Page 15 of Alien Spare (Cosmic Mates #9)

I’m going to be sick. Falkor staggered from the library, his heart squeezed in a vise of despair and betrayal. How could she have done that? She said she loved me!

He’d believed in her, believed he’d come first. It had never mattered when Soton had stolen a woman Falkor had set his sights on because neither of them had been interested in a serious relationship.

Now, his friend had exposed his secret and stolen the one woman he loved.

But it wasn’t Soton who hurt him—that honor went to Karma.

If he couldn’t trust her, who could he trust?

She must have guessed Bynti intended to air an exposé about their affair, so she attempted to buy herself some time by saying Soton had come on to her.

How could she have fallen for him? Couldn’t she see his charm was insincere and manufactured? His interest fickle? His passion would burn out, and she’d be left with ashes. Soton didn’t care about her.

The silence and emptiness of his suite squeezed the air from his lungs. This is what it will be like when she leaves for good, when she goes to him. His feet moved to the window overlooking the grotto. He stared out into a bleak future.

He’d lost the woman he loved, a lifelong friendship, and a business in one afternoon.

The king said he didn’t object to him working, but there would be a penalty for defiance and dishonesty.

Most likely, the company would be shuttered or sold.

But all things were not created equal—he’d gladly surrender the business to save his marriage.

Although Karma had betrayed him, he loved her.

Bynti insinuated, sensationalized, and spun the facts until only half-truths remained, but always at the core of her reports, there was an essence of veracity. If even a fraction was accurate, Karma had betrayed him. She’d spoken falsely when she said she loved him.

She’d planned to leave me.

He’d thought she’d fallen in love with him. Instead, she preferred the charm and banter of a man for whom seduction was just a game.

I thought Karma was different from the rest, that she’d chosen me. He wished he could hate her. Hate would relieve the pain. But he was just sad.

Gods of Kaldor, he didn’t feel up to facing her, finding out her next steps, when she planned to leave.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness! May I get you something?” Tontu spoke from behind him.

What he needed, the servant couldn’t provide. “No, nothing.”

“As you wish, then.”

He heard soft footfalls as the servant retreated. “Wait!” Falkor spun around. “There is something.”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“Transport. Get me a hovercar. A small one. Nondescript. No blazing insignia on the vehicle. Send it to the servants’ entrance.

” A plan took shape as he spoke. He’d travel incognito out of town.

The monarchy owned a couple of summer palaces, but he wouldn’t go there.

He’d find a place where he could be anonymous.

“The servants’ entrance?”

“Yes. And pack a bag for me. Plain clothes. Nothing fancy.” Besides the fact that servants always packed for him, he could not bear to enter the bedroom where he’d spent so many passionate nights. He never wanted to sleep in that bed again.

“How many days shall I pack for?”

“Whatever you think is best.”

Tontu looked confused, but Falkor couldn’t provide more direction. He didn’t know how long he’d be gone. He couldn’t think.

How long would it take before Karma left? Today? A couple of days? If she was still here when he got back, then he’d…he’d…he’d cross the bridge when he came to it.

“Will Ms. Kennedy be accompanying you?”

Ms. Kennedy will not be accompanying me ever. “No.”

If his terseness shocked Tontu, the servant gave no indication. Discretion was a prerequisite for palace staff. “Is there anything else, Your Highness?”

“Be as quick as you can. Thank you.”

“Of course.”

He flung himself onto the sofa where he and Karma had spent many an hour cuddling and conversing, getting to know each other. Except what he’d thought he’d known had been false. He loved her, but she did not love him back. He was a temporary husband, a practice spouse. A spare.

He held his head in his hands and stared at the floor.

His life had never seemed so bleak. Eventually he’d have to face the king and queen.

His parents had been appalled by Karma’s indiscretion .

Ironically, she’d drawn the heat away from the revelation about his commercial venture.

He’d assumed eventually word would leak out, and there would be an explosion of royal proportions.

He never expected to prefer that explosion over what had happened.

“Excuse me, Your Highness. The hovercar is waiting. I packed for several days.”

“I’m sure that will be adequate. Thank you.” He took the case from the servant.

“I’ll carry it down for you,” Tontu said.

“I’ll do it. I prefer to.” He pressed his fingers to his eyelids, recalling his mistake when the sisters had arrived. Kismet had come to marry Jaryk. Falkor had assumed Karma was her servant, and he’d ordered her to carry the luggage.

She’d put him down hard. Had that moment sealed his fate? Had he made a bad impression he’d never been able to recover from?

Taking his case, he left.

* * * *

“Falkor?” Eyes swollen from weeping, Karma crept into the suite. “Are you here?”

After he stormed out of the library, she’d tried in vain to convince the king and queen the holovid was a fake generated by Soton and Bynti to discredit and hurt Falkor.

They’d used camera angles to give a false impression and used her voice to say things she’d never said.

They hadn’t just misled or sensationalized; they’d outright lied. She would never cheat on her husband.

She recalled the drone zipping around. It had been more than annoying—it had been recording , capturing her image and voice. It truly had looked like she’d been about to kiss Soton in the hall when she’d been pushing him away. How viciously clever they were.

She peeked into the bedroom and then checked his workshop. She returned to the outer room and stepped out onto the balcony. Leaning on the rail, staring at the grotto below, she remembered the intimacy that had drawn them together. This can’t be the end. It can’t!

He said he loved me. How could he not believe me? At least give me a chance to explain!

Queen Myka and King Rullok hadn’t bought her explanation either.

It was her word against Bynti and Soton—and they had the holograms .

The queen had found Karma guilty, but she had agreed to conduct a post-mortem investigation.

Probably to confirm my guilt beyond all doubt.

If she couldn’t prove her innocence, would they send her back to Earth? Probably .

How did people fabricate outright lies and get away with it? They ruined people’s lives!

Supposedly, her own sister had verified the “facts” of the bogus story. She didn’t believe it. Kismet wouldn’t do that. She’d find out what happened after she made things right. Her marriage teetered on a precipice. She had to fix it before it came crashing down.

She’d deal with the anger later.

Emotions roiled in an uproar—sorrow and fear, but also anger, and betrayal.

She desperately feared she was losing the man she loved but devastated that he didn’t believe her.

The evidence looked bad, but he could have listened to her, given the benefit of the doubt!

She was also angry at Queen Myka and King Rullok.

They’d been quick to judge her, too. If they had such little faith in her, why order her to marry their son in the first place?

The target of numerous smear campaigns, Falkor should know how appearances could deceive.

By so readily accepting she’d betrayed him, he’d betrayed her.

But she would forgive—because she was a loving wife looking at the big picture.

There would be ups and downs, better and worse.

Dear Goddess, I hope this is as bad as it gets.

She’d hoped Falkor would be home, but she wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t. She guessed he was avoiding her. Eventually, he had to come home. Maybe, after thinking about it, he’d realize how wrong he’d been.

Leaving the balcony, she reentered the silent, vacant apartment to find Tontu waiting for her. “Good afternoon, Ms. Kennedy. May I get you anything? Something to eat or drink?”

“I’m not hungry, thank you.” She pressed a hand to her queasy stomach.

“Very well. Call me, if you need anything.”

“Um…you don’t happen to know where my husband is, do you?”

“No. He does not keep me apprised of his whereabouts.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks.” She’d expected as much.

“But he had me pack a bag and get him a hovercar.”

“He left the palace?” He packed a bag?

“About an hour ago.”

She blinked rapidly, fighting tears. “Did he say when he’d be back?”

“No, he did not.”

Tontu went away, and she sank onto the sofa and curled into a ball. It’s happening again. I drove him away. What if he doesn’t come home? What if he left for good?

Men always left her . She never held their interest for long. Outside forces had caused the rift between her and Falkor, but, if his love had been true and strong, he would have stayed to fight.

You don’t walk away from marriage to the one you love without fighting for it.

But he had, which spoke volumes.

What’s the point of me staying? I should go home to Earth. The king and queen would help me, to be rid of me.

Listen to yourself! she chided and proceeded to give herself a mental smackdown .

You’re doing the same thing you’re accusing Falkor of doing—giving up without a fight.

You don’t know he’s dumping you—you’re assuming he left because of you.

Maybe he got called away to a problem in a manufacturing plant.

Don’t imagine the worst until you have the facts. He will come home. He’s a prince. He can’t sever his relationship with the royal family. The king and queen would not allow him to walk away.

But will he still want me?

Oh, Goddess, help me. Send me a sign everything will work out.

Karma pushed herself off the sofa and got her tarot cards. She shuffled and cut the deck and turned over the top card.

Eight of Cups showed a man walking away.