Page 45 of Fated to the Alien Hero

We stroll through the village with my hand in his and the moonlight guiding our way. A random memory of Grady and I taking a walk when we were dating hits me. For a second, there’s some guilt that I’ve completely forgotten him in such a short time. But I let it go, because he stopped being the man I fell in love with the first time he hit me. I can be a little sad how it all ended, but I’m also not going to mourn the man he became. I deserve to be happy and loved. I’ve found that with Evren.

Epilogue

Alik

It is good to be back on Bohna. Not that I don’t enjoy the trips to Tavikh, especially because we get the much needed kanet plant my males so desperately need, but being away from home for long isn’t good for us. We are tied to our planet in deeper ways than most realize.

“It’s beautiful,” Eloise, the human female, stands in the bridge and stares out the windows at the planet we’re approaching.

The obvious awe she has is the same I feel every time we return from a trip. Bohna is stunning with its crystal clear blue waters and white, snow-capped mountains.

“Thank you.”

At her side is her Tavikhi mate, who still hasn’t gotten used to being on board theOnyx. Despite the flat expression on Zedam’s face, his dilated feline-like pupils, clenched fists, and the rapidly beating heart I can hear give away his trepidation. This is the first time one of the Tavikhi warriors has traveled to Bohna. It’sthe first time one of them has traveledanywherebeyond their own planet.

If one of my ancestor’s ships hadn’t been shot down and crashed onto Tavikh, we might not have ever known they existed. We might not have ever known that the plant that saves our lives existed. It is why we come here. Why we trade with a primitive race of warriors. I don’t believe Zander would change the terms of our agreement if he knew how desperately we needed the kanet, but it wasn’t a secret we were willing to share with anyone.

“Sire, we will be touching down momentarily. The queen is waiting.”

Fuck. I shoot a death glare at Rennik and he winces. I’ll send him to the training room with Horek. Have them run through a few fight simulations until he remembers not to use my title in front of anyone who is not Bohnari.

“Queen? Sire?” Eloise arches her eyebrow and smirks. “I didn’t realize you were royalty. Should we have been bowing all this time?”

Zedam’s gaze bounces between us. The translators we traded years ago has the capacity for adapting and learning new languages as they’re spoken, but I’m not sure if the humans spoke much of royal hierarchy in every day conversation.

“It is not something we make widely known, so future discretion would be appreciated. To you and anyone else, I’m merely Alik.”

Eloise tips her head and she switches from amused to serious. “Understood.”

Zedam fists his chest in the gesture of respect and honor the Tavikhi utilize. “You have my vow no one will learn of this from me as well.”

I nod my thanks and turn to stare out the viewing windows again. My mother, while I love her dearly, does not agree with my plan.Ido not agree with my plan, but it’s the only one I can think of to save our people.

We navigate smoothly through the lower atmosphere and after breaking through the clouds, the capital city of Preska comes into full view. It never fails to take my breath away. Various shades of teal and copper compose nearly everything from the leaves on the trees to the paved streets that snake along the ground.

Eloise and Zedam must feel the same way, because they both take several steps forward as though they need to get a closer look. I’ve never been to Earth, but from the way London described it, there are parts that are similar to Preska. Towering buildings spread out across the land, but while her planet has destroyed nearly all of nature, ours flourishes. Trees grow freely and there are gardens after gardens filled with the most colorful and lush flowers and plants.

Snow-capped mountains border one side while a deadly rainforest extends out beyond the city walls on the other side. Halfway up the vast climb of the granite slope, built on a plateau, resides the palace. The sun reflects off the glass windows, forming a kaleidoscope of colors.

Within the palace courtyard is my mother’s garden. No doubt that’s where she waits. It’s her sanctuary and the place she spends most of her time tending the flowers and meditating.

At last, we touch down on the landing pad outside the palace walls. I turn to Zedam and Eloise.

“Rennik will take you inside and help you get settled. I’ll have someone bring you some refreshments. I must greet my mother first, and then I’ll come for you and we can head to our communications room.”

“Thanks for your generous hospitality,” Eloise says.

I dip my head and wait until Rennik has escorted them off the bridge. Everyone else has already made their way to the cargo hold as well as their designated areas to ensure the ship receives its proper care. The weight of responsibility is heavy on my shoulders and I heave out a deep sigh once I confirm I’m alone.

To my fellow males, I’m the leader. The strong one. The crown prince of Bohna. It’s never been a position I wanted, but it’s mine nonetheless. Knowing my mother waits, I can’t linger any longer. I, too, make my way off the bridge and navigate the ship that is familiar to me as the palace where I grew up.

The scent of metal and fuel is a heady one, but I prefer the clean, slightly salty air I breathe outside. I’ve barely made it out of the ship and onto the landing pad when a severe cramp hits. I stumble with the intensity of it and count the seconds until it passes. They’re getting worse. From my pocket, I withdraw my small, personal stash of kanet powder and snort it, ignoring how fast I’ve been going through it.

I wind my way through the palace, nodding at the warriors and staff I pass until I push open the double doors leading to my mother’s gardens. The sweet and floral fragrances tickle my senses. My footsteps are silent on the stone path that lines theground leading in scattered directions and allows access to every part of the courtyard.

The soft pitch of a voice reaches me and I can’t help but smile. I take a curving right, and there, seated on one of the stone benches in front of a swath of Calanthium flowers is my mother. At her feet is Beck, my devoted Phinnek pup. His ears perk and his nose twitches.

As if they both sense my presence, they turn. Joy lights up my mother’s face and Beck bounds to his feet and rushes me.

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