Page 31

Trex

BEING ABLE TO SPEND every night with Grace was a dream come true, and I finally had some peace. Waking up with her in my arms every morning, I still couldn’t believe I found my K’sha.

Despite my dislike for interruptions, I still had a duty to carry out. I wanted the problem to be easily resolved so we could have more time together.

Unease filled me as I walked into my room on the bridge, my jaw tightening and stomach twisting.

It was tough letting Grace go, but she remained oblivious to my real identity, and I needed additional time to clarify things. I ran my hand across my head and stood in front of the wall’s holo-screen.

A somber expression greeted me from one of my father’s advisors. I had a foreboding feeling that something terrible had occurred, which the royal advisor’s expression validated. “What’s happened?”

“I’m sorry to say this, but it’s your father.”

My body became tense and my shoulders tightened. “Is he unwell?”

“Your highness, we think he has been poisoned.”

A chill ran down my back. What I was hearing made little sense to me. “How? Who has the capability to get to him and poison him?”

The advisor’s face dropped. “We do not know, sire. But I feel it is necessary for you to return to Alara right away.”

“I am on my way. It will take three and a half rotations to reach Alara.”

The advisor added, “I’m afraid your father is struggling in his fight against the toxin in his blood. Please hurry. Every possible action is being taken by the royal medics to save him.”

I finished the call and beckoned for Krin to join me.

Krin’s forehead showed a crease as he made eye contact. “Captain, is everything okay?”

I stood stiffly. “Someone has poisoned my father. It’s uncertain if we’ll arrive home in time for me to see him.”

In a gesture of respect, Krin lowered his head in a bow. “I am sorry, Trex. Tell me what you need me to do.”

I moved my head from side to side. “There is nothing you can do from here. I will inform the Protectorate council of the situation. All we can do now is get back to the planet as quick as possible. Once we get there, I’ll need your assistance in identifying the person responsible.

“Despite our differences, I am confident that my father will fiercely defend his position as King and continue to govern Alara for many tenris. I have no choice but to have faith in Tenage and Veshar to ensure that he survives.” He has to.

Facing away from the door, I gazed into space before sighing. Then let out a bitter laugh. “Why now? I have only just found my K’sha?”

“I assume you have not made Grace aware of your true identity yet?”

Rubbing the stubble on my jaw, I shook my head. “No. I haven’t mentioned that I’m the heir to the throne of Alara,” I said sarcastically.

Turning to face Krin I added, “I didn’t want to reveal my identity to her because I was worried it might put her in danger.”

“Yet you have had many rotations with her. Are you certain there are no other reasons?”

I closed my lips tightly. “I have doubts about whether she’ll accept me in my role as the future King.”

My admission caught Krin off guard, evident by the rise of his brows.

“If she is truly your K’sha, there won’t be any issues. I think you should speak with her and explain the truth of the situation. She looked upset when you sent her away.”

Krin’s remark made me bristle, and I couldn’t help but feel annoyed, not with him, but with myself.

“I only say this because we will be in Alara soon. Regardless of the King’s fate, she deserves to know the truth.” There was no hint of admonishment in his voice.

“Do you not think I am aware of that?” I snarled. There was a rumble in my chest.

I charged toward the door, ready to leave. “Tell the helm to get us home as quickly as possible. I will be in my quarters.”

WITH MY HEAD IN MY hands, I sat at the desk in my quarters and pondered my capability to safeguard my mate. Was it safer on Alara than on a spaceship? Would moving her to a human colony be a better option?

The idea of sending her away caused my body and heart to hurt. I couldn’t make myself consider that right now. She’d already refused to leave once before when I mentioned it.

Grace’s scent lingered in the air, causing my nostrils to flare and my body to ache for her. I wanted her to be by my side, always, but I was certain Grace would be upset with me after how I had dismissed her in the command center. I couldn’t let her find out about my secret this way.

Krin’s statement was correct. She deserved to know the truth.

That I was the Prince of Alara.

If my father were to pass away because of the poison, I would have no choice but to stay on Alara and become the reigning monarch. The potential change it would bring made me uncertain of what would happen to my relationship with Grace.

I’d promised to show her the galaxy and now I might be stuck on my home world unable to leave.

Things had rapidly changed in a matter of rotations. I’d had barely any time with my fated mate. There was so much more I wanted to know about her and share with her.

Worrying about someone accepting my choices was never an issue for me in the past. I lived my life according to my own terms, even though my father disliked me for not being like him. The one thing I never wanted was to be like him.

When the time came for me to assume leadership in Alara, I pledged to seek the input of the people, rather than dictating their choices.

A sigh of frustration escaped me. I had not planned on returning home for many cycles. The idea of permanent life on the planet did not interest me right now. I considered myself a warrior, not a ruler.

Despite wanting to make my father understand, my thousand-year-old ruling family and my duties toward our people prevented me from doing so.

Now that I’d claimed my K’sha, I wasn’t sure what the right thing to do was any longer. What if she did not find me to be a worthy mate and did not wish to be my Queen?

Meeting Grace made me want to prioritize fulfilling her dreams before anything else. She’d expressed a desire to work as a medic on the ship, which I fully supported.

But I wondered how she would feel about her responsibilities as Queen of Alara?

The situation in Alaran space was unstable at the moment and we were on the brink of something terrible.

If the Krilex were collaborating with an unidentified adversary, we could face a full-scale fight to defend our system.

Until we found more allies to assist us in our fight, safety within the system remained uncertain.

Both the Protectorate Forces and the area we had to cover were enormous. But there still weren’t enough warriors to keep our space safe.

My head was filled with worries and questions. Alara had never experienced an assault on the royal family on the planet itself.

What had changed within our society to cause such hatred toward us? How did my father get poisoned if he never left the palace?

I had always imagined that any danger to the continuation of the royal family would be because of my death and occur when I was off-planet.

Would I now be in danger upon my return to Alara?

If so, my relationship with Grace also put her in danger if our enemy learned she was my K’sha.

My fists clenched at my sides. I needed to find the person who poisoned my father and root out anyone else who was a danger.

Grace needed to be protected.

Standing, I released a growl of anger. Flutz!

I should take her somewhere safe, away from the chaos and danger. Far away from me . However, I was unable to gather the strength to carry out the task. Without her in my life, I couldn’t envision a future.

MY COMM BUZZED, AND as I activated the vid screen, I was caught off guard by what I saw. Xilta appeared, looking distressed.

“Your majesty. I am sorry to inform you that your father has lost his life to the poison. He has died.”