Page 22 of The Alien's Pet

Karin didn't quite have an answer for that. She wanted to say yes, but it wouldn't be completely true.

She still disliked being punished, of course, and hated not having free will, but the king hadn't been as cruel as he had been during the beginning. Korrev still punished her when he thought she had misbehaved, but he was also protective of her. They would cuddle at night and he would make sure she was servedthe finest of foods. But she was still just a pet. She would never be a wife, or even a mate.

Karin didn't think she would be happy being a pet for the rest of her life. She needed to return to Earth, even if she would be equally unhappy there for a different reason. At least, on Earth, she had a career. She had a purpose beyond being a breeding mare. She would find a way to be happy without Korrev breathing down her neck.

"Karin?"

"I…" What was she supposed to tell Alice? She was so young, she would never truly understand how complicated her mind was. But it wasn't as complicated as she'd like to think.

She was starting to fall in love with King Korrev. The thought terrified her. Karin had never fallen in love. Not truly anyway, even when she had been dating her long-term boyfriend. But with Korrev, things felt different. She remembered how terrified she had been when she had thought he'd perished during the war.

"Karin." Korrev's sharp tone brought her back to reality. "We must go. Kyvan wants Alice to rest."

"Of course. Goodbye, Alice. Feel better."

He led her away, while he wrapped his arm around her. "What were you two discussing?" He didn't sound accusatory. More like curious.

"Alice thinks she might be pregnant," Karin lied instead. "She doesn't know yet. She'll have to check with Azis. Please keep it a secret from Kyvan until she knows for sure."

"A baby," Korrev mused. "Good. It was time for Kyvan to produce an heir."

Ten

Four months.It had been four months since the battle, and Karin still remained as the king's pet—glued to his side, following him around, sometimes with a leash in hand, warming his bed at night.

Karin couldn't quite come up with an answer as to why she hadn't left already. At first, she thought she was simple cowardly, but then she tried to convince herself she just hadn't found the right time to leave. That part was true, though. Ever since the last battle, Korrev had been more protective than usual. Perhaps because the battle had made Karin even more skittish than usual.

She had only seen Alice in passing since then, as Kyvan didn't want her to leave his quarters until she was fully healed. They had managed to have one more playdate, though. She had begged her to go with her, but Alice had refused. She was happy where she was and she had no desire to leave. Karin couldn't help but envy her happiness. Alice felt secure with Kyvan and Kyvan adored her. She wished she was as lucky as her friend was.

Meanwhile, Karin still felt like she was playing a cat and mouse game with Korrev. She was tired of playing. She did notwant to be a pet when there was so much else she could do with her life. Being bred did not excite her, either, like it did Alice. Perhaps she was losing her nerve.

Karin had been known as a firecracker in the courthouse, always winning case after case, but after she came to Krotev, she became more docile. It was like Korrev had spanked the stubbornness out of her. She would be lying if she said she was unhappy. At least not as unhappy as she had been at the very beginning.

"I have a meeting I need to go to." Korrev pressed his lips against her forehead. He had been kissing her more often. Sometimes on the lips, other times on the forehead or against her neck, trying to cover her with hickies.

Korrev didn't drag her to meetings as often as he used to. He trusted her more now.

Karin usually stayed behind and played with her puzzles or read old books some of the other warriors had gotten for their mates and they had discarded.

"Okay."

Korrev frowned, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she replied moodily, feeling bratty.

He pressed a hand against her forehead. "Are you coming down with something? It is getting colder."

"No. I'm just tired."

Korrev didn't seem convinced. "I'll have Azis do a checkup on you tomorrow if you're still not feeling better. I can't have you getting sick."

She nodded, only because she knew his patience only went so far. After he left, Karin went towards a small, forgotten chest of drawers near her pet bed. Korrev never checked there so she used it to hide the precious thing she had gotten a mere two weeks ago.

It was a simple gray and white uniform, along with a large matching gray helmet. The one Korrev's pilots used before they flew out in the small spaceships whenever they had to complete orders for the king.

Karin had gotten it when it had fallen from one of the servant's laundry carts. She had kept it ever since. If Korrev ever found it, she would blame it on one of the servants. It was the perfect escape plan.

She would get on one of Korrev's spaceships and just return to Earth. It surely wouldn't be hard, would it? They were more advanced after all.

---