Page 120 of Alien Prince

The ocean’s bioluminescent waves gently illuminate the cliffs below. Emily lies nestled against my chest, her breathing steady as her fingers trace idle patterns over my skin. The warmth of her touch, the steady rhythm of her presence—it fills a void I didn’t fully realize existed until she came into my life.

I glance down at her, the silver glow of the moons highlighting her soft features. Her eyes meet mine, a small smile playing on her lips.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks, her voice a soft murmur.

“You,” I reply without hesitation.

Her smile widens, and she tilts her head to look up at me fully. “What about me?”

I take a deep breath, my hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “About how much you’ve changed my life,” I say honestly. “About how, for the first time, I feel… whole.”

Her expression softens, and she places her hand over my heart. “Kael…”

I shake my head, cutting her off gently. “Let me say this,” I murmur, my voice steady but thick with emotion. “Before you, my life was duty and responsibility. I ruled because it was expected, because it was the path laid out for me. But you’ve shown me what it means to want something for myself. To fight for something because it matters—not just to the kingdom, but to me.”

She blinks up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“I’ve fought battles, faced rebellions, carried the weight of an entire kingdom on my shoulders,” I continue, “but nothing—nothing—matters as much as you. As us.”

Her fingers tighten against my chest, and I can feel the rapid beat of her heart mirroring my own.

“I vow to protect you, Emily,” I say, my voice lowering but no less resolute. “To protect what we have, no matter what challenges come our way. You’ve made me stronger, braver, better. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy of you.”

Tears spill from her eyes, but she’s smiling. “You don’t have to prove anything, Kael,” she whispers. “You already are.”

I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that’s slow and deep, pouring everything I feel into the connection. She responds with equal intensity, her hands threading through my hair, her touch grounding and electrifying all at once.

Once we finish, Emily cups my face. “I’m not going anywhere,” she says softly, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes. “You’re stuck with me, Your Highthos.”

A low chuckle escapes me, and I press another kiss to her forehead. “Good,” I murmur. “Because I’m never letting you go.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Emily

Our time away was wonderful, but we are king and queen, and so we return to our duties. Not a week later, the air in the palace is heavy, every corridor shrouded in silence. Even the ever-present hum of Erythosian energy seems muted, as if the kingdom itself mourns the loss of Kael’s father.

I stand just outside the grand chamber, my hands clasped tightly together. Inside, Kael kneels beside his father’s bed, the weight of grief etched into every line of his face.

I want to go to him, to hold him, to tell him that it’s going to be okay, but I know this moment isn’t mine to intrude upon. It’s his.

The man who raised him, who shaped him into the ruler and the man he is, is gone, and there are no words that can make that pain disappear.

A soft knock sounds behind me, and I turn to see one of the palace attendants. She bows her head respectfully. “Your Majesty, the people are gathering. They await word.”

I nod, forcing myself to stay composed. “Thank you.”

As the attendant leaves, I glance back at the chamber door. Kael needs time, but the kingdom won’t wait. They’ll look to him for strength, for guidance, for reassurance.

And I’ll be there to stand beside him.

Minutes later, the door opens, and Kael steps out. His eyes are red-rimmed but resolute, his shoulders squared despite the weight pressing down on him.

I move toward him without hesitation, my hands finding his. “Kael,” I say softly, my voice steady despite the lump in my throat.

His gaze meets mine, and the mask he wears for the world cracks. “He’s gone,” he whispers, the words barely audible.

“I know,” I murmur, pulling him into an embrace. He holds onto me tightly, his arms wrapping around me as if I’m the only thing keeping him upright.

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