Page 76 of Bred by the Alien Prince

"It is customary to announce our presence to new aliens we encounter regardless of their development. If you refused to respond, we would have attacked to get our point across. But Xil sent Zantos to attack this colony because of Caspian. He most likely wanted to get his hands on more humans."

"Where do we stand? Are we safe here?" The human called Derek replied.

"I will place this colony under my personal protection."

"For?"

"Enslavement," Daruuk chuckled. "And now you see his true colors. For all his judgment of me and mine, he would covet your men and women in the same manner!"

It was better to ignore him, or nothing will get done. "You will rebuild your colony with our help and resources and report home but omit encountering us. Make up a lie to ensure no more humans come here until it is safe. In exchange for all of this, you must spare a few colonists for testing."

Daruuk laughed and slapped his knee. "And there it is!"

"So, turn in our own people to be dissected in a lab like rats for my own safety?" The female sneered.

"I can't promise they won't be harmed. But they won't be killed or maimed, Caspian had undergone our gene therapy treatment and as you can see, he is fine," I assured him. "This is the best deal you will get from us. There is no way your Earth can win a war against the hegemony, but you can be introduced into the wider galaxy more gently than most."

"There is another option," Daruuk said, leaning over like a creature on his shoulder. "You can fight; that is what I've chosen."

"Yes, and see how well it has ended for you."

Derek sighed. "We came here to settle on a new planet, to explore it and the galaxy. We have no resources to fight. But so many people have died, and you are now asking me to just hand you the remainder."

"There are a lot of you here. We don't need all of you, just a few sacrifices. Conduct a census of your colony, and we will decide based on the report."

"Look at you," Daruuk chuckled, amused by the turn of events. "You can't even help yourself. Even during a so-called peace talk, you can't help but be a demanding ass!"

"We will get nowhere by being nice," Swarti interjected.

"If there is no reason for me to be here, then I would rather leave. This sounds more like a matter between you and the humans," Daruuk sneered.

"There is a reason for you to stay. An alliance."

"Ha! For what?" He scoffed. "To help you become King in the vague hope you will be benevolent?"

"Do you believe Regis can beat me?"

"Do you plan to fight your siblings?" Swarti asked. "Have you considered what we discussed?"

"I need to return home first and speak with my father, but no matter what I decide, I know a fight is inevitable," I answered, not wanting to mention what we spoke of before. I still wasn't sure if I would betray my father. "Daruuk, your forces are down to a handful of men and women."

"I know. You've executed the rest." he sneered.

"They had betrayed you for your sister, anyway," I shot back. "Whether or not you like it, I am the only one who can put you on your throne. Your rebellion is officially over; be smart and realize it."

Daruuk shot up from his chair and marched out of the room.

"I guess our talks are over," I stood. "You know what I want and what I'm willing to give. I would like your answer once I return."

The human leaders stood, both shaken as they departed the room. The humans had nothing to fight with, at least not now, and they were still a looming threat from beyond, whether or not they saw themselves as such. I planned to have spies tapping into their comms and network systems the moment someone fixes them. I didn't like the idea of one of our kind being on their homeworld, we had a knack for our resilience and taking over primitive species and Regis was getting his intel from somewhere, Earth was the most likely culprit.

"Swarti, place a spy on Daruuk and Tavi, and I want an envoy to remain here with the humans, a discreet one. See if we could buy any humans. I wish to speak with Tavi before I depart," I stopped before leaving the room. "And tell the crew they will receive my answer when I return from Ashan."

"Yes, sir," Swarti saluted.

Connor, Cormac, and Caspian followed behind as we left the ship for the colony again.

"Connor, show me this vessel that attacked you."

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