Page 10 of Alien in the Attic

“That’s amazing,” Carmen told him. “Do you miss it?”

“I do,” he said. “I miss it very much.”

“Why did you come here?” Carmen asked. “Of all the incredible places out there to visit, why Earth?”

He’d been waiting for this question. It was only natural that she’d be curious, but revealing his mission to someone from another species was typically to be avoided. She rested her head on the back of her hands, looking up at him like an inquisitive young one waiting for a story. Nothing was typical about the way she made him feel. Damn the consequences. He was going to tell her.

“As I said yesterday, the role of the second child is to be an emissary,” he said. “Since I’m not in line to rule, I maintain connections with other worlds by showing up for big meetings and dinners and things.”

“Exciting,” Carmen said.

“It’s all theatrics,” the prince explained. “We make a show of our relationships to remain allies. No genuine connections are being made.” He sipped his wine. It was drier than he was used to but not unpleasant. “Over the last few years, a disease has started spreading throughout my people. Our doctors have determined that it began as a dormant virus that slowly mutated over time. We didn’t even know it was there.”

Sadness touched Carmen’s face. He appreciated that she understood the gravity of what he was saying.

“There is a tool called parantaa,” he continued. “We have stories from distant ages that tell of its ability to cure any disease. I came here looking for it.”

“Why would it be here?” Carmen asked. “If it can do what you said, why wouldn’t you hold on to it?”

“The stories say that the parantaa is also dangerous. It can be a great weapon. So, it was hidden. After centuries, someone found it. They attempted to turn Thryal into a planet of conquest. The war that resulted was long and hideous. The parantaa was taken off world.”

Carmen finished her wine. She stretched, arching her back. Her hair cascaded behind her like a waterfall at night, making his pectorals quiver. “That’s so sad,” she said. When she looked at him, her gaze pieced into his own.

“Would you like to hear some music?” Desperate to change the mood, the question blurted out from his trembling mouth. “You’ve played me some of yours. It’s only fair.”

She was ecstatic. He took her up to the conservatory where the acoustics were best and selected the serenade his parents danced to at parties.

“It’s beautiful,” Carmen told him. Her eyes were closed, her head tilted to the side. She looked as though she were experiencing the music rather than listening to it.

He liked watching her. She seemed to understand the melody without knowing the tragic story behind it. He was about to explain the legend that inspired the song when she spoke first. “Will you dance with me?”

She held out a hand. He held his breath and took it.

Without saying a word, she moved into him, pressing herself against his frame. Done with fighting his temptations, he put an arm around her lower back and pulled her in closer. She didn’t fight or protest. Instead, she let out a quiet, tantalizing moan.

Her hand grazed his forearm. His flesh was shimmering in the light. “I love the way you shine,” she said. Then she looked up at him, and he saw the same fire blazing in her that raged within himself.

No more words.

His lips found hers without guidance. That same sense of sharing returned, and it coursed through him with dangerous purpose. He needed more. He brought his other arm around her and brought her even deeper against his front.

He’d never known someone could make him feel like this, but he didn’t want it to end.

Her arms coiled along his shoulders and around the back of his neck. Her lips parted, inviting his top lip to enter. They were losing themselves with each other, the music guiding the rhythm of their breathing. As it grew, their breaths quickened, triggering explosions along his spine and raising the fine hairs along his limbs.

When the music faded, their embrace continued, too strong to stop now.

After her sisters returned, Carmen went to bed. He said he needed rest as well. When he reached the top of the stairs, he noticed her down the hall, glancing back at him. Her teeth were biting into her lower lip. Was she inviting him to her room? Could they continue their dance from the conservatory? Would they take it further?

Then she said goodnight and disappeared behind the door. Sleep did not come for him until the sun began to rise.

Unlike before, Carmen didn’t avoid him during the day. Instead, she would take any free moment to pull him into a secret space, hidden from her sisters, and their passion would ignite all overagain. He noticed the way she lingered around him more. He saw she wore clothing that revealed more and more of herself to him. He sensed she liked the way he looked at her.

He had another sense as well. Every instinct inside him said they were reaching a point of no return. If they continued this way, their bond would strengthen to a point where breaking it would be difficult and painful. As much as he wanted that, and sometimesneededthat, he had a job to do.

A sentry ship was on the way. He was certain of that. He even told her that. If he didn’t stop himself now, his people may be doomed.

Chapter 5

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