Alien Invasion: A Warrior Prince Romance (The Tourin Legacy - Part 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

my
planet for cargo. Our kingdom is the richest on Lla’ei. We can pay
you in gold. Silver. Jewels.”
    His face darkens for a moment. “You really
think that’s what I want?”
    I shrug. “It might not be all you want, but
it’s probably all we have to offer.”
    “So…” He leans back in his chair. “Your plan
is to go back there, get exposed to the toxin yourself, and be
there to hold your people’s hands while they die. Is that it?”
    “If that’s all I can do, then yes. But
regardless, it should be my choice. Not yours.”
    He’s quiet for long seconds. I don’t
interrupt him because I can tell he’s really thinking about it.
    He rubs his forehead with his hand. “If
there is one thing I understand, it’s duty. Even if there is no
logic to it. Even if I don’t want this for you. So be it.”
    To my relief, he starts pressing buttons on
the console that slows the ship and turns us around.
    “How long will it take to get back?”
    “As long as it took us to get here. About
thirty-six Lla’eian hours.”
    “We’ve been gone that long?” It’s hard for
me to believe. Will there be anything left?
    He nods slowly. “But if I’m going to take
you back, you have to know what you’re going to find. I’ll tell you
what I know on the way.”

8
Juordin
    It’s the hardest decision of my life to turn
the Helios around and not enter the wormhole. Leaving the
chance to see my people again, leaving my chance to charge the
healing bunk.
    But she’s right, I can’t make this decision
for her. She will hate me for it. And you made the same decision
as she did, not so long ago.
    I take one last look at the wormhole.
Honestly, it might be for the best. When the Ardaks invaded, my
rage at our helplessness had been…extreme. I watched the first wave
of victims die, mostly the elderly and children, while our doctors
worked tirelessly, trying to find a cure. I led our warriors in
battle, holding off the Ardaks and rescuing as many as we could. We
brought them to the space station before we realized the Ardaks had
sent only a small invasion party to distribute the toxin. They were
just going to wait until we died out on our own before coming to
cleanse and inhabit the planet. But I enjoyed killing every last
one of them.
    The moment the fight was over and our fates
were clear, my father came to me in my chambers on the station,
taking a seat on the bunk beside me.
    “ Juordin, I have a job for you.”
    I looked over at him. “More killing? Please
tell me you’ve found a way to exterminate those damn cats as
they’ve exterminated us.”
    He examined his hands sadly. “No, son. And I
think you’ve had enough of killing.”
    I opened my mouth to argue, but he silenced
me with a glance.
    “ I have a different job for you. One
where you can do good rather than sit around here with the rest of
us.” Waiting to die. He didn’t say it, but I finished the sentence
bitterly for him in my mind.
    I wanted to refuse. Wanted to crawl beneath
the bunk and howl until my last moment approached. Or go out and
kill more cats. But I looked into my father’s eyes, and knew I
couldn’t. I saw his fear. Not fear of death, or fear for his
people. Fear for me. His only son.
    I couldn’t let him down.
    I stood and rolled my shoulders back, and he
stood with me.
    Man-to-man.
    Father to son.
    King to prince.
    “ How can I be of service, Father?” I
would do my duty till the end. I would make him proud.
    I remember the hint of moisture in his eyes.
There was so much we didn’t say that day. But we didn’t have to say
it. And he’d been right. Gathering supplies for our survivors had
given me purpose, allowed me to be of some small service to my
people in the time I have left.
    “Thank you,” my mate says, bringing me back
to the present.
    The princess comes and sits in the seat
beside me.
    “What’s your name?” she asks.
    I almost laugh. We’ve been through an Ardak
invasion, just had the best sex I’ve ever