and we must continue. To do otherwise would lead to Lonus’s destruction.”

  *****

  The investigator I hired to examine the Esnael family grimaced before handing me the report. “Everything is on the holographic disc. The daughter’s medical records have been falsified. She was deemed infertile in early adulthood. My sources verify the Esnael family’s fortune has dwindled to nothing.” He glanced at the ceiling, closed his eyes, and continued. “Forgive me, Warlord Bolden. I hoped to bring you better news.”

  A swirling cauldron of anger simmered in the pit of my stomach. The investigator did not deserve my wrath. “Your service will not be forgotten. The agreed upon fee has been transferred to your account.”

  A murmured farewell preceded the investigator’s disappearance. I wanted only to confront the lying, power-hungry traitors who thought to fool me. A face-to-face meeting posed significant difficulty. Sending a copy of the documentation to the parents could end it with few difficulties. The COMM unit on the desk flickered to life. A copy of the holographic disc arrived in their message queue within seconds.

  I sat back, determined to wait for a message admitting their crimes. The message never arrived.

  An hour before the ceremony’s scheduled start time a different message arrived. A photograph of Tilqis with Morki Grivix, ruler of Hathea A95. The audiovisual recording sprang to life with a click on the play icon.

  “So sorry, Zayn. Morki made an offer I could not refuse. I am now the uncontested queen of Hathea A95. Have fun at the ceremony without me!”

  Their raucous laughter abraded my senses. Betrayed by an imposter. At least I knew before the ceremony.

  My parents needed to know the truth before anyone. The ceremony would be called off at the last minute. It mattered not that reports based on rumor would sell a story to the masses entailing what the author believed occurred in the palace today. The truth would take weeks, months, possibly even years to be told. If it ever was.

  Anger made me careless as I raced from the study. Had I paid attention, the assassin standing in the shadows would have failed.

  An agonizing piercing sensation between my shoulders brought a bellow of pain. “Tilqis sends her regards,” a steely voice whispered.

  Blood frothed on my lips. A choking sensation strangled the air as it struggled to move into my lungs. A curtain of darkness lingered as my body fell like an ancient tree uprooted by a cyclone.

  One final thought flickered through fading awareness.

  I would never fully trust a female I did not know.

  Chapter 2: Gracie

  “Miss Thomson, I would like to offer you the job in accounting.” Desmond Lorrie stood up, offered a hand for a handshake, and smiled. He looked every bit the business tycoon in a gray suit and white button-down shirt. Handsome, wealthy, and powerful. Desmond had it all.

  The surreal moment overwhelmed me. Insignificant Gracie Thomson sat in none other than Desmond Lorrie’s office in a high-rise building in the business district. My butt sat in the sumptuous black leather chair across from his desk. A massive desk made of polished mahogany with silver accents. The pendulum on his desk clock swung to and fro. Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

  �
��Miss Thomson?”

  Desmond’s query pulled me from my trance. My stomach flip flopped while my mouth simultaneously fell open. “I would be honored to work for you, Mr. Lorrie.” My trembling hand gripped his for the universal sign of a person’s word.

  This job meant everything to me at this juncture of my life. After losing both my parents, life became tougher than I thought it could. The income would ensure I could continue to support myself.

  “Drop by tomorrow at nine in the morning. You will meet with human resources first. Afterwards, you can get settled into an office.” Desmond escorted me from his office to the elevators with a hand at my back.

  “Thank you again, Mr. Lorrie. I will be here in the morning.” My wave goodbye came an instant before the elevator doors closed. A squeal of excitement burst from me.

  The next day, I arrived at work a quarter to nine. Sunlight reflected from the mirrored black glass of the building. I stood for a moment admiring the silver letters affixed over the entryway. Lorrie Inc. Today was the first page of a new chapter of my new career as an accountant.

  People on their way to work walked through the doors with a sense of purpose. Straightening my spine, holding my head high, I fell in with the crowd. A woman introducing herself as Beatrice helped me fill out the requisite human resources paperwork—form after form. My hand began to cramp at the thirty-minute mark.

  As if sensing my predicament, Beatrice beamed a smile at me. “It is okay to take a break if you need to, dearie. Could I get you something to drink?”

  “Coffee if you have it. And thank you, Beatrice.” A brief break had my hand in working order again. A mountain of paperwork and cup of coffee later, I joined Beatrice on the way to my office.

  Beatrice provided a tour of the fifth floor where the accounting department was located. Reactions to my introduction ranged from pleasant to outright snotty. I committed the snotty reactions to mind with a silent vow to avoid those people at all costs. My office at the end of a hallway offered an amazing view of the city. Best of all, a friendly face appeared in the doorway as I settled in.

  “Hello there. I am Eve Forrester, right across the hall from you. I just wanted to say hello and welcome aboard.” The blue-eyed beauty with raven hair made me feel right at home.

  “Gracie Thomson. It is good to meet you, Eve.” I glanced around the office, confused where to begin. “This is my first office,” I offered in explanation at my, no doubt, overwhelmed expression.

  Eve sat down in the chair on the opposite side of my desk. She reached across the desk to pat my hand as it clung to the nearly empty cup of coffee. “The first day is always the worst.”

  A whoosh of air escaped my lungs only to be followed by a strained giggle at her words. “Is it that obvious?”

  “I recognize the look from my first day here. Just take a deep breath. No one will throw you to the wolves here.”

  I found myself nodding at her encouraging words. One corner of my mouth quirked when the feeling of nervousness eased. “This is my first real job with a real office. It is a lot to take in.”

  Eve gave my hand a squeeze. She smiled and sat back in the chair. “Not to worry. My office is right across the hall, so don’t be afraid to ask questions when you need to. It is a bit overwhelming at first, but once you settle in, things go well. Someone will be by to set up your email and get you started on the system. You will get a list of accounts by email. Once you get accustomed to the system, and show the higher ups you can handle it, there will be more added. Just show up on time and do your work. You will be fine.”

  Throughout the day Eve dropped by to see how I was holding up. She invited me to lunch at a sandwich shop across the street. During our meal, I found myself talking to Eve without reservations. I told her about losing my parents. About feeling alone after my father’s family deserted me after his death. Words just poured out of me. Eve listened without judgment, accepting me without question.

  My first meeting with Eve set in motion a close friendship that I treasured. We ate lunch together nearly every day. She coached me through the orientation period at work. We eventually started going out for other outings together. And for the first time since my father’s death, I felt a kinship with someone who accepted me at face value without preconceived notions, or judgments.

  Eve Forrester became my best friend.

  *****

  Six weeks passed as I became more familiar with the company and my job. Eve and I remained close. I valued her friendship, and advice, as much as I had my father’s. The number of accounts added to my workload gradually increased until I had a full load. Most days passed in a pleasant blur. The pleasant vibe ended today when a huge red flag waved inside my head.

  Closer examination of the entries in the Bixby account raised my eyebrows. Something was off. I could find no mistakes regardless of extensive efforts foraging through the account. The strange entries for payment for services rendered to Raven Security occurred every week. Unable to find the error, if one existed, I moved on to the Huddleston account.

  After an hour of exploration through several accounts, I sat back in the chair while drumming my fingers on the desk. A dull ache in the center of my forehead grew in intensity. It reminded me of a blacksmith’s hammer on an anvil—pounding and nonstop.

  Pinching the bridge of my nose between finger and thumb did little to ease the headache. My mind raced as it sought to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Screwing up, where the accounts were concerned, would end with me getting a ticket to the unemployment line. Two weeks remained in my sixty-day probationary period.

  Eve insisted I should come to her with any issues. Perhaps Eve could help.

  A knock at Eve’s door brought her characteristic greeting. “Come in.” She glanced up and smiled upon seeing me. The smile evaporated instantly when she saw my expression. “I would say good morning, but it looks like that word would be inappropriate.”

  Gnawing at my lip while tapping my foot nonstop allowed me to gather my thoughts. “Three of my accounts are off. I have gone over them numerous times and cannot find the mistake—if there is one. I keep seeing these strange entries for some security company.” The Newton’s Cradle sitting on Eve’s desk attracted my attention. The clacking steel balls moved in their usual hypnotic manner. I glanced up at Eve and sighed. “I am so afraid Mr. Lorrie will fire me if I cannot figure it out.”

  “Not a chance, Gracie. Let me take a look at the accounts. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will find something amiss.”

  Eve accompanied me into my office where we hovered behind my desk with the door closed. She pulled up the Bixby account in the online accounting system. She harrumphed after digging through the account. The same process continued with the second, then the third account.

  After an hour of digging through three accounts, Eve sank back in the chair while chewing the eraser of a pencil. “This is a mess. I am not sure what to do.”

  Great. This was the last thing I needed. “What does company policy dictate in cases like this?”

  “Report it to Mr. Lorrie. He wants to handle any discrepancies himself. You know, to keep customers happy because they feel like he takes their business seriously. I am not certain that is the right way to go. Maybe our direct supervisor could take a look.” Eve’s expression mirrored mine. The entire situation stank. The kind of stink that usually meant people got fired.

  “Maybe I will just mention it to Mr. Lorrie in passing. He seems like a nice guy, at least from the interview.” We sat staring at each other, the atmosphere feeling much like the pall cast over a funeral parlor.

  “Never mess with Desmond’s money. That is the running joke around here.” My friend’s words came out in a choked whisper. Her forehead knotted, brows drawn together. Her usual smile melting into lips pressed in a thin line.

  “I’m in a bad situation. What exactly would you call the fiasco I’m in the midst of?”

  Eve pressed her hands against her cheeks. “I don’t know wha
t to tell you other than what company policy states, Gracie.” She stood up reluctantly, almost as if her body from the waist down was frozen. She paused at the door, sighed, and returned to her own office.

  The once-warm mocha walls paled when the door closed behind Eve. My small office seemed even smaller as I sat down at the desk determined to find the error. I went over each account, taking extensive notes as the day wore on. Several pages of notes filled a note pad by four that afternoon. Unfortunately, I was no closer to finding the discrepancy, other than learning that the Raven Security entries began six months ago with the three accounts.

  Desmond Lorrie needed to know what was going on. The elevator ride to the floor where Mr. Lorrie’s office was located did little to ease my worries. If anything, the sickening feeling of impending doom began to grow until my stomach threatened to revolt.

  I approached Mr. Lorrie’s secretary. Hattie Saunders was a charming older woman who kept her gray hair styled in a neat bouffant hairdo. She wore a single strand of pearls along with modest heels, and a smart navy suit dress. Hattie’s welcoming presence usually made me feel at home. Today, nothing could ease my worries.

  Hattie waved me on to Mr. Lorrie’s office with a smile. “Good afternoon, Gracie. Go on in, he is free at the moment.”

  Desmond whirled around in his office chair at my hesitant knock on the open door. “Well, hello, Gracie. How is my little protégé getting along?” His grin revealed teeth that looked razor sharp. Why did his slicked back ebony hair and eyes suddenly remind me of a predator ready to pounce?

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Lorrie.” A deep breath did little to ease the next words into being. “During a routine inspection of accounts, I have found errors in three accounts. Some entries are questionable.”

  “Please, go on.” Desmond leaned forward, placed clasped hands on the desk, and fixed me with a pointed stare. The welcoming expression replaced by one that reminded me of a shut door. The grin disappeared. His eyes hardened. Brows furrowed. A muscle twitched spasmodically in his clenched jaw.