Page 65 of Tricked By the Alien Prince

She can run, but I will chase. She can hide, but I will find her.

I want this little female.

And I’ll give her everything that she wants - be it planet, kingdom, or even my soul.

Because one thing is certain - I love her.

ChapterThirty-Two

VOLAN

My spear leads as I move through the corridors, Tanis at my back. The stone beneath my feet no longer feels familiar – instead, it’s cold, hostile. Like the kingdom itself rejects my presence. My own home has become a battlefield, one where life, death, and freedom hang in an unstable balance.

Ahead, two guards round the corner. Their luminae flare in shock, catching sight of me. One raises his weapon while the other turns to flee – no doubt to raise the alarm.

“Stand down,” I command. The words echo off the metal walls, firm and unyielding.

The first guard hesitates, his spear wavering. His companion freezes mid-step. Their luminae pulse rapidly, betraying their uncertainty. They’ve spent years following orders, trained to obey without question. Yet here I stand, their prince, giving them a direct command that conflicts with everything they know.

“Your king has betrayed us all,” I tell them. My voice carries the weight of truth, heavy as the spear in my grip. “He cowers in darkness while our people suffer, and I will no longer stand by and watch idly. Will you stand with me? Will you help me lead our people into the light?”

The guards exchange glances. Their weapons lower slightly. They know our king’s not well, hasn’t been for a long time. They want change, even if they are slow and hesitant to admit it.

A flicker of movement catches my eye – more guards emerging from adjoining corridors. Within moments we’re surrounded. My muscles tense, ready for battle, the sound of my heartbeat in my ears as my body prepares to act.

If they choose to fight, I’ll give them one they’ll never forget.

“What’s happening?” one guard demands, luminae flashing with alarm.

“It’s time for a change of rule. It’s time for our people to stop hiding and start becoming who we are meant to be,” I reply, voice loud enough that everyone present can hear. “The question is whether you’ll be part of it.”

Silence hangs in the air, an impressive feat with so many warriors gathering together—each ready to sacrifice their lives in battle. I don’t want to fight them, but I will if I must. These are males I’ve grown up alongside, trained with, fought beside like the brothers I never had.

The first guard steps forward. For a heartbeat, I think he’ll attack. He certainly holds his weapon before him, and his face is a stern expression of concentration.

Instead, he drops to one knee.

“My prince,” he says. Then, with more conviction: “My King.”

One by one, the others follow. Their weapons lower, their heads bow. My chest tightens at their show of loyalty. These males aren’t just following orders – they’re choosing to believe in something better; a new life for all of us.

“You don’t have to kneel,” I tell them, moving forward to clasp the first guard’s shoulder. “Stand with me as equals.”

Tanis shifts beside me, a constant shadow at my back. His luminae pulses with approval.

“This is why I choose to follow you,” he says quietly, once again reaffirming his decision. “You see us as more than just warriors.”

His words strike deep, reminding me of Maya. She saw me – truly saw me – not as a prince or a warrior, but as a male trying to do what’s right. I betrayed that trust. The pain of it burns through my chest like molten metal.

“We move for the throne room,” I announce, pushing aside my personal anguish. There will be time for redemption later. Right now, my people need me. “Anyone who stands with the king stands against their own people. Show mercy where you can, but do not hesitate to defend yourselves.”

The guards fall in behind us as we advance. More join with each corridor we pass, our numbers swelling. Word spreads ahead of us like wildfire – the prince moves to claim his throne – by lawful right, and by force.

Yet with each step, doubt gnaws at me. Am I any better than my father? He too once thought he was protecting our people. When did fear transform him from protector to tyrant? Will I one day look in the mirror and see his face staring back at me?

“You’re brooding again,” Tanis comments as we enter yet another corridor. I stare down its darkened length, lit by the warm luminescent glowleaf. Dotted occasionally along the walls are the harsh glare of artificial light; a reminder of just where we came from. Each room we pass was one used by villains for nefarious purposes; some for their own enjoyments—often at others’ suffering—and some simply for vile creations such as the medicine we so strongly rely on today.

This is where my kingdom began, formed out of bloodshed and pain. But it doesn’t need to be where it ends. We led the charge to victory once before, when we drove our slavers off the planet, and we can do so again—only this time I hope that it will result in alliances with our fellow tribes rather than further alienation and competition.

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