?THE ROYAL DISAPPOINTMENT?
?KE’AIN
I’mglad it is against some weird royal etiquette for the king and queen to look behind themselves when they walk in public. Some strange, outdated superstition the monarchy has held onto for goddess knows what reason. I clutch Opal's warm hand in mine, pulling her slightly in front of me to hide some of the more obvious dampness on my suit.
The si’bok is decked out in some of our island's famous pink and orange foliage. Brightly colored wreaths woven from the fronds of the mals’in tree hang about the deck. The tree is one of the symbols of the monarchy. I grip the railing and immediately pull it back. From the silver banister to my hand stretches a thick purple goo. Al’frind rushes with a cloth produced from his pocket and wipes my palm.
“Apologies, Prince Ke’ain.” He’s flustered as his hanky sticks to my hand. “The conditions of this ship are unacceptable; nothing like this will happen again, Your Royal Highness.”
“Al’frind.” I pluck the white fabric square from my palm, wrapping the remaining mess neatly in its folds as he fusses more. “I honestly couldn’t care less; it’s fine.” All the royal domestics fall under Al’frind’s authority, and I know he takes his duties seriously.
Opal shifts her eyes nervously. She must think her actions are subtle, but just as I smell her fear, I feel her bring her body closer to mine. Opal pops her small golden head underneath my raised arm.
“Anything wrong?” Her face is concerned but curious. I can only imagine how my world must seem so foreign to her.
“Not a single thing is wrong, just some weird muck on the railing.” I smile and take the crook of her elbow into mine, leading her up the clean white steps of the ship.
“Some weird alien bird shit?” she asks, her shoulders relaxing as she leans into me.
“Your words are ever so eloquent, Opal,” I chuckle. “It doesn’t matter; let’s just get this done so we can figure out what we’re going to do about the Deenz and your human friends.”
“You are the best, slightly overbearing alien boyfriend a recently abducted girl could have.” She raises an eyebrow and smirks as I frown in her direction. “I didn’t say I didn’t like it, you big dummy.”
“I’ll take overbearing as long as you keep calling me your boyfriend.”
Opal squeezes my hand, and my heart jumps. Her skin feels so different from mine. It’s as if every part of her is covered in very fine fur. My skin is smooth and slick. I find myself wondering if she likes the way it feels. I love her softness, even if it’s not how I thought my mate might feel.
Mate.
Every fi’len has one mate. Our scientists have spent years trying to understand the base, primal instinct. No one has cracked the code on how or why it works, but it is a truth every person in my species understands.
I always assumed I’d be one of the unlucky ones whose mate lived on the other side of the galaxy. That I’d have to find someone to settle with. That my birthright would doom me to a marriage of political alignment. My father, the greedy bastard, would auction me off to the princess with the highest bid. He wouldn’t care if it was a sentient space blob as long as it coughed up the cash.
You are nothing more than a pawn.My father’s words echo in my mind. We’re all players in his great game of wealth. It makes me sick.
In a way, I was right when I convinced myself that my mate lay in a solar system far from my own. After all, Earth is 23,000 parsecs from Sontafrul 6. If that isn’t the other side of the galaxy, I’m not sure what is.
“I’m just a little jumpy, you know, with the whole alien abduction, attempted murder, getting caught by the paparazzi banging your brains out in the car just now—” She steps forward but pulls my hand more tightly against her. I can feel the slight crackle of static electricity between our clasped fingers as we swing and brush the fabric of her gown. “But you’ll protect me, right?”
“You should never doubt that, my little Opal.”
As we crest the steps, the si’bok opens to a wide open-air platform, and the golden chairs are arranged in a line—threegolden chairs. The staff knew Opal would be here, and my parents were informed of a guest.I won’t abide this snub.Opal must catch my bristling, and I can feel the realization hit her as she surveys the scene.
“Should I just stay here?” she asks quietly, as if I would ever dare to leave her on the steps alone.
“Absolutely not,” I say. “Al’frind, arrange for another chair.”
Al’frind damn near flinches at my request. He drops his eyes down and hands to his sides.
“Did you hear me?” I growl.
Without raising his eyes, he mumbles, “I’ve been ordered to inform you that there will be three chairs, no more, no less. I was told to remove the fourth chair after your arrival, after the cruiser.”
My vision blurs at the peripherals, my rage boiling. For the first time in this parade, my parents face me as they sit in the stately chairs. My father looks down his nose at me, smug and haughty. My mother doesn’t look at me at all. She’s ever obedient to the king.
“It’s fine, Ke’ain.” Opal attempts to release my hand.
I look into her eyes, and the large brown orbs glisten with insecurity over our current situation.
