Page 63 of Tricked By the Alien Prince

“Of course our people care. They’ve just been waiting for a true King to lead them.”

I laugh, the sound bitter as it erupts from my throat. “A true King? Look at me, Tanis. I’m trapped in a room, sulking. I can’t fight, because I can’t even get out! It’s not like I can just command an army to stand with me.”

“Sure you can,” Tanis replies.

I raise my head, sadness touching me. He still doesn’t understand. He thinks everything is alright, just another night of me being punished for sneaking out of my room without the escort of my guards. He thinks everything will be fine in a day or two, like always.

“Tanis…”

He’s staring at me from across the room, a smirk stretching across his lips. He raises himself out of the seat, coming to stand at attention before me.

“All you’ve got to do is give the order,” he tells me. “We’ve been waiting a long time for a suitable leader to be ready.”

I blink at him. “What? Who’s we?”

“A sizable number of guards. Many prominent citizens and councilors. Even several warriors from other tribes are willing to step in. Your people are ready to support you, whenever you are ready to truly step up.”

I scrunch my nose at him, disbelieving. “It sounds like you’re saying that you’ve somehow managed to muster an army.”

“I have very much indeed mustered an army,” Tanis replies.

“But… how?” I ask. My head swirls. It’s impossible, isn’t it? Tanis? Of all beings, he’s soft-spoken and quiet. He cares far more than his fearsome appearance implies and always does as he’s ordered to.

Tanis shrugs, as if this isn’t a truly unbelievable feat. “A lot of people are unhappy. All it took was a few words here and there, and then things just sort of fell into place. I’ve spent the last few cycles doing all I can so that when you are ready to lead us to victory, so will be your army.”

“Why wait for me?” I ask. “If you truly have an army, you could have overthrown my father already!”

Tanis sits beside me on the bed, holding his hands out before him. He studies them, as if he’s trying to imagine just what he can grasp. A kingdom apparently, if he set his mind to it.

“I never wanted the throne, Volan. I’m a warrior, not a leader. I can organize fighters, but our people need someone who questions whether they deserve to lead—someone who worries about making the right choices and not someone who thinks it’s their divine right to just make decisions for others.”

“And you think that’s me? The male who just betrayed the one person who trusted him completely?”

Tanis nods firmly. “That’s exactly why. You’re haunted by your mistakes. The worst leaders are those who never doubt themselves.”

I stare at him, stunned into silence.

“You spend your time training with us guards, constantly pushing us to be better. Why? So that we don’t get hurt. When you aren’t with the council trying to convince them of things to change, you are sneaking off to patrol, even at your own personal risk.” Tanis’ luminae pulse vibrantly, lighting up the room with his passionate speech.

“Did you really think us guards were so oblivious to our Prince walking past in those ridiculous disguises? We’ve watched you. We’ve noticed that every action you do is for us, for your people. It’s never for your benefit. You actually care, and so we have dedicated ourselves to you. You are a True King. You are the one meant to lead us.”

I gape at him. All this time…

“You are a smarter male than I’ve given you credit for,” I tell him quietly, “and you are far more loyal than I deserve.”

Who is this male, and what did he do with my Tanis? We are so going to have to talk about this once I’m done. At the very least, he’s getting promoted to Advisor rather than a simple guard. Lights, I’m going to find this male a mate even if it kills me.

Tanis looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to talk. To give him an order. It’s all he’s ever done, I realize. He’s been waiting a long time for me to make this decision.

My mind is a whirl as I stare at nothing in particular, too active for me even to notice any decor around me in the dimly lit room. A pain squeezes at my chest, as if a hand was reaching out and gripping my very heart. My lungs feel tight as I try to breathe in deep, desperate for cool and calming air.

I’ve waited for this moment for years… and it’s not at all how I wanted to achieve my dreams. I imagined a joyous time, surrounded by those I cared about. Instead, I am about to declare war on the very male that’s supposed to dedicate his life to caring and protecting me. I’m about to send the very people I have grown to respect to their deaths.

“The king… is not fit to rule anymore,” I declare after a long moment, the words wrenched from my broken soul.

Tanis grins at me, the very same expression he wears whenever he’s won a particularly hard fight - usually against several opponents at once. The male is formidable—truly fearless.

I hold up my hand, stalling him. “I do not know if I am fit to be your king either, Tanis. I made a promise to Maya, and I broke it. I am not a male of my word, as you seem to believe me to be.”

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