Page 46 of Alien Prince (Alien Abductions and Seductions #1)
Chapter Twelve
Kael
The hour is late, and the palace is quiet, the halls dark except for the faint glow of the bioluminescent sconces. Emily sits across from me at the small table in my private study, her brow furrowed as she pores over the notes we’ve been dissecting for hours.
The tension between us is thick but not unpleasant, her sharp mind and relentless curiosity proving far more valuable than I had ever anticipated. For the first time, I allow myself to wonder if bringing her into my confidence wasn’t just necessary but right.
“Your council won’t like this,” she says, breaking the silence. Her voice is steady, but there’s an edge to it—a challenge. “They’ll see it as you bending tradition. Relying on an Earthling.”
I lean back in my chair, folding my arms across my chest. “The council’s approval is secondary to the security of Erythos. If this technology falls into the wrong hands, it won’t matter what traditions we uphold.”
Her lips press into a thin line, and I can see the argument forming before she even speaks. “But you need their support, don’t you? Isn’t that why you need a queen in the first place? To keep them in line?”
I stiffen, her words cutting closer to the truth than I’m comfortable admitting. “Careful, Emily,” I say evenly, though my tone carries a warning. “You are walking a dangerous line.”
“Someone has to,” she snaps, pushing the notes aside and meeting my gaze head-on. “You can’t keep pretending this isn’t about politics. The rebellion, the vessel, even me—it’s all connected, and you know it.”
Her defiance is maddening, but what’s worse is that she’s right.
“I know exactly what this is about,” I say sharply, leaning forward. “I’ve spent my entire life balancing the needs of this kingdom with the expectations of those who would see it fall. You think you understand the stakes, but you don’t.”
Her eyes flash with anger, and she rises from her seat, closing the distance between us. “Then help me understand,” she demands, her voice trembling with frustration. “Stop shutting me out every time I get too close to the truth. You can’t trust me halfway, Kael. Either let me in or send me away.”
I rise to meet her, my heart pounding as her challenge hangs in the air between us. She’s standing so close now, her breath warm against my skin, her fire burning brighter than ever.
“I can’t send you away,” I say quietly, the admission escaping before I can stop it.
Her eyes widen slightly, surprise flickering across her face, but she doesn’t back down. “Why not?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.
I don’t answer. I can’t. The weight of her question presses against me, demanding an honesty I’ve spent years avoiding.
“Because I don’t want to,” I say finally, the words raw and unguarded.
The silence that follows is deafening, the tension between us crackling like a live wire. Her gaze drops to my mouth, and I feel myself leaning closer, drawn to her in a way I can’t resist.
Her scent surrounds me, warm and intoxicating, and the thought of kissing her—of giving in to this pull—consumes every rational part of my mind.
But just as our lips are about to meet, I pull back, the reality of what I’m doing crashing over me like a wave.
“We can’t,” I say, my voice hoarse.
She takes a shaky step back, her cheeks flushed and her breathing unsteady. “Why not?” she asks again, her tone softer now, almost pleading.
“Because there’s too much at stake,” I say, turning away from her. “For both of us.”
I hear her exhale, a sound of frustration and hurt that cuts deeper than I expect. When I glance back, she’s already gathering her notes, avoiding my gaze as she moves toward the door.
“Good night, Kael,” she says quietly, and before I can respond, she’s gone.
The room feels colder without her, the silence oppressive.
Doesn’t she realize that if I give into my desires, I won’t be able to stop with a simple kiss? I would rip off her clothes and fuck her until she’s screaming my name.
That can’t happen.
Not unless she’s willing to be my future queen.
And with the possible rebellion… and the struggling colony… and all of my responsibilities…
It might be best if I wait to wed.
If I ever do.
Whatever this is between us, it’s dangerous. And yet, I can’t seem to stay away.