Page 17 of Given to the Alien Rogue

“I only want to know what type of man you truly are. We’re supposed to breed, but you’re avoiding me,” I said.

He lifted a eyebrow. “Must you know who I really am? Let me remind you. I am Hvit’zark Ruavu, son of Braddlk. Skilled scout, trained assassin, Zunatorian warrior. My King wants to make more of me.”

She huffed. “Of course, you’ll use me to make a son and get rid of me after it happens. Do you really care if anything happens to me out here?”

“Of course, I do. You’re under my protection. This isn’t Earth. You’ll have to learn where you can and can’t go out here. You can’t just roam around freely until you truly know the land.”

“I never roamed freely on Earth either,” I said, crossing my arms.

“What do you mean? Weren’t you a royal? What were you anyway? Something like a princess?”

I swallowed. “Something like that. My father was the governor of our settlement. I was illegitimate. My mother and North weren’t married. I was treated differently.”

“And you still don’t know who took your memories and why they did it?”

I shook my head. “According to the other girls, my family was hated. Maybe something happened on the night your people came to Earth. Maybe someone poisoned us all.”

“You mean your family?”

“Yes. Someone might have poisoned us all. It doesn’t matter. I don’t think my father and I were close. I feel nothing when I think of Earth now. Even if I could find my way back, I don’t think I would go now that I know there are other places. Other planets.”

“Zunator is different. Life is not made to be easy here. Each must pull their weight,” he said.

“I know that. You want me to give you a baby. That’s why I’m here. I know that’s all you want from me.”

A wave of silence rushed between us when he turned to look at me. “Is that what you think?”

“Zunatorian Warriors are programmed to fight and breed. It’s in your DNA.”

“You’re right. Let me ask you this, if I were to let you go by telling my King that our attempts to be breed were unsuccessful, what would you do?”

“I would go back to the orphanage. There are children there who don’t have parents. I know they are being looked after and given the best care, but there are some who could benefit from a stable home environment, don’t you think?” I asked.

“The children whose parents have perished prematurely are sent to new podhouses all the time. It’s just a matter of matching them with someone who will receive them. Although pushy and bossy at times, my King isn’t cruel. In fact, the current presiding Queen demands this. These children aren’t forgotten. And when the orphaned children could not be placed with families who have their best interests in mind, they have been placed on other colonies—sometimes even with other species. Many are even sent to the intergalactic university, paid for by the King himself.”

“But would you do that? If I wanted to pull my weight by working at the dorms, would you let me leave here?”

He was silent for more than minute, and then he got up, bringing himself to a standing position. “It’s time for brunch. Come. I’ll show you how I rotate my food storage.”