Page 23 of Taming the Alien Outlaw (Brides of the Bohnari #2)

Olivia

I have no idea what’s going on, but given Horek’s whispered curse, it’s a big deal. My gaze bounces between Janik and the queen as some strange interaction happens between them that I don’t understand. What was the song they were singing? And how do they both know it?

“We need to go,” Horek breaks the eerie silence that’s hung in the air since the two Bohnari stopped singing and began this intense study of each other.

His command severs whatever connection Janik and the queen have and she drops her hand from his cheek. Neither can look away from the other though.

“Is it possible?” Queen Veroneek asks in a hushed whisper that’s so full of hope.

“I don’t know,” Horek answers. “But if we don’t leave now, more of our people are going to die.”

This seems to shake the queen out of whatever stunned state she’s in, because she straightens to her full regal height and a visible change comes over her.

“Go. Do what needs to be done to save the city first. We can figure out the rest later.” There’s a note of promise in her voice.

“Janik?” I approach him carefully, because he’s still staring at the queen, his eyes filled with anguish.

I thread my fingers through his. He’s trembling but squeezes my hand almost painfully. Like he needs an anchor. Whatever it is he needs, I’ll be there for him. Finally, he comes out of the stupor that held him in its grasp. He takes in a long shuddering breath.

“I’m fine. Let’s go.” He turns us away from the queen and retreats from the room as if he’s being chased.

Horek catches up, and he can’t stop casting glances at Janik while we hurry through the palace. I want to ask what the fuck is going on, but there’s too much tension.

We wind our way down corridors that all resemble each other.

Why we’re sneaking around is a mystery to me since we’re with Horek, but it’s obvious he’s trying to keep our departure from the palace quiet.

Although, I suppose Janik isn’t anyone’s favorite person right now considering they believe him to be responsible for the deaths of a dozen fellow Bohnari.

The scent of spiced meat and baking bread grows stronger which means we can’t be far from the kitchen.

“Through here,” Horek directs us down a narrow passageway before he comes to a stop at a door and presses a button.

“The service lift will take us to the base of the mountain. Once we reach the ground level, I’ll exit first and clear the area.

You’re on your own getting through the city, so don’t get caught. ”

Janik nods. His continue silence is scaring me since he’s never without something to say. Horek turns to me.

“You can’t go with him.”

I already knew this, but it still hurts to hear. “I know.”

The lift slows and then comes to a halt. The commander raises his hand to keep us back and we move to the farthest corner. The door opens and he steps out. I hold my breath while we wait for him to give the all clear. Only seconds pass before he beckons us forward.

“Remember what I said,” Horek begins.

Janik nods. “Don’t get caught.”

The commander nods and then moves a few feet away to give us some space and a modicum of privacy.

I lay my hands on Janik’s chest. “Please be careful. I can’t lose you.”

He tucks several strands of hair behind my ear. “You won’t.”

For a second, I hesitate to say anything, because I don’t want to worry him, but I also need him to take care. “I don’t trust your mother.”

He swallows and pain flashes in his eyes. “I know.”

I rise up on my toes to kiss him. He meets me partway and there’s such a bittersweet sensation filling me that I have to squeeze my eyes closed to keep the tears back.

Janik doesn’t need to see them. I can be strong for now and break down when he’s gone.

His arms go around me and he holds me tightly before finally releasing me.

Words rise in my throat, but they get stuck.

“I love you,” Janik tells me, but before I have a chance to respond, he takes off down the street, blending in with the shadows until he disappears completely.

I close my eyes, gather my composure, and turn to Horek. “How about you tell me what the fuck happened back there?”

He continues staring at the spot where Janik is no longer visible for a second longer and then faces me. “Truthfully, I’m not sure.”

I narrow my gaze and fist my hips. “Tell me what you think happened back there, then.”

This time, it’s not a suggestion.

A smile grin splits his lips despite the serious nature of the situation. “You are as demanding as my heart’s fire.”

“Then you know I’m not going to let this go without an answer. Or at least some kind of guess.”

Horek inclines his head. “It would appear as if the queen might suspect Janik of being her thought to be-deceased firstborn.”

“Barrik?”

“Yes.”

“Could that even be possible? I mean, if he’s dead, then how could Janik and he be the same person?” I glance up at the palace and replay that scene between the queen and him.

“Barrik’s body was never found. The elder female who’d been watching over him while the king and queen met with delegates from Kovari reported being attacked. It was assumed the person made off with their son.”

I cover my mouth. “How awful.”

Horek agrees. “A search party set out and scoured every plot of land around the city and well into the rainforest, but they all returned empty-handed except for Barrik’s bloodied blanket.”

My heart aches for the queen. I can’t imagine what she went through.

“Do you really think they could be one and the same?”

Horek remains thoughtful. “I don’t know. Only those closest to the royal family would know the queen used to sing that song to her children at bedtime.”

“How old was Alik when Barrik died?”

“It was shortly after when she discovered she was going to have another child.”

Damn. “So he wasn’t even born yet.”

Horek shakes his head. What a mess.

“Is there any way to determine if he really is Barrik?”

“Vornak can run some tests that will let us know if he’s the rightful heir to the throne.”

Holy shit. What if, after all this, Janik has been right and the crown belongs to him?

“How does his mother—the one who raised him—fit into all this though if he really is the prince?”

Horek swivels his head slightly. “She wasn’t familiar to me, so I’m not sure.”

Neither of us speak for several minutes. “You should probably go be with the queen. She needs family with her right now, I think.”

“You’re likely right,” Horek agrees. “Let me escort you back to the dormitory first and then I’ll head to the palace.”

I almost tell him to go on, but the city isn’t really safe enough at the moment to walk around alone.

“Thanks.”

We make our way down the streets—each of us lost in thought—until finally we reach my building.

“Please let Quinn know I’ll return soon.”

“I will.”

Horek heads toward the palace and the guards at the doors open them for me to make my way inside. Seconds later I’m in the lift and then on our floor. I pause on the walkway and stare out the windows at the palace. If Janik really is the king and queen’s son, then what does that mean for…everyone?

I reach Quinn’s door and knock once before letting myself in.

Mak’s alert and at the sight of me, she jumps off the sofa and races over.

I bend down and wrap my arms around her neck.

Her coarse fur prickles my skin. She sniffs me deeply as though scenting Janik.

Quinn’s risen off the couch as well and joins us.

“Did everything go as planned?”

I laugh. “Not even close. You’re going to want to sit down for this.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh shit. Do we need to get Devon and Lindsey?”

“Yeah, they’re going to want to hear this.”

While Quinn comms the others, I curl up on the end of the sofa. Mak jumps up and lays her head on my lap. I stroke her head, but my mind is elsewhere.

Moments later, our friends show up.

“This sounds serious,” Devon quips. “Almost like it might call for something stiff to drink. I hope you don’t mind that I ordered some booze to be brought up.”

It wasn’t that long ago that I swore off drinking, but if ever there was a time for it, it’s now. “Sounds good to me.”

The three of them get comfortable and wait patiently for me to tell them everything.

“There’s a wild and crazy chance that Janik is actually the firstborn son of the king and queen that everyone has thought to be dead.” Might as well get the biggest bomb dropped first.

Various exclamations of “what the fuck” ring out between the three of them, while Quinn launches into a coughing spell after presumably choking on her own spit. Finally she recovers and clears her throat.

“You’re going to need to explain.”

Which I do. I tell them everything that happened from the minute I arrived at Janik’s cell, including the fact we both recognize I’m his heart’s fire.

“I knew it,” Quinn pipes up with a little whoop of excitement.

“Yeah, yeah.” I wave her off because there’s no need for her to gloat. That’s my job.

“Let me get this straight,” Lindsey says. “Horek and you get Janik out of the pit, through the palace, only for him to hear the queen singing some children’s lullaby that he appears to recognize, and now everyone is assuming he’s this supposedly dead son?”

We all exchange glances until I shrug a shoulder. “Pretty much.”

Lindsey gapes. “Does anyone else not hear how wild that sounds?”

All of us nod, because, yes, we do. “If it’s true though, then the whole dynamic of the planet changes.”

“Wait a minute,” Quinn speaks up. “If Janik is the rightful heir, then that makes him a prince. Does that mean you’re going to be a princess and one day the queen?”

Three pairs of eyes swing my way and I scan all their grinning faces.

“Oh, hell no.”

“All hail, Princess Olivia,” Devon quips.

I toss a pillow at her. “That isn’t funny.”

They all laugh, but me.

“You better not make us curtsy,” Quinn says.

My devious side rears its head. “I wouldn’t have, but now that you’ve mentioned it…”

Devon and Lindsey groan.

“Oh, yes. I’m going to make you curtsy every time I walk into the room. Maybe even every time I leave the room as well.”

Quinn glares. She opens her mouth, no doubt to threaten some kind of punishment, but before she speaks there’s a huge crashing noise and then the whole building shakes. We stare at each other in shock.

“What the hell was that?” I’ve barely gotten the question out when a piercing alarm blares somewhere outside.