Page 7 of Saved By My Alien Husband

6

DELPHINE

“ T his is where you lived?” Haven asked, stepping into my small dorm room behind me. His eyes scanned the space, holding no judgment—only a curious glint, as if he were piecing together part of a puzzle.

“And me,” Daryl said, leaning against the door.

My eyes bugged out of my head before I could school my expression back to neutral.

Haven half-turned to look at him, the hand he had at my shoulder now drifting possessively to my waist with a squeeze.

“Daren, right?” he asked, knowing damn well that his name was Daryl. Haven looked him up and down, assessing.

“Daryl, actually,” he corrected, resting a hand on his belt where his gun was strapped.

Fucking men, no matter the species, they had to prove they had a bigger cock.

I may not know Haven intimately yet, but just from the building pressure between us when he held me, it was obvious he would win over Daryl. My soon to be ex-roommate was big, but not that big.

Despite the purposeful squeeze of my hips that spoke of possessiveness, Haven said, “Thank you for watching over my princess until I arrived. She told me a lot about you.”

Daryl's eyes flashed to mine, as if he was asking if Haven knew about how exactly Daryl had been taking care of me. I nodded in confirmation and Daryl's brow furrowed in confusion.

“Not a problem,” Daryl answered hesitantly.

Weren't you just trying to prove you had been there first, Daryl? Then you get worried when you find out I already told him? I barely contained my eye roll.

“Bring everything you want to keep, princess. We'll likely stay docked a few days before we go, but I don't know if we'll be able to make it back here. Gather whatever you don't want to leave behind,” Haven said, eyes trained on Daryl. “There is plenty of space for you in our room, as you know.”

“Okay,” I said, giddy to actually be leaving. What would life be like away from Earth? Living with Haven, with no barriers between us? My face flushed as I glanced around the room, assessing my meager belongings. I started in the closet and put anything I might remotely miss into a duffle bag.

“How do you speak English?” Daryl asked a few quiet minutes later. Haven sat on the bottom bunk, where Daryl had fucked me the day before. I could tell by the way his nostrils flared that he could tell.

I blinked, realizing I’d never thought to ask that question. Until about an hour ago, I thought he was a figment of my imagination. It made sense that he knew English when looking at him with that perspective. I had never wondered further than that.

“We study the languages of native species on every rescue mission. The journeys to different galaxies take around a decade, so we have time. All my crew have a basic understanding of English, but a few of us—myself and my father, primarily—had the language fully integrated through a neural bond with the cats we are going to rescue. They convey images, history, and concepts to us directly to ease the transition.”

Convenient. I wished I could learn through a psychic bond with a cat.

“And you came to rescue Delphine, who is an alien princess?” Daryl asked, his incredulity apparent in his tone.

“What is so unbelievable about that?” I asked from the floor, offended, despite the fact that it was actually unbelievable.

“Delphine, I've known you all your life. You're—“ he gestured to me, “ normal .”

Apparently normal was an insult, his face scrunching up.

“She is anything but normal,” Haven said. “The Eldrin got on the ship initially for the cats, alerted of their possible extinction. But then I connected with Delphine and made her my princess along the way. So no, she wasn't born a princess, if that is what you are asking.”

A meow sounded and we turned. Parvati walked down the hall and sat politely beside Daryl's feet.

“Hello, Parvati,” Haven said and dipped his head, showing my cat his respect.

Now that I knew he was related to a cat, all the little things I knew about him seemed even more feline than before.

The cat sauntered over and jumped onto the prince's lap with a chirp.

“I know. I came as fast as I could,” he said, rubbing behind her ears.

“This is the strangest day of my life,” Daryl said, mystified.

Yeah, I could relate.

“Where are the other cats?” Haven asked, looking up at him.

I finished packing my duffel, grabbing a few more things from around the room, then zipped it up. All things considered, it was fairly light for a bag that held everything that mattered to me on the entire planet.

“All over the place,” Daryl said. “I don't think their owners will let you just take them, though.”

“They can come too,” Haven said and stood. Parvati jumped to his shoulder, curling around his neck with ease.

I eyed my cat, wondering how I could have been wrong about so much. Haven reached for my duffle bag and gestured for me to follow.

Why did other humans have to come too? I was hoping for a romantic escape, not to carry the shitty people with me.

“Where are we going?” I asked in the quiet hall. Everyone was still in the bunkers. No one lingered but the protectors, Daryl, and my husband and cat.

“Michael's office,” Daryl said, motioning down the hall.

“Of course,” Haven said. “Let me let the cats know I’m here.” Before I could ask, he opened his mouth and made a series of chirping sounds that echoed down the hallway. Somehow, it traveled far beyond where we stood, seeming to reverberate everywhere at once.

“What was that ?” one of the other protectors asked. His answer came quickly.

Whatever Haven did had worked, and a few cat meows popped up quickly. Haven and his advisors and guards fanned out, opening doors where cats couldn't escape to let them out.

We walked down the hall with them, ten cats so far, and out of the dorms. More sat at the edge of the building, seemingly waiting for us.

I wondered how he would have sought to get all the monkeys for me, if the earth still had monkeys.

“Now we can go to see Michael and the king,” Haven said.

I have to meet my father-in-law right now? I looked down at my sweaty clothes and sighed. Haven sensed my unease and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“He'll love you,” Haven assured me.

“How touching,” Daryl said and rolled his eyes. “Just make sure you don't say his entire society needs an overhaul, Delphine, and you'll be fine.”

“I feel like there is a story there,” Haven commented as we walked.

“Well, you know how Michael doesn't like me?” I asked.

“Yes, I remember how you said a figure of authority that is supposed to protect you, actually treats you poorly,” Haven said with a slow drawl.

I ignored his tone; it wasn't directed at me. “I have a habit of disagreeing with things. I'm sure that won't happen on the spaceship or with your dad. Don't worry.” Maybe if I said it out loud, it would come true.

“Don't say promises you can't keep, Delphine,” Daryl said with a high-pitched patronizing tone.

“I'm doing my best, Daryl, don't shoot my prospects in the foot before I even get started,” I said back, slapping the back of his head. What an idiot.

Haven's eyes shifted between us. “I'll repeat, it'll be fine. I have no doubts that you'll make a positive impression on my dad.”

“Thanks, Haven, I hope you're right,” I said with a smile, the nerves continuing to pound me.

What's the worst that could happen?

Well, he could hate me, and we get stuck on a ship together for ten years, where he convinces his son I'm not princess material and we get a divorce in space... They didn't believe in divorce, but I'd be their first human princess, so maybe I'd be an exception to the rule and they'd say our marriage didn't count.

Thanks brain, very helpful. I'm not worried at all .