Page 111 of Alien Prince

But do I like this new person I have become?

I don’t sleep with Kael that night. I don’t even stay in his chamber. Instead, I head to my old room that barely feels like mine anymore. It takes me a long time to fall asleep, in part because I’ve grown used to Kael and his strong, warm body holding me all night long.

Once I wake, I change into a different alien dress, this one a shimmery purple, a lighter hue than the alien prince’s eyes. The palace gardens are quiet in the early morning, the first rays of sunlight casting a golden glow over the intricate blooms ofErythosian flora. I walk slowly along the stone paths, my fingers brushing against the soft petals of a flower that glows with the light.

This place has become familiar to me, but it’s still not home. Not yet. If Kael has his way, it will be.

I pause by the edge of the reflecting pool, the surface perfectly still, mirroring the sky above. My reflection stares back at me, and I barely recognize the woman I see.

The shy librarian who was abducted from Earth seems like a distant memory. The woman standing here now is stronger and more confident, but still unsure.

Kael’s words echo in my mind. His willingness to give up everything—the throne, the kingdom—just to keep me by his side. It was the most selfless act of love I’ve ever witnessed, and it terrifies me.

How can I be worthy of that kind of devotion?

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. The cool morning air fills my lungs. I had been able to breathe on the spaceship without any apparatuses, and I can here too. With the Erythosians being so close to Earthlings, a variant of humans, it’s not a surprise that their planet is carbon-based and oxygen heavy.

This world has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. It’s forced me to grow, to fight, and to find strength I didn’t know I had.

I’ve faced rebels and court intrigue. I’ve stood beside Kael in battle and watched him risk his life to protect me. I’ve been accused, doubted, and underestimated. I’ve been the target of an assassination attack.

But I’ve also proven myself.

I think of the way Kael looks at me. Have his people started to respect me? I think so, especially after everything with the rebelsand the coup attempt. There’s no denying that I’ve started to find my place here.

I had been afraid that staying would mean losing myself, but the truth is, I’ve found myself here.

I kneel by the pool, the water cool against my fingertips as I trail them across the surface.

“I love him,” I whisper.

I’ve known this for some time, but for whatever reason, whispering those words now feels like a revelation and a confession. They feel right, and what’s more, saying them solidifies something within me. Kael doesn’t just see me as his queen. He sees me as his equal, his partner.

And I want that too.

I rise slowly, my reflection rippling in the water. I’m no longer the Emily who dreamed of staying hidden in the comfort of books and routine. I’m someone new.

I’m someone who belongs here.

When I return to Kael’s chamber, he’s standing by the balcony, his silver skin catching the morning light. He turns as I enter, his violet eyes searching mine with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

“Emily,” he says softly, stepping toward me.

I take his hands in mine, holding them tightly as I look up at him. “I’ve made my decision,” I say, my voice steady.

His jaw tightens, but he nods, waiting for me to continue.

“I’m staying,” I say, a smile breaking across my face. “Not because of duty or expectation, or even the love I feel for you,although that’s part of it. I’m staying because this is where I’ve truly come into my own. This is where I’ve found my strength. This is where I belong. That vessel finally made the right choice for you, huh?”

Kael’s expression shifts, relief and joy lighting his features. “Emily…”

I cup his face in my hands. “We’ll rule together, Kael. Not because I have to but because I choose to. Because I believe in us. I still have so much to learn, but you can teach me in all of the ways, won’t you?”

He pulls me into his arms, his embrace fierce and grounding. “Of course, Emily. Whatever you want. You’ve made me stronger, Emily, and together, there’s nothing we can’t face.”

I nod against his chest. In his arms, I feel like I truly belong—not just in this palace, but in this life.

As Kael presses a kiss to my forehead, I smile. This is the beginning of something extraordinary.

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