Page 32 of Adored By the Alien Warlord

I used the odd bathroom, a struggle since I was so short, and the toilet had been mounted high. And it had no seat. How did Veerenads pee? I wasn’t going to ask.

Then I dropped onto the bed and slept.

Chapter 16

Davon

That evening, I stood against the wall of the dining room, watching as Maggie danced for the king and his guests. The grandeur of the room was lost on me, though it was unlike anything I'd seen before in my life. I lived in a simple structure, one that could be dismantled quickly and packed for travel. I carried few possessions, like everyone else in my clan. We didn’t hang artwork on the wall, and gilt didn’t swirl around the inside of our coarse fabric structures. We didn’t place rugs on the floor either. The ground worked well enough for our feet.

But we were happy.

I sensed many in this room were not. They were here to cater to the king and would be grateful when he allowed them to leave.

Anxiety churned through my stomach. The king's gaze remained on Maggie, and I didn't like the way he looked at her. His intentions remained unclear, and fear for her had me on edge. I was as trapped here as her, myactions restricted. I'd tried to make friends with some of the staff earlier, but they'd universally ignored me. I was an outsider, and it might take years to get them to warm to my presence, years I refused to spend in this place with my mate.

As Maggie moved gracefully across the platform they’d quickly erected earlier for her show, her hips swayed to the beat of the music. She was pure beauty. A sunrise casting rippling shadows across the desert. The sway of the leafy canopy in the wind. A cool, sparkling oasis I longed to sink my body into.

With no weapons given to me, all I could do was stand near the platform, watching over her, keeping everyone away while my heart slammed in my chest.

Finally, the guests finished their meal and left the room.

Maggie stopped dancing, her eyes meeting mine. Close, but not allowed to touch, a fact that gnawed at me like a predator. I craved to give her reassurance, to hold her, but I didn't dare.

The female Veerenad, Oolah, who'd brought clothing earlier that day entered the room, striding over to stand in front of me. “Take the human back to her room. Lock her inside. Remain in the hallway beyond her room to keep anyone from entering.” Her eyes snapped up to meet mine, her gaze piercing. “Except the king.”

Fuck, no.

“He can't have her,” I snarled.

“He can do what he pleases.” She paused, her lips peeling back from her teeth. “Never fear, Zuldruxian whomust remain a bodyguard though he watches the female with lust in his eyes. The king doesn't want her in the same way.”

My spine loosened, but I didn't relax my guard.

“If he did,” she added as she strode away, “he'd have her, and you could do nothing to stop him.”

Swallowing hard, I led Maggie from the dining room, her small hand fitting perfectly in mine. The feel of her skin against mine made warmth course through me, but I didn't dare do more than touch her in this way.

The weight of Oolah's words and the thought of the king's possible intentions kept my guts churning.

As we walked back to her room, silence echoed in the halls. I wanted to speak, to find words that might give her comfort, but I had nothing to offer beyond my presence. And that would be taken from her if I wasn't careful.

When we reached her room, I unlocked the door and pushed it open, revealing the small, dimly lit space that had become her temporary home. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with fear. My heart ached for her, for the situation we were both trapped in.

“I'll be right outside,” I said, squeezing her hand.

She nodded, her body limp from dancing for hours. I wanted to pull her into my arms and protect her from the world, but I couldn't. Not here, not now. So, instead, I simply smiled, hoping she'd find reassurance in that.

“Rest,” I said softly. “I'll keep you safe.”

Maggie sat on the bed and patted the space besideher. “Sit with me? I'm going to bathe, but I'm too wound up to sleep yet.”

I shook my head, my chest tightening. “I can't. It's too risky. I won't jeopardize your safety.”

She nodded, her shoulders slumping. “I understand. It's just . . . I feel so alone.”

“I know.” I leaned against the wall beside the door. “I'm here, even if I can't be close.”

I watched her, taking in every detail of her face, her posture. My heart swelled with adoration, but fear gnawed at my control. I had no plan to get us out of here, no way to ensure her safety. Just like with my parents . . . The weight of my failure pressed down on me.