Page 19 of Bound to the Alien King
“They’re just eyes, right?”he asked, trying to peel his open.“I’ll be fine.”
“Said everyone who’s ever blinded themselves with butter,” the Killian said, coming up next to me.
“Yeah, yeah, lesson learned, okay?”Pete squinted hard over our shoulders.“Looks like everyone else has started the scavenger hunt.You two better hurry.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Nera’s empty hoverchair.My chest folded in on itself.All I wanted was a chance to explain, try to make her see that I knew I was a fool for keeping the truth from her.Either she didn’t want to hear my side of things, or she wasn’t ready yet.
I sighed deeply while I collected very hungry caterpillar number one.I’d wait.For as long as it took, I’d wait.Then if she decided she wanted nothing to do with me, I would just have to accept that.Bear the pain of losing her.
It would not be easy.
“Miekil…” I said absently.
It wasn’t until I met the Killian’s wide, shocked gaze, and all the others around me, including Pete’s bloodshot eyes, that I realized what I’d just said.
“Sorry, but did you just call me by my first name?”the Killian—Miekil—asked.
I flexed my fists and kicked myself for the slip, but then I decided fuxx it.He’d already proved he was much more than just a Killian.
“Miekil,” I began again, and several of the females clasped their hands over their hearts and went “awwwww.”I rolled my eyes.“What do you say we widen the parameters of the scavenger hunt?”
“Am I invited?”Pete asked with his eyes closed again.
“Is he invited?”Miekil asked at the same time.
“Awwww,” the ladies said again.
“Will you stop?”Miekil hissed at Pete.“No one likes an echo chamber to their thoughts.”
I clapped Pete on the back.“Sorry, but scavenging requires as little butter in the eyes as possible.You stay here.”
“But who will rescue you if you…” He shrugged.“You know.Here.”He handed me his phone.“So you can ping me your location if you get in trouble again.Or Nera or your daughter.IswearI’ll keep my hands to myself.I just…want to help you.”
My hearts warmed for this strange human, mostly because I knew he had the best of intentions.He did just want to help me, even though I was on my own planet, surrounded by hundreds of fierce Xenoxx warriors who wouldn’t hesitate to raze whole planets in my name.
Despite all that, I took his phone and synced it with my wrist communicator.“You’ll be the first person I’ll contact.Thanks, Pete.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, taking his phone back.“Oh, and King Maxx?”
I turned, halfway across the stage already with Miekil on my heels.
Pete grinned.“Go get her.”
Chapter eight
Nera
ItseemedI’dlosta few bricks in my carefully constructed emotional walls somewhere.To find them, I was about to put myself inside a scavenger hunt inside another scavenger hunt inside yet another scavenger hunt.
Up first?Find the Xenoxx princess and question her about the possibility of more assassination attempts and her thoughts about why she was targeted.
Next, make it look like I was “participating fully and with the utmost enthusiasm” in this reality TV show I never signed up for by looking for two heart shaped somethings.Vague clues are vague.And stupidly annoying.My boobs were heart-shaped if you squinted at this dead sexy dress that barely contained them, and there were two of them.Really, I could squish anything together to make it heart shaped if I really wanted to.
And those bricks I’d lost… Funny how almost every word out of Maxx’s mouth was like a pickaxe to my emotional wall.Only, it wasn’t funny at all.
I believed every word he said.He loved me, probably more than I deserved.He also obviously loved very hungry caterpillar number one since he carried him around all the time like some kind of fierce insect protector.He’d also lied to me, probably to protect us both.
Could I forgive him for that?Could I forgive him for being a Faid when he might snap at any second like Rain had?
