It’s a beautiful speech, but I find myself only half-listening, something that’s entirely unlike me.
My gaze is fixed not on Rose, but on the petite woman at the back of the group. She stands next to a tall, golden-haired woman, looking as if she wants to make herself invisible.
But she could never be invisible. She’s far too stunning for that. I recognize her from the day the ship landed. I saw her that day too and was startled by how beautiful I found her.
She’s shorter than most of the other women, with curves that were meant to be touched and short hair that comes to just below her jaw, curling around her face in soft brown waves. Her eyes are green, and I find myself transfixed by them in a way that I never have been by anyone else’s.
I force myself to tear my gaze away and actually listen to what is being said.
Tordax is speaking now, his voice even and earnest. “We request that you allow all of the rescued Terran women to stay permanently and integrate into Kalixian culture. And we ask you to support the bonding of humans and Kalixians. We—I—understand that you have concerns, and they are not entirely unfounded. But this may be the only way forward for the Kalixian race, if we are to survive. We have long expected to die out. But that may not be our only option anymore.”
I pause, considering his words. I’ve heard a similar entreaty from Malav more than once, and I respect both his opinion and Tordax’s. They typically keep their own counsel on most things not related to matters of military intelligence and battle, so I know that for them to push so hard for this means that they believe strongly in the rightness of it. I trust their judgement—but I also have to consider the wishes of all of my people.
“I will consider it,” I say finally. “I value your insight, Tordax. But it is possible that the bond has clouded your judgement. And I must take all the wishes of my people into account, not only those who stand to benefit from this.”
Tordax opens his mouth as if about to speak, and I hold up my hand, giving him a warning look. I respect the leader of Alpha Force, but I also expect him to follow convention and not interrupt his prince.
“I did not say no. Only that I must think on it. And if our races are potentially to be joined, then I think I need to know more of the Terran ways. Perhaps this would help to convince me that the blending of our people is a thing to be desired.” I pause, letting my gaze rove over the clustered group. “I would like one of the Terran women to stay as a guest at the palace and teach me about the ways of the human species.”
The women start to murmur, turning toward each other as if to determine who to pick, but I shake my head.
“I already know which of you I would like to stay.”
I turn my gaze toward the petite woman at the back and extend my hand, pointing directly at her.
3
Emma
“I already know which of you I would like to stay.”
As Khrelan’s deep voice fills the room, my gaze drops to the floor. My heart seems to be trying to crawl out of my body through my throat.
Surely he won’t pick me.
I’ve never been singled out for anything in my life. Never caught anyone’s notice, really.
But then Lucy gasps, digging her elbow into my side. When I look up, I see the prince’s hand extended in my direction, pointing regally at me.
“You, there in the back. What is your name?”
Oh, shit.
My heart lurches even higher, and it takes me a second to find my voice. I’m terrified, almost shaking, but I don’t want to let him see how much he intimidates me.
“My name is Emma, your highn… my lord… Prince.”
I stumble over the words, realizing too late that I have no idea how to properly address him. I’ve never asked, not thinking for a second that I’d actually speak to him. And now I can feel myself flushing bright red, wanting nothing more than to sink into the floor with embarrassment and disappear.
I meet his eyes, piercing blue in his angular, handsome face, and a rush of disbelief washes over me. I already felt like I was living in some kind of crazy adventure story, but this is something altogether different.
Now I’m Cinderella at the ball, the small mousy girl picked by the prince despite there being a dozen other more qualified choices.
Oh stop it, I tell myself, trying desperately to bring my mind back to some semblance of reality. You’re hardly Cinderella. And he wants a teacher, not a lover. Get a grip.
“Emma, I would like you to stay and teach me about your human ways and traditions.” Khrelan frames it as a request, not an order, but I don’t need to have vast experience with royalty to know that there’s not much difference between the two.
“Oh, my God,” I murmur, so low that only Lucy can hear me.
“Oh, my God is right. You go, girl.” She nudges me again, the excitement clear in her voice.
My stomach flips over like a fish flopping around on land. I desperately wish he hadn’t picked me, but the other women are counting on me. If I can somehow charm this alien prince into thinking kindly of humans, then he might look favorably on our situation and allow us all to stay. Maybe he’ll even publicly embrace the idea of Kalixians and humans mating.
The thought of mating sends a fresh wave of heat up my neck and over my face, and I know I must be beet-red by this point.
Stop thinking about it, I tell myself firmly, trying to force the blood to drain from my cheeks.
I step forward, my knees shaking. To my eternal gratitude, I somehow manage not to trip over my own feet as I make my way to the front of the group and stop next to Rose and Tordax. Khrelan makes me so nervous that it’s almost as if my body can’t quite function normally.
“I graciously accept your offer,” I manage, and as Tordax murmurs to me under his breath, I quickly add on, “my prince.”
He’s not my prince, but I suppose if the other women and I do become citizens of Kalix, he will be soon enough. In a very detached, non-intimate sort of way, of course.
“Thank you for considering our plight,” Rose says gracefully, inclining her head as she bows to the prince. Tordax follows suit, along with the rest of the women and warriors.
They all start to turn away, and I realize with a rush of anxiety that this is it. They’re going to go back home, and I’m going to be left here with Khrelan, completely out of my depth for who knows how long. The thought makes my hands shake. I realize in a flash just how far into the deep end I’ve been thrown. I’m not entirely sure I’m going to figure out how to swim here.
“Are you okay?” Harper asks quietly, stopping to look down at me with serious hazel eyes.
“Of course she’s okay.” Lucy grins, winking at me. “She gets to live in a freaking palace.”
I try to smile, buoyed by her confidence and optimism, but I think it probably looks more like a grimace. I feel a little like I might faint.
Lucy’s grin falls away, and she lays a hand on my arm, steadying me.
“Hey, it’ll be okay. These guys are honorable people, and the prince must be too. But if you need anything, you know Rose, Harper, or I will be there for you. We’ll kick down the palace doors if we have to,” she jokes.
“From what Malav says, the prince may seem cold and stern, but there’s kindness underneath it,” Harper adds. “He’s a good man.”