Page 32 of Alien King Crashes the Wedding

“Never!” Sasha yelled theatrically as she headed for the bathroom.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sasha and Rachel were just finishing a massive breakfast with all of their favorites, along with lots of coffee for Sasha and fresh juice for Rachel, when the entryway doors opened and Dagan strode in with Cam on his heels. They froze, midstride.

Dagan was the first to speak, his eyes closed and his mouth watering, “What is that delicious smell?”

Cam grinned, “I told you so.”

“I know this one!” Sasha laughed as she got up to greet Dagan with a quick hug and kiss, wishing they could do more but content just to be in his arms. “It’s called sausage! Rachel makes the best!”

Dagan squeezed Sasha again, unwilling to let her go, which made Sasha that much happier, and winked, “Well, then I hope they will join us for breakfast every morning once our new home is finished.”

Sasha gasped. “A new home? As in a house? On Earth?” Tears of joy sprang into her eyes. “I was afraid we were going back to Caldor soon. Thank you!”

Dagan smiled lovingly at his queen. “We’ll have to travel back and forth, but for now, I must stay here to help rebuild the city, stabilize trade with Earth, and send a very clear message to our enemies that Earth is off limits. Your leaders are understandably worried about potential attacks in the future, not to mention all the damage that was done. They’ve requested a stronger Caldorian presence here. Another base or two in other strategically located cities. Cam will have to deal with that. I have no patience for the machinations of Earth politicians.”

Dagan brushed his fingers lightly across her hair, admiring the shimmering waves he loved, and added, “We have enough on our plate now that news of your new abilities has reached the Council. Would you be willing to move your art studio to the base? There’s a large valley where we could build a suitable structure, if we do a bit of clearing first.”

Sasha beamed at Dagan and hopped up and down. It was all the answer he needed, and he chuckled. “I didn’t think you’d mind staying, so I told our engineers to start creating designs for our approval.”

Cam snickered from behind Rachel’s chair, his arms stretched lovingly around Rachel and the baby. “And by suitable structure, Your Majesty, he means a proper Caldorian castle that can be seen from space,” he said, with a huge grin.

Sasha and Rachel both gasped in shock. Sasha turned her gaze up toward Dagan’s and stammered, “We, ah, we don’t need… I mean, that sounds beautiful, whatever you want, but, ah, there’s no need for that. I mean, I don’t need that. I only need you.” Looking around at Dagan’s temporary living space inside the banquet hall, she added, “We could even stay here. It’s gorgeous in here.”

Dagan kissed her until she melted, then rumbled, “We always build royal structures like that. We have other reasons, but one is that they make irresistible targets for our enemies, allowing us to predict their movements and hopefully outmaneuver them, should they break through our shields.” He frowned. “This is my base. I knew a royal structure would draw fire, but your leaders urged me not to build one, and I gave in. My warriors, and hundreds of humans, died here as a result. I have to live with that mistake. I don’t have to repeat it.”

“I love you,” Sasha murmured, gazing deeply into his eyes. “You’re an amazing man.”

“I love you, my queen,” Dagan responded as he leaned down for another kiss.

“Ahem,” Cam interrupted. “I hate to break up the love party, but you are expected elsewhere soon.”

Dagan reluctantly broke the kiss, much to Sasha’s disappointment, and growled, “They can wait.”

“What? Who’s waiting?” Sasha asked breathlessly as she stepped out of Dagan’s embrace and smoothed a hand over her hair and down her dress, blushing. “Rachel didn’t say anything about people waiting. I thought you were planning to take me outside for a romantic stroll in the park or something?”

Dagan folded her into his embrace again and nuzzled the side of her neck before groaning, “I should have made them wait, little one, but they insisted on doing it now. We should probably go,” he said with humor. “Falden can get downright pissy when he has to wait.”

Sasha laughed at Dagan’s fake shudder of fear, as he knew she would, and walked her toward the door. “Okay! Okay! Who’s Falden?” She smiled and took a deep breath, her nerves settling at Dagan’s antics.

Dagan took her hand and led her through the door, into the brightly lit hallway. She was so beautiful, her eyes shining with inner light, she took his breath away. “You’ll see. It won’t take long, then I’ll take you anywhere you want to go as long as it’s to my bed.”

Sasha laughed again, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “It’s a date.”

They hadn’t walked far when Sasha realized Rachel and Cam weren’t following. “Hey! What about Rachel and Cam?”

Dagan looked back to where Cam and Rachel were still standing with the baby and raised his voice so they could hear, “Sorry, Cam, but my bride has spoken. Get your ass over there. Rachel. It’s time you stop keeping secrets from your bride.”

Dagan resumed walking, unaware that Sasha was trying to dig in her heels until she shouted, “Stop, you big gorilla! Can’t you tell I’m not walking right now?”

He stopped and glanced down, surprised. “Will I be in trouble if I say no? You’re so tiny.”

“Dagan Tiranon! Do you know what you’ve done?” shouted Sasha, outraged for her best friend. “You’ve just told Rachel that her husband has been lying to her! I know you can hear her yelling at him!” she scowled angrily. “Tell me what’s going on right now, or I’m not taking another step.”

Dagan grinned and scooped Sasha up into his arms, walking briskly into the room transporter. “Dungeon Six,” he said casually before continuing, “Do you know how much he made me worry when I thought he was going to die? He deserves a little trouble. They’re not bound yet, by the way. Rachel still has time to wise up and toss him to the curb.”

“Dagan! That’s a terrible thing to say!”

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