Page 61 of Claimed By her Alien Prince

My heart had stopped when she killed the guard who snuck up on me, and Behlial's blade had been close to finding its target multiple times as I tried to keep an eye on her and fight the King of Darkness.

And now Azazel said she was hurt.

My heart pounded inside my chest like never before as I rushed to the throng of females gathered around her.

It was only when I saw her standing, leaning against the hilt of a sword and in obvious pain that my heart calmed some. She was alive even though she was hurt, and that was all that mattered. Wounds could be healed.

"That was reckless, Lilith," I admonished, before I crushed her sweet body to mine.

She breathed out a sigh of relief against me, and I whispered, "You're hurt."

"It's nothing," my brave mate assured me with a pained smile.

I pulled my dagger to cut myself and give her the healing blood she needed, but her hand stilled me.

In wonder, I watched as her other hand dipped into her wound, spreading her blood over mine. Before my wound had a chance to heal, she smeared some of my blood over her injury.

"You are getting good at this," I said, smiling at her like an idiot while my heart warmed at her simple gesture of stopping me from inflicting another wound. My practical, brave mate. Love for her overcame me and nearly robbed me of my breath.

"What's happening?" she asked with wide eyes.

But I had questions of my own. "You amaze me. Where did you learn to fight like that?" I wanted to know out of earnest admiration for her. She had fought like a seasoned warrior.

A wicked grin made its way across her face, making it obvious I wasn't the only one who kept secrets. "I have a trick or two up my sleeve."

My grin widened, and I lost myself in her gaze. "So I gathered."

"Well done." Queen Ishtar sashayed down the throne steps, interrupting our moment and bringing us back to the present. Ishtar clapped her hands together, pointing at the servants who were still cowering in a corner, and said, "Get this cleaned up." She indicated the dead guards and Abaddon's headless body.

"Sit back down, my friends. All is well, let us hail the newKing of Darkness." She turned toward the nobles who hesitantly made their ways back to their chairs, looking at each other unsure of what happened and how to handle this.

"The throne decided on our new king. As you all know, only the one true king can pull the sword from the stone throne," Queen Ishtar continued.

Lilith leaned into me and mumbled something about a legend of a male named King Arthur. Her stories intrigued me, but it would have to wait until later before I could ask her about it.

It had been a stroke of luck when, only a couple of nights ago, I discovered I could pull the swords from Behlial's throne. On a dare and driven by desperation, the three of us had snuck into the throne room two nights ago. In order for our plan to succeed, we needed weapons, preferably made from mortferrym.

I still didn't know why I was able to pull the swords out when my brothers failed, but in the end, we had just been happy to know we would be able to obtain at least one weapon when the time was right.

Ishtar brought me back to the present as she closed in on us. By announcing me as the new king, she had taken the initiative with the nobles, whose loyalty to Behlial I wasn't sure of, but right then they were confused as to what to do. No one had ever challenged the King of Darkness and won. If we didn't want to fight them too, I needed to act now and take advantage of their indecision.

Ishtar reached us with wide open arms held up for me. Reluctantly, I let go of Lilith to allow the embrace. Thankfully one of the other maidens, Azubah I thought her name was, rushed over and supported Lilith, who leaned heavily into her.

"Behlial,King of Darkness,has yielded his power to his descendant, Seth, as the throne's chosen. I give you our newKing of Darkness, King Seth!" Ishtar lifted my hand up.

A cheer rose through the nobles, servants, and guards. Even my brothers chimed in, their cheers held a ring of sarcasm though.

"May your wisdom guide us through the styx for all eternity," Ishtar intoned loudly, and her words were met by another cheer.

I sent another worried glance toward Lilith, who nodded and smiled bravely at me, before I climbed up the stairs to claim my new throne. A throne I never desired, but which was now mine nevertheless. With a somber expression, I put the sword back into its sheath by the arms of the throne. Marduk rushed to gather the one Behlial had discarded and brought it to me so that it, too, could be replaced.

"Prince Marduk, please inform the guards who have been locked up about the change in leadership and make sure their alliance is to their new king," Ishtar demanded.

"I will have them brought to you to swear their oath, my liege," Marduk answered solemnly and bowed slightly to me.

"Mother, will you remain queen?" I asked Ishtar as I was unsure what protocol demanded.

She shook her head no. "You have found a worthy queen for yourself, son. I do have one request though," she answered in a strong voice, with tears shimmering in her eyes. My throat constricted as foreboding filled me.

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