Page 107 of Alien Prince

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kael

The very next day, shortly after I leave yet another meeting, alarms blare through the palace, their shrill wail echoing off the stone walls as I sprint through the corridors. My chest is tight, my breath coming fast, but my focus is singular: Emily.

That alarm can only mean one thing.

Nyran has escaped.

The thought is like ice in my veins, cold and relentless. He’s not just a threat to the kingdom. He’s a threat to her.

I should have had Emily with me at the meeting, but she has been reading more of our histories again. She brought the books to my chamber, and I race there now.

To my horror, the guards stationed outside are missing, the door ajar.

My heart pounds as I push the door open, my blaster drawn. “Emily!” I call.

She’s there, crouched behind an overturned table, her face pale but determined. Relief surges through me as she stands.

“Kael,” she says, her voice trembling but clear.

Before I can respond, a burst of energy slams into the wall behind me, sending shards of stone flying. I duck, turning to see Nyran and his men storming into the chamber, their blasters aimed and ready.

“End of the line, Your Highthos,” Nyran sneers, his weapon trained on me. “Hand over the girl, and I might let you live.”

My grip tightens on my blaster, fury burning through my veins. “You’ll never touch her,” I say coldly, stepping in front of Emily.

Another shot rings out, narrowly missing my shoulder. I return fire, shooting again and again, forcing Nyran and his men to take cover.

“Stay behind me,” I murmur to Emily, my voice low but firm.

“No,” she says, her hand gripping my arm. “I’m not leaving you to face this alone.”

The defiance in her voice is both infuriating and inspiring. The fire in her eyes burns hot, and she lifts up her own blaster.

“Then we do this together,” I say, my tone softening.

She nods, and we move as one, darting from cover to cover as energy blasts fill the air.

The battle is a blur of movement and sound, every instinct honed to protect her, to keep her safe. We slip out of my chamber and into the hallway where more guards bolster our numbers but Nyran will not give up easily.

Emily surprises me at every turn, her quick thinking and steady aim keeping the rebels off balance. At one point, she uses a statue from a pedestal as a makeshift shield.

“You’re getting better at this,” I mutter as we take cover behind a pillar, my lips quirking into a brief smile despite the chaos.

“I had a good teacher,” she replies, her voice tight but tinged with humor.

Another volley of shots forces us apart, and my heart stutters as I lose sight of her for a moment.

“Emily!” I call, panic rising.

“I’m fine!” she shouts back, her voice steady despite the danger.

Relief floods through me, but it’s short-lived as Nyran steps into view, his blaster aimed directly at her.

“No!” I roar, charging forward without thinking.

The shot rings out, and pain sears through my side, but I don’t stop. I tackle Nyran to the ground, wresting the blaster from his grip as he struggles beneath me.

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