Page 2 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
I straighten up, annoyance bubbling within me. “What’s the point? You’re moving operations soon anyway.”
He narrows his eyes, not impressed by my sarcasm. “That’s not your concern.”
“Right,” I mutter under my breath, turning away from the flower and heading back toward the research center.
The walls close in around me as I enter the cube-like quarters that feel more like a prison than a place of innovation. Modestfurniture fills the space: a small desk, a narrow bed, and a window that offers nothing but a view of concrete and steel.
I drop my gear on the desk with a thud, frustration gnawing at my insides. This isn’t what I signed up for—the thrill of exploration reduced to this bland box in an uninspired corner of Verus. I came here to make a name for myself in the Colonial Research Corps, not to be exiled away from any real flora.
“Todd,” I call out as he hovers nearby, still buzzing with energy despite my sour mood.
“Yes?” His green sensor eye flickers with anticipation.
“Let’s get you programmed for perimeter mapping.” I plop down at the desk and pull out my data tablet while Todd zips over to perch on my shoulder.
“Mapping! Exciting!” His voice crackles with enthusiasm as I tap commands into the tablet.
The drone's whirring fills the air as I input parameters for scanning beyond these sterile walls—a realm where plants might still thrive undisturbed by human interference.
With one last glance at the dull quarters surrounding me, I shove aside thoughts of disappointment and turn my focus back to Todd.
“Let’s find something worth writing home about,” I say, determination pushing aside my internal conflict for now.
CHAPTER 2
ZEVRAN
The council chamber swells with tension, the air thick enough to cut with a knife. I sit at the head of the long, polished table, my fingers resting on its surface while the nobles squabble like children in a playground.
“Your Highness, we cannot allow them to poison our trees for their insatiable greed!” Lord Kaldin pounds his fist on the table, sending ripples through the scattered papers and maps laid out before us. His silver hair glints under the crystalline light fixtures above.
“Greed? You speak as if they’re not offering trade opportunities,” Lady Elara counters, her tone sharp. She leans forward, her emerald eyes narrowing. “What harm can come from collaborating with humans? They bring technology that could enhance our own.”
“Technology?” Kaldin scoffs, shaking his head. “You mean weapons? You’d invite destruction into our sacred land!”
A chorus of murmurs ripples through the chamber as I pinch the bridge of my nose, suppressing an urge to roll my eyes. They bicker over their petty grievances while ignoring the larger picture looming over us all.
“You sound like frightened children,” I finally interject, cutting through their noise. The room falls silent; every gaze turns to me.
“I expect diplomacy from those who wish to advise me.” I lean back in my chair, studying their faces—lined with age yet clouded by ignorance. “If you cannot discuss these matters maturely, then perhaps you should reconsider your positions.”
Kaldin opens his mouth to retort but stops short as Elara shoots him a look filled with fire.
“The humans have proven themselves time and again,” she insists, voice steady now. “We need allies if we are to stand against threats beyond our borders.”
“Or we could end up ceding control over our lands!” Another noble interjects, rising from his seat. His face reddens as he gestures wildly.
“And what of our traditions?” Kaldin chimes in again. “They don’t understand our connection to this land—only see it as a resource.”
“Maybe that’s because you’ve done nothing to show them!” Elara snaps back.
I watch them all—fools acting like petulant children arguing over toys while Verus teeters on a precipice of change. I take a deep breath and feel the weight of my crown heavier than ever.
“We will not find solutions in shouting matches,” I state firmly. “This council exists for collaboration.”
Yet their childish disputes only seem to intensify. The voices overlap until it becomes a cacophony of stubbornness echoing against stone walls.
And here I sit, an heir trapped among fools more concerned with pride than progress—a decision looms heavy over me as I contemplate how far I'm willing to go for peace... and how much further my heart must stray from duty for desire's sake.
