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Trex

GRACE HURRIED TO ME when I entered the room. When she sensed my mood, she hugged me before looking up at me. “Are you okay?”

I kissed the top of her head. “I am now,” I murmured.

She wrapped her arms around my waist and sighed into my chest. I heard Krin speaking to the other two females behind us, but ignored them.

“Let’s go somewhere to talk,” I said, leaning back.

She nodded and stepped back, allowing me to take her hand.

We walked outside onto the balcony and stood looking out over the gardens of the palace. Grace turned to me with an expectant gaze. “Have you been able to find out anything? Orin told us we could not eat or drink anything from here.”

I couldn’t help but stroke her hair and smile down at her. We’d grown so close that I rarely had to say anything aloud for her to understand what I was feeling.

But I didn’t want to keep anything from her. She was not only my future Queen but also my confidante and support during this transition.

“Krin and I questioned the new kitchen staff, but they knew nothing. There is a new royal medic that claims to be looking into the poison that killed my father, but he says he’s found nothing so far.

I sense he doesn’t much like me, though I cannot imagine why.

I have never met him and rarely have been around to make enemies. ”

Grace’s face pinched. “Do you trust him?”

I placed my hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “Right now, apart from you and Krin, I don’t know who to trust.”

I raised a hand to her cheek and smiled. “I must address the citizens, but wanted to see you first.”

Placing her hands on my chest, she looked up at me. “I’m not worried. You’ll figure everything out. I have no doubt about it. Just be careful,” she worried.

I threaded my hands through her soft hair, grinning. “I am always careful.”

Her lips curled. “Can I watch you give your speech?”

I smiled. “You can watch it on the screen in the other room. I am giving a planetary address via the communications network. I won’t be leaving the palace for that. Afterwards, I am going outside to speak with a small group of protestors.”

She raised her brows. “That sounds okay. Can I go to the medical bay to see Rekna? Olivia wants to speak with him, too.”

Frowning, I leaned to kiss her forehead. “You and the others should remain here under guard. At least for now, until I am sure it is safe.”

Grace chewed the inside of her cheek and I sensed she wanted to say something more. When I stepped back, she took my hand. “I’ll wait here for you to return,” she said, sounding resolute.

I admired my supportive and strong K’sha, giving her a broad smile. Together, we walked back into the suite. It was time to face the people of Alara.

ALONG WITH SEVERAL palace guards and Xilta by my side, I stepped outside the palace gates to speak to the crowd that had gathered.

The group wore royal blue robes with hoods. They glowered at me.

‘Who are they?’ I asked Xilta.

‘It’s a new cult that’s formed, your highness. They are quite secretive. They’ve taken over the ancient unoccupied temple of Tenage.’

Despite their hoods hiding their faces, I could feel their hostility toward me.

I raised my hands to address them, but a voice called out from the group. “Alara needs no King.”

Other voices joined him. “Remove the monarchy’s rule!”

They began to chant hateful slurs at me, making it clear they were not there to listen.

Once again, I raised my hand, signaling for silence.

They toned down their chanting and started firing questions at me. The majority of questions centered on the issue of replacing the monarchy.

“Who would you have governing Alaran space?” I asked.

The question went unanswered until one voice at the front of the group raised his hand.

“The cult of Tenage should reign. For too long, we have ignored our spiritual life. People have lost faith in the god and goddess.”

“I agree with you. But the monarchy does not stand in the way of spiritual freedom. We acknowledge our makers, Tenage and Veshar.

The Ul dynasty’s reign over Alara has lasted for two thousand tenris. What makes you feel your spiritual order is the way forward?” I inquired. “We need warriors, not monks to protect our planet and its resources.”

He had no comeback to that and looked around at his fellow cultists with a furrowed brow. Some of them pushed forward with scowls on their faces. Others began to yell at me in disrespect.

But despite minor grievances, they could not provide legitimate grounds to depose the King’s reign.

All too soon Alaran space and our planet would be under my reign though I wished that were not the case. Unfortunately, the god and goddess had made that choice for my family eons ago.

My patience grew thin from answering the same questions over and over. I thanked them for coming and headed toward the palace when chaos erupted behind me.

I turned around in a hurry and found myself staring at a cult member, his weapon raised and aimed at me.

Consumed by anger, I made an impulsive lunge toward him, my guards swiftly joining in to disarm him and take him down.

I didn’t even notice the jolt to my shoulder.

“Prince Trex’Ul, you’re wounded,” Xilta called out.

The piercing screams of the cultists and the imposing presence of my guards overwhelmed my senses, leaving no room for his words to register.

My head snapped sideways, my heart pounding, as I saw Xilta’s hand reaching out to me. “We need to get you inside,” he said, his eyes darting around us.

“I’m fine,” I growled, my voice betraying my annoyance.

With a pinched expression, he directed my attention to my shoulder, causing me to look.

Peering at the gaping wound, it surprised me by how little I could feel it. The moment I processed what had happened, a searing pain engulfed me as the wound burned.

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t experienced pain before. I’d been through it all - stabbed, bludgeoned, and even shot.

However, the sensation of being struck by a laser weapon was completely foreign to me. The damage inflicted on my shoulder left behind a gaping void that extended through my entire shoulder.

My mind raced through the various scenarios that would happen if I failed to survive. I promised Grace I would not be harmed.

I had to survive. For her.

Grace, I cried out in my mind.

There was not a lot of blood coming from the wound, but it scorched my skin into a charred mess. I hissed as one of the guards grabbed me and pushed me toward the palace doors.

“We’ve caught your attacker. Come with me, your highness.”

My temper flared again, my face growing hot, as I turned to look over my shoulder to see who had shot me. Surrounded by my guards, their pleas for me to go back to the palace prevented me from seeing the subdued figure.

The excruciating pain of the deep wound made me clamp my teeth together to suppress a groan, and a cold sweat broke out on my brow.

“Get him to the infirmary,” I heard someone say as the edges of my vision darkened.

My feet gave out and the last thing I saw was Xilta’s worried wide-eyed face.