Page 37 of Tricked By the Alien Prince

“So, I did some…uhhh… not so legal research into him,” I look up at Volan waiting for the moment that he realizes I’ve committed a crime. I wait for him to draw back in disgust and judge me as some sort of criminal. Life is harsh in this world and the smallest infraction can lead to disastrous consequences.

But Volan doesn’t reject me. Instead, he motions for me to continue talking.

Honestly, it feels good to tell someone. The only other person I had to talk to about this was Stacy, and she’s barely an adult—nowhere near ready for this kind of situation.

“Walter’s been hiding things from us, like how Ariana was rich. He’d led her to believe she was so poor she was unable to even afford food! The number of times I had made some lame excuses to visit her, taking food with me just so she had something to eat…”

Ariana is a good person. She’s loving and kind and generous. And maybe a little wild and stubborn, but that’s part of her charm. She’s the kind of girl who’d stick up for you no matter what. She’d go to war just to protect you.

She’s the kind of woman I wish I was like—strong, resourceful, and independent. Capable.

I breathe deep, feeling that constant anger inside of me flaring to life.

“Walter was trying to marry her for her money. He didn’t care about her at all; he just wanted her assets.”

She deserved better. We all deserve better. No one should be forced to marry someone they don’t want.

I should have spoken out against Walter when he was pressuring Ariana to marry him.

I should have done something. Anything.

“I can’t let it happen again,” I vow. “Whatever it takes. I won’t let it happen again.”

I won’t let these sorts of injustices happen anymore. Someone has to stand up for what’s right in this crazy universe. If no one else will do it, then it’ll have to be me.

“When I was researching Walter, I realized he was up to something. So I hacked his communication logs. He’d been manipulating and blackmailing council members.”

It had been ridiculously easy to find the relevant communication logs and realize something was going on outside of public eyesight. Aren’t villains supposed to hide this sort of stuff better?

Walter got cocky, and it’ll be his undoing.

“As a community, colonization should be our top priority. You know, survive the coming years without starving, that sort of thing. Yet, that didn’t seem to be Walter’s focus.”

I heave a sigh, frustration seeking a way out of my body through my rapid breathing. I want to jump to my feet and pace, to just… hit something. Actually, make that someone; Walter’s face would be a pretty ideal target right about now.

“On the day we met, I took my chance while everyone was distracted. I hacked the colony databases right at the source, getting access to the most restricted of content. Top-tier classified stuff. All these diagrams and land surveys… things that Walter shouldn’t have access to, let alone be interested in. I need to know why these places are so important to him. It’s the evidence I need to bring him to justice.”

“That’s how I ended up here, Volan. Honestly, as far as most of us at the colony know, this place doesn’t exist. Most of us just want a chance at living and a proper future, one that we make for ourselves. We didn’t even know you were here. With proper introductions though, we’d probably rejoice in having your people as neighbors.”

Whatever tension Volan was holding dissipates. His shoulders slump, and for the first time he sucks in a deep, cleansing breath. His luminae glows between us, the erratic pulsing slowing to a steady light. It’s soothing, a night light chasing away my darkest fears.

“Is that what you want?” Volan asks, stepping closer. Heat radiates from his body, and I find myself gravitating toward him. I press my face against his firm pecs, breathing in the spicy scent that’s all Volan. Its warmth fills my nostrils and floods my lungs. A comfort in this crazy, pain-filled world. He’s proven to be someone I can rely on, to truly trust.

I gaze up at Volan, wishing he had the answers to all my questions. Of course, that would be too much to hope for. A bit like wishing for a guy that wants to both cook and clean while you put your feet up to watch vids. This close to Volan, I have to really crane my neck. I can’t help but wonder if he gets a sore neck looking down at me all the time? No wonder he calls me little.

“You aren’t supposed to exist, Volan.”

It feels like an end all statement, one that should provoke gasps and disbelief. Instead, Volan’s shoulders shake. His lips press into thin lines, and his cheek hollows as he sucks at them. He tries so hard, but after a moment he snorts with laughter.

“Volan!” I playfully smack him lightly on the shoulder. With my strength, it’s more of a tap than anything. Still, just like that, any lingering tension between us disappears. Somehow, again, he’s made this whole situation seem more manageable and less overwhelming. Despite the situation, he’s able to make me laugh. He pulls me from the pit of despair that seems to have become my life lately.

“Last I checked, I am very much alive and existing,” he replies. His arms wrap around me, pulling me flush against his body. He grinds his hips against me, and there’s no mistaking the rigid bar that presses into my stomach. He whispers heated words into my ear, “And I am very willing to prove that if you need to.”

“But seriously,” I tell him, “galactic laws state that a government can’t colonize a planet if it’s already occupied by sentient life… but Earth knew. Walter’s communications made that clear. So why did Earth lie?”

“There are quite a lot of aliens living on this planet,” Volan admits, a growing crease forming between his brows. “Some friendly, and some it’d be best for you to avoid.”

I nod, just accepting what he says as truth. I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of aliens. Somehow almost every other species has evolved to be bigger, more dangerous, and definitely more predatory. I mean, come on—we lack claws, sharp teeth, talons, poison, thick skin… Without our tools and weapons, we are defenseless. And aliens have invented their own weapons too, just to one-up us again.

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