“The Prince has made a request of me that I can’t refuse.”
“To send me back to earth?”
“No, nothing like that. I am the one who must return to Earth. I need to serve in the Devoran military, heading a mission in your solar system.”
“Why would there be a military mission near earth?”
“The confederates intend to invade your world and turn everyone into slaves. The Alliance must act quickly and considering I had the most recent contact with your planet, they consider me the best strategic choice.”
“I don’t understand why anyone would attack earth.”
“Two sides of the same coin. The Alliance desires exploration and new connections. They desire conquest. One can quickly turn into the other if you’re not careful.”
“The Devorans don’t want conquest then?”
“No.”
“I’d assumed you had,” I replied.
“No. My people had their age of conquest and it created a sickness so great that the after effects still ripple through our population today. Conquest is nothing to aspire to.”
“Then don’t go into battle.”
“It’s not that easy. I must serve my people.”
“Why? Why must it be you?”
“It is my duty.”
“Who cares about duty?!”
“I’m doing this to protect your home world,” he replied, frustration bleeding through his calm exterior. Good. I wanted him to be frustrated. He still wouldn’t come close to how I felt. He still couldn’t understand how terrifying the idea of aliens coming to earth could possibly be for me.
“Kronos, what will happen to me?”
“I prefer to have you safe on the home world. But as your pregnancy continues, your telepathy will get stronger. It will be easier for me to have you close.”
“Is there another world where I can live?”
“If you remain on Devor II, you can have everything your heart desires. Servants. Dresses. Silk. Earth food.”
“I can’t have you, though.”
“Please, give it some thought.”
“Can I actually choose, or have you already made the choice for me?”
Kronos sighed.
“The choice is yours to make.”
“I want to go with you.”
“Into battle?”
“You haven’t seen me around a gun. I can handle myself.”
Kronos grinned. It was a rare smile for him. His ears twitched and his hair fell sprawled over his chest.
