Page 34 of Alien in the Attic

“The wrong foot?” he repeated, tilting his head.

“It’s, uh, an Earth expression. Basically, I’m worried that my sisters and I made a bad first impression, and I wanted to explain my intentions to you.”

Understanding dawned in his eyes and he nodded. “Very well. Meet me in my quarters. It’s where I normally take my meals.”

She almost couldn’t believe it. He had been cold and hostile before, so this openness came as a surprise. She grinned. “Okay, I’ll see you then.”

Once she was dismissed, she found Arccoo training by himself in the gardens. She took a moment to appreciate his strong, muscular form as he went through the motions of an imaginary battle. Once he was done, she let out a low whistle. “Remind me not to meet you in a dark alley.”

Arccoo tensed, swinging his weapon in her direction, only to stop when he realized who he nearly hit. He took a slow breath, seeming to force himself to relax. “Carmen.”

“Hey. I just had a talk with your brother.”

His brows shot up. “You did?”

“Well, sort of. He was busy, so we’re having lunch later. I just thought you would like a heads-up in case the rumor mill starts running.” Glancing around for any prying eyes, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips.

They parted, but he still held her close. “You should be careful around him. He’s… It’s hard to explain, but something has been off about him lately. He seemed so surprised to see me come back, and I worry he’s been holding something back from me.”

She nodded. “I will.”

“He is an honorable man but a bit more warlike than I like.” He glanced around for anyone who might be listening. “I ask that you keep this conversation between us. It’s not my place to criticize my brother like this.”

Carmen pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

At midday, she found herself standing outside the doors to Rocco’s private quarters. Hesitating for just a moment, she raised her hand and knocked. The doors swung open, revealing a grand apartment. Rocco sat at a table in the center of the room. A place had been set opposite him.

“Come in. Sit,” he said, smiling for perhaps the first time since she’d arrived with her sisters.

She smiled and took her seat. “Thank you for speaking with me. I appreciate your family’s hospitality.”

He waved her off. “My brother is quite taken with you. You’re the eldest sibling. Correct? You know what it’s like to be unable to say no to your younger sisters.”

Carmen laughed. “Tell me about it. After our parents died, it was my job to look after them. It would be a lot easier if they had any sense of self-preservation. And I can only imagine how hard it must be to have the weight of an entire planet on your shoulders.”

“Please, eat.” He gestured to her plate before taking a bite of his own food.

She took a bite of what appeared to be root vegetables and a bright blue meat. It exploded with flavor on her tongue. “This is delicious.”

“My personal chef is one of the best in the kingdom.” He relaxed back in his seat. “Do you know how your grandparents acquired the parantaa?”

She shrugged and took a sip of the wine beside her plate. “They aren’t alive for us to ask, but we found a picture of them holding it. They seemed to be shaking hands with your grandfather. We think they were entrusted with it because Earth is not advanced enough to know how to use it.”

Alcohol on Thryal must be potent, she realized, because the wine went straight to her head. Suddenly, she was feeling a bit sleepy.

Rocco smiled. “That is an interesting theory. It seems like such a waste, though.”

“A waste?” She shrugged. “I guess. I see why they wanted to hide it away, though. It reminds me a lot of nuclear energy. It has a number of advantages, but if something goes wrong, the results can be devastating. I understand why your grandfather would want to keep it out of the wrong hands.”

“See, that’s where I think you’re wrong. I think we need to harness the destructive power of the parantaa to keep ourselves safe.”

She blinked, the words not fully computing. Thinking was starting to feel like swimming in a pool of molasses. “I’m sorry?”

Rocco sighed, shaking his head. “Arccoo is a good prince and ambassador, but he’s a bit too soft. The best way to protect our planet is to strike first and terrify our enemies into submission.”

Carmen shook her head, trying to dispel the heady sleepiness that overcame her. Something was wrong. She’d been roofied at a party once, and although Sofia found her before she got hurt, she still remembered that feeling of violation and loss of control. It sent a stab of cold fear into her heart. “What… what did you do to me?”

“I dosed you with pseryllium venom. Don’t worry. It’s not deadly, but it makes you highly open to suggestion and telling the truth.”

---