Page 14 of Royal Alien Mate

She nodded and then cast a worried look at the screens. Apparently, Advisor Testtak was replaying some of the other surveillance videos. Vaath turned and walked to join the men, ignoring the disapproving glance the king shot at Esmay. No doubt his father believed Esmay should be housed in another location in the bunker, but Vaath had no intention of letting her out of his sight.

“Can she understand the Marttiaxoxalian tongue?” the king asked with a sneer.

Vaath glared at his father. “No, but even if she could, I would keep her with me. She is my mate and it is my sacred duty to keep her safe.”

Before the king could reply, Advisor Testtak displayed a message from the Vash’arr. It didn’t surprise Vaath that the Vash’arr had rushed to the site of the explosion. In fact, Vaath caught a glimpse of Jav on a surveillance feed, already sifting through the smoking rubble.

“The attack was caused by the anti-Earthers known as thedrakks. Five members of the organization have been captured near the site of the explosion. The residents of the house, a male Marttiaxoxalian and a female human, are both deceased.”

Vaath growled. “All suspected anti-Earthers should be rounded up and questioned. I will oversee their interrogations.” He had personally questioned severaldrakksbefore and had great success, however, for a reason he couldn’t fathom, the king usually seemed hesitant to take action against the anti-Earthers. This was the first time the resistance had killed anyone, though, and Vaath hoped his father finally took the matter seriously.

“The dungeons are at your disposal,” the king said, filling Vaath with relief, “but you will not have long to question the five who’ve just been captured. They will suffer a quick, public execution before the sun sets today.” His father puffed out his chest as most of the royal advisors murmured their approval.

“I understand,” Vaath said as he peered at the screens, wishing he were out in the streets with the Vash’arr and the other warriors. He turned and glanced at Esmay, reminding himself of why he’d hurried to the bunkers. The moment he’d heard the explosion, his only thought was to get her to safety. His heart swelled with warmth when her gaze collided with his.

“What’s happening?” she asked as he approached.

“The anti-Earthers attacked the home of a Marttiaxoxalian male who’d recently returned home with his new human bride.”

She gasped and cast a worried look at the screens. “Are they okay? The Martian male and his human bride?”

“I’m afraid they both perished in the explosion.”

Her eyes widened. “Do you know the female’s name?”

“No, but I can find out.”

“Please do,” she said. “I-I didn’t really know any of the females who arrived here from Earth today, but I spoke with almost all of them on the ship.”

“I am sorry that one of the females died, Esmay, and I can assure you that her family on Earth will be well-compensated for their loss. I will personally take care of the matter.”

She drew back as if he’d slapped her. “Compensated? Of course,” she said, her gaze falling to her lap.

He didn’t understand her odd reaction. Shouldn’t it please her that he would compensate the human female’s family? It grieved him that two lives had been lost today, one human and one Marttiaxoxalian. Didn’t she understand that he lamented for the suffering of any of his subjects on Mars, even the human females who lived among them?

“I need to assist in the investigation,” he said, helping her to her feet. “But I wish for you to remain in the safety of the caverns beneath the palace until it’s been determined that there are no more pressing threats.”

She paled somewhat and nodded, though her face fell when she glanced at the advisors and the king.

“That’s your father, isn’t it? I can see the family resemblance.” Her voice quavered and he wished he didn’t have to leave her, but he had duties to which he must attend.

“It is. Come, my sunshine, and I will quickly introduce you to the king,” he said, “and then I will leave you in the place I believe you’ll feel safest.”

He guided her to stand before his father. The king looked at her with interest, though Vaath sensed the elderly Marttiaxoxalian’s disapproval. His father had been very vocal in his desire for Vaath to take a female of their own kind as a mate.

“Father,” he said in Galactic Common, “I would like you to meet my mate, Esmay of Earth. Esmay, this is my father, King Verruik of Mars.”

The king inclined his head slightly and placed a hand upon Esmay’s shoulder as he tapped one foot against hers. “I am pleased to meet you, Esmay.”

Esmay met his gaze without blinking, an almost bold glint in her stark blue eyes, and Vaath felt a surge of pride that she wasn’t cowering or trembling before his father. Even some of the king’s advisors became visibly nervous in front of him from time to time. His admiration for Esmay grew when she finally spoke.

“I am pleased to meet you as well, King Verruik,” she said, tapping his foot. “Your planet is beautiful and welcoming, though I hope no other human females who arrive here suffer the same fate as that human woman did today.” She nodded at the screen that currently showed an image of the smoking rubble.

The king’s eyes practically bulged at Esmay’s bold words. It sounded as though she were chastising his father over the death of the human woman, and perhaps that really was her intent. He gave her hand a squeeze to show his support of her statement, even as the king stammered to give a response.

“Those guilty for the murder of the human female and her mate will suffer greatly during their execution,” the king finally said, speaking in shaky Galactic Common. “Anyone who opposes Marttiaxoxalian law will suffer.”

Though Esmay’s gaze remained sharp and steady as she continued looking up at the king, Vaath noticed the slight movement of her throat as she swallowed. Annoyance with his father flared inside him and he gripped Esmay’s hand harder as he began ushering her toward the door. The king and his advisors would remain in the royal bunker until the Vash’arr and the royal guard deemed it safe to return aboveground.

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