Page 66 of Bred by the Alien Prince

"It would seem I don't need you to translate," Lorvian breathed. "I see the scars of an implant on that one," he pointed to Derek.

"Uh…yeah, an alien who looked like you held our people hostage and forced me to get this implant to understand his demands better."

"So you sold the colonists out to protect yourself?" I sneered.

"No! We were held hostage and he took whatever he wanted. I was just recovering from my landing on this planet, what else was I supposed to do?"

"And Connor?"

"Who?"

"The Connor model?" I asked, wondering if Derek was the human Connor was speaking of.

"What about it? I gave him one. Once again, what was I supposed to do?"

"What did this alien look like? Any distinguishing features?" Lorvian huffed.

"Blond hair, shaved at the sides with the long part swept in a bun…He had a scar across his cheek, like an X."

"Regis." Lorvian sighed.

"After they left that blue alien named Daruuk showed up and gave us weapons, telling us that we had to fight the Valisians. He gave us the will and power to fight back. And now I just feel like a damn pawn in a game I have no fucking clue about!"

"I told you he was just using you all." I spat at Derek, feeling vindicated as hell.

"I'm a friend," Lorvian said. "Perhaps the only one you humans have at the moment. If you have the means, lock him and his people away."

Derek looked to the woman, translating everything Lorvian had said.

"We don't trust you either!" The red-haired woman shouted as she kept her gun trained on Lorvian, forcing him to hold up his arms. "Like hell we're gonna allow ourselves to be used as canon fodder!"

They locked them both in a cell, Lorvian in one alone and Daruuk in the other. I tried to protest, but Lorvian shook his head so that I could stop. I still didn't understand why he allowed himself to be locked up when our ship was here, but I had to trust that he knew what he was doing.

"I'm sorry, Caspian." Derek sighed, looking as though he was tired of the world. "We've been through our own nightmare since we arrived. All of our leaders are dead, and they destroyed the communicator to Earth. We are flying by the seat of our pants here."

"Sir!" A young man who looked no more than sixteen hollered for Derek to come.

Outside in the center of the colony's courtyard, a shuttle had landed, and over a dozen soldiers poured from inside with Swarti at the center.

Every human capable of holding a gun rushed to the scene but who the hell were we kidding, we were outgunned for sure.

"Caspian," Swarti called, and I approached, unsure what would happen. I remembered Lorvian had told them to go—unless it was a lie. And what of Tavi and her story? Once again, I trusted no one but Lorvian, Connor, and, surprisingly, Cormac.

"Lorvian is safe but locked up."

"I see." He looked around at the carnage. "Tell them we're willing to talk."

"Look, we just want some answers here," Derek said, having enough.

"You have a translator? Good." Swarti smirked. "And you will have them, along with a mutually beneficial relationship, we, all of us, your leaders, mine, and even Daruuk." He spoke loud enough so that the few Travol soldiers who came with Daruuk could hear.

"We can use our ship for this meeting," I said, hoping this would net us some advantage. I wanted Lorvian out of jail and wanted us in a position to leave anytime we needed to.

If Tavi's story was a lie, then perhaps Swarti was still Lorvian's man. If he was, then the tides favored us, and there was no reason the colony could keep him locked away. As for Tavi, I planned to speak to her in person to uncover her lies.

But Lorvian came first. I returned to the cells to retrieve him, demanding they release him, which the guard reluctantly did once Derek gave the go-ahead.

"Lorvian."

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