Page 68 of Alien Prince (Alien Abductions and Seductions #1)

Chapter Thirty-Four

Kael

The ocean’s bioluminescent waves gently illuminate the cliffs below. Emily lies nestled against my chest, her breathing steady as her fingers trace idle patterns over my skin. The warmth of her touch, the steady rhythm of her presence—it fills a void I didn’t fully realize existed until she came into my life.

I glance down at her, the silver glow of the moons highlighting her soft features. Her eyes meet mine, a small smile playing on her lips.

“What are you thinking about?” she asks, her voice a soft murmur.

“You,” I reply without hesitation.

Her smile widens, and she tilts her head to look up at me fully. “What about me?”

I take a deep breath, my hand brushing a strand of hair from her face. “About how much you’ve changed my life,” I say honestly. “About how, for the first time, I feel… whole.”

Her expression softens, and she places her hand over my heart. “Kael…”

I shake my head, cutting her off gently. “Let me say this,” I murmur, my voice steady but thick with emotion. “Before you, my life was duty and responsibility. I ruled because it was expected, because it was the path laid out for me. But you’ve shown me what it means to want something for myself. To fight for something because it matters—not just to the kingdom, but to me.”

She blinks up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“I’ve fought battles, faced rebellions, carried the weight of an entire kingdom on my shoulders,” I continue, “but nothing—nothing—matters as much as you. As us.”

Her fingers tighten against my chest, and I can feel the rapid beat of her heart mirroring my own.

“I vow to protect you, Emily,” I say, my voice lowering but no less resolute. “To protect what we have, no matter what challenges come our way. You’ve made me stronger, braver, better. And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving myself worthy of you.”

Tears spill from her eyes, but she’s smiling. “You don’t have to prove anything, Kael,” she whispers. “You already are.”

I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that’s slow and deep, pouring everything I feel into the connection. She responds with equal intensity, her hands threading through my hair, her touch grounding and electrifying all at once.

Once we finish, Emily cups my face. “I’m not going anywhere,” she says softly, her voice steady despite the tears in her eyes. “You’re stuck with me, Your Highthos.”

A low chuckle escapes me, and I press another kiss to her forehead. “Good,” I murmur. “Because I’m never letting you go.”