Page 13 of Orin

Trex had fostered a laid-back environment as Captain on the Chetok, but I always respected him as my superior. Even in his position as King, he displayed a much greater level of kindness than I had anticipated.

Carrying a tray of drinks, Queen Grace glided into the room. The scent in the air gave away that the drinks were made from fruits, which made my mouth water.

She offered one to each of us, then joined the King on the sofa and he clasped her hand in his. When they were together, he prohibited any form of telepathic communication. He had stated he wanted nothing hidden from his Queen.

In the beginning, this troubled me. I felt unsure she could accept some of the things we were forced to do as warriors.

However, I witnessed Grace's remarkable strength and courage firsthand.

I had faith in her ability to handle whatever challenges came her way. It was a logical decision for him to want her to be involved in every issue concerning the planet they governed together.

“Tell me.” Trex requested. His expression was somber. “What have you to report?”

Before explaining, I asked. “Have the Krilex attempted to land on the planet?”

The corners of his lips turned down. “No reports have been made so far.” He eyed me and lifted his chin. “What have you heard?”

I shared both the conversation with Commander Tinuk and the previous day’s incident with the troublemakers. “Leaving the marketplace unprotected doesn’t seem safe to me. I fear for the safety of the vendors and anyone who is not full-blooded Alaran,” I said.

For a brief moment, King Trex narrowed his eyes. “Agreed. Tinuk doesn’t have the authority to send you or anyone else beyond the city limits. If the Krilex ships that were spotted above the planet had touched down, I would have received an update. Go to your assigned position at the market. And I will dispatch patrols to look into the rumors surrounding the Krilex.”

“Yes, sir.” I acknowledged.

“In tomorrow’s public speech I will address things for those being targeted. First thing in the morning, I will talk to Commander Tinuk. I will replace him with someone who will prioritize protecting Alaran citizens.All citizens. The threat posed by the shapeshifters is minimal. I will put an end to his part in the purist movement. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.”

“With the recent increase of ships in the Alliance Forces, is it possible to request a couple more ships to monitor our atmosphere?” asked Queen Grace.

Trex’s lip curled and his chest puffed with pride for his brave mate. “I’ve already ordered extra patrols to monitor our immediate airspace. They are on the way.”

I sipped my drink and reflected on Alara’s vulnerability to incursions in contrast to the planet Graacux. Our neighbor. The Ixul had armed the space around Graacux to deter invaders or anyone who tried to get close to their planet.

I forced myself to redirect my focus back to King Trex and the purpose of my visit.

King Trex scratched his chin as he said, “It is the ships of the Unknown that are an issue. The Ixul leaders and I have been discussing trading technology, which will grant us the ability to detect cloaked ships with ease. Our warriors stationed on the surface are prepared and ready to fight if it comes to that. I’m confident we can keep Alara’s people safe if the enemy lands on our soil.”

Happy with the news that Alara would have a fighting chance against the Unknown thanks to Ixul technology, I smiled then finished my drink. As our discussion concluded, Trex smiled thinly at me. “Thank you again for your report. Once I sort out the situation with Tinuk, I will have you return to the palace. For now, I don’t want to take any chances with anyone being hurt. Once we halt this group of purists, things will settle.”

I smiled in relief as I left the King’s suite. Thankfully, I wouldn’t have to be away from the palace for much longer.

7

Orin

BEFORE LEAVING THEpalace, I couldn’t resist being drawn toward the guest suites, as if an invisible force compelled me. Ensuring Olivia’s safety was a top priority for me. Any excuse to be in her proximity. The moment I shifted my gaze in that direction, I saw Kagin, my ex-Captain from the palace guard.

With a friendly grin on his face, he approached me. “Are you here because you plan to rejoin us at the palace?”

I pursed my lips. “Not yet.” My eyes flicked past him toward the guest suites.

Kagin noticed where I was looking and his eyebrow raised in recognition. He had a knowing smirk on his face as he crossed his arms. “Don’t tell me you’ve worked up the nerve to speak to that luscious human female you have your eye on?”

His disrespectful words about Olivia made me bristle, and I had to bite my tongue to prevent myself from retaliating. When I worked as a guard after Trex became King, Kagin and I had a decent relationship.

It took me some time to adapt to his joking style, and he soon realized how committed I was to being a warrior.

My entire world revolved around the Empire, and I strived to meet my obligations to it. Prior to his disappearance, my father had been a warrior for the Protectorate.

While I was growing up, I deeply missed his guidance and wished he’d been part of my life. To honor him, I made an effort to walk the path he chose.

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