Page 55 of Alien Prince (Alien Abductions and Seductions #1)

Chapter Twenty-One

Emily

The guard is a step ahead of me as we leave the palace. We’re heading toward the transport bay to find a spaceship. I’m going to Earth.

My heart pounds with each step, and I don’t know if I’m more afraid or determined.

Karlia, my sweet friend, insisted on staying behind, her soft voice steady as she promised to delay Kael.

“You’ll need time,” she said, her hand resting lightly on my arm. “I’ll make sure you have it.”

I hated leaving her behind, but I didn’t have a choice. Without her aid, I might not be able to accomplish my goal.

The guard who told me his name but escapes me speeds up, and I match his pace. His presence is both comforting and unnerving.

“We’re almost there,” the guard says, his voice low as he glances back at me.

I nod, clutching my bag tightly. The transport bay is just ahead and, with it, the spaceship that will take me far from Erythos. Far from Kael.

My stomach twists at the thought, but I force it down. This is the only way.

We enter the transport bay, and I see the sleek outline of the ship waiting for me. Relief floods my chest, but it’s short-lived.

A sudden noise—a sharp clang followed by a rush of movement—erupts behind us.

“Get down!” the guard shouts, pushing me behind a stack of crates.

Chaos descends in an instant. Figures in dark clothing, their faces obscured, swarm the transport bay. The guard draws his weapon, firing at the intruders, the blasts purple, but there are too many.

Before I can fully process what’s happening, rough hands grab me, yanking me to my feet.

I struggle, my bag falling to the ground as I try to twist free. “Let me go!” I shout, my voice echoing in the cavernous bay.

“Shut her up,” one of them snarls, and a hand clamps over my mouth.

Terror surges through me, but I refuse to give in. I kick and try to shove my head back to hurt them, but my blows accomplish nothing, the aliens too strong.

They drag me toward a smaller, hidden ship tucked away in the shadows, their grip unyielding. I glance back to see the guard fighting desperately, but he’s outnumbered.

The rebels. Who else could it be?

They shove me onto the ship, the cold metal floor biting into my knees as I’m forced down. The doors close behind us with a hiss, sealing me inside with my captors.

One of them steps forward, their face partially visible under a hood. “So, this is the Earthling who’s caused so much trouble,” he says, his voice dripping with disdain.

I glare up at them, my heart racing but my resolve hardening.

“You’ll make excellent leverage,” the rebel continues, crouching down to meet my gaze. “Kael will do anything to get you back.”

The implication sends a chill through me, but I refuse to let them see my fear.

“If you think he’ll negotiate with terrorists, you don’t know him at all,” I snap, more afraid for Kael and what he’ll do than for myself.

The rebel’s eyes narrow, and he straightens, signaling to the others. “Lock her up. We’ll see how long her defiance lasts.”

They drag me into a small, dimly lit cell at the back of the ship and slam the door shut behind me.

As the ship takes off, I press my back against the cold wall, my mind racing.

Kael.

They plan to use me against him, but I won’t let that happen.

I concentrate on my breathing and try to clear my mind. I will find a way to survive. They won’t win.

If they think I’m just some pawn, they’re sorely mistaken.