Page 34 of Snowed in: With the Alien Tentacle Monster

"Let me finish, my son. The alliance is important, yes, but what your father tried to do..." She shook her head, her perfect features showing the first crack of emotion. "To kill an innocent being, to destroy a true bond… It goes against everything our people stand for."

Logan shifted slightly in Valen's embrace. "But you were willing to try to separate us before."

"Through persuasion, yes. Through showing Valen his duty." The Queen's gaze settled on her son. "But what I saw today... The power you wielded to protect your mate. That kind of strength only comes from a genuine bond."

Valen felt Logan's surprise through their connection. His own tentacles relaxed slightly, though he maintained his protective hold.

"So what happens now?" Valen asked, his voice still carrying an edge of defiance.

"Now," the Queen said, "we find another way. The alliance is still necessary, but perhaps..." She paused, considering. "Perhaps, we've been too rigid in our thinking. Your brother Kix has expressed interest in diplomatic service..."

Valen looked at his mother in surprise. "Kix? But he's only just completed his transformation cycles."

"He's of age," the Queen pointed out. "And unlike you, he's shown genuine interest in leaving the planet."

"I didn't know that."

"You were... occupied with your own preparations at the time." The Queen's lips curved in what might have been a smile. "Of course, such arrangements take time. We would need to offer Prince Seren's family something in the interim to maintain good faith."

"Like what?" Logan asked, tensing.

"Access to some of our outer crystal fields, perhaps." The Queen's perfect features took on a thoughtful cast. "It's not ideal, but after today's... incident, we need to find a way to manage." She fixed her gaze on Valen. "Understand that no one can know what you've done here. Taking a primitive mate instead of your intended…" She shook her head. "No. The universe must think your accident was fatal."

"You want to tell everyone I'm dead?" Valen had known there would be consequences to choosing Logan, but this...

"It's the cleanest solution," his mother said. "Prince Seren's family won't be pleased, of course, but they cannot object to an accident. And it will give us time to arrange... other possibilities."

Logan's hand found one of Valen's tentacles, squeezing gently. The touch helped steady him, even as his mind raced through the implications. No more royal duties. No more diplomatic obligations. Just him and Logan and whatever life they chose to build.

But also no visits home. No more family gatherings.

"What are you going to tell my siblings? You can't hide the truth from family. That is not our way."

His mother's features hardened slightly. "They will know the truth. The only truth that matters…" Her gaze swept over them both, "Which is that they can never see you again."

There was finality in her words. Through their bond, Valen felt Logan's surge of guilt and quickly sent back reassurance. This wasn't Logan's fault. This was his choice, his defiance, his... freedom.

"Valen." His mother's voice came out softer now. "May I speak with you alone? Just for a moment?"

Valen felt Logan's immediate tension through their bond, but his mate's voice was steady. "I'll wait in the kitchen." Before Logan could move, Valen caught his hand, sending a pulse of reassurance through their connection.Safety. Love. Trust.

As soon as Logan left, his mother's human form dissolved into pure light, her familiar energy pattern swirling in the light of the sun that shone into the room. Valen hesitated only a moment before letting his own form shift, his consciousness expanding as his physical constraints fell away.

His mother's essence reached for his. It was not an invasion like his father's attack had been, but the gentle mingling he remembered from his childhood. Love flowed between them, tinged with sorrow and pride and the cautious hope for mutual success and happiness. In this form, there could be no lies.

My brave, foolish child,her energy pulsed.You've grown so strong.

I'll miss you,he sent back, letting her feel the depth of his grief at their separation, but also his absolute certainty about his choice.Give everyone my love.

They'll have it always.Her energy wrapped around his in a final embrace.Be happy, my son. Be free.

Her light faded from the room like mist in the morning sun, leaving Valen alone with the lingering warmth of her farewell. He remained in his energy form a moment longer, processing the finality of what had just happened.

Then he heard the sounds of his parents' pods taking off.

They were gone.

The door to the room creaked open slowly, cautiously.

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