Page 9 of Tricked By the Alien Prince

There is chaos all around me. One moment my little halvi is by my side, and the next I see her retreating with her fellow beings. Good, at least she will be safe.

I grin. I’ll let my little one run, for now. Soon I will chase her down.

But first, I will ensure that none will follow us. When I catch her, I intend to take my time with her.

There is nothing better than sating the bloodlust with a different kind of lust when your entire body is a thrum of energy, when every nerve is alive.

Harkcana push their way into the village, shoving aside tables filled with crafts and foods. I tilt my head, studying them, as they roar at the frightened humans. This doesn’t appear to be a normal raid. They have plenty of opportunities to lash out with their weapons, but they don’t. They intimidate rather than harm, which to some degree lends itself to my theories that other races aren’t wholly consumed by darkness.

Several human males dash past me, drawing their own weapons. I watch as electricity arcs off the tips, sizzling in the air. They are fools for drawing such dangerous weapons so close to fleeing females, but it’s clear that many feel desperate. The scent of fear is pungent as it fills the air around me.

I step back as the two forces clash. Occasionally, I sidestep so that a fleeing human may get past me, squealing all the way. So very few of these humans have the training to fight. A fissure of concern runs through me for Maya. Her friend said they needed my help. Is a male threatening them in some way—a harkcana or a human?

I yelp when a flash of gold lands only a short distance from me. It’s there and gone again before I can draw my own weapon. I stare up at the sky in disbelief as a male drakoon flies off with a female in his arms. The last thing I expected to ever see was a drakoon working with a harkcana; they have a love-hate relationship—the drakoon hate how the harkcana love to raid their supplies. Though, given the way the drakoon frantically flies away, I suspect he simply saw an opportunity to snatch a female and took it.

Which reminds me why I came here… for a female. Not just any female. I want my halvi, Maya.

I watch as the battle starts to favor the humans. They simply have more warriors and better technology. The harkcana favor their battle axes and spears, many no longer powered by electricity.

It seems like Maya’s friend was taken from her mate. The harkcana are here to recover what is theirs, rightfully so. Given the way the fiery female struggles with a nearby human male, casting longing looks towards the green brutes, this belief is cemented in my mind.

All this time, not a single being has paid attention to me. I’ve stood here, simply watching and observing. And I’ve learned so much. The thrill of battle runs through my body, tingling at my fingertips. I itch to join in, to fight. It’s been so long. When was the last time I was permitted to join in a fight pit?

I draw a simple knife from a sheath at my waist and get to work. I slip stealthily through the crowd, slicing and cutting down my foes. I am not a brutal male. If I can disarm my enemy without needless slaughter, I do so. A quick cut at a wrist, slicing through the muscles he uses to grip his weapons. He’ll likely recover if his people treat him. A few I’m forced to kill, as they come close to raising their own weapons on me.

The thrill of the battle rushes through me. My blood pumps with it, the very lifeblood that makes my people seek out release in the fight pits.

“Finally!” I throw back my hood and laugh. Finally, I get to fight again. My father has forced me to deny my very nature for too long. I need to fight. I want to fight. The simple feeling of my muscles burning, my breaths short. I love how my blade meets my opponents, and how we practically dance around each other.

“We witness the prowess of these human warriors. I’ve been eagerly anticipating this day,” I exclaim. I thought coming to the surface would be a death sentence, but I’m having the time of my life.

Only, there’s one thing missing. One thing I need. I look over at the harkcana leader, who now stares at me as if I am a madman.

Given the pure joy that’s running through my veins right now, perhaps I am.

“But now it’s time for me to claim my mate,” I tell him. Because there’s no denying it. I feel a pull toward Maya that I haven’t felt for any of the females I’ve ever met. I want her. She will be mine.

I wink at him, a harkcana expression I have learned from watching their species interact at the fight pits. I believe it means good luck. The male must not expect it from me, as he gazes back at me bewildered.

And with that, I chase after Maya.

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

I want this little female. For now, and forever.

And I always get what I want.

ChapterSeven

MAYA

Three guards stand before me, staring at me with fish faces—eyes wide, mouths in the shape of an ‘O’. None of us ever expected to find ourselves in a situation like this. I mean, it’s a small colony, who would have thought someone here was doing illicit activities?

Until a couple of days ago, I certainly didn’t.

“I can explain,” I stammer.

Doesn’t the hero always say that, right before they get captured and framed by the villain? Not the best start to this situation.

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