Carter, Beth D. - Star Mates (Siren Publishing Classic) Read online

  Star Mates

  Emmarie Tice is a small-town singer. While driving home one evening, she is abducted by a UFO. She awakens from her cryo sleep when the ship crashes upon an asteroid and is rescued by the handsome Captain Pell Raiden.

  She soon learns humans are nothing more than slaves in the new world she finds herself in. Pell is part of a waning resistance movement, and he’s angry because the appearance of an Earthling proves that the technology to bring humans to the Amarante System, the one his parents died trying to destroy, is still operational. But despite his anger, he is drawn to Emmarie, and the two find a love that transcends space.

  But a traitor is in their midst, one who acts on selfish desires, and puts Emmarie in great danger. As she struggles to find a footing in this new world, she has to hold onto the one thing that refuses to die…her love for a rebel captain who left her to finish what his parents started.

  Genre: Contemporary, Science Fiction

  Length: 43,019 words

  STAR MATES

  Beth D. Carter

  EROTIC ROMANCE

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Erotic Romance

  STAR MATES

  Copyright © 2013 by Beth D. Carter

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-948-6

  First E-book Publication: June 2013

  Cover design by Harris Channing

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Star Mates by Beth D. Carter from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

  Regarding E-book Piracy

  This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

  The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

  This is Beth D. Carter’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Carter’s right to earn a living from her work.

  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  Big thanks to Claire and the whole Siren team.

  And to all who’ve looked at the night sky and wondered.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  In the winter of 1989, while driving home from a high school football game, I saw three lights in triangular formation hovering through low hanging clouds. They were huge, in perfect geometric formation, and were very bright. I lived in rural Missouri so the road was just a smooth surface along a stretch of homes. I slowed down and rolled down my window but heard nothing. Perplexed, I pulled over to the small patch of road that passed for a shoulder and turned off my car to stare at the three large lights that held position in the clouds. I looked around, saw the lights of the football field in the distance, and also noticed two other people had pulled over to examine the lights. We gave each other half shrugs, and that’s when I realized I was looking at something I couldn’t identify. I’d never seen these hovering lights before and the lack of noise, like an engine, scared the hell out of me. So I got back in my car and drove home as fast as I could.

  Twenty some odd years later, I was watching a television show on the SyFy channel that investigated paranormal phenomenon, like UFO sightings, and there were my three triangular lights. It got my imagination soaring into overdrive and I wrote Star Mates based on my experience and the question what if?

  Do I believe in unidentified flying objects? Absolutely.

  STAR MATES

  BETH D. CARTER

  Copyright © 2013

  Prologue

  The Outlaw Rings in the Amarante System

  The ship eased its way between two large asteroids, first with the port thruster and then shifting quickly to starboard handling. At the controls sat Captain Pell Raiden, his confidence with the helm showing the years and experience behind each maneuver. His head tilted with each pass, left and then right and then left again, his dark eyes glued to his view screen. Flying through an asteroid belt was never easy, never recommended, and yet he did with precision and artistry.

  “Watch out for that one,” came the unnecessary advice from his navigator, Pikon.

  Though he frowned, Raiden didn’t take his eyes off the star field in front of him, and most importantly, from the humongous rock bearing down on them. “Thanks, never would have seen it.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  Actually, calling Pikon just a navigator was an understatement. He was the copilot, the cocaptain, Raiden’s best friend, and the best gunner anywhere. Together, they were a two-man force not many could catch, though many had tried. Their small ship may not win any beauty awards but she was fast and heavily armed, which were the only two important factors in space.

  “The Sentinels are insane for following us in here,” Pikon muttered as he scanned various monitors.

  “Never said they were smart,” Raiden reminded him.

  “Mm.”

  “Any ideas?”

  “Chock full of ’em.”

  Raiden waited.

  He was still waiting when the warning klaxon peeled in a high-pitch whine.

  “Perimeter alert!” Pikon yelled.

  Raiden twisted this way and that way in his seat, looking through the clear dormer. “I got only asteroids!”

  Pikon shook his head. “Ship on an interception course!”

  “Kexian?”

  “No, different engine signature!”

  “Where? Pikon, where?”

  As soon as the words had left his mouth, the ship they hadn’t been able to see suddenly appeared before them. Raiden yanked on the controls, trying to back off from the obviously out of control cruiser. The magnetic shield
s initiated, causing them to bounce off the other ship.

  Now they were the ones out of control, and losing it in an asteroid field was never good.

  “Hit the burners!” Raiden yelled.

  “I am!”

  “I can’t hold onto the controls! We’re spinning too fast!”

  “I have an idea!”

  “Great, whatever it is, do it!”

  Pikon turned in his chair and grabbed a two-handed steering wheel, placing his thumbs over two red buttons that rested at the top. He sat straight and brought his face up so his eyes fit neatly over a set of tubular visors.

  “Hurry up!” Raiden grunted. His veins were jumping from the force he was using to hold onto the thin thread of control.

  Pikon’s right thumb hit first, deploying a grappling hook on one large asteroid. The one he, in fact, had warned Raiden about not a moment before. The small ship slammed forward when the tether snapped, but before it could bounce them back, Pikon deplored another grappler onto a second asteroid.

  The whole thing only lasted a second, maybe two. The ship lurched like a fish on a hook, groaned once, and was still.

  Breathing hard, Raiden thrust his console back and swiveled his chair around to get a good look at his partner. “Two grapplers, huh?” He raised a thumb and tapped his chest with it. “That was originally my idea.”

  Pikon’s mouth dropped open. “What do you mean, your idea? You were sweating for help!”

  “Three years ago, after our run from Unaira’s third moon. Our port thruster was hit when we entered the Rings. I used two grapplers.”

  Pikon scratched his chin. “I have no recollection of that. I think you’re just jealous because I just stabilized us on two asteroids.”

  The ship lurched again.

  “Hmm,” Pikon frowned, looking back at his monitor. “Okay, maybe the word stable wasn’t exactly correct.”

  “Yank the grapplers or they’ll pull us in two. Now,”—Raiden frowned as he swirled to face the window—“who were our friends out there?” He checked his radar.

  “The ship isn’t there anymore,” Pikon muttered. “Must have hit an asteroid.”

  “No, there’d be debris.” He flipped a switch and started to maneuver around the area. “It’s gotta be around here somewhere.”

  “If the ship was running hell-bent through an asteroid field then do we really want to help them?”

  “There are many people who come here, Pikon. Look at us, for instance.”

  “Yes,” Pikon muttered. “Look at us. Potential space dust a few minutes ago.”

  “Let it go, my friend.”

  Pikon gave harrumph.

  Raiden suppressed his smile and focused on the view of space. “Now, let’s go find out who almost turned this into a very bad day.”

  Chapter One

  Earlier, Planet Earth in the Sol System

  Emmarie walked slowly up to the church, several sheets of music clutched in her folded arms. The night was clear, the stars twinkling, with a cool breeze that kept her walk brisk.

  As the wind whipped through her T-shirt, she half wished she were in her apartment now, swaddled in her fluffy sheep pajamas and blankets in her bed as she watched Johnny Depp swashbuckle his way as a pirate. Of course, she had seen the movie a hundred times. But it was Johnny Depp…who could ever get tired of watching him?

  But a living she had to earn and singing was the only thing she excelled at, the only thing she ever really cared to do. Luckily, Claring was big enough to keep her in business singing for weddings, baptism, dreaded funerals, and the occasional sweet sixteen party.

  Of course, that didn’t mean she didn’t have hopes. Dreams. Aspirations. The one thing in life she didn’t want to be was alone and it was hard to imagine she’d find anyone in Claring that would make her heart pound and her blood sing. Someone to give her companionship and intimacy, as well as friendship. She knew it was out there, that he was out there. Somewhere.

  The church was bright and cleverly hid all the modern-day lighting fixtures, maintaining its air of historical authenticity. She heard the bickering even before she opened the door. Instead of being the happy soon-to-be married couple, the two parties seemed intent on arguing their way through rehearsal. Emmarie paused for a moment to put on her sweatshirt and to take in the scene before making her way over to Sam, the piano player who sat raking a hand through his almost vanished hair. He shuffled papers as he tried to ignore the arguing couple standing in front of the minister and their parents, who also stood arguing.

  “Hey, Sam,” she whispered.

  He grunted.

  “What’s going on?”

  He cast one dark look at the six people yelling at each other. “Her ’rents have a certain idea how she should walk down the aisle, his ’rents have taken the opportunity to disclose how they don’t feel comfortable with the reception seating arrangements, and the happy couple-to-be has been shouting at them to shut up for ten minutes straight. God save me from almost newlyweds.”

  Emmarie smiled. “Well, let’s start playing. Maybe that will get through to them.”

  Sam huffed and took her sheet music, choosing a very soft love song and easing into it despite the loud chaos around them. Emmarie closed her eyes, let the music wash over her to block out everything else, and then she opened her mouth.

  Her voice was startling, the husky timbre adding an intimate layer of depth to the lyrics. She didn’t just sing. She brought the piece alive with love, happiness, eternity, and commitment. To her, each and every song was something to believe in, whether it was a love song or a battle song. Music was a powerful tool, one that could turn hearts and slay dragons. And when she finally ended, the church lay silent.

  Emmarie opened her eyes to see the two sets of parents had sat down, while the engaged couple leaned their heads together. The minister took a deep breath and gave her a thankful smile, and from that point on the rehearsal continued without another interruption.

  Emmarie winked at Sam then set up the chosen music in the order it would be sung tomorrow. They played when they needed to and very quickly it was over. The wedding party came over to thank her, and then they left for their scheduled dinner.

  “Thank you, Emmarie,” the minister said to her as he walked through the small church and did last minute checks over the decorations, making sure each pew had the correct number of bibles and hymnals.

  “Oh, I’m sure they’re just nervous,” she murmured.

  The minister smiled. “Still, I think your singing reminded them that this is a celebration, not a disaster.”

  “I’ve gotta get out of here,” Sam muttered as he closed the piano lid. “I’ll walk with you to your car, Emmarie.”

  “Sure,” she said to him, and then gave a good-bye smile to the minister. “See you tomorrow morning.”

  The minister nodded.

  The night was still cool, but the crispness made everything vibrate. Emmarie took a deep breath and glanced skyward. “Look at all the stars,” she said.

  Sam grunted and burrowed deeper into his sweater. “I hope Margaret has some hot food waiting for me.”

  “How is Margaret?”

  Sam shrugged. “Fine. She’s looking forward to the school holiday break and taking a breather from all the kids.”

  “Teaching third grade can be tough.”

  “Mm,” he replied in a non-committal way.

  Emmarie smiled. Margaret Burnowski had been her third grade teacher and it was odd, sometimes, to think of her in a non-educational way.

  They had parked side by side and Emmarie raised a hand to thank Sam, then slid in her car and started it up. The engine idled as she waited for it to warm up enough to provide some heat. Sam lowered his window and gestured for her to do the same.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Just waiting for some heat,” she replied. “Go ahead, I’m right behind you.”

  He nodded and then gave a wave as he drove down the road.

  She tho
ught about turning on the radio, but she hated the disembodied voice of the host that segued each song, not to mention the obnoxious blare of the commercials. She leaned her head back, staring up into the starry night sky, enjoying the silent moment as she waited for the temperature gauge to climb. Then she slipped into gear and headed home.

  She carefully drove down the dirt lane that led to the church, mindful of the Chevy’s delicate undercarriage and the several areas of bouncy ground. She’d had the car since age sixteen, and it had been ten years old then. In the six years in her possession she had catered to it like spun glass, and she was proud of how it still got her from point A to point B safely and efficiently.

  Emmarie kept her eyes on the road, so at first she didn’t see the strange white lights in the sky. But when she did, it passed through her mind it had to be a plane, or perhaps a helicopter. But a minute later, she realized the lights were traveling with her and matching her speed.

  She stopped the car and stared up at them, noticing they had stopped with her. She rolled down her window to try to hear a thrum of engines, but the lights were silent, or at least too far up for her to hear anything other than her own car.

  Unease touched her spine and so she stepped on the gas again, rolling up the window as she drove. She noticed the strange triangle of lights started moving with her again. She pushed the accelerator a little harder and the Chevy immediately jumped forward, her knuckles gripping the steering wheel tightly. She refused to glance skyward, simply refused to focus on anything but getting home.