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With painstaking slowness, I nod.

Chapter 10

Devon

For weeks I’ve been sneaking in to see Alik, and I can’t believe that I didn’t once think to ask if he knew what happened to him. Selfishly, I was using him as a sounding board for my life and telling him things I avoid talking about with my friends. Mostly, because it’s not like he’s in any position to judge me. God, what an asshole I’ve been.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked at you all this time. I’m sure you’ve been so confused and maybe even a little scared by what’s happened.” Although, does a male like Alik—a prince—who rules over an entire planet get scared? He has wealth and anything he could ask for at his fingertips. My guess is he’s never gone hungry a day in his life. Except, even with all that, he’s still locked in a dark cell beneath his home because of an incident entirely out of his control.

A soft grunt brings me out of my own head. I focus back on Alik.

“Shit, I’m doing it again.” I rub my hands down my thighs. “Back to what’s going on with you and why you’re in this place. Wait, you have to promise me something though. Can you do that for me?”

It’s probably unfair to ask him to keep a promise before I even tell him what it is, but I do it anyway. Several seconds pass before he acknowledges my question. At least, I think it’s an acknowledgment.

“Okay,” I breathe in. “Promise me that you’ll stay in control and don’t let your anger take over if I mention a person or thing that pisses you off.”

I take his grunt for assent. It’s not fear for myself that has me pushing the issue, it’s for him. Without having seen the beast and madness truly take over, I can only use my imagination. It can’t be good for Alik to experience that, especially if there’s a remote chance for him to return to his former self. All the times I’ve been to visit, I’ve seen zero evidence of that occurring, but the grief I’ve seen in both his mother and Horek is enough for me to keep coming here. Remind him of his…well, not humanity, since he isn’t human, but a person and not an animal.

“Remember your promise.” It’s a gentle reminder. “When we—us humans, I mean—came to your planet, we discovered a rebellion had been brewing for the past two anums with the intent purpose of removing you from the throne and placing a male named Janik on it instead.”

A rough growl rumbles from the prince that vibrates all the way through the floor and into my butt where I sit.

“Alik.” My heart rate speeds up.

The sound cuts off like a dying motor, slow and faint, until at last, it stops completely. On its heels is a harsh whisper. “De-von.”

I let another few seconds pass before continuing. “My friend Olivia is Janik’s heart’s fire. I’ve talked about her frequently, along with Quinn and Lindsey. Horek and Quinn are mates and Lindsey is Carrik’s mate. Do you remember Carrik? He’s been a spy for you for years—anums. Before him, it was his father, although he only ever worked for King Danik. That’s your dad, although I’m sorry to say he’s no longer with us.”

Am I telling Alik too much? Not enough? Aside from that first growl at Janik’s name, he’s been sitting completely still, barely breathing and his only movement is when he blinks. By telling him all this, am I doing more harm than good? God, I wish I knew.

“There’s another female—an older Bohnari—who comes to visit you. She’s your mother, Queen Veroneek.”

Finally, a reaction. More a soft sound, really, but it’s something. I keep going and hope I’m not fucking it all up.

“The day the mating fever hit you and caused the madness to take over and what’s keeping you in here, you and Janik had an argument.” I laugh without amusement. “Argument is actually understating it, I suppose. From the way Horek describes it, it was vicious and brutal. You were intent on killing Janik. Given what he told you—which, by the way, wasn’t true—it’s no wonder. The thing is, he didn’t know it was a lie. What he said to you was what he’d been led to believe his entire life.”

My mouth is dry from all the talking. This is the longest amount of time I’ve spent in here with Alik, and it was certainly unplanned. But I’m glad to be doing it. Maybe that will help ease the guilt I feel for letting him go all this time without knowing.

“Are you still with me?”

He’s remained still, but breathing and his eyes are open, but they’re not focused on me like he usual is. It’s as if he’s losing himself in the memories. Or blocking them out. Or worse, I’m causing him pain by sharing. He doesn’t respond. I soften my tone and carefully slide a little closer to the barrier between us.

“Alik?”

It takes longer than I want it to, but he finally blinks and turns those black eyes toward me. “De-von.”

I manage a smile. “That’s right. I’m Devon. Are you okay with me continuing?”

He grunts.

“It’s a long, ugly story.” I inhale before I go into it more. “A Bohnari female named Mohneek was raped anums ago by someone she says was King Danik. Except we discovered that it was impossible for it to be him, because he was off-planet at the time. Still, someone assaulted her and she gave birth to a little boy. That baby died though. It fractured whatever was left of Mohneek’s mind and she vowed revenge against the king. She took that revenge by kidnapping the king and queen’s firstborn son, making it look like he’d been murdered, and then she raised him as her own child.”

It’s hard not to feel pity for Mohneek and what she went through, but then I think of all the Bohnari who died because of her plotting. That I can’t forgive her for, because in the end, it’s also the whole reason Alik’s where he is. I don’t wish that on anyone. This next part isn’t going to be any easier for him to hear, I’m certain.

“Alik…” I pause before dropping the truth. “Janik is the baby Mohneek stole and raised to take over the throne. His birth name is Barrik, and he’s your brother.”

Before I can blink, Alik loses control. He jumps up from his place on the floor and roars. It’s so rage-filled I can feel it deep in my bones. He doubles over, clawing at his head. I scramble to my feet in horror.