Page 28 of Saved By My Alien Husband

27

HAVEN

“ Y our Highness, Your Majesty, we should go help his daughter, just in case there are further concerns,” Mavel said, interrupting the tension.

King Candor bent over the body of Leader Halston and looked through his pockets, seeming to check for anything of importance. Not finding anything on the man, he stood, and we left.

I tucked Delphine into my side, holding hands. Glancing at her, I worried she was upset with me for killing Leader Halston. I didn't regret it, of course not, he would have been a threat to her and the cats we saved from her home, but I hoped she didn't judge me too harshly for it.

Parvati was going to be so upset.

Delphine's eyes met mine and I could see they were strained, but they didn't seem angry. Smiling down at her, I pushed her hair behind her ear and kissed the top of her head as we walked. We'd talk about it later, I was sure, but for now we were okay.

Fate was in the front of the building, a crowd gathered around her. The people that had stood in stringent lines earlier now clumped into uneasy clusters. They murmured to each other, many crying and holding each other in groups. Hopefully, with my people, they'd find more ease.

“We are leaving these rules behind, and finding new fair ones with the North American dome and their friends in the aliens,” Fate said, projecting to the group with confidence. “My father ruled by fist, that is not what I will do. If you believe in my father's way, stay here with his body. If you are willing to see things differently and accept guidance from the Eldrin, go now to pack your bags and gather the children. We need to gather back here in two hours to prepare for departure.”

Her voice carried along the space as if she was used to leadership, despite being held back by her father. I approved of her altering the plan. I told her we had to leave in three, but she told them two so there would be buffer time. Smart.

“Daryl,” I called.

He moved around us to address me. “Yes?”

“Follow Fate around, make sure there are no retaliations in this transition.”

Glancing between me and Delphine, he asked, “Are you sure you don't need me?”

At least he was a reliable ex. It could have been worse.

“Go, Daryl, I'll watch her,” Jalen said, dropping a hand on his shoulder.

He nodded and jogged to Fate, hovering near as she directed different groups.

“Actually, Delphine, I'd like you to go back to the ship with my father.” When she began to protest, I interjected, “I need you to comfort Parvati. Go tell her what has happened. We don't want her finding out when all of the humans are walking in later today.”

Her eyes watered. “She's going to be so upset.”

“I know,” I said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “She'll need you, and my father is more likely to leave if you do too. Can you do that for me?”

Taking a deep breath, my brave wife nodded.

“Thank you, princess. Stay here with Jalen while I talk to my father, okay?”

I told a similar story to my father and he felt an obligation to help our genetic ancestor as well, with the added guilt that if there was another stampede to the ship, we had to protect Delphine.

It was helpful that both of the most important people in my life were kind. They both agreed to help each other and a vulnerable species, without knowing it. Jalen and some of the other protectors would walk them to the ship and then come back to help move the rest of the humans.

Glancing around, I didn't see Delphine's parents, and gestured for Michael.

“It's going well so far,” he said, arms crossed. There was a faded tone of red on his hands.

He was darker than I thought he was.

“Sure,” I said, moving on. “Where would the science team be? Is it the same layout as your dome? I don't see Delphine's parents and I imagine that's where they went.”

Together we walked with the remaining protectors to the adjoining buildings nearby. The corridor was narrower, with walls lined by rows of metal lockers. Inside, June and David were running between stations of machines and dozens of people in lab coats. I heard snippets of their conversations.

“Yes, save anything you can. Any hard drive you have, fill it and pack it.”

“Don't worry, they have technology to transfer it.”

“No, that may not be relevant on the ship, but it could be at our next destination. If there is room, save it too.”

While chaotic, it seemed to be under control, each white-coated individual working quickly to save their work.

David noticed us and walked over. Sweat glistened on his temple, and he held a clipboard so tightly his knuckles were white. Behind him, a worker tripped over a stray cable, sending a cascade of papers fluttering to the ground.

“Everything alright?” David asked.

“Yes,” Michael answered for us. “We were just checking on your progress. Fate has asked everyone to meet at the doors in two hours. Will your group be ready?”

Nodding, he said, “We'll be there.”

Another crash sounded behind him.

Two hours later, everything had gone smoother than I expected. There were only a few fights to break up, two additional murders— not by me this time —and an orderly group of humans with bags packed, ready for Fate's orders.

With Halston gone, the children that couldn't be controlled were present. The soft overhead lights illuminated weary faces, the shadows beneath their eyes evidence of too many sleepless nights. The clinking sound of metal zippers and the soft scrape of overfilled bags being dragged along the ground filled the air. A few individuals wore expressions of quiet defiance, their postures stiff and their bags conspicuously absent.

I eyed Daryl, his hand on Fate's lower back.

So much for being reliable. Reliable until he got a new pussy.

“Prince Haven,” someone called.

Turning, I spotted June and David coming forward with a woman between them. They braced her, one arm on each of their shoulders. Tears streamed down her face and she limped, keeping weight off of one leg. Her dark hair was mussed, falling in uneven waves around her face.

Jalen and I came forward to help, but before I could assess the situation, Jalen had reached down and grabbed the small woman, carrying her bridal style so her legs were free of any weight.

“Oh!” the small woman exclaimed. Her face flushed as she instinctively gripped Jalen's uniform, fingers pressing into the dark material. She seemed even shorter than Delphine and more petite, but her lab coat told me she had already been tested and given the savior title.

“What happened?” I asked June and David.

“She fell while we were evacuating,” June answered.

“I'm clumsy,” the injured human said, smiling at Jalen.

Jalen looked down at her, an uncharacteristic softness in her expression. Her mouth twitched faintly upward.

Well, that's cute. Though unfortunately, I lost the bet with Delphine that she'd end up with Daryl. Should have listened to my wife.

“Alright, Jalen, why don't you bring—“ I waited for her name.

“Greer,” the petite woman said. Seeing her head-on, her eyes were green, almost the exact shade as our skin.

I nodded. “Nice to meet you Greer. Jalen, take Greer ahead now to the medical bay. We have enough support here.”

Jalen didn't fight the command, simply walked off without another word.

Mavel had a rare moment of levity, coughing to cover his laugh as Jalen walked off.

“She can't tell me I never do anything for her,” I mumbled to Mavel as we walked away with June and David.

“Definitely not, Your Highness,” he said.