Page 62 of Elias

“I do,” Princess Isolt said. “My claim is a long-standing one, and I hold by it.”

Dathos nodded. “And do you, Hayley Goodacre, maintain your claim over Elias?”

Hayley looked at Elias and saw him give a small shake of his head. No way, she wasn’t backing out of this. She was keeping him safe. She turned her attention to Dathos. “You bet I do.”

“The formal claims have been accepted from both parties,” Dathos said. “It is time to commence the formal challenges to see who will be the victor.”

Hayley clenched her fists. This was it. She was about to go toe to toe with a Retar princess. She was fighting for love, and she would win.

Chapter 24

Elias knew Hayley wouldn’t back down. Although it was a dangerous thing to do, he felt a huge amount of pride and affection for her as she stood calmly in front of the committee and reaffirmed her intention to claim him.

When she’d first arrived, he’d noticed how nervous she was. Her breath was shaky and her face glowing and sweaty. Hayley seemed calmer now she was here and had stopped looking around as if seeking a way to escape.

“You now have an opportunity to elaborate on the reasons for your claims,” Dathos said. “Be succinct and stick to the facts as to why you think you should own this Retar. Princess Isolt, you may begin first.”

Princess Isolt stepped forward, her shoulders back and chin lifted. “This Retar first came to my attention over a year ago. We met formally on an evening out. He approached me, and we conversed for some time. He accompanied me to my private quarters, where we decided to get to know each other intimately.”

Elias snorted and looked away in disgust. She’d been at a sleazy nightclub with one bodyguard. She’d been obnoxious and overly confident and so drunk she could hardly stand. It was hardly appropriate behavior of a member of the royal family.

When he looked back, he saw Princess Isolt glaring at him. Elias refused to duck his head. She was a monster. It was time everybody knew it.

“Go on, Princess Isolt. Please continue your claim details,” Dathos said.

“We agreed to a traditional mating ceremony,” Princess Isolt said. “Elias understood the terms and agreed to them. It was only when the mating was almost over and the formal nourishment phase began that he changed his mind. I was not able to take one full bite before he threw me off the bed and onto the floor. I injured my leg in the fall. As I struggled to stand in my weakened and confused state, I saw Elias cowardly running away. He didn’t even stop to put on his clothes. He fled into the night like some common thief, stealing my dignity and my right to feed. He failed to complete the traditional mating.”

Both Retar committee members looked over at Elias, disdain on their faces.

He stared right back. He would not feel ashamed anymore for wanting to live rather than be a meal for an entitled psychopath.

“What happened after that?” Dathos asked.

“I felt humiliated and disgusted with Elias for breaking his side of the agreement. I considered him mine because of our understanding. I searched for him to seek retribution, but he had disappeared. It was not until I arrived on Prodigy that I discovered this Retar had slunk off our home planet and was hiding here. I recognized him as soon as I disembarked from my ship and decided it was time he fulfilled his agreement. That is my formal claim over Elias.”

“Thank you, Princess.” Dathos turned her attention to Hayley. “Now, Hayley, if you will also state the reasons you have a claim over this Retar.”

Hayley licked her lips and looked at Elias. “Well, we are friends. We share the same interests, you see. He enjoys learning about dinosaurs, and I have a passion for them too. I give talks about them on the station.”

Princess Isolt snorted disdainfully and shook her head.

Hayley glanced at her before continuing. “Elias has been to all my talks and was interested and engaged in what I had to say. We got chatting at the end of my first talk and spent an hour together discussing my reasoning behind the points I made.”

“How is this tedious information relevant?” Princess Isolt snapped.

Dathos raised a hand. “Please, Princess, allow Hayley to speak. Go on.”

“Every time I gave a talk, Elias was there. He’d sit in the front row and was always the most engaged person in the audience. I got to like having him around. It gave me confidence to see him there. And even though some of his questions were challenging, and he didn’t always believe what I had to say, he was willing to listen. He’s thoughtful like that.”

Elias smiled to himself. He’d asked Hayley so many questions because he’d wanted to spend time with her. He’d wanted to know more about this gorgeous, clever woman. Now, he knew everything he needed. It was his responsibility to keep her safe and stop this from happening.

“I would like to speak,” Elias said.

Dathos shook her head. “This inquiry is not for you to have a say. Your words carry no weight here.”

“I insist. I no longer want the human to claim me.” He heard Hayley gasp but didn’t look at her. This was for the best. This would keep her safe.

Dathos stared at Elias. “You are saying she is being untrue?”