Page 79 of Bred by the Alien Prince

Now, her face changed. That smirk she had plastered on her face turned into rage. "No! They did nothing! Big difference! As long as they could maintain their power, they were happy to give me up to keep those worms!"

"As I recalled, the royal family had raped the wives and daughters of their advisors and staff, and they had done so for years. You knew about it. Some of those girls were your palace playmates whom you fed to your insatiable family whenever they displeased you. When the riots against your family began, and the officials formed the ruling council, the royal family began to take the demands of the people seriously, and as a bonus, they allowed the council the use of their virginal princess—"

"Shut up!" Tavi screamed. "You're like all the others! You think what they did to me was right!"

"No." I shook my head. "I understand their lust for vengeance. They became only what your family taught them to be. And you were not an innocent bystander. But you were still a child, and like the ruling council, your family taught you to be what you are."

"I don't want to hear anymore." She retreated against the walls away from me.

"So, what is it? You want them all gone. You want to rule as Queen, maybe have your brother killed?"

"Well, don't you know me well?" she scoffed. "I know it's a cliché at this point, but I would be a better ruler. My brother only understands violence." She calmed down. "I will continue to offer our most comely people to you and your people, of their own free will, of course. My brother would deny you even that. And you saw how easily his own people would betray him for me."

So now she bargained, and it was just what I wanted. I would be a fool to rely solely on Daruuk when I had another wannabe ruler who was more accommodating. That's why I kept her close. The only difference is that I know what I can expect from Daruuk. Tavi was a different matter.

"Well, that is a tempting offer," I said, enjoying this. "Who says this human venture would pay out? If you had proposed this sooner instead of trying to steal my ship, I would have been inclined to pick you over him."

"Maybe I was just keeping you on your toes and demonstrating my power."

"I'll make sure you're released and treated well. As a show of good faith. I will let you know my decision soon, but you will not have access to my ship." If she ran off again, so be it. It wouldn't be on my ship.

We left the cells and returned to fresh air, and I could hear our ship starting up.

"Good, can't wait to leave," Caspian sighed, looking as tired as he sounded.

"You're in a rush."

"Yeah," he scoffed. "I wanted to come here so damn bad. But I don't belong here. I felt more comfortable onboard that ship with you, Cormac, and Connor than anywhere else."

I understood how he felt, but I couldn't predict what dangers would await us back home. Taking a chance like this wasn't in the cards. At least here he had Swarti and my soldiers, who I knew were loyal to me or the idea of me and would not betray me for my siblings.

"I can't take you with me. I will have an envoy here who will care for you while I'm gone. Just stay out of the human's way and wear your hood."

"I can't believe this!" He shouted in anger.

"Caspian, it's too—"

He didn't want to hear it. He walked away toward the small living space he had claimed as his own.

CHAPTER 31

Caspian

Stay out of the humans' way? What the hell did he think I was trying to do?! I wanted nothing more than to be out of their way, all the way out of their way, like on my ship, flying out of here!

Seeing this place in the rearview was what I wanted the most. I couldn't take the damn staring and judgments any longer. I waited for Lorvian to head to his ship before sneaking from the trailer and heading to the landing pad where the ship was still parked. Connor was taking a piece of cargo to the ship. I had to act fast. If Lorvian thought I was just going to hang around someplace I wasn't wanted, then he was in for a rude awakening.

The cargo container, half full of MRE food supplies, was a good enough hiding spot. I shifted the meal kits to the other side and slipped in closing the container... well, I wasn't that stupid. I kept my finger between the lid to keep it from sealing shut and just hoped Connor wouldn't question anything. Who the hell was I kidding? The harsh sunlight shone on me in no time as Connor lifted the lid of my hiding spot.

"Don't say anything," I hushed. "I'm not supposed to be here."

"It will be a week Earth time before we reach his homeworld."

"Shit!" I exclaimed. "Just let me hide here until we can't turn back. Please!"

He looked at me like a father dealing with an unruly child. "Fine, then I won't say anything."

"Thanks. Also, I want to know more about this pregnancy."

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