Page 36 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
A sudden flash of movement catches my eye—small and darting through the underbrush. A creature? A Kiphian guard? My heart races as adrenaline spikes through me. But before I can process anything further, Todd blinks erratically.
“Possible threat detected!”
“Oh come on!” I hiss, squinting into the shadows where nothing appears to move now. “You're just freaking me out at this point! I don't even see anything.”
With resolve steeling within me, I resume walking. There’s no turning back; no comfort in retreating to captivity—even if it means never seeing Zevran again.
“I’ll find a way out of this,” I promise myself as the forest closes in around me like a suffocating embrace. And somehow—I have to believe—I’ll escape this and get back to the CRC. Leave all of this in the past where it belongs.
CHAPTER 28
ZEVRAN
Istand at the head of the council table, a heavy weight pressing on my chest as the members file in. The air buzzes with tension, each face taut with concern or disdain. My mother slips into the room, her presence unexpected but not unwelcome. She’s always been curious about my decisions, especially now.
Once everyone settles, I rise. Their chatter fades into an uneasy silence.
“Council,” I begin, my voice steady despite the chaos brewing within me. “With the assistance of young Oswin, Carys has escaped the palace.”
A gasp ripples through the chamber, followed by an explosion of voices.
“Find the human!” one elder bellows, slamming a fist against the table.
“She must pay!” another shouts, spittle flying across the polished surface.
“She is the mate of a prince! We can’t just?—”
The argument spirals into chaos, overlapping accusations and demands crashing against one another like a storm. I lettheir voices wash over me without response. My heart pounds louder than their outcries; it’s almost deafening.
My gaze drifts to my mother. She leans back in her chair, watching with keen interest as though she’s studying a fascinating new plant species. She knows how to remain composed in chaos—an admirable trait I struggle to replicate.
A noble stands up abruptly, pointing a finger at me. “You brought this upon us! Your bond with her—this reckless infatuation—is an affront to our people!”
My fists clench at my sides. Infatuation? They don’t understand; they can’t grasp what this bond means for me—or for Verus.
“You’re endangering our kingdom,” another adds sharply. “If she talks… If she exposes our secrets…”
“Enough!” I roar, cutting through their clamor like a knife slicing through thick vines. Silence descends as they turn to stare at me wide-eyed.
“Carys is not our enemy.” My voice trembles slightly despite my resolve. “She’s been treated like a prisoner while we argue over what it means for us to have her here.”
“And yet she left! She chose flight over loyalty!” an older noble retorts, his voice thick with disdain.
“I’m aware,” I reply coldly. “But consider this: What if she didn’t leave because of betrayal? What if she fled out of fear? Or because we’ve confined her to these walls like some animal?”
Murmurs ripple around the room; uncertainty flickers in their eyes like flames wavering in the wind.
“Are you suggesting we negotiate with her?” My mother’s tone is sharp but tinged with curiosity.
“I suggest we find her first,” I say firmly. “And then determine how best to proceed.”
The council members exchange glances filled with skepticism and disbelief as they process my words.
“We cannot just allow her to roam free among hostile territories!” one cries out again.
“She has knowledge of our world,” another adds hastily. “What if she speaks of our weaknesses?”
The noise in the council chamber escalates, a cacophony of accusations and fears. Some nobles scream for punishment, their faces twisted with outrage. Others argue that Carys represents an opportunity for unity—an unexpected ally in our struggle for peace.
