Page 8 of Saving the Alien Prince

Ever since we settled on Bohna, shit has been wild. Wild. It’s also been the best time of my life. Okay, so maybe the rebellion has escalated beyond the “nuisance” that it was first described to us as. I mean, Janik did kidnap Olivia after all. Immediately after Horek and Quinn’s mating ceremony of all times.

Given the chemistry between the two of them, is it any wonder she turned out to be the commander’s heart’s fire? Which, I guess is sort of what the Bohnari consider fated mates. It’s rare, but more powerful than any regular mating. What’s even more bonkers than that, though? Olivia is Janik’s heart’s fire. It’s been a whole thing, actually.

A large part of me is disappointed that aside from a first date here and there—one of them with Derik—I’m still single. I’ve come to realize I’m not willing to settle.

Half of my day has been spent walking around the city and exploring. I’ve taken to doing that a lot. Some days out of boredom. Other days, it’s a reminder to myself that I’m not in the bottom tier anymore. I want to take in the fresh air. Stare up at the clear sky. Enjoy the feeling of the sun shining down on me. The increased number of guards patrolling the streets is a bit unnerving, but I understand why they’re doing it.

I step inside the dormitory where we all live and head to the cafe for a light snack. I’m still learning to cook, but I don’t want to eat a lot right now since I think we’re planning on going to Erik’s later. It’s our favorite place to grab food. The fact that the owner adores Olivia and always treats us to free dessert after our meal helps.

A couple women are already in here, and I pass their table with a brief smile. It’s not that I don’t like any of the others who came to Bohnari when we did. I’m just not sure any of them could be as good of friends to me as Lindsey, Olivia, and Quinn have been. We’ve all pretty much claimed each other as sisters and have said as much to one another.

When I hear the women mention seeing Horek—accompanied by a Bohnari male with tall, spiraling horns—heading for the palace, my steps falter. I’m only aware of one Bohnari matching that description who would be with the commander, and it wouldn’t be for a good reason. Shit.

Instead of grabbing a snack, I rush out of the cafe and up to the eighth floor. I stop outside of Olivia’s room at the end of the hall and knock on the door. Within a minute, she opens it—a familiar alien wolf-like animal at her side—but I don’t give her time to say hi.

“I think Janik’s here.”

“What?” She searches over my shoulder like he’s standing right behind me. “Where?”

“Not here like in the building, but here, in the city. At the palace, in fact.”

Olivia’s mouth falls open. “That’s impossible. How do you know? Did you see him?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t, but a couple of the women were down in the cafe eating and I overheard them talking about some gorgeous Bohnari with spiraling horns walking with Horek through the city toward the palace. They’d never seen him before and he most definitely looked like he was eligible as a mate…their words. The only guy I can think of who has horns like that is Janik.”

“C’mon, Mak.” Olivia sweeps past me with the phinnek hot on her heels.

“Where are you going?”

“The palace.”

I give chase. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“I don’t know. Probably not, but since when has that ever stopped me?”

Olivia stabs the lift button in a rabid staccato beat. I come to stand next to her just as the bell dings and the door slides open. She and Mak step inside, while I remain standing where I am.

“Are you coming or not?”

The door starts to close and not giving myself time to second guess the decision I jump inside before it shuts completely. “What if it’s not him?”

“It’s him. Did they say if he was in restraints or anything?”

“Neither woman mentioned anything about handcuffs.”

I keep pace with Olivia and Mak.

“You’ve gone quiet. I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.”

She laughs. “It depends on who you ask. Quinn would say it’s a bad thing, because if my mouth isn’t moving that means my brain is. And if my brain is moving, you all better watch out.”

“So is your brain moving, then?” I cant my head.

“It’s moving far too fast.”

That makes me chuckle. “I understand that completely, because I’m similar in a way. My brain never shuts off. It’s part of the reason I don’t talk a lot and when I do, I measure every word I say, because otherwise no one—including me—knows what will come out of my mouth. There’s no telling if any of it will make sense either.”

“How come you never mentioned this before?” Olivia asks.