Page 25 of Saved By My Alien Husband

24

HAVEN

J ust as we finished getting ready, there was a knock on my door. Kissing Delphine's brow as she brushed her hair, I left the bathroom.

“Sorry to disturb you, Your Highness,” Mavel said when I opened the door.

“It's alright, Mavel. We were just about to leave anyway. What do you need?” I asked.

He hesitated, and my eyes narrowed. Mavel never hesitated.

“Spit it out,” I said, choosing a human phrase that Mavel found funny on purpose. He didn't take it as a joke, which put me more on guard.

With a sigh, Mavel said, “The princess's parents are coming with us to the European dome. They know some of the lead scientists from previous data exchanges over their communicators and believe they can help in the negotiations.”

I stepped into the hall and pushed the button that would close the door behind me with too firm a hand.

“Can we change their minds?” I asked, speaking in a whisper, even though I know Delphine couldn't hear us through the door.

Mavel shook his head. “They are already waiting for us, talking with Michael and the king. I left them to warn you.”

Clenching my jaw, I swiped a hand down my face. I was already worried about my wife's safety. Now, her feelings too. It should be a rule—one crisis at a time. But life never played fair.

“Okay,” I said, thinking. “I'll let her know, thank you for the warning.”

“Sorry, Haven,” he said, using my name. He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I know they've hurt the princess, but remember she has you now. I'll be alright.”

Mavel left to go back to the Launch Room and I took a moment to get my bearings, staring at the floor.

A short moment later a whoosh sounded and I looked up, seeing Delphine at the door.

Taking in my expression, Delphine asked, “Is everything alright?”

I nodded and smiled, extending my hand to her. “Yes, it will be.”

She took it and I tugged her into a hug, leaning my head on hers, breathing in her sweetness. “Princess, there has been a slight change of plans, and I suggest you stay here.”

“What change?” she asked into my chest, holding me tighter.

Closing my eyes, I said, “Your parents are coming with us to meet this dome leader. They said they know their scientists and can help.”

She pulled from my arms. “What?” Her eyes were wide and her lip trembled.

“I know. This complicates things. It's a surprise and we don't want more of that today. Can you stay here and I'll let you know everything when we get back?”

She marched towards the hall exit. “No. Let's go.”

Thought she'd say that.

I jogged to catch up to her and we passed the two guards by the royal hall, moving into the common areas.

“You know this made me more likely to go and not less,” she said after a few minutes of silent fuming.

“I know, but I love you, and had to ask.”

“I know.” After a moment, she said, “I hate them. If I hate them, why do I want to make sure they are okay?”

The feeling was a familiar one. “Parents are walking conflictions to their children. That's how it always is, no matter the species.”

She glanced my way. “I miss caring less. When you landed, all I wanted to do was run away with you and leave everyone else to rot. Now, I have all these irritating feelings about saving people.”

My smile was automatic. With her, smiling was easy. “You are out of survival mode now, my princess. When you escape that, it helps you realize who you really are. And who you are, Delphine, is extraordinary. You fit your title well, wife. The last savior of the human race...”

She stopped when she noticed I paused. Tugging her to me, as was becoming a habit I didn't want to change, my hand trailed up her neck and into her hair, gripping softly.

“You gave me that title, Haven. It's not who I am.” Her voice was soft as she looked up at me.

“This ship full of people that owe their lives to you, disagrees,” I said, tugging again, and kissing her lips.

A cough sounded and we parted, finding my father in the hall. “We're about to land, Haven, Delphine.”

With sheepish expressions, we followed him.

Her parents keep staring at her, as if they had never looked at her before. Assholes.

They looked like Delphine with brown hair and eyes, but the kindness in her face, even when she swore she wasn't nice, was absent from their expressions. They looked at everything like a puzzle to solve.

I glared at Michael, who glared right back.

“It's nice to see you,” her mother said.

“It is,” her father agreed. It felt like some programming told them that was the right thing to do, rather than their genuine thoughts.

Delphine held tightly to my hand. “Thank you, June, David.”

She didn't call them her family, and I'm glad for it. They didn't deserve it. I was also proud that she didn't say it was nice to see them too. Because it wasn't nice, at all, to be in their presence.

I tucked her under my arm, protective, and turned away while they tried to introduce themselves to me. I'm sure my father would tell me later how rude that was, but I didn't care. Walking toward one of the empty windows, Delphine and I waited, watching the ground grow closer.

All relaxation gained from this morning was gone, with my jaw throbbing and thoughts swimming over all the risks we were taking. This European dome, not all that different from the North American equivalent in appearance, was growing closer in the distance.

And now with my in-laws here, there was more complexity than this mission could handle.

When Delphine told me Michael's news, I went to my father immediately. How could he have agreed to go save these people when they were run by a tyrant that may be uncontrollable? I doubt this supposed connection with the other scientists would help any.

We'd taken in thousands of humans and barely had enough room as it was. Their species was saved. Well, enough of them anyway that they'd continue on. Why should I risk my princess and our people to pick up more of them from a combative ruler?

Delphine insisted we should try, especially since the other two human colonies were deemed unsavable. My father agreed with her. He said it was the right thing to do.

The difference between right and wrong is but a matter of opinion. The king and I disagreed on this one, but I couldn't fault him for it. The facts were that saving more people was typically a better decision.

But for me, only one person mattered, and it was more than the humans we had to think about. If these people were violent, and we took them in, the Eldrin would be at risk too. Adding volatility could impact everyone.

As the ship rumbled, our descent rockier than usual, I held tightly to my wife. At least they were expecting us this time. My father and Michael were able to reach them with our communicators to give forewarning. Supposedly, the group was surprised but glad. Father told me the leader's hostility must have been exaggerated. I doubted that.

Turning from the windows of the Launch Room, Delphine and I followed the group out. Alexandra looked back, as if checking on Delphine. She and Michael had made up with my princess, which lowered their standing on my shit list. I may be mad he allowed her parents on this mission, but I do know he was honorable in general. I'd eventually forgive him, probably .

Her parents, however, were still at the top of that shit list. Until today, they hadn't made any effort to see her. They hadn't even seen her in the hospital. It was embarrassing how much of a failure these supposedly genius people were.

Despite my father's assurances that this would be fine, I could tell by the lines of his clothing that he was wearing armor underneath his shirt. I didn't bother hiding mine nor Delphine's. Our protective gear was right on top of our jumpsuits. These humans should know that we don't trust them.

It took some convincing, but I told Parvati not to come with us. We don't know what we'll find here, and I can speak cat well enough to get them out of the dome before I call her out. I should make a protective suit for her, just in case.

The door of our ship opened with a whoosh, sand tumbling through the entry as we stepped out. It seemed coarse and gritty, a peculiar mix of beige and pale orange that made it darker than the North American landscape. Here the surface was marred with irregular grains, less uniform, and the air carried a metallic scent. With the volatile weather that destroyed the world, it was similar, but different, in both of the locations the Eldrin visited.

“Welcome to Earth,” a boisterous voice greeted.

The man who strode forward was unmistakably the one Michael had warned us about. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated an unsettling kind of confidence. His dark suit was pristine, his posture commanding, but there was a sharpness in his gray-green eyes—a predator sizing up his prey. His beard was neatly trimmed and hair slicked-back and silver.

Leader Halston, Michael had said we had to call him, if we wanted him on our side.

Behind him stood about a dozen people who seemed to melt into the background, despite it being a bright day. Their blank expressions gave little away. They dressed in matching shirts and pants in dull gray and brown fabrics. There must be a rule against accessorizing, as no one wore anything that wasn't also present on the person beside them. Most of the group appeared to be men, but other than my perception of their gender, they were a mix of races and sizes. Their eerie stillness and clothing was the only constant. They could be hiding something, but I didn't see any obvious weapons.

Closer to the front was someone who clearly had exceptions. A woman of medium brown skin and long black hair that tumbled over her shoulders stood a few feet ahead of the group, but feet behind Leader Halston. Her eyes flicked constantly, between us, Halston, and the environment. Unlike the others, she couldn't stand still, she swayed slightly and her fingers curled and unfurled, as if she was trying to keep from making a fist. She wore the same uniform, though hers was a touch more fitted, and she had a thick bracelet on her wrist.

“King Candor,” Halston said, his voice smooth as polished steel as he extended a hand. “I’m Leader Halston. It’s an honor to meet you.”

My father hesitated, but he clasped the hand in a shake. “Leader Halston,” he replied evenly, his tone diplomatic but laced with caution. “Thank you for welcoming us. Michael has told us many things about you.”

“Only good things I hope,” Halston joked, but his eyes slid to Michael for a second in a way that I took as being serious.

“Of course, Leader Halston,” Michael said, stepping up to him. “It's great to meet you face-to-face after all this time, and I brought our science advisors as well. They’d like to meet with your team.” He gestured to June and David, then my wife. “Their daughter has married King Candor’s son. The Eldrin have been fair hosts to us. I'm glad they've agreed to bring your people with us.”

His implication that our good graces in saving him were not a given before Michael's involvement did not escape me. Good job, Michael. His stock was rising by the minute.

But he lost points for mentioning my bride, as Halston’s eyes slid from my in-laws to my love.

Both Michael and Halston bore the hallmarks of leaders who had lived through trials, their graying hair and lined faces hinting at decades of responsibility and age. Yet where Michael’s burdened shoulders spoke of a man who carried the weight of his people, Halston’s sharp posture and predatory smirk told a different story. He stood like someone who ruled through fear, daring anyone to defy him.

The only person here with a born right to lead, I thought, was myself and my father. This man would soon learn that truth.

“And we are grateful,” Halston said. “We have a lot to gain from each other. Though I admit—“ his gaze flicked past Michael and my father to me “—your appearance is more striking than I imagined. Who knew the old human jokes about aliens being green with big heads was true?”

I lifted my chin and stared back at him, infusing hate into my black eyes. I dared him to continue.