Page 48 of Resisting the Alien Commander

Olivia hugs me. “We love you, too.”

A knock on the door brings our heads up.

“Are you expecting someone?” Devon asks.

I shake my head and climb out from between them. “The only person who ever comes to see me is Horek, and he’s out on patrol.”

I walk to the door to peer through the view finder. To my surprise, itisHorek standing on the other side. I trigger the mechanism and it slides open.

“Greetings, my heart’s fire.” He steps forward and kisses me gently.

“Hi. Is everything okay?” I know what his job means to him.Only something important would pull him away from his duty.

He strokes my hair off my forehead with a gentle smile that’s been coming a little easier to him since we’ve been together. “Everything is fine, but I have something to show you, if you are able to come with me.”

I exchange glances with my friends, then take the hand Horek extends. We head down the walkway to the lift and step inside.

“Are you sure everything’s fine?” I ask. “This feels a little ominous.”

He pulls me in for a hug and holds me tightly, just the way I love. “Would I tell you an untruth?”

I snuggle in closer. “No, I don’t suppose you would.”

“Then trust me when I promise that nothing is wrong. In fact, I’m quite positive when you see what I have to show you, everything will be perfect. At least, that’s my hope.” He kisses the crown of my head.

My heart flips at this sign of affection. Horek’s never shy with PDA, a fact I’ve discovered I’m extremely happy about. I didn’t think I’d be comfortable with it, but it comes so easily with him. Maybe that’s one more sign things are exactly how they’re supposed to be.

The lift bell dings, and the door slides open. Sunlight filters in through the one-way glass of the atrium adding some heat to it. As I always do here, I admire all the potted trees that are strategically placed throughout the spacious area. Some of the women asked the guards for vases and they sit scattered around on tables filled with bright and colorful flowers. It’s created such a warm and welcoming sight to come home to.

Horek and I stroll outside with our fingers threaded together. I breathe in the clean air—another thing I always do—and take in this city, and planet, I now call home. Of course, I still miss my mom like mad, but we talk as often as possible.

“You know, I’ve never asked if it gets cold here.” I guess I’ve been too busy with other things.

“We get what the humans call snow on the other side of the mountain range. Temperatures do drop slightly in Preska, but it’s mostly temperate because of the rainforest. It gets cold in other cities, but not enough to bring snow, only rain.”

“Sounds lovely. The temperate weather, I mean.” New St. Louis was freezing in the winter and hotter than the sun in the summer, even if we rarely saw the blazing thing. Not with all the pollution. “I think that’s something I’ll enjoy.”

“I hope that’s not the onlything you’ll enjoy.” Horek grins, and I love how much less severe it makes him look. He’ll never lose it entirely—that’s just not him—but I don’t mind. I like his seriousness. It makes the times he laughs and appears at ease that much more special.

Finally, it hits me that we’re almost at the palace. I furrow my brows. What are we doing here? Guards dip their head in acknowledgement as we pass, and Horek holds open the lift door for me to go in first.

“Did the queen or Alik summon us?”

He glances down at me with a mysterious smirk but doesn’t answer. This is only the third time I’ve been within the palace walls. Queen Veroneek invited all the bride prospects to another banquet late last week so we—they—could dine and dance with the males again. Horek didn’t leave my side the entire time. Thankfully, no explosions or disasters ruined the evening. In fact, a few matches were made that night, and the queen is already planning the mating ceremonies.

We make our way through the palace. I’m as lost as I was the first time we were here. Every corridor resembles the last, and the place is so massive I’d never find my way to any location on my own. At last, we come to a stop in front of a set of double doors. Horek doesn’t bother knocking before opening them.

Inside the large room are two thrones on a raised dais. Standing near them is Queen Veroneek. Alik is nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, there you are. Welcome, my dear Quinn.” The queen strides forward and lightly kisses my cheek.

She’s genuinely kind, but I’m the only one she treats with this level of familiarity. I assume it’s because of my relationship with her nephew. Jesus, at some point, I’ll be the queen’s niece, even if only by marriage. The thought almost makes me break out into hives.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

Queen Veroneek wags her finger at me. “What did I tell you about that? We’re practically family, so there’s no need to stand on such ridiculous formalities.”

My cheeks heat, but I smile at her. “Yes, ma’am.”

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