Page 35 of The Alien's Pet

Karin shrugged. "Mates have babies. Pets don't."

"But you don't know if you're a pet anymore."

"Bad pets who run away don't get rewarded. That's what the king said," Karin said flatly. She tried to hide the hurt in her voice, but she was unsuccessful. Yes, he wanted her to stay, but did he want Karin to be the mother of his children? What if he wanted someone prettier or younger? "He will never raise my status to anything but a pet. Why do you think I tried running away? Do you really think he would let a little troublemaker like me give birth to his princes?"

Alice raised an eyebrow. "The question is do you want to give birth to his princes?"

Before she could respond that yes, she wanted to give birth to his babies, Korrev stormed in. He had an impatient look on his face and he was glaring at Alice. He had never liked her and she never understood why. Perhaps, because like Kyvan, she was the only one who didn't seem afraid of him.

"Alice, leave. Now."

He didn't bother to wait until she did to kneel down next to her bed. Korrev squeezed her hand, showing a rare moment of affection in public. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, my king. Thank you." She looked in Alice's direction, trying to soften his feeling towards her. "Visiting with Alice did me good. You should come back soon and bring your baby with you. I would love to meet him."

Alice glared at Korrev. "You'd better treat her with respect or I will?—"

"Of course, I have nothing but respect for my queen." There was a slight smirk on Korrev's lips, indicating he enjoyed the mystified looks on both their faces. Apparently, it had been his goal all along.

Meanwhile, Karin couldn't believe what she was hearing. Queen? Did he want her to be his queen? This was the first time he had addressed her as something else other than Pet.

She stared at him with a mixture of disbelief on her face. "Your queen?"

He pecked her lips. It was like he could have read her mind and had taken care of all of her insecurities. "Yes, my queen. Once you are well, we will work on siring princes. How does that sound?"

Karin looked completely lost, her mouth opened and closed, but nothing came out. He was going to make her his queen. Never in the history of Krotev, had there been a queen. The king's partner was simply referred to as "mate".

Karin Johansson would be the first queen of Krotev. It was unbelievable.

Korrev's smirk was growing wider by the second while her entire face turned red. She suddenly felt very foolish.

"Good." He turned back to Alice, looking annoyed she was still there. Alice was still in shock at what he had said and hadn't moved. "I believe I dismissed you."

"Yes, of course."

Once they were alone, Karin hoped the words would come to her about what she wanted to say. But she felt just as awkward as ever. What if Korrev had just said he would make her queen to get under Alice's skin?

He began rubbing the back of her hand in circular motions like he always did. She hadn't realized until then, but he often did this when he wanted to soothe her.

"Were you serious about what you said?"

"About what part?"

She threw him a dark look.

"Do you really think so little of me, Pet?"

"Perhaps you were joking. Maybe you didn't mean it."

"When have I ever joked?"

That part was true at least. He never joked.

Korrev shook his head, looking almost disappointed. "I thought you would be pleased. I thought women liked the idea of being queen and wearing a pretty crown on their head."

"I am pleased, but this is so unexpected." Her voice grew unhappy. "What if your men are not happy I've gone from pet to queen?"

"My men will accept whatever I order them to. The question remains, Karin, do you accept the position as queen?"

---