Heart of Orion: Orion Trilogy, #3

By L.K. Bastian

Holly Adams has always dreamed of exploring the stars, but nothing prepared her for discovering she can teleport with a single thought. When her beloved Jai is critically injured, Holly faces an impossible choice: risk the perilous journey to Rommader to save him or lose him forever.

Arriving on Rommader, they are thrust into a crisis. Queen Amira has been abducted and held captive aboard a sinister vessel hurtling through the cosmos. Amira faces a chilling ultimatum: create an amulet granting unlimited travel, or watch her husband perish. With ruthless foes closing in, Amira must navigate a deadly game of deception, pretending to comply while plotting her daring escape.

As Holly races against time to rescue Amira, the fate of galaxies hangs in the balance. Can she uncover a way to intervene before Amira completes the amulet? Or will Amira defy her captors and find her own path home through the unforgiving void of space?

In a tale of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds of love, Holly and Amira must confront their deepest fears and harness newfound powers to save those they hold dear, before darkness swallows them whole.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lange House Press
• Release date: Jun 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227269171

Book preview

Chapter One

Holly

Jai’s thumb caressed my palm, and I marveled again that he chose to stay on Earth with me. I looked into the starry sky and followed the constellations down to the horizon as we lay on my rooftop. Orion wouldn’t crest the mountain until close to 4:00 a.m., but I knew its location. Rommader was halfway between the two uppermost stars, Mintaka and Alnilam, but another nine billion light-years away. And somewhere on it was his cousin, Amira, the princess he’d come to Earth to protect.

Do you feel a pull to home? I asked, sure that small desire deep inside me was for Rommader.

Jai rolled to his side and squeezed me closer, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. I am home.

The oath bond to Amira is gone? I pressed on, refusing to get distracted by his kiss, no matter how delicious it was. You don’t feel any tug to her like before?

He’d been her bodyguard and was able to sense her needs through some bond placed upon him by the king of Rommader. Jai pulled back and looked into my eyes. She released me from it. It’s gone completely. I feel a sense of loss, and I miss my world. I know where Rommader is, but I don’t feel a pull to it at all. I am here. With you. Forever.

He pressed his forehead against mine, and I breathed in his scent. After a few minutes more of watching the stars, Jai took a slow breath and sighed. It’s time for me to leave.

So soon? I asked.

Yeah, your dad will be up here with his gun if I don’t take off.

He doesn’t have a gun.

He should. You need protection. Jai wrapped his arm around me once more. I squeezed his hand still resting on my leg.

I’ve got you.

Yes, you do. He kissed my cheek, then moved his lips gently down my jawline and nibbled my neck, sending shivers down the left side of my body. I’ll protect you from everything out there. But you’re such a temptation, any father in his right mind would protect a daughter as beautiful as you from guys like me.

His words made my heart flutter, and I felt the love he had for me flow through the soul bond. I pulled back and made him meet my eyes. He trusts you, Jai.

And that is something I take seriously. It will be torture to wait until you are graduated from high school. New shivers ran down my spine. He was referring to marriage — something I hadn’t seriously considered before meeting him, knowing it was years down the road. Long after I had gone to college and got my degree in astrophysics.

I guess you should go, I said. Don’t want to make my dad decide to get a gun. Though it would only take one little push from him… I pressed against his arm.

Don’t even tease about that. He gripped my hand, and I felt a little bad for teasing him about his fear of heights.

I’d save you. I squeezed back.

Jai reached up and cupped my chin in his hand. I believe you would. His lips brushed mine softly, and I felt the strength it took for him to keep it to just a little kiss. It was so hard to be careful all the time. Suddenly feeling daring, I kissed him back harder, and he obliged. We lost ourselves for a moment, breaking apart at the clearing of a throat.

Don’t make me change my rules, Holly. Dad’s voice was stern, but I detected a slight hint of amusement. Maybe now your mother will let me get that shotgun I’ve been eyeing.

Jai winked at me, and I snorted back a laugh. I’ll see you tomorrow after work, Jai said. He crawled through the window back into the house and shook my dad’s hand. Thank you for everything, Mr. Adams, Jai said.

Dad only nodded and gave me a look that said I’d be having another father-daughter talk soon. He turned to follow Jai out, and I listened as the conversation turned to the plant nursery my father owned. We’ll be gearing up to close the store for the winter just after October, Dad said, but the break’s only for a short time. Planting season begins early February, and the cool weather is a good time for propagating some varieties from cuttings.

Sounds fascinating, Jai said. I shook my head, wondering why he encouraged my father to carry on about his work. Dad could go for hours talking Jai’s ear off about the nursery. I followed them down the stairs, and Dad caught my eye as I headed to the kitchen and then showed Jai to the door.

Stop by the nursery sometime, he told Jai. I’ll show you what I mean.

I will, thanks. Jai waved and flashes of his emotion transferred to me. Amusement overrode most of them, but longing and desire were never far from his thoughts. What am I going to do with that boy? I was glad my thoughts were my own, since I could no longer handle the Densinne Jai and Amira had used to speak telepathically. That ability had been gone since Shander had tried kidnapping me a couple of weeks ago. I filled a cup of water from the pitcher in the fridge and turned around to find my father less than a foot from me.

I trust you, he said.

Thanks, Dad.

I trust him, too. I raised my eyes to meet his. But I’m beginning to wonder if I should trust you together.

I set the cup down on the counter, never breaking eye contact. We are careful, Dad. Nothing happened.

Not yet, but it only takes a moment to move from nothing to something.

I know. We’ll be smart. We were well aware of how fast things could change between us, and Jai was trying his hardest to keep us in line. Part of me was disappointed he was so careful, but at the same time, I was more than relieved I had time to adjust to this soul bond forced on me.

This is new to you. You’ve never felt like this before. I get it. But please be careful. I’m not ready to be a grandpa.

Dad! I rolled my eyes. We were just kissing. Nothing more.

And your mother is too young to be a grandma. He winked at me. She’d consider it hugely offensive, since she doesn’t have any gray hairs yet.

Dad. I raised my hands, needing to stop this whole discussion.

He took my hand in his. You are my baby girl. Be smart. Don’t rush things.

I nodded. We won’t. Believe me. It’s too scary to even think about it.

You need to consider everything. Know exactly what you’re up against. Human nature is too strong to play around with. Set rules. Even more than what we’ve given you.

I will. If they knew we were bonded, I was sure they would have forbidden me to ever see Jai again until I was forty. We were careful to keep that information from them as much as possible.

Dad wrapped his arms around me in a hug. I’m not ready for you to grow up. I want to go back to when you were tripping over your feet and wearing your hair in double braids.

Love you too, Dad.

Now get to bed. You’ll help me open the nursery tomorrow morning.

Gone.

In my room, moments later, I closed my window and pulled the blinds. I was getting used to locating Jai to within a few feet. He was almost to his bedroom and hadn’t moved for a few moments. I wondered if he was talking to Ramal. I doubted he’d get the same kind of parental guidance from his pretend father who was here with him from Rommader.

Though the talk had been slightly uncomfortable, I was glad Dad felt it important enough to bring up.

I would never tell Jai I felt manipulated and forced into something against my will, but the bond had, in a way, taken away my freedom to choose. My choice had been made without any say from me.

Well, if I was truthful, I did agree to that first kiss that sealed the bond. I chose him in my heart and soul. But knowing there was nothing I could do to change the course of my life from being connected to Jai forever was a little overwhelming at times.

Yeah, seventeen was too young to make such a commitment. I wanted to be able to make every other choice with my eyes open.

I ignored the sense of location from Jai and turned my attention to my bed. Slipping under the covers, I allowed my mind to wander. I wouldn’t think of Jai tonight. I would be in control of all my thoughts. But to do that, I had to go through memories before he’d shown up at the beginning of the summer with Amira and her servants who’d pretended to be their parents.

My breathing slowed as I meditated, visualizing the beach I’d visited last summer on a family vacation, the one where I’d picked up the starfish. The sounds of the waves lapping against the beach and the texture of the sand against my back as I lay under the umbrella while reading my book flooded my senses.

I breathed in slowly, hoping to recall the scents and sounds more clearly. My eyes fluttered for a moment as the light from someone’s headlight crept across my ceiling.

That reminded me of the first night Jai arrived. I tried harder to block out the distractions. I needed to remember that not everything revolved around him. Long minutes later, I felt myself drifting toward sleep. The beach I lay on in my memories was so vivid I could almost touch it. I longed to go back there for a quick visit and to get away from the cares of my new life.

I rolled over, reaching for my second pillow to cradle it in my arms and felt roughness against my cheek. I sat up and my heart dropped into my stomach. As I scrambled to my feet, I turned around in a circle, staring at the sandy hillside behind me illuminated by the full moon and coming to a stop as I felt the cold ocean water reach my feet. I was on the beach, and I was certain it wasn’t a dream.

Chapter Two

Holly

I spun around in another circle, feeling the sand get between my toes. None of my dreams had ever been this vivid before, but how could it be possible to be here for real? I bent down and touched the water as the wave reached for me again. The water had a distinct feel as I rubbed my fingers together. I brought my fingers to my lips and licked one.

Salt.

Where am I?

I opened the connection to Jai, searching for him, yet he was miles away. The beach in California was nowhere near Garneville, and I knew this wasn’t some placid inland lake. Waves rolled almost to my feet. The moon shone on the water, reflecting off the small crests. The waves weren’t large, but occasionally one would crash against the beach, bringing more truth to the impossible. Had I traveled somehow?

I looked down to see the baggy tee and boxer shorts I wore to bed. I didn’t have anything else on me. No jewelry, no phone, no money. I was in trouble.

Jai?

I focused my thoughts on him, then felt a flash of panic that wasn’t mine and knew he realized I wasn’t home where I should be. I tried to slow my breathing and focus on my home.

If I had traveled here in an instant, shouldn’t I be able to get back the same way? No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get the impossible circumstances out of my mind. The wind had slowly picked up, and gooseflesh covered my arms. My worn T-shirt wasn’t much protection from the night.

I turned from the ocean and started running through the sand. If this was the beach I thought it was, a hotel was less than a mile away. I could get to a phone and call him. No way I’d call my parents. They’d never believe what happened. I didn’t believe it.

Maybe Jai would know what to do.

My breath came in gasps by the time I reached the two-story, run-down hotel. I saw a girl in a faded uniform outside on a smoke break, talking on her cell. Maybe she’d let me use it. I slowed down to catch my breath and stood in the light of the parking lot to give her time to see me. She dropped her cigarette and smashed it under her shoe. I waved her down before she could step back inside the building.

Hey, can I use your phone? I said. I need to call my boyfriend.

The girl eyed me up and down and must have taken pity on me. She handed me the phone and raised an eyebrow. Are you alright?

Yeah, I just got stranded on the beach. My boyfriend will come get me. She nodded and leaned against the building. I took a couple of steps away and punched in the number to Jai’s phone. He answered on the first ring.

Holly? He spoke my name immediately, somehow knowing it was me. What happened? Where are you?

I don’t know, I whispered into the phone. One moment I was thinking of a beach in California, the next thing I know, I’m in the sand. I glanced at the girl, hoping she wasn’t listening. This sounded crazy.

How? Do you have a medallion?

No. I don’t have anything but my jammies.

Where are you? Are you somewhere safe?

I found a hotel. Borrowed someone’s phone.

Go inside and get a room, Jai insisted. I’ll give them my card number, then I’ll come get you.

I can’t stay here. My parents will freak. They’ll want to know how I got to California so fast after going to bed in Utah just an hour ago.

The medallion I found on the Salt Flats after Shander took you still has some power to it. Some seems to have been used up in your almost-travel to Rommader, but I think there’s enough for me to come get you and bring you back here.

You can’t do that. It’s your last chance to get back to Rommader, I whispered.

I’m never leaving you, Holly. I’m not going back to Rommader.

You can’t use the medallion to come get me. Don’t even think about it. Besides, you’ve never been here before. You wouldn’t know how to get to me.

I could look it up on the satellite maps, he said. Figure it out with the GPS coordinates. I’m sure I could find you. What’s the address?

There was no way I would tell him the address, not if he planned to come after me this way. No, there has to be some other way. How did I get here? If I can travel on my own, maybe there will be a way to get back.

Jai was silent for a moment.

Jai?

I’m here. Perhaps you’ve absorbed some of the medallion in your experience on the Salt Flats. I’m not sure how, but I can tell the medallion isn’t as full as it had been. And what you’ve described is just like how we travel. We know where we want to go. We visualize it. And then we make the choice to be there. Maybe that’s what happened.

So, I just visualize where I want to be, and I’ll get there?

I don’t know for certain, but that’s my guess.

Should I go back to the beach and try to return home?

No. Get the room. You need some privacy. And if it doesn’t work, I want you safe.

I heard him fumbling around for a moment as if digging through a drawer. Give me the name of the hotel. I’ll call them and pay for the room.

You don’t need to do that, Jai.

I do. What’s the phone number?

I turned to the girl and asked for the number. She rattled it off, and I held the phone up to her face.

Can you repeat it a little slower for him? She obliged, and I spoke into the phone. Do you need the address? I hoped he wouldn’t try to come get me now that we’d come up with a plan.

Nope, I’ve got it. I’ll call the front desk right now.

He hung up and I handed the phone back to the girl. Thanks.

You’ve got a good boyfriend. She tucked the phone in her bra, and I mentally cringed, knowing I’d held it against my face.

Yeah, he’s a keeper. I followed her into the motel and heard the phone at the front desk ring. The night manager looked up at me as I approached and spoke into the receiver.

Yes, sir, she just walked in the door. We do have a few vacancies. I’ll get her set up. I waited at the front desk, trying to ignore the curious looks they gave me. I made a mental note to dead bolt the door. The adrenaline rush that had come with finding myself hundreds of miles from where I’d started had worn off, and I was exhausted. He had me sign something, then gave me a key card and told me I’d find the room on the second floor.

Thanks. I slipped away as quickly as possible and rushed to the room. If I was lucky, I wouldn’t have to see them again. I’d leave the key on the table and hopefully find my way back to Utah in the blink of an eye. The second the light on the door turned green, I turned the handle and pushed my way inside. It smelled faintly of smoke and laundry detergent. Before I was three steps into the room, the phone on the desk rang.

Hello?

Holly? Jai’s voice sounded relieved. You made it to the room? Do you want me to walk you through it? Try to help you find your way back here?

I think it might be too distracting. I need to just take a moment to relax. See if I can get into the same state I was in when it happened in the first place.

Okay, try it, and if I haven’t heard from you in a couple hours, I’ll travel there to get you.

No. You have to save that medallion. I’ll figure out what to tell my parents if I can’t make it back. Don’t you dare come get me.

Then I’ll drive there to get you or get you a flight back to Utah.

That would cost too much.

Don’t worry about the money. Delilah found lots of precious metals and gems to set us up here for life.

I smiled at the memory of the woman from Rommader who had pretended to be Jai and Amira’s mother while on Earth.

I’ll try to get back the way I came. Just give me time. If you put a deadline on me, I’ll never be able to relax enough to figure it out. I’ll call you when I get back. Or I’ll let you know in the morning if I’m still here.

You can do it, Holly. I have faith in you.

Thanks, I whispered. I couldn’t believe it had happened in the first place. Yet here I was in a hotel all by myself. My parents would flip to know I was here alone. And I had no idea how to explain how it happened. I lay down on the bed and tried to breathe slowly like I’d done at home. I closed my eyes, visualizing my bedroom, but for the life of me, I couldn’t see it at all. I spent all my time there, yet I couldn’t picture it at the moment.

The enormity of it all was too much. After rolling off the bed, I headed to the bathroom. Maybe a long, hot shower would help me relax enough to calm down. I stood in the steady stream until my muscles eased and my breathing slowed. I listened to the sound of the water hitting my skin, the walls, and the curtain. It was different enough from the sounds of the ocean — I could block that beach out of my mind and picture my home better.

I thought of my own shower. The one just down the hallway from my bedroom. I pictured the clear shower curtain with the star-themed fabric on the outside. I hadn’t opened the shampoo or the soap, so I focused instead on the memory of my favorite conditioner. Keeping my eyes closed helped my mind block out anything else besides my desired destination. I could do it. I would do it. I would get home on my own.

Somehow, I had traveled instantaneously