Page 21 of Saved By My Alien Husband

20

HAVEN

I ’d always had an amicable relationship with my father, but we’d never been close. Maybe it was the years when I was young that he spent occupied with his duties, or the way grief seemed to hollow him after my mother died, but either way I didn't feel for him in the way I thought a son should feel for their dad. Grief was complicated.

So was being royal.

Sitting across from him now, I could see that careful, practiced ease he always exuded—the way he shifted seamlessly from one conversation to another, thanking the staff, checking in on everyone—the model of a king. He made it look effortless, but I knew he was always “on.” Life as a king didn’t seem to allow anything less.

When the last of the staff left the room, he turned back to us. “Oh, I’m sorry. You didn’t need to wait for me. Please eat.”

Food was the last thing on my mind after what happened to Delphine last night. I just got her and she was nearly taken from me.

Even in the moments of their salvation, the humans hurt her.

I watched as she took her first bite, a little grin spreading across her face. She was the most beautiful being I had ever seen, Eldrin or human.

“How have you liked the food, Delphine?” my father asked, a warm curiosity in his tone. At least in this we could bond over. She was perfect.

My wife smiled. “It’s been delicious. I love how different the flavors have been.”

He nodded in approval, pausing with his fork mid-air, as if she’d passed some unspoken test. “And no digestive concerns?”

She shook her head. “Not after that first night, thanks to the tea you provided. It did help me adjust.”

He visibly relaxed, nodding. “I’m glad. We made sure everyone that joined us received a packet of the tea. Adjusting to space travel is hard enough, we want to smooth out what we can.” He took a sip of his drink. “And how are you recovering from the injury to your ribs?”

Delphine placed her hand briefly on her side. “The doctor said I’ll be completely healed tomorrow, but it’s still a bit tender. Thank you for asking.”

Under the table, I reached for her thigh, my fingers brushing softly, more for my own reassurance than hers. She leaned into me, giving me that same steadying presence she always did. She turned to me and asked, “Not hungry?”

I just shook my head, swallowing against the discomfort.

My father set his own fork down, studying me with a quiet understanding. “You need to eat, Haven. Keep up your strength.” He gestured toward the server who waited by the door. “Can we bring the prince some nerve tea?”

I shook my head quickly. “That’s not necessary.”

Nerve tea certainly worked well, but if I was relaxed I couldn't be as attentive to Delphine. This was the first full day her people were here and I needed to be alert.

“Nonsense,” he replied, voice gentle but unwavering. “After all that’s happened these last few days, especially the accident last night, it would be strange if you didn’t need it.”

My jaw tightened. I could still feel the gut-wrenching terror that had flooded through me, the helplessness I felt when I got Jalen’s distress call and was too late. My grip on her thigh tightened, and she put down her utensil to cuddle closer.

Not catching my rising panic, he spoke on. “Your mother would have been proud of you, Haven. She always said you’d be a fine king someday. Leaving our planet on this trip was hard on her, a big adjustment, but knowing you'd have this opportunity meant a lot to her.” He looked at my bride. “She would have liked Delphine very much.”

I didn't answer him, and my father didn’t notice my clenched jaw.

Delphine spoke for both of us. “I know I would have liked her too.”

He nodded and moved on, not one to focus on emotional topics. “Oh, and Daryl and Jalen have volunteered to coordinate continued logistics for the housing expansion. After checking on Delphine last night, they made sure everyone behaved while getting into their temporary rooms, and will work with everyone that needs help in the expansion.”

“That's good news. I'm sure they'll do well at that,” she said, yawning before taking another bite.

Eventually, she stopped eating and leaned into me, as my father kept on talking about who knows what. I was quiet, focused on her breathing.

A few minutes later, I interrupted my father’s constant stream. “Father, I think our princess should go to sleep. She is still recovering. We'll stay the rest of the day in our rooms.”

Despite mentioning her injuries earlier, it seemed to have left his mind. “Right! Of course, you should rest. We'll talk another time.”

She resisted, but I held firm and carried Delphine to our room. Within moments, she was asleep in my arms.

It was amazing how strong and fragile someone could be at the same time. Humans seemed built of softer stuff than the Eldrin, with their smooth skin, so much hair, and leaner forms.

I don't know what my home planet was like, I'd been in space all my life, but my people described it to me as being heavier. Like each step we took needed more effort, with dryer heat. The moss that was so prevalent on our plants was what held on to that moisture, that and the cacti-like plants that were similar to what I saw on Earth. It was confusing and beautiful, how some things could be so similar from galaxies away. From what Delphine said, Earth only became the desert it is today in the past few hundred years, when the trees and animals couldn't survive the harsher weather conditions that had become persistent.

Looking down at her, so small in my arms, I wondered what our kids would look like one day. Would they be green like me, but with hair? Would they look just like her, but with our textured protective skin?

My mother would have never guessed I'd find love the way that I had, but I knew my father was right. She'd have loved Delphine.

I'd do anything to keep her safe, even if that means guarding her from her own people.