Page 30 of Taken By the Alien Siren King

The transport capsule hummed around us, its ancient technology carrying us smoothly through the water. These vessels had ferried goods between Khadian waters and thesurface for generations, but now they served a new purpose—connecting the human settlements with their Khadian allies.

Lairos shifted closer, adjusting another cushion beneath my feet. “Your ankles are swelling again.”

I rolled my eyes. “I hadn’t noticed. Thank you for that keen observation, Your Majesty.”

He chuckled, unperturbed by my sarcasm. “The healers said to keep them elevated.”

“The healers also said I should be resting in the palace, not touring settlements.” I captured his hand, squeezing it gently to soften my words. “But I’m glad we came.”

The last few months had been a whirlwind of negotiations, construction, and integration as the Legacy’s passengers found their places on Sanos. Some had chosen to settle in the drycaves below the water. Others, like the group we were visiting today, preferred to remain above the waves.

Light flooded the capsule as we buoyed to the surface. I blinked against the sudden brightness, then gasped as the atoll settlement came into view.

What had been little more than a ring of barren coral nine months ago now bustled with life. Wooden structures rose from the shallow waters, connected by floating walkways that moved gently with the waves. Solar panels glinted in the afternoon sun, powering the water filtration systems and communication arrays. And everywhere, people moved and talked and laughed.

“It’s incredible,” I whispered, pressing my face closer to the glass. “Look at what they’ve built.”

Pride swelled in my chest, momentarily eclipsing the discomfort of pregnancy. This was why we’d come to Sanos. Not just to survive, but to thrive—to create something new from the ashes of Earth’s destruction.

The capsule docked with a gentle bump against the main platform. Lairos rose first, extending his hands to help me up.

“I can manage,” I protested, even as I accepted his support.

“Indulge me,” he replied, his voice dropping to that husky tone that still made my stomach flip. “Let me care for my mate and heir.”

Lairos helped me from the capsule despite my continued protests that I could manage. The moment my feet touched the platform, a cheer went up from the gathered crowd. Humans and Khadians stood side by side, their faces turned toward us with expressions of respect and genuine welcome.

“Your Majesties,” greeted Eliza Hermansen, the settlement’s elected representative. She bowed her head slightly, the traditional Earth gesture of respect now modified with a Khadian hand placement over the heart. “We’re honored by your visit.”

“The honor is ours,” I replied, the formal words coming more naturally now after months of diplomatic exchanges. “Your community’s progress is remarkable.”

Eliza beamed. “We’ve been fortunate in our Khadian partners. Would you like to see what we’ve accomplished?”

The tour lasted longer than the healers would have approved, but I couldn’t bring myself to cut it short. Every step revealed new evidence of cooperation between our species—hybrid architecture that combined Earth tech with Khadian aesthetic sensibilities; farming platforms where Earth crops grew alongside native sea vegetables; a school where children from both species learned each other’s languages and customs.

“And this,” Eliza said, leading us to a circular structure at the atoll’s highest point, “is our newest addition. The observatory.”

Inside, the domed ceiling was lined with panels that could become transparent at night, revealing Sanos’s unfamiliar constellations. But it was the displays around the perimeter that caught my attention—star charts showing Earth’s position relative to our new home.

“So they never forget where we came from,” Eliza explained softly. “But also so they understand where we are now.”

My throat tightened. I felt Lairos’s hand press against the small of my back, a silent reminder of his presence.

As the sun began to set, we found ourselves on a quiet platform overlooking the western edge of the atoll. The sky blazed with colors I’d never seen on Earth—deep purples and vibrant magentas painting the clouds as the sun slipped toward the horizon.

“Are you tired?” Lairos asked, his breath warm against my ear. “We can return to the palace if you need rest.”

I shook my head, leaning back against his chest. “Not yet. This is too perfect to miss.”

His arms encircled me, hands coming to rest on my belly. The baby shifted beneath his touch, as if recognizing her father’s presence.

“Reports from the other territories suggest similar successes,” he murmured. “The northern islands have established three new settlements, and even the desert tribes have accepted a small human contingent.”

“I never thought it would work this well,” I admitted. “When we left Earth, I hoped we’d find sanctuary, but this...” I gestured at the thriving community spread out below us. “This is more than survival. It’s a new beginning.”

Lairos pressed his lips to my temple. “For all of us.”

I rested my hands over his, feeling our child move between us. For years, I’d refused to consider bringing a child into a dying world. Now, watching the sunset over our domain, I felt at peace with the life growing inside me. This child would know clean water and unpolluted skies. She would grow up in a world where two species worked together to protect the seas rather than exploit them.

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