Page 25 of Gifted to the Alien Prince
"I see." Thadron's tone was even but tinged with an undercurrent of concern. "Thank you for telling me. I'll have a talk with Cryostrum soon.”
I nodded, satisfied for now.
"Until then," he continued, "Lucian's advice stands. We should enjoy ourselves. The gift exchange will be starting soon, and we could both use some fun after this morning."
As if to underscore his words, Thadron leaned in and pressed his lips to mine. I melted into him.
"Perhaps you're the one in need of relaxation," I teased when we finally parted, my fingers tracing the silver embroidery on his tunic.
"Relaxing together does sound appealing," he replied with a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “Maybe the bed is still warm.”
“We can find out.” I followed him down the alcove on an alternate route back to his chamber.
WE DIDN’T MAKE IT BACKto the chamber.
The cold stone of the alcove's wall pressed against my back as Isa's warmth enveloped me. I took her from behind, her skirt hanging over my arms, my hands tracing the contours of her curves.
“Thadron.” She groaned out my name before proceeding to utter a string of naughty words that made my cock even harder as I thrust into both her tight entrances. The forbidden thrill of our sex sent adrenaline coursing through my veins.
"Shh," I whispered against the shell of her ear. “Let the palace nap for a while.” My lips captured hers, muting her cries of pleasure. Our kisses were as necessary as air. I felt the universe contract until there was only the rhythm of our bodies.
In those moments, I lost myself. Time ceased its relentless march. The weight of my title, my duties, my past, all faded.
"I want you forever," I murmured as the storm within me broke and crashed over us both. It was more than physical release. It was an admission of the bond that had silently woven itself between us. Isa was the hope I hadn’t allowed myself to hold.
Her eyes held mine, a mirror reflecting the awe and fear within me. Could this woman, this extraordinary, passionate being from another world, truly be mine?
I vowed to myself then, as our bodies separated, that I would find a way. Gently, I lifted her in my arms and carried her through the dimly lit passageways to her assigned chamber. Thesilence of the palace enveloped us like a secret promise kept between ancient walls. Her breathing was soft against my neck as I laid her down upon the bed. As sleep claimed me, I felt a peace I had not known in years.
When I woke, it was to the sight of Isa's serene face, her mahogany curls splayed across the pillow like spilled ink. I brushed a kiss upon her forehead. "I'm going to get ready for the gift exchange.”
She mumbled, sleepily. “Make sure you and Lucian don’t wander off into the forest again." Reluctantly, I left her chamber to get to mine. A hot shower and change of clothes lifted my mood even higher.
And then, it plummeted as I remembered Isa's words about Cryostrum. I never could see what my brother and the queen liked about him or his slick advice.
I took a walk into the palace’s small communication room to clear my thoughts before the gift exchange. Light reflected off the sleek surfaces of the equipment.
I sat down in front of the console. Isa’s words echoed in my head concerning Cryostrum.I had always been skeptical of my brother’s and the queen’s unwavering trust in him, but Isa’s instincts were sharp. I trusted her judgment.
I activated the console, fingers hovering over the keypad. My plan was simple: connect to the archives back at Gelverin Keep and review the diplomatic records, maybe look into recent system backups. A quick, rational task to quiet my nerves before I faced the uncertainty of the gift exchange. I didn’t know if Isa would like my gift to her or laugh at it.
The screen flickered to life, casting a cold blue glow. I navigated through the security protocols, inputting my access codes. The connection took longer than usual.
Finally, the main archive menu appeared, but something was wrong. Half the folders were grayed out, inaccessible. I clickedagain. The error message blinked back at me.Backup Files Not Found.
That wasn’t supposed to happen. The archives were meticulously backed up to ensure no data was ever lost.
I tried another path, rerouting through a secondary directory. The same result.Backup Files Not Found.
A low pulse of anger began to simmer beneath the surface. This wasn’t a glitch. Someone had removed or corrupted the backups. Someone who knew what they were doing.
My suspicion of the royal advisor flared hotter now. Isa had noticed his strange behavior the way he deflected, the way his hands were never quite still. What had he slipped into his pocket earlier?
I clenched my fists. If vital files were compromised, what else was at risk? My family’s safety, our diplomatic relations, Isa.
The soft hum of the console felt deafening in the silence of my thoughts.
I needed to tread carefully. I didn't want to draw the attention of others when I confronted Cryostrum. But if Isa was right, I couldn’t afford to let him continue unchecked.