Page 5 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
CHAPTER 4
ZEVRAN
Isink deeper into the plush cushions of the lounge, surrounded by the warm glow of bioluminescent firelight. It flickers across the walls, casting dancing shadows that mingle with the rhythmic beats of drums echoing through the air. The scent of fragrant blooms and rich spices envelops me, intoxicating and familiar.
The dancer moves with a fluid grace, her body undulating as she straddles my lap. Her emerald skin glistens under the light, geometric markings shimmering like stars scattered across a night sky. I let my fingers trace her waist, enjoying the moment—at least until it all shatters like fragile glass.
Suddenly, a guard bursts through the door, his heavy footsteps jarring against the rhythm of the room.
“Intrusion,” he gasps, his eyes wide with alarm. “Human. Near the sacred vaults.”
My pulse quickens as rage replaces arousal in an instant. I grab the dancer to stop her movements, frustration bubbling to the surface like a molten tide. It's hard enough to find pleasure in these women that throw themselves at me—now what little erection I had is gone in half a breath.
“Which vault?” My voice booms through the room, cold and sharp as winter frost.
The guard hesitates, clearly weighing his words against my fury. “The eastern vault,” he finally stammers out.
“Damn it!” I leap to my feet, every muscle in my body taut with tension. The sacred vaults hold our history—artifacts that bind us to our ancestors and define who we are as Kiphians. A human intruding there is an affront to everything we stand for.
The dancer’s expression shifts from playful to concerned as she slides off my lap. I shoot her a quick glance but focus on the guard instead.
“Where is this human now?” I demand, my voice steady despite my growing rage.
“Last seen near…near one the edge of .” He shifts nervously under my gaze.
I stride toward him, adrenaline coursing through my veins like wildfire. “Gather a squadron,” I command sharply. “We need to intercept them before they reach any deeper.”
I bound through the canopy, adrenaline pulsing with every leap. The platforms shift underfoot, swinging with the weight of my urgency. My guards follow, a disciplined unit trained to navigate the vertical labyrinth of Verus. We glide past swaying vines, the air rich with scents of moss and blooming flowers, but all I can focus on is the trespasser.
A human woman—what could she possibly want here?
I reach a zipvine and grab hold, swinging down into an open space. The thrum of my heartbeat echoes in my ears as we gather around the thick trunks that conceal our path. A light breeze carries a hint of something sweet—flowers, perhaps? Or maybe it’s just the chaos of my thoughts.
“Your Highness,” one of my guards whispers, panting slightly. “We’re close.”
My gaze sharpens as we approach a clearing ahead. I signal for silence and slow my steps, peering through the dense foliage. And there she is—a figure hunched over beside a crystal-barked tree, her fingers dancing over a small scanner drone that buzzes softly in response.
At first glance, she seems utterly absorbed in her task, hair cascading over her shoulders like dark silk, skin pale against the vibrant hues surrounding her. She’s just some human woman—a far cry from the spies or thieves I imagined.
“Stay back,” I murmur to my squadron as we creep closer. “Let’s observe.”
Her brow furrows as she leans closer to the scanner.
“What are you doing?” I ask quietly, more to myself than anyone else.
“Hmm… quite a beautiful specimen, aren't you?” Her voice drifts through the air like smoke.
The words twist inside me; she speaks with such fervor about flora research as if she belongs here. But there’s no belonging for trespassers in my kingdom. My patience thins like fragile glass under pressure.
“Surround her,” I command sharply.
The guards fan out, moving in perfect synchrony until they form a circle around her. She lifts her head suddenly, eyes widening when she sees us closing in.
“Hey! What the hell—!” Her voice rises with indignation as she scrambles to stand.
"Who are you? Who sent you?"
She looks up and stumbles back, her eyes taking in the towering figures of my men in shock. Her little drone sputters and ducks behind her.
