Alien Prince's Bride: Scifi Alien Romantic Triangle Romance Novel by Vi Voxley Page B

for Areon , god no. What was wrong with her?
    In truth, she knew what was wrong with her, Violet just didn’t want to admit it. Love hurt. It had hurt Irmela and it was so close to hurting her too. Areon’s return had brought everything back to the surface, though she’d been trying so hard to protect herself from heartbreak.
    Someone shuffled behind her door and there was a call. Violet checked the caller ID before opening – she was a calaya after all – but it was just Forial, standing behind her door, holding a letter. He gave it to her, careful to not even brush his fingers against hers.
    “You seem to have quite an admirer,” the man said with a crooked smile.
    Violet blushed angrily. “You read it?” she snapped. “You…”
    “Security protocol,” Forial said, but Violet saw he was clearly enjoying her fury.
    “How did it even get here then?” she shot back at him. The warrior’s face dropped at once. “If your security is so tight, how could a champion’s letter get here?”
    Forial’s lips drew together into a hard line. “I’m not sure, my lady,” he admitted dryly. “But he is known to get into places that are trying to keep him out.”
    He? Ohhhh.
    Violet let the doors slide shut before Forial could say another word. The hand that held the letter shook.
    Oh god please let this be true.
    With shaky hands, Violet tore open the laminated letter. It was from him. It was from the Prince!
    Quite a performance, it said. I’m impressed. You really are a prize, Violet. I hear you were concerned about my whereabouts. (Reim told me. Forgive him. He tells me everything.) Don’t worry, I’m right here. Tomorrow you’ll have the chance to give your favor. I hope you know where your heart lies. – The Raider Prince
     
    ***
     
    The next morning found Violet still awake. The letter lay discarded on the floor of her room, right where she’d dropped it last night. In the morning chill, Violet stood in the shadows over the practice area. It wasn’t even dawn yet, but warriors were already training for the next trial. Considering what had happened the day before, Violet couldn’t blame them.
    Grom was smashing the attacking robots to pieces, grim in his violence – it was obvious why he was considered a favorite. Violet shuddered when her eyes drifted over him, and it had nothing to do with the cool weather. He scared her to death. Further away, she could see Reim training with an obstacle course, swinging under and over whirling blades aiming to cut his head from his shoulders. His movements were quick and efficient, not wasting even a breath.
    There were quite a few others, but Violet hadn’t come to see any of them. She’d come to see Ronay. Of all of them, guards and warriors and leaders alike, he was the most determined. His focus was so sharp he didn’t seem to notice anything around him. So of course he missed Maige’s arrival, but they all did – calayas could go unseen if they wished.
    Another trick Irmela taught me , Violet thought grimly.
    Maige slipped into the shadow next to her, smiling to Violet in greeting. Then her eyes turned to the practice area and her smile changed completely. It hadn’t been cold, directed at Violet, it just seemed so compared to the warmth it projected when she was looking at Ronay. Her whole face softened and a loving smile tugged her lips upward. Violet let her be and long moments passed before Maige seemed to remember her presence again.
    “You wanted to see me?” she asked.
    “I did,” Violet said. She hesitated for a second. “What do you see in him?”
    Maige frowned and she hastened to add, “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m really asking. What is it that makes him so special for you?”
    The other calaya smiled, backing off.
    “Honestly?” she asked. “I don’t know. How do you go about explaining love?”
    Love , thought Violet. We are calayas.
    Stupid tough questions… Violet couldn’t bring herself to ask what Maige would do if