Chapter 20

Connie

I tugged at the sides of my dress— a long, black, sleeveless gown with bright, sparkling studs along the corset.

“Are you sure I look okay?” I asked Bob, who had volunteered to help me get ready.

“Your lining is appropriate for the occasion,” he said.

Not the answer I was hoping for. The last thing I wanted was to show up underdressed or overdressed. Or wearing the wrong thing or showing too much skin.

My blond hair was tied back, flowing down my back, with a large gold pin holding it in place.

I picked up my phone, swiped the screen to unlock it, and tapped on the camera. I lifted my hand up and posed for a selfie.

It’s not often I get to look like a million bucks— might as well capture the moment. Bob tilted his head to the side in confusion.

“I took a photo. I don’t think I have ever looked this pretty, and I want to remember it.”

He came over to me and looked at the screen. I lifted the phone in front of me again and squared the camera to see us both. I snapped the picture and Bob jerked back.

“What is the purpose of a photo? Do you have trouble with your memory?” he asked.

I laughed. “No. But one day, when I look back at the pictures, I will remember this moment.”

He glided away from me and left my room. I shook my head at the abruptness of these two.

I checked myself in the mirror one last time and stuck my phone into the small pocket on the side of my dress.

Billy informed me that the guard from the palace was here to collect me, and I took a few deep breaths to settle the butterflies in my stomach.

I went to the door and opened it. Four guards, all armed, stood waiting behind the one from earlier.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“These men are here to protect your companions, as per your request with the king,” he said.

I looked at Billy and Bob and gave them a concerned nod. They nodded back, and Bob tapped the side of his mask.

“If we are in any danger, we will inform you. If you are in danger, inform us. You can speak quietly, without being heard by others, as we can,” he said.

I nodded and let the men come onto the ship. The last man waited for me and led me to another docking bay.

This one was more private and clean, and far more elegant than the others.

We boarded a ship, which reminded me of a luxury hotel suite back home. It quietly left the market. There were no windows so I sat there, fidgeting and waiting.

I finally plucked up the nerve and asked, “How long will it take us to get there?”

The guard didn’t say anything. He didn’t even look at me.

“Okay,” I mumbled to myself and looked around the ship.

About ten minutes later, the ship docked, and the door opened. The guard gestured for me to leave and waited.

I stood, made sure my phone was still in my pocket, and walked out the door.

A massive stone palace towered over me, reaching almost into the clouds in the night sky. A single tall tower stood on top of a fort-like building. It looked impenetrable.

The guard came past me. “The king awaits,” he said, and led me through large doors, at least three stories high, and into a crowded room.

My hands were sweaty and my mouth dry as I looked at hundreds of stunningly beautiful people, all turning to watch me come into the room.

My legs were wobbly as I walked slowly past them, each as beautiful as a supermodel. I dropped my gaze and shook my head.

~This wasn’t a good idea. I don’t fit in here. I feel like an idiot.~

The guard stopped, and I was so lost in thought I almost bumped into him. He bent in half and said, “My king, your guest has arrived.” Then he stood and walked away.

The king smiled at me. His long black hair, smooth and straight, was pinned down by a thin gold band, with colorful jewels set into it, that rested on the top of his head.

His green eyes burned through me as he looked me up and down. He was at least a foot taller than me. He turned his head to the side and smiled.

“You are not from here, are you?” he asked, his voice husky and smooth.

I shook my head. “No,” was all I could manage to say.

“I can tell,” he said and stepped closer to me. “There is not a being in the kingdom who would not bow before their king,” he whispered.

~Oh shit! Of course, he is a real king.~

I swallowed and took in a deep breath of his intoxicating scent, then curtsied, dropping my gaze to the ground.

“I’m sorry, I meant no disrespect,” I said.

“None taken. I heard you had a rather awful ordeal this morning, at the market. Some brute attacked your friends?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, your highness. He tried to kill them. If I hadn’t gone back to get my phone, he would have succeeded.”

I kept my eyes down, not sure about the proper etiquette around a king from another galaxy.

“That is terrible. Are your friends all right? I sent four of my finest soldiers to protect them,” he said, gesturing for me to walk with him.

“Thank you. Yes, they are fine. I saved them before they could suffocate to death. I think I scared them away, but I’m worried they will come back and hurt them again.”

“I give you my word, those men will not hurt anyone,” he smiled and led me to a long bar on the other end of the room. People parted in the crowd as we walked.

“Can I ask you something, Your Highness?”

He reached for two glasses, handing me one with a gorgeous smile, and replied, “Of course.”

“Why did you invite me to this? You don’t know me at all.”

“You are new to my kingdom. A new species. I wanted to meet you in person. We have never had a human here before.”

“Right. I understand. Well, thank you. This is a beautiful home you have here,” I said, looking around the enormous hall.

“Yes, this palace has been in my family since my great-grandfather became the king. I have spent all my life here, and so have my children.”

“It’s incredible. I can only imagine what the rest of it looks like,” I said before I realized that it came out sounding like an invitation to be shown around.

I shook my head and was about to apologize, but the king placed his drink down and called over two of his guards.

“Allow me to show you some of the finer parts of it?” he asked, his bright-green eyes smiling at me. My heart raced, but I nodded shyly.

“This way,” he said, gesturing to the large doors on the opposite end of the main entrance.

The guards opened them for us, and he led me through a long hall, filled with pictures of old men and women.

“This is my family. My father,” he pointed to a man with white hair. “My mother, my grandfather.”

He showed me every picture. At the end of the hall, he turned right, and we entered an empty, high-ceilinged room. I looked around, and when I saw the ceiling, I gasped.

It was painted in a rainbow of colors, depicting a huge battle. “It’s stunning,” I whispered, gawking at the incredible mastery of the work.

Heavy footsteps drew my attention, and I looked behind me, only to find the masked asshole from the ship stomping into the room.

“You!” I called out as my anger instantly exploded in me like a nuclear bomb.

“You?” he asked, looking at the king and me.

“Have you come to rob the palace? Couldn’t get it right on our ship so you set your eyes on a bigger score?”

I turned to the king. “Your Highness, this is the man that attacked my friends. I want him arrested for attempted murder,” I said.

I crossed my arms over my chest and gave the mask a victorious glare.

The king gasped next to me. “Guards, arrest this man! Throw him into the dungeons below the palace!”

I smiled in satisfaction at his words.

“My king?” the guards asked, confused.

“Yes, very funny, brother. Excuse me, I have things to attend to,” the masked man said and walked away.

The echo of the king’s laugh vibrated in my chest.

I spun around to look at him, my head whirling at what the masked man called the king.

“He’s your brother?” I exclaimed.

The king laughed a little more, and then nodded. “Yes, he is,” he said between breaths.

“Excuse me,” I said, and quickly walked out of the room.

I pushed my way through the crowd in the hall and found an exit to a quiet garden. I slammed the door behind me and tried to keep the tears from falling.

“Ugh! What an asshole!” I shouted to Billy and Bob through my ear communicator, “I knew this stupid ball was too good to be true.

“I was a joke, used for a good laugh at my expense. I should never have come here. I’m heading back to the ship if I can figure out how.”

“Asshole?” a deep voice said from the darkness of the trees.