Page 34 of Alien Prince

A woman steps forward from the shadows, her eyes widening as they lock onto mine. I recognize her face—one of my mother's ex skins—but I don't know her name. She doesn’t seem to recognize me, but shock fills her eyes as she sees me, a celestial who is supposed to be unseen, invisible. I start to introduce myself, but I'm cut off.

“Cassie, this is Ky—”

Before she can finish, a man steps forward, his presence commanding. He looks at me with a mix of gratitude and relief.

“Thank you for getting Gemma out,” he says, his voice strong yet filled with emotion. “I am Vitus Starling, Gemma's father.”

The tension in the room shifts as I process the revelation. Vitus extends a hand towards me, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of struggle and resilience.

Two more people step out from behind him. Their faces are unmistakable—skins once worn by my family. Seeing them now, a flood of emotions hits me. There's a profound sadness in witnessing their fate, yet a sense of relief that they haven't been discarded. As I wrestle with these conflicting feelings, Vitus'sgaze shifts to Gemma. A silent exchange occurs between father and daughter, laden with tension.

“Please, don't,” she implores, her voice trembling. “He's not like them.” Vitus remains composed, his expression a mix of calm and regret.

“I'm sorry,” he says, his tone measured but unyielding.

He nods to Raif, and with a hint of hesitation, Raif steps towards me, capturing me in a firm but gentle grip. I struggle, my mind racing, but Gemma's voice echoes in my consciousness.

“Raif, what are you doing?” I hiss through gritted teeth, resisting the urge to fight back. Every instinct screams at me to break free, but I force myself to remain calm. I can't afford to prove them right about me being a monster.

Raif's eyes flicker with uncertainty, his grip tightening around my wrists. “I'm sorry, Kyron,” he mutters, his voice laced with regret. “I have to do this.”

I take a deep breath, consciously relaxing my muscles. Fighting now would only make things worse, confirming their fears about celestials. Instead, I meet Raif's gaze steadily, letting him see my resignation. It's a calculated risk, but one I hope will pay off in the long run.

With a deep breath, Raif pulls a sleek, metallic device from his belt. The handcuff is unlike anything I've seen before—its surface shimmers with a faint, iridescent glow, and intricate patterns pulse with a soft blue light. He presses a button, and the device unfurls, revealing a series of interconnected rings that seem to float in mid-air.

As Raif secures the cuffs, I feel my power being suppressed, and it takes every ounce of willpower not to lash out.

But then I think of Gemma, her fierce eyes, her unwavering trust in me. For her, I can endure this. I force my muscles to relax, adopting a mask of indifference even as frustration churnsinside me. The cuffs hum against my skin, a constant reminder of my current predicament. But I'm not defeated. Not even close.

I'll play along for now, prove to these humans that I'm not the threat they fear. And when the time comes, I'll show them just what a celestial can do.

All for Gemma.

Always for Gemma.

“These cuffs are designed to suppress celestial abilities,” Raif explains, his voice barely above a whisper. “You won't be able to use your powers while they're on.”

Not that I would use my abilities on them anyways. I’m here to be an ally , to show my support against my family.

I glare at him, my anger simmering beneath the surface. “You don't have to do this, Raif. There's another way.”

Raif's expression softens for a moment, but he quickly steels himself. “I'm sorry, Kyron. This is the only way to ensure your safety—and ours.”

“Stop this, Father! This is bullshit!” Gemma's voice rings out, slicing through the tense atmosphere. She steps forward, her eyes blazing with fury and defensiveness. “You can't just take him like this. He's done nothing wrong!”

Vitus turns to face her, his expression a mix of stern resolve and paternal concern. “Gemma, you need to understand. This is for everyone's safety.”

“No!” Gemma explodes, her voice cracking with emotion. “You don't get it. He's my mate! You can see him because he's mine!” Her declaration hangs in the air, a potent mix of defiance and vulnerability.

Vitus's eyes soften, and he puts his head down for a moment before stepping closer to his daughter. He gently grabs her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze.

“I know,” he whispers, his voice filled with a sorrowful understanding. “I know.”

Tears well up in Gemma's eyes, but she stands her ground, her body trembling with the effort to keep her emotions in check. “How do you know?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper. “How could you possibly know about us?”

Vitus leans in closer, his voice barely audible as he continues to whisper to her. “Because sometimes we have to make difficult choices to protect the ones we love. Trust me.”

As Raif begins to escort me away, Gemma's eyes never leave mine, a mixture of determination and desperation etched across her face. Her father's words seem to have a calming effect, but the fire in her eyes remains undiminished.

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