Page 60 of Alien Prince’s Fake Bride (The Tentacle Throne #1)
- Mareliux -
I close the door behind me.
Caret’ax gives me a quizzical look. “Are you all right, sir?”
“Is it all right to lock a beautiful aviet in a cage to keep it safe, Caret’ax?”
He opens the door again and checks on Umbra, then quickly closes it. He must have gotten a glimpse of Umbra’s face. “I would say it depends, sir. If the cage truly keeps the aviet safe, it may be the only right thing.”
I nod absentmindedly as we walk down the stairs. “Is everything ready? Colonel Grast knows her job?”
“She does, sir. Although she’s not happy about being away from her soldiers during this time.
The Calanians appear well motivated to keep the Princess safe.
They are all honored to have been given this task.
Or so I interpret their hard gazes and strange words.
‘We shall care for the alien as if she were not one,’ they said. I think it’s a good thing.”
We pass the first of the guards at the lower level. I stop and look them up and down. “Battle gear is appropriate, legionnaire. The Princess and I expect you all to protect her with your life, if that becomes necessary.”
“Yes, my Prince!” the Calanian guards say as one.
“You may not be thrilled about not seeing battle against the Vyrpy,” I go on. “But this is just as important. You are protecting the very soul of the Empire. Let nothing harm her!”
“Yes, my Prince!” they repeat so the yell echoes from the staircase.
I don’t know where the words came from. The very soul. But it feels right, almost painfully so. She has taken over a great deal of my mind. Whether I’m fighting a virtual battle or debating in some Imperlal council meeting, she’s always on my mind. I can’t wait to get back to her.
I stop and face my bodyguard. “Caret’ax, I am going to war. Much as I would prefer to have you with me, I want you to stay here and keep the Princess safe.”
Caret’ax’s eyes glow. “Yes, sir. I think she needs it.”
I would have expected some protests from him, but I’m satisfied that he understands my reasons. “Good man. It puts my mind at rest to leave her with you. When I come back, you can take that vacation you earned.”
“We’ll see, sir. When you return.”
I cuff him gently on his massive shoulder. “Very good, my friend.” There’s nothing else to say, so I leave him there.
As I walk down the last steps to the waiting army gunship that will take me to the Gladiux , I sense the Syntrix connection with Umbra starting to feel brittle and cold.
But this has to happen. I can’t bring her to the war, the way she wants.
She simply wouldn’t be safe. This is the only place on Khav where she might be.
Having her travel through space now, with the Vyrpy this close… it sends a shiver down my back.
No, this is the best I could hope for. Umbra may feel miffed, but she is safe until I return. And then, I will persuade her to stay here. I will show her what I can do for her planet, what the Empire can do. I will show her how much I love her.
The crew of the gunship salute me as I approach.
“Let’s go to war,” I tell them with a confident grin. “We’ll beat the Vyrpy once and for all!”
“Yes, my prince!” they reply, and the eagerness in their faces makes me feel sure of victory.
As the gunship rises in the air, heading for the spaceport where the Gladiux is waiting, I look out the window and down on the dull, nondescript building where Umbra will be safe.
Outside, there’s no sign of its significance, except for a couple of Calanians in their eye-catching uniforms slowly walking along one wall.
Anyone who comes closer than a hundred paces will be stopped and turned back.
And nobody will see the inside of that building or suspect what’s inside it.
I let out a sigh and finally allow myself to think of the war I’m about to fight.
Umbra is safe.