Page 23 of Gifted to the Alien Prince

"Fell and sprained my ankle," Lucian grumbled, accepting my assistance with a grimace. "The damn frostgrazer got spooked at a shadow."

He pointed in the distance to his mount grazing nearby, indifferent to its master's plight.

“Poor little brother. You never could manage those creatures, could you?”

“I thought the princes in stories never rubbed it in when they came to the rescue.”

“The damsels in distress didn’t exactly have a stupid stubborn streak and a day’s growth of beard, either.” I managed to get him onto his frostgrazer, a sight that would have been comical under less desperate circumstances. As we began our trek back to the palace, I kept a watchful eye on him, ensuring his balance remained steady. Meanwhile, the two guards flanked us.

"Isabelle must be worried about you," my brother stated.

"She's still asleep."

"You care for her deeply, don't you?"

"I do," I admitted, feeling the weight of the truth. "More than I imagined possible."

Lucian glanced at me, surprise etching his features before a slow smile formed on his lips. “I admit, I couldn't quite picturehow a human and you could be together. But you seem happier and more content these days."

I grunted, unable to fully suppress a smile at his observation. "You think so, little prince?" I tried to sound gruff, but the old nickname brought out an honest laugh from him.

"I do. The past was like a dark shadow on you. Now it's like a little bit of shade. The sun comes out." He gestured towards the sky where faint hues of violet danced with silver, a pale imitation of the warmth he described.

I gave him my best frown. "You are a romantic. Don't make me vomit."

Lucian's laughter echoed. "So are you, whether you like to admit it or not. This lovely Isabelle has cast her sunshine over you. I like her handiwork, regardless of what part of the galaxy she comes from."

I didn’t voice it, but his words got through. The thought of Isa and her sweetness warmed me more than any hearth fire could, though I kept my countenance as cool as the ice beneath the frostgrazers’s feet.

As we neared the palace, a vision of life with Isa flickered in my mind. I tried to ignore the swell of longing in my chest. How could I ask her to give up her dreams for me? No, it wasn't fair to bind her to my world when hers held so much promise.

A sigh escaped me. For now, I would simply savor the moments we shared. We had one last occasion together, the gift exchange. And then it would be time to say goodbye. Whether I wanted to or not.

Chapter Nine

ISA

Iwoke up as light landed on me through the window of the chamber. The room was quiet except for the slow crackle of a dying fire in the hearth. I turned, expecting to see Thadron's head on the pillow beside me. Instead, there was only an indentation.

A tangle of emotions wove through me.

One of his layering tunics lay across the foot of the bed. Where could he have gone this early in the morning? A prince's duties never ceased. But at least we had our night together. No matter what happened beyond this point, I would always cherish the memory.

With a sigh, I rose and dressed. Stepping into the hall, the sounds of urgent voices pulled me from my reverie.

Cryostrum glided down the corridor, his lean figure enshrouded in robes that whispered of status and secrets. His movements were precise, fingers deft as they slipped something small and unknown into his pocket. He turned then, his piercing eyes meeting mine, and offered a smile that did not quite reach them.

"Good morning, Ambassador. I can’t talk today. There are urgent matters."

“You’re always on the move, Cryostrum." I replied, acting disinterested, though my mind churned. What was he hiding? "Is everything alright?" I ventured, hoping my inquiry sounded casual.

He looked at me as though weighing whether he should hand me information. "Prince Lucian is missing. Thadron went out into the forest at first light to find him. The woods can be... inhospitable, even to those who know them."

A cold shiver ran down my spine. A cold shiver ran down my spine.Lucian is missing?And Thadron had gone out into the unforgiving Glaciarian wilderness to find him. The forest, so beautiful beneath the veil of snow, suddenly felt like a sinister place.

“Why didn’t anyone wake me?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.

Cryostrum’s expression barely shifted. “Thadron made his decision quickly. He didn’t want to disturb you.”