Page 56 of Alien Prince (Alien Abductions and Seductions #1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kael

The moment I arrive at the transport bay, my heart sinks. There’s a cluster of dead bodies, and I jump out of the vehicle.

There’s movement. One of them is alive.

The guard assigned to watch over Emily.

I want to shake him, to force him to tell me what happened, but he’s barely conscious.

I carry him onto my transport. “Return to the palace,” I say after sweeping my gaze one last time for Emily.

She’s not here.

Has she left for Earth then? But what about the dead bodies near the guard?

Not even an hour later, the guard sits on the edge of the medical bay cot, his uniform torn and bloodied but his posture rigid. Despite his injuries, his eyes are sharp, his focus unwavering as I stand before him.

“What did you see?” I demand, my voice low but unrelenting. “What happened? Where’s Emily?”

He takes a shaky breath, wincing as he shifts. “They were rebels, Your Highthos. I recognized some of them from the outskirts of the capital, at gatherings where dissent brews. I tried to protect her, but…”

“They took her,” I growl.

He nods.

I narrow my eyes, the knot in my chest tightening. “Names. Places. Anything.”

The guard nods, grimacing as he speaks. “I think the leader is Nyran. I overheard one of them call out his name. He’s been rallying support in the southern provinces for months, preying on discontent. I’ve heard whispers of his stronghold, hidden deep in the Sareth Wastes.”

Nyran. The name rings familiar. He’s been a thorn in my side for far too long, but I never thought he was behind the coup.

“He took Emily.” I clench my fingers into fists. I’ll kill him myself.

“I tried to… I’m sorry,” the guard says quietly, his gaze dropping.

“Rest,” I tell him, my tone clipped as I turn toward the exit. “You’ve done well.”

He nods weakly, and I stride from the room, the fire in my chest building with every step.

Nyran. The Sareth Wastes.

It won’t take long to find him.

I summon my top strategists, laying out the information I’ve gathered. Their protests about the dangers of storming the rebel stronghold fall on deaf ears.

“This is not a discussion,” I say coldly, silencing the room. “Emily is their prisoner, and they intend to use her against me. We cannot allow that to happen.”

“But, Your Highthos,” one of them ventures cautiously, “if you charge in, they may harm her to send a message. We must tread carefully.”

I pause. As much as I hate to admit it, they’re right. Recklessness could cost her life.

“Then we’ll strike with precision,” I say after a moment, my voice steady and commanding. “We infiltrate the stronghold, retrieve Emily, and dismantle Nyran’s operation from within.”

The room is silent, but I see the nods of agreement. Plans are set in motion, the best operatives assembled for the mission.

As the final details are confirmed, I retreat to my chamber to prepare. My armor gleams under the dim light, each piece a reminder of the duty I carry.

But this mission is not just for the crown.

It’s for her.

I fasten the last piece of my armor, my jaw tight. Emily is out there, in the hands of those who seek to harm her, to use her against me.

But they underestimate her. They underestimate me.

I will find her. I will bring her back.

And Nyran will regret the day he dared to touch what is mine.

The air in the Sareth Wastes is heavy with heat and dust, the rugged terrain providing natural cover as my guards and I move silently toward the rebel stronghold. The structure looms ahead, a haphazard fortress carved into the rocky cliffs, its defenses meant to repel armies—not precision strikes.

But armies don’t move with the desperation I feel now.

Every step toward the stronghold sharpens my focus, my mind consumed with one thought: Emily.

She’s here, and if they’ve hurt her—

I push the thought aside, clenching my fists as we reach the outer wall. The guards I trust most move swiftly, disabling the sentries with quiet efficiency. The adrenaline surging through me is tempered only by the iron control I’ve honed over years of leadership.

This isn’t just a rescue. It’s a reckoning.

We slip inside the stronghold, navigating the dimly lit corridors with precision. The rebels are organized but overconfident, their defenses lacking against a strike this calculated.

One of my men signals, pointing to a heavy metal door at the end of the hall. I know before he speaks.

She’s there.

I step forward, my heart pounding as I examine the lock. It’s rudimentary—a simple mechanism meant to delay, not stop someone determined enough.

“Cover me,” I order, my voice low but firm.

Within moments, the door creaks open, and I step inside.

The room is small, dimly lit by a single overhead light. And there she is—Emily, sitting on a narrow cot, her arms wrapped around herself.

Her head snaps up as the door opens, her eyes widening when she sees me.

“Kael?” she whispers, her voice barely audible.

Relief crashes over me like a wave, and I’m across the room in an instant. I fall to my knees in front of her, my hands cupping her face as I search her eyes for any sign of injury.

“You’re safe now,” I say, my voice rough with emotion. “I’ve got you.”

She trembles under my touch, her wide eyes filling with tears. “You came for me,” she says, her voice breaking.

“Of course I did,” I reply, my thumb brushing away a tear as it slips down her cheek. “I would tear this entire place apart to find you.”

Her arms wrap around my neck, pulling me close, and I feel her sob against my shoulder. I hold her tightly, my own chest tight with the weight of everything I haven’t said and everything I can’t bear to lose.

“I thought…” she starts, her voice muffled against me. “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

I pull back just enough to meet her gaze, my hands framing her face. “I would never abandon you,” I say firmly. “Never. You’re everything to me, Emily, and I will always fight for you.”

“Kael,” she whispers, her voice trembling, but before she can say more, footsteps echo outside the room.

I rise instantly, shielding her with my body as one of my guards enters.

“Reinforcements are on their way, Your Highthos,” he says quickly. “We need to move.”

I nod, glancing back at Emily. “Can you walk?”

She stands, her legs unsteady but her determination clear. “Yes.”

I take her hand, leading her toward the door, my grip firm and reassuring. We navigate the stronghold quickly, my men clearing the way with precision.

By the time we emerge into the open air, the stars shining brightly above, the weight on my chest begins to lift.

She’s safe.

And as we board the transport waiting for us, I pull her into my arms again, holding her tightly as if to convince myself she’s really here.

“I’ve got you,” I murmur again, pressing a kiss to her hair.

This isn’t over. The rebels will answer for what they’ve done. But for now, all that matters is her. I’ll never let her go.