Page 45 of Adored By the Alien Warlord

Valdar's eyes widened.

“I have to save her,” I said.

Krekk grunted. “At this point, we can't even save ourselves.”

Valdar . . . I'd heard that name before. Frowning, I studied his face, though I'd never met . . .

The Veerenads exchanged glances, their expressions turning grim.

“The king is not kind to his pets,” Torinar said. “They don't last long, especially if they displease him.”

Terror gripped my heart, but I pushed it aside. I couldn't afford to dwell on the what-ifs. I had to focus on finding a way out of this place and rescuing Maggie.

I studied Valdar more closely, his name still tickling the back of my mind. “Are you the prince of the Veerenad kingdom who supposedly died?”

Valdar smiled sadly. “As you can see, I’m very much alive. My uncle staged a coup to take the throne for himself. My father grabbed me, and we ran. We were caught, and my father, the true king, was murdered bymy uncle. He told everyone we were both dead, which leaves him as the only surviving heir to the throne. Krekk and Torinar are my loyal friends. They were caught with me.”

I stared at him, my mind racing. If what he said was true, then these Veerenads could be valuable allies. Together, we might stand a chance of escaping this place and rescuing Maggie.

But first, we had to find a way out of this cell.

And that wouldn't be easy.

Chapter 23

Maggie

Oolah's voice came out sharp as a whip. “Dress. The king will speak with you shortly.”

My heart pounded as I hurried to pull on a simple gown, my fingers fumbling with the ties and my shoes. “What are they going to do to Davon?” I asked, terrified of the answer.

Oolah's lips thinned. “Hurry. While you may wait for him, the king does not like to be kept waiting himself.”

Once I’d finished, she grabbed my arm in a tight grip and marched me out of the room. Guards surrounded us, their expressions daring me to try to run.

We swept through the palace, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone floors. Too soon, we reached one of the sitting areas on the first level. A guard opened the door, and Oolah thrust me inside, the door slamming shut behind me. I turned to find the king glaring at me, his eyes cold and hard.

“You dare to disobey me?” His voice was a low growl,filled with anger and jealousy. “You're mine, pet. You belong to me. And you dare to share yourself with another?”

I wanted to snarl back, to tell him I hated him, that I'd never be his pet. But I couldn't. Not if I wanted to keep Davon safe. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to speak calmly. “What did you do with Davon? Is he alright?”

The king waved a dismissive hand. “Forget about him. He's no longer your concern. You need to focus on pleasing me, on making up for this transgression.”

I bit back a retort, choosing my words carefully. “I'm sorry, my king. I . . . I was confused. I won't disobey you again.” The words tasted like ashes in my mouth, but I had to say them. For Davon.

The king studied me, his expression softening slightly. “Good. For now, you're a treasure, pet. A precious gem that I wish to keep safe to admire as I please. But you must obey. You must think only of pleasing me.”

I nodded, lowering my gaze. “Yes, my king.”

He crossed the room to stand near me. Cupping my chin, he tilted my head up in an almost gentle manner, making my gaze meet his. “You're forgiven, pet. But do not disappoint me again.” There was no mistaking the warning in his voice.

“I won't,” I whispered, even as my heart screamed in rebellion. I had to be smart. I had to play his game until I could find a way to free Davon and escape this place.

The king smiled, his thumb stroking my cheek. “Good. Now, dance for me, pet. Show me your love and devotion.”

I forced a smile, stepping back and beginning to sway, my movements slow and practiced. It wasn't about seduction; it was about survival. I had to keep the king happy, keep him distracted. It was the only way to make sure Davon and I lived through this.

As I danced, I thought of Davon, of his touch, his smile, his love. I thought of the future we were supposed to have together. And I knew, no matter what, I would find him. I’d fight for our love, and I would win.