Page 13 of Saved By My Alien Husband

12

HAVEN

W e entered through the back exit and made our way to where my father was waiting behind the stage. Delphine’s hand was trembling and sweaty in mine, but I held on tight. From what she had told me about her life, she was a loner, bullied even. It made sense that she was nervous about addressing the humans for the first time since I landed.

She would never be bullied again, not if I had anything to say about it.

“You’ve finally made it out of the marriage bed, I see?” my father said with a smirk. “You almost missed our introduction.”

“Apologies, Father,” I replied, keeping my tone easy. I gave Delphine’s hand a reassuring squeeze, hoping to calm the tension vibrating off of her. She squeezed back, grounding me as much as I was trying to ground her.

Today, the North American dome had a choice—die on Earth within the year, or join me and my human bride among the stars. For Delphine's sake, they better pick correctly.

Michael was already at the podium, mid-speech in front of a packed great hall. The crowd was anything but calm.

I glanced at Delphine, whose face revealed more than she probably intended. She took in the different faces among the audience, searching. Some had tears streaming down their cheeks, others looking numb with resignation. I knew she was feeling the weight of their emotions as Michael broke the news about Earth’s doom and our arrival. I knew she was looking for her parents, but I couldn't spot them in the crowd. No one looked like Delphine to me, but the crowd was thick, so I couldn't study each person closely.

Michael paused. “The unidentified ship that landed yesterday—that still sits beyond our dome—is an alien race that came specifically to save a particular species from Earth. We are now part of their mission.”

The uproar that followed had the feeling of a brewing storm, people shouting in confusion and fear, each one adding to the chaos. A few asked whether they could trust us; one voice even questioned if we intended to eat them. I bit back a grin at that, but Delphine’s anxiety was written in her stiff shoulders and the way she swallowed nervously.

Michael raised his hands to quiet them, his voice remaining steady. “I’ll answer your questions, and our guests will, too. But there are two things I need to say first.”

I felt Delphine’s pulse quicken under my hand. My bride was braver than most would be in her place.

“Everyone here has a choice,” Michael continued. “To come with us or remain on Earth. I’ve chosen to leave with them, and I invite all of you to join me.”

The murmur of voices grew louder, but Michael pressed on. “That is not all. One of our own, Delphine Lastley, has been in communication with these aliens for years. She has been a true savior, even marrying the prince of their race to secure our alliance. It is because of her that we are saved.”

Hearing her name only seemed to stoke the crowd’s anger, as though they needed someone to blame. Michael tried to appease them, but I could tell Delphine’s patience was running thin. She felt exposed, caught between the love she held for her people and the reality that they might never see her for who she truly was. I pulled her to me, pressing her close as I whispered, “It was you who saved me, my princess. I wouldn’t be half who I am now without you. There would be no hope for your people if you’d chosen anyone else.”

She looked up at me, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she whispered in my language. Heated at the thought, I knew next time we slept together I'd demand she use her new knowledge to beg for me.

Delphine did not marry me to secure an alliance, that was Michael’s lie and was undoubtedly aimed at helping her be endeared to the humans in his own way. But she picked me for me and they were just lucky to be there, I wouldn’t let them forget now.

My father stepped forward, giving me a firm clap on the shoulder. “Our turn.”

Together, the three of us walked forward, and the crowd’s reaction was as expected. Shock, wariness, and more than a little discomfort rippled through the hall as they took in our green textured skin and big eyes. Hundreds of eyes watched us, most with suspicion.

“Hello, people of Earth,” my father began, his tone calm and assured. “I imagine this is coming as a surprise, but I want to assure you that we mean no harm. We've been working behind the scenes with the humans, through Delphine, and another species on this planet, for a few years now. We are devoted to keeping you safe and onto your next journey through the stars.” He gestured toward his advisors. “We’ll be available in the coming days to answer questions about our ship, our destination, and anything else you need to know.”

Hands shot up as my father began fielding questions, but I turned my attention to Delphine, who was staring into the crowd, her grip on my hand iron-tight. She was staring into the back of the room, unblinking. I searched, trying to see who had her attention, but couldn’t pinpoint them in the crowded room.

When my thumb grazed the top of her hand, calling her out of her thoughts, she blinked and moved her gaze, narrowing in on a woman in the front row that seemed about her age. Her expression was challenging as she stared right back at Delphine, expecting her to falter. Delphine’s posture changed, straightening as she met those steely eyes with equal resolve. The nervous energy surrounding her drained away, replaced by something far stronger.

I leaned close, whispering, “Let me guess, that was the old roommate?”

Delphine nodded, and I grinned, an idea already forming.

“Do you want to give her, and the rest of them, a show?”

She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What do you have in mind?”

I gave her my best wicked grin and walked toward my father at the podium, who only looked amused as I whispered my plan.

“My son, Prince Haven, would like to say a few words,” he announced, stepping back for me.

With my tail resting lightly on Delphine’s back, I guided her forward to stand beside me as I took the microphone. “Thank you, citizens, for taking such good care of my bride before I arrived.” I let the sarcasm roll off my tongue, and the uncomfortable shuffling in the crowd told me they heard it loud and clear.

Then I looked down at Delphine, letting my eyes sweep over her in a way that was both real and exaggerated for effect. She blushed under my gaze, but held my eye, a spark of laughter playing at the corners of her lips.

“Sorry,” I said into the mic, giving a feigned cough. “Honeymoon phase, after all.”

Her quiet giggle turned into full laughter, and in that moment, my heart felt lighter than it had in ages. The crowd, on the other hand, looked a mix of horrified and embarrassed.

But I wasn’t finished. “Before we invite you aboard our ship, there’s one more announcement. Once you’re with us, there will be no more saviors or servers. The class system will end. No one but Delphine will be known as a savior.”

Delphine’s head shot up, her eyes wide with shock as the crowd erupted in an uproar. The humans here saw this class system as integral to their identity, and removing it suddenly would upset them. Good.

I took Delphine's hand and we exited the main stage, my father taking the spot again. Michael’s jaw clenched, but he kept his face as neutral as he could. I knew he wouldn't contradict us publically, that's not what collaborators do. Let him clean up the mess, the humans are his responsibility.

“What are you doing?” Delphine whispered to me once we were behind the side curtains.

I turned to her, my tone steady. “Giving you everything you deserve.”

The shock in her eyes softened, but she was still tense. “Fewer people are going to come with us now because they're dealing with their hurt pride. Many of them only feel worthy because of their status here,” she explained.

“Delphine, we want to save all of humanity, not let it continue to be run by idiots. Humans already ruined one world, there has to be a change of thinking or they'll destroy the next planet we drop them off on. If this weeds out some of the trash, that's a good thing.”

I couldn't do much for her when we were connected only by the neural bond. She was in my world for a few isolated hours each day, but only I could see her. I had to hold back when my feelings developed over the years, but I didn’t have to now. I refused to.

Now that we were together, I'd protect her from both of our species. Nothing could get in my way when I was next in line to rule the Eldrin. If the other humans had to come along for the ride, so be it, but they would listen to our rules. Rules that favored her, above all.

She'd never be alone again.

As the Q and A ended, we walked out first, every face watching us as we went. A weight of eyes followed us and I knew, despite the crown I had metaphorically placed on her head, the target on her back was just as heavy.