Page 14 of Saved By My Alien Husband

13

DELPHINE

“ N o one but Delphine will be known as a savior.”

Those words did something to me that I could not describe. I never thought I'd be a savior, in name or in reality, nor did I think that someone would love me enough to fight for me.

I gave Haven a tour of the areas of the dome he did not see the day before while we waited for his father and Michael to finish talking to the crowd. Stepping into the gardens just as I had done the day prior, I showed him where I first saw his ship and he sat there for a minute, asking me questions. He didn't like the citrus, his nostrils flaring as he turned away, but I noted he picked a few leaves, putting them in the pocket of his pants.

“What are you doing?” I asked after I saw him do it a fifth time.

“Our ship can study the plants with a clipping like this and re-create it from samples,” he explained.

“That's really cool. Your father should tell that to Michael. He'll take you to the farm dome so you can get more samples. We have most of our plants over there.” I gestured vaguely in the direction where the other dome was. Its outline was visible if you squinted at the fogged glass hard enough.

“Good idea. I'll let him know,” Haven said, stopping his perusal to pull me closer.

It was eerie how quiet it was, like the dome was just for us. I'd never seen it so empty.

Haven's hands held my face, thumbing my cheeks like I was precious. After a moment, he said, “Saving you is the honor of my life, Delphine.”

My breath caught in my throat, eyes watering.

“Don't cry, princess. I'm here,” he affirmed, the depths of his eyes searching mine.

“That's why I'm crying,” I whispered.

His lips met mine in a sweet unhurried kiss. My home, my Haven.

My eyes were heavy as I stared up at him a moment later. “Haven, is there something the humans can do to help the Eldrin too? We're about to be a burden, so I want to make sure the deal is fair to your people.” Growing up so independent, I wasn't used to accepting help without giving something else in return.

“They'll take jobs on the ship. I'm sure many of my kind will also end up married like we are. It's already enough. We came here to help, not ask for help. It may have initially been for the cats,” Haven said. “But we have enough.”

I hadn't thought about it before, but it was likely other humans would marry into their species. What would that be like, our species eventually merging into one? “You are too good for us,” I replied, my head leaning against his chest.

“Unlikely,” Haven replied, smirking.

Everything he did made me want to melt. “I love you.” It was so freeing to say, and so relieving to know the feelings I had all these years were real.

Haven's chest seemed to vibrate with pleasure. “I love you too.” He repeated it again, this time in his native language, and I practiced repeating it. Training my brain to find those thought patterns, even though I had been given a shortcut to learn, would take practice.

“We'll work on it, princess,” he said with a laugh at my poor pronunciation, tugging my chin to him with a kiss.

Impossibly, I was hungry for him again. By the feel of him against me, so was he. I pulled him with me behind the thickest tree in the garden. He leaned me against the trunk and boxed me in. With his hand above my head, leaning in as I stared up, the heat between us grew.

“Do you like being my bride, little human?” He appraised me. “My Delphine, my princess, the only person I'll ever touch. How did it feel to have my knot inside you?”

How was every word out of his mouth so delicious? “I wish we were home so I could have your knot again,” I said and bit my lip. “Being your princess is all I've ever wanted but never known I could have.”

“Hm, I like that answer,” Haven said, inching closer until his pelvis leaned against me. Knowing now what it looked like and how it could make me feel, I wanted nothing more than for him to strip me and fuck me under this tree.

His nostril flared, noting the change in my scent. I'd never be able to hide my arousal from him.

Not that I'd want to when he was so good at pleasing me.

“Do you need me right now, princess?” he asked, hands grazing up and down mine in a caress.

“We can't,” I whimpered. “But God, I want you.”

“Only a little while longer, princess. Let's do our duty and then get you back to our marriage bed,” he said, tucking me under his arm as we exited the garden.

People were loitering outside the auditorium, heatedly discussing what they learned. Haven glared, to my utter amusement, when a few people attempted to approach. It was not time for socializing and questions, that would all come later.

Assuming his dad and Michael would have gone back to the office, we made our way there. We were right, and Daryl opened the door at Haven's knock.

“The newlyweds, how wonderful!” King Candor said. Even though we surprised him with our announcement, he acted unphased.

The same could not be said for Michael.

“Yes, wonderful,” Michael said, not looking up from the paper he was studying.

“What is it?” I asked, noting Michael's furrowed brow.

“As people left, we asked them their decision. They are allowed to change their minds, and these aren't final numbers, but only 70% as of now plan to come with us.”

I dropped to the chair. “That's a lot of people to leave behind,” I whispered.

Too many.

“Yes,” he agreed, clearing his throat and turning through the pages. He found what he was looking for and handed the paper to me.

“What—“ I asked, then noted the words. My breath rushed out of me, prickling sensations covering my chest and head.

It was a list of every citizen, last name from J-P. My eyes skimmed, looking for two names.

Delphine Lastley, Y

David Lastley, N

June Lastley, N

My answer was already included in the printout. Next to the names of my parents, N was scratched in blue ink. No.

“Oh,” I said, looking down at the names as if the answer would change.

I thought they would say that, but something cracked in me when I read it.

“It would be a disservice to the human race if they didn't come with us. Do you think you'd be able to sway their opinion?” Michael asked.

I thought back on my parent's strengths. They specialized in our survival in a literal sense, focusing on what would keep humans alive long enough for the others to save the planet. A lot of the changes made to the domes over the last decades were their suggestions. New ways to filter water, better farm irrigation systems, a new coating added to the domes for better UV protection, the requirement to attend therapy a certain amount of times a year, the new vaccines developed... There were dozens of areas of my life that their research touched every day.

When I was a kid, I was proud of them. I'd attend their lectures and boast that they were my parents.

That stopped as I got older and realized they didn't care that their inventions and policies were benefiting me. Like my therapist, to them I was a number in the crowd, not a human they loved. They'd never save the world just for me.

I had no parents, not really.

“No, they've never listened to me,” I whispered, handing the paper back. “I wouldn't be able to sway their opinion.”

Haven put a hand on my shoulder and said, “I don't think it's appropriate of you to ask that question, Michael, when you know their history.” His voice was restrained, holding an edge to it that told me he was angry.

“I know, but they shouldn't die here when they've done so much for our society,” Michael insisted.

Haven stepped forward, his head leaning over where Michael sat. “Considering Delphine's status as princess of the race that is saving you , she has officially surpassed the contributions of everyone else on your planet, so let’s favor her needs.”

Michael’s eyes narrowed on him. The air could crackle with the lingering intensity between them.

“Michael,” King Candor interrupted, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Children should not be used against their parents. How about I try and talk to them? I'm sure we can come to an agreement between all parties.” He looked at us. “You two should head back. The humans have a few days to decide, they'll pack up, and we'll move on to the next colony. You two can better spend your time sorting out the ship while I get the rest settled with Michael.”

“Thanks, Father,” Haven said with a grateful nod.

Numb, I followed Haven out of the room. Carried may be a better descriptor, as Haven's hand on my waist kept my feet light. My whole body was tingling. When the door closed behind us, Daryl bent down to meet me at eye level. When did I sit on the floor? Confused, I met his gaze.

“I'm sorry, Delphine. I know you have a complicated relationship with your parents,” Daryl said, hands on his knees. “It'll be alright.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, eyes searching his. Maybe he was more caring than I thought.

Haven bent down to lift me up from under my arms, wrapping them around him. “Let's get you home.”