Page 73 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

“Zade, no! He’s evil! We can’t trust him! There’s no cure!” she cried. “It’s a sick, sick trick!”

Zade leaned heavily into her and wrapped one arm sluggishly around her shoulders. He kissed her tenderly, unmindful of the blood. Uncaring of the excruciating pain. She was everything to him. He would march through raging infernos, stand in front of a firing squad, sacrifice himself, to protect this woman he’d come to love. “We are dying. What can this do, other than kill us faster?”

Without hesitating, he took the vial out of Ocliver’s outstretched hand and nearly drank the entire contents in one swallow. Almost immediately his pain began to subside. He held the vial to her lips. “It is safe. He speaks the truth. Drink,shenga.”

Shaking like a leaf, she cupped her hands around Zade’s much larger ones and took a tiny sip.

Glowering at the kneeling Ocliver, Zade didn’t take his eyes off the foul alien as people began converging on them. He needed answers. Specifically, how did a lackey come to possess a cure that, by all rights, did not exist?

“Drink the rest, warrior.” Ocliver said, dipping his head toward the vial. “Hurry.”

“No. She is the one that needs it.”

“You are one now, are you not? You were injured. She will heal when you do the same. Drink.”

Every instinct Zade had screamed at him not to trust Ocliver. Not to trust what he was seeing. He hadn’t survived this long by ignoring his instincts.

His gaze narrowed to mere slits as he rose to his feet. He helped Ashlyn up and gently pushed her behind him as he faced the Cappran. “Who are you?”

“I will come to your private quarters in one hour. That should be enough time for the elixir to completely restore you.” Ocliver smiled, razor sharp teeth gleaming in the light as he walkedaway. Over his shoulder he added, “Bring only those you trust implicitly.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

One Hour Later…

Snuggledagainst Zade’s side as they sat on a large sofa, Ashlyn couldn’t help but fidget. She hated waiting. Hated wearing the armor over her full body suit that Zade had insisted she wear for the meeting with Ocliver. It was uncomfortable and didn’t fit properly, but that was all that was available on short notice.

Sasha and Dagan sat on a second sofa, while Rachel sat in a comfortable chair. Cam stood protectively behind her.

Ashlyn knew there were others in the room, unseen. Invisible. Cloaked. Ready for battle. Lumerian Knights. She shivered in spite of Zade’s warmth. Everyone was tense. Ocliver somehow knew she and Zade had gone through a Yielding. What other secrets did he know? How had he found out? Who had he told? They’d been discussing the possibilities for nearly an hour and still had no answers.

Dagan put his hand on Sasha’s expanding waistline. “I still don’t think you should be here, little one. It’s not safe for you or the baby.”

Sasha placed her hand over his. “That’s where you’re wrong,” she said gently. “We’re safest wherever you are.”

A loud gong sounded throughout the house. Their ‘guest’ had arrived. Everyone stood as Zade walked out of the room, returning a few minutes later with Ocliver.

Ashlyn looked at the Cappran’s obsidian eyes. They were still just as glassy and cold as she remembered, along with those creepy tentacle eyebrows, which gave her the willies. Tall and gaunt, Ocliver would have made a great grim reaper in her favorite horror movie. He was terrifying.

Ashlyn held out her hand for Zade. Immediately, he returned to her side, placing a comforting arm around her.

Ocliver strode to the center of the room and turned in a slow circle, his shrewd eyes taking in every detail. With a barely perceptible smile, he stopped when he’d made a full circle, his gaze resting on Zade and Ashlyn.

Zade was the first to speak. “Ocliver Vii Salakoori, we thank you for your assistance in the arena. I don’t know why you saved us, or how, although I assume you asked us here in order to explain yourself.”

Ocliver gave a small bow from the waist and smiled, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth. “Indeed, Caldorian, and you are most welcome.”

Ashlyn fidgeted. Her skin was crawling, literally crawling, at the sleazy Cappran’s proximity. Rubbing a hand soothingly down her arm, the one with the beautiful new markings, heart thundering in her chest, she slowly stepped forward.I’m a full on Council member and, thanks to Zade, a princess to boot. I refuse to be intimidated by C’Nar’s lackey.

Pulling her shoulders back, spine stiff, Ashlyn tilted her head up, way up, and looked Ocliver in the eye. “You said you’ve waited thousands of years for someone like me. What did you mean by that?”

Ocliver’s smile widened. “You’re very direct. I knew I liked you.” He gave a tiny jerk of his head toward the others. “Are you sure they can be trusted?”

Ashlyn pressed her lips together in irritation. “I trust them with my life. You’ve met Ambassador Shronti. He’s mated to my sister, Rachel, and I have also invited my friend Sasha and her mate, King Dagan.”

Ocliver turned to the first couple named and gave another bow. “I am delighted to meet you, Rachel. I confess, I already knew who you were. The resemblance to Ashlyn is unmistakable. Ambassador, your reputation for handling the most difficult situations, and Councilors, precedes you. I am most pleased you are here.”

Cam nodded. “Salakoori.”

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