Page 53 of Bred by the Alien Prince

"Let's focus on one thing at a time."

"You're right," I said, wrapping him in my arms. "I hate waiting on results."

"I can tell."

CHAPTER 21

Caspian

His handsome features shifted into a myriad of expressions, all without him speaking a word. He was on edge; it was like I could feel his anxieties washing off on me. I stroked his face to soothe him, and he seemed calm when he pressed his lips to my forehead as he smelled my hair.

I omitted a human involvement in taking Connor; I was still afraid it would lead to him wanting to fight them… us. So far, I enjoyed being with him without hearing about mating and warring, and I wanted to keep it that way for as long as I could. But what if there was a human out there making deals with aliens to build an android army?

What could they gain from such an exchange, enough to involve one of Lorvian's people?

My head hurt big time; I didn't want to be on this massive ship again. It was like being inside some mechanical giant that swallowed me whole. Now that smaller ship was nice and cozy, I felt I could be useful there if I had the chance.

I knew how to fire a blaster and use a gun turret! I was confident, really confident in my chances for survival, and having a tall, handsome alien warrior who loved to fight by my side helped a lot. But a war? That was still out of my league, and being onboard a warship, even one that wasn't in a war, was enough to deflate my built-up confidence.

"What do I have to do to ensure some form of goodwill between our species? Apparently, loving me isn't enough to stop you from finding a reason to fight my people."

"It would seem as if your people are already handling the goodwill portion of first contact by offering their people to my brother. He has succeeded where I have failed."

"What do you mean?"

"I've received word from my brother about the existence of humans and the possibility that he had impregnated one. Little does he know I already know…strange that he's requesting a meeting with me at the location of your destroyed colony ship." He then chuckled unexpectedly. "He must think I was involved and wish to give me a tongue-lashing for it."

A human was pregnant with an alien's baby? I couldn't imagine what she went through. Or maybe, like me, she enjoyed it, though I remembered what Tavi told me about what some other Valisians would have done to me if I was on their ship.

A part of me was now furious with humans; if someone in charge of Outer Worlds was willing to sell us out for their own safety, then I would love to find out who it was and take care of them myself. I was hit with a violent urge to tear this nameless person apart, followed by a mind-splitting headache.

"Are you okay?"

"No!" I yelled without meaning to. "I'm sorry." I sighed, hating this new piece of trouble that came my way. "I'm sure none of the women agreed to this!" I said, giving in to my rage. "I can't imagine what she went through…"

"Knowing Xil, he fucked her every single night and had her consistently tested. Or he could have passed her about his ship." He shrugged without a care.

"Yeah," I said, not wanting to think about either method.

"Perhaps we should accept this invite and visit my older brother and his human, congratulate them on their bundle of joy."

The last thing I wanted was for a pregnancy to become an invitation to enslave people. But what if this woman was out there, like me, doing whatever it took to survive and was lying to save herself? I wouldn't blame her.

Would they kill us if we can't have their children? But then again, they didn't kill all the other aliens; they just ruled over them. All of my doubts came flooding back again. Did I cast my lot in with Lorvian? Have I fallen for him already? Has he with me? For real and not just for what I could do for him and his people?

"Do you love me?" I asked in the spur of the moment; I needed to know where I stood once and for all, and honestly, I wasn't interested in dissecting if it was the truth or a lie. I just wanted to hear the words.

"Haven't I told you already?" He asked, caressing my shoulders. "I've done more for you than I have anyone I've ever met. So, I suppose the answer is yes."

"I love you too." I know it can be shameful how much importance we place on words, but sometimes, it's nice to hear it. Like the words themselves were enough to manifest the feeling. "I won't just wait around in your room." No more being cooped up and waiting.

"Fine." He gave in surprisingly easy. He held up his arm and pressed a few buttons on the device he had on his gauntlet, and I realized for the first time since we were back that he kept on this slimmer armor. "I'll know where you are, so explore the ship if you wish, but linger nowhere where many of my people are. They know the consequences of touching what is mine, but life on board can be a bore, and soldiers have needs, even women. I'd rather nothing happened than to have you hurt just to prove my threats are true."

He walked away, leaving me alone. I didn't want to explore the ship, though it intrigued me how a ship like this operated. What does a warship do when there is no war? I gazed out the large windows that ran the length of the hall. Space was darker than I'd imagined, and it felt so alone out here.

That guy approached; for a long moment, I had forgotten his name. Although he was the same species as Lorvian, he didn't seem to stand out all that much compared to him or even someone like Elvira. He was shorter and slimmer, and he kept his blond hair clipped short and neatly combed. His sharp eyes zeroed in on me and made me feel uncomfortable. It seemed like he wanted to speak to me, and my fears were realized when he stopped in front of me.

"You would be better off trying a little harder to return home to your people."

---