Forced To Marry The Alien Prince: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (In The Stars Romance)

by Zara Zenia

  I glanced at Katie to gauge her reaction, and she stared straight ahead with a distant expression on her face. It was like she wasn’t hearing anything any of us were saying.

  She was seemingly having a distressing time recovering from the trauma of yesterday’s events out at sea, but Georgia and I would still need her help. She needed to snap out of it.

  We had asked her privately outside the meeting room if she would agree to tape the little prank we planned to propose to Jerren and his counterparts.

  At first, she had reluctantly hesitated and wouldn’t give us an affirmative answer. Then, after a few minutes of coaxing, she finally came around and agreed to assist us in our endeavors against Chad. She knew she owed us and was backed into a corner.

  “You know he doesn’t love you, Katie,” Georgia had said to her in the hallway. Her red hair spilled over her face as she made Katie listen to the truth. “Come on, climb up here and join us in reality.”

  Katie had stared bitterly at the ground as tears pooled in her eyes. I knew it must have been a difficult situation to be inside her head with all the hurt and betrayal. I watched silently as Georgia continued to work her magic on Katie. She was better at proposing ideas than I was.

  “Hey,” she had said softly and placed a tender hand gently on Katie’s shoulder. “Everything is going to be all right. There are plenty of other fish in the sea. Forget about Chad. He’s a loser.”

  It was the first time I had seen Georgia use a more empathetic approach when it came to dealing with someone as difficult as Katie. I admired her strength and her patience.

  Katie lifted her head and exposed us to her pitiful, meek, giant blue eyes. “If the fish are anything like the ones in the sea we just came from, then no thanks. I’d rather be single.”

  It was unclear if Katie had meant her little statement as a joke, but either way, it made Georgia and me erupt into fanatical laughter. We weren’t exactly helping the moment, but we couldn’t help it.

  As goes along with the expression, our fits of giggles had rubbed off on Katie, and eventually, she became infected with the laughing bug too, snorting right along with us. To an outside observer, I’m sure we looked as if we had lost our minds.

  “Yeah, Chad belongs with those sea monsters,” Georgia quipped and made us laugh brutally louder than before. It was true, no matter how hard we laughed.

  Now, here we sat, in the Dolarian Crown Prince’s palace board room. Katie’s faint, cloudy expression cloaked her face once again, and I wasn’t sure if she would blow our shot at turning things around for the better. She had tucked herself right back inside her protective shell where she wouldn’t allow anyone access.

  No, Katie was certainly not well-equipped to endure the potential of even the most remote possibility of stress. That much had been observed over the past several days. I still wasn’t entirely sure that we could trust that she wouldn’t scamper back to Chad’s side once she laid eyes on him.

  I didn’t want her to blow it, because Prince Jerren was notorious for not only being impatient, but he had a slight attention span that mirrored a small child’s as well. It would be like pulling teeth to get him to focus on the task at hand.

  It was now or never, and we needed to encourage him to join our side of the situation. He was going to give me a hard time. I already anticipated that. He would be charming on the surface, but he would want to keep the upper hand.

  “Like I was saying,” I began again after Georgia gave me a gentle nudge in the side. I cleared my throat and leaned over the table. “I think both parties have the potential here to reach new heights of negotiation terms and partnership.”

  Prince Jerren patted his little webbed hands together. His eyes were glistening with curiosity and mischief. “I’m listening,” he stated with a little nod.

  “Okay, great.” I gave him a polite smile and looked at Georgia for inspiration and encouragement. She was the rock solid foundation that I counted on to get through this meeting.

  As if on cue, she nodded at me with a sexy smile and a privately subtle wink that only I could see. She was great at coaxing me along when I had my doubts about something.

  “Georgia had some great ideas,” I told Jerren as I recounted them with her advisement.

  Every now and then, Georgia would interject with her own thoughts or opinions to add, and all the while, Prince Jerren thankfully stayed on task, paying attention with ample pride.

  She was driven, focused, and professional as she engaged in conversation with the Crown Prince. She was my entire world and was the perfect soul mate that I was dreaming of.

  “I like these ideas, very inspirational.” He nodded as his eyes sparkled with charisma and intrigue.

  Maybe it was easier for him to get along with a woman than another egotistical male like myself. Either way, it proved to work to our advantage.

  “So, you are interested?” Georgia’s voice squeaked with hope.

  “Very much so.” Prince Jerren nodded.

  Georgia and I exchanged an excited grin. Things would finally start falling into place with the Crown Prince of Dolaria’s blessing. As long as he didn’t have any tricks up his sleeves, I began to feel better about requesting the much-needed assistance.

  “Thank you, oh, gracious host.” Georgia stood up, apparently compelled to express her vast gratitude.

  She wanted to get back at Chad, and everyone in this room did too. Even Katie had a smirk on her face, even though for most of the meeting, she’d reluctantly sat in the corner. She had been still and quiet as a mouse, which was what we wanted her to do in the first place. She played her part, and we played ours.

  She didn’t offer up any opinions but to Georgia and myself, that was just fine. It was best if she stayed silent and left the maneuvering to Georgia and me. The more she kept her mouth shut, the better. She knew she was skating on thin ice as it was.

  “Okay, great. So, what are the steps?” Georgia proposed.

  “Now the gears are turning, and we will put all of your ideas to the test,” Prince Jerren said in response.

  “I can’t wait.” Georgia clapped her hands with approval and delight.

  She was vivacious and full of energy she was just itching to expel in regard to her brother and his hijinks.

  “We are finally going to get him back,” she crooned. Her eyes were wild and wicked. She was alive and bursting with joy.

  “It’s going to be hilarious,” I agreed as we walked out of the board room hand and hand. We were becoming more and more comfortable with each other by the day.

  Georgia, ever the kind spirit, glanced back at Katie. “How are you feeling about all of this?” She said tenderly. She was such a humanitarian and I admired her for it.

  “Okay, I guess.” Katie shrugged and mumbled under her breath, walking away from us in the opposite direction. She seemed sullen and sour.

  “Just let her go,” I instructed as I held Georgia’s arm so that she wouldn’t follow Katie. “She needs some time to process everything.”

  “In that case, let’s get the party started.” Georgia winked at me mischievously.

  “I’m right behind you every step of the way,” I told her, proud to have her walking by my side in all of this. It was a metaphorical and physical statement. I had her back, forever and always.

  “Can you believe they are cooperating?” Georgia asked when we got back to our room. She sighed with relief as she sat down on the bed and bounced with a happy smile.

  “They are always going to be up for a good prank.” I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I was just as elated as she was with the way things were working out.

  Georgia eyed me as if she found me to be magnificent. “You are incredible.”

  “Darling,” I said and kissed her cheek. “So are you.”

  Chapter 19

  Georgia

  “The crowd turnout here is great,” I whispered in a near-shriek to Kylin. He stood beside me beaming with joy.

  He glowed wi
th a burst of youthful enthusiasm and squeezed my arm gently. I gave him a tug back as electrical excitement rallied through my veins with enormous delight.

  I scanned the area around us with curiosity and excitement as my heart drummed in my chest. Our plan was finally coming into place. Earth, Dolaria, and Mixis, all represented as one united nation to play the most profoundly epic prank on the most deserving of all intergalactic creatures . . . Chad Wallace. The time for payback was finally upon us.

  I glanced down at Katie, who was currently gathering the holocam device parts together and piecing them to the camera, ready to record the glorious action, front and center. She seemed more confident today on reckoning day than she had in the days and hours previously. As long as she was still planning on staying on our side, the right side, that was all that mattered to me.

  “Can you believe this is really happening?” I beamed at Kylin, who returned my gaze with an eruption of joyful spirit. I couldn’t contain my exuberance.

  “We will finally be able to get him back for what he did to us.” Kylin’s face was stone cold, without a hint or flicker of remorse.

  “Serves him right.” I smirked smugly. All the years of suffering with him were finally coming down to this one brilliant prank.

  “I have a feeling that after today, Chad Wallace will have learned his lesson.” Kylin crossed his arms with satisfaction and approval for his own failsafe plan which I had proudly assisted in ironing out the solid details.

  There were probably at least two hundred Mixian and Dolarian spectators, along with Katie and me being the only Earthlings who were present and in on the prank. It was still a sign of unity in my opinion.

  We were standing by the edge of the sea, the warm sea, might I add, where we would soon execute the prank that involved agreeable and cooperative Honkfish who would do their part in unfolding the joke.

  “When are they bringing him out?” I asked of Kylin, metaphorically sitting on pins and needles. I didn’t know how much longer I could wait for justice.

  “My royal police have worked hand in hand with the Crown Prince of Dolaria’s own royal brigade. On Prince Jerren’s whistle, Chad will appear from the dungeons and they will drag him to the edge of the water.”

  I clapped my hands together with delight. “This is so exciting!”

  I bounced up and down in my seat where I had a front-row view of the action. Our goal wasn’t to actually inflict real harm on Chad other than maybe a touch of psychological misfortune and discomfort. We weren’t savages. We knew how to get the message through to Chad without killing him.

  He wouldn’t have to live with any lifelong physical wounds from the prank, and that was all that mattered. He would never bother me or Kylin again after today. We would make certain of that.

  The crowd silenced, and I glanced down to the makeshift outdoor arena created by the Dolarians to see what was happening. My pulse swooshed in my ears as raw anticipation consumed me.

  I noticed the adorable Prince Jerren waddle out with his cute furry body, adorned once again by beautiful jewels, necklaces and all his finest attire. He looked proud and stellar sitting in his place.

  “He looks ridiculous.” Kylin laughed and pointed at his fellow crown prince. Men couldn’t resist the temptation to be competitive.

  “Stop it,” I whispered and playfully slapped him. “You can’t poke fun of him. He’s helping us, remember?”

  “I know.” Kylin rolled his eyes as if he knew he had to agree with me, deep down.

  “Don’t worry. You are normal.” I grinned at him.

  “Normal?” He laughed and glanced at me.

  “Yeah, all men on Earth are like that too, always trying to outdo one another with competition.”

  “Hmm.” Kylin pondered reflectively as if the idea hadn’t occurred to him before.

  “Girls are like that also,” I added so that he wouldn’t feel offended. In some ways, girls could be even worse.

  “Good to know.” He leaned in and planted a tender kiss on my forehead as he playfully smirked at me.

  “It looks like Prince Jerren is getting ready to speak to the crowd.” I pointed down to where he stood proudly in the center of the arena, joyfully beaming at his people.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” He addressed the masses with a squeaky, high-pitched voice.

  “Good evening.” Everyone nodded and greeted their beloved Crown Prince. Well . . . everyone who was a Dolarian.

  “As you know, tonight, we will be participating in a prank against Chad Wallace, the dreadful Earthling who has inflicted reputational harm to the Crown Prince of Mixis, Prince Kylin!”

  Prince Jerren held up his furry webbed hands, and the crowd went wild, cheering and clapping to their hearts’ content. They really respected their whimsical leader.

  After a few moments of relishing in the positive attention, Prince Jerren held up his hands again in a motion for the crowd to die down with their hollering. I could really tell that he was basking and relishing in the adoration shown to him.

  “At my whistle, the royal brigade will bring out the kicking and screaming Chad Wallace, who will think he’s on a firing squad for execution.”

  Prince Jerren jeered wickedly, clapping his hands together while the crowd erupted with laughter. He couldn’t resist being part of this elaborate prank.

  “You know these fools love a good joke.” Kylin gestured around the arena.

  I had to laugh. “They do have a really playful sense of humor. They probably live for this stuff,” I agreed with him. It was a day that would go down in history.

  “All right,” Prince Jerren said into his microphone. “Now is the time to put your game faces on.”

  Amazingly, the crowd silenced at once. “When we bring Chad Wallace, human male, out from the dungeons, we will wear somber expressions and trick him into believing we are throwing him over the edge of the sea wall, when in reality, he will be in a small tank with the Honkfish where the water remains at a warm ninety-two degrees.”

  Everyone murmured their understanding, and for a few seconds, Prince Jerren stood there, staring blankly off into space. I wondered what was going through that furry head of his.

  “What’s he doing?” I whispered to Kylin in confusion.

  Kylin shrugged. “He’s probably collecting himself into character.”

  I glanced down at Katie, who made eye contact with us. I gave her a slight wave and she responded with a grin and a thumbs-up. I wanted her to see my approval at the last minute.

  “It’s so awesome to see Katie finally coming to her senses,” I told Kylin.

  “Yes, she was a stupid girl who is easily trained,” Kylin joked.

  “It took her a while,” I argued, “but at least she knows which side is the one to pull for now.” She was one of the types who could definitely be considered easily manipulated.

  “I’ll agree with that.” Kylin squeezed my hand. It was go time, now or never.

  “At my call, the lights will go out,” Prince Jerren squeaked, then yelled with all his might, “Lights!”

  The lights went out, and the arena was blanketed in darkness. The area was so hushed and silent you could hear the sound of your breath as it escaped your mouth.

  You could have heard a pin drop. It was eerily silent and still. The hair on the back of my neck prickled, and for a moment or two before Chad was slated to emerge, I almost believed that this could have been a real execution. Chad was going to be terrified and scared straight.

  I heard the whistle from Jerren and immediately looked to the soft yellow glow of the lights emitting from inside the palace walls right beside us. There was a creepy aura swirling around us all.

  With a boom, the doors slammed shut behind them and I watched as Mixian and Dolarian royal guards dragged a kicking and screaming Chad to the middle of the arena.

  He was dirty, covered in grime, and his hair was greasy and wet. His clothes were torn and ripped in some places, but otherwise, he a
ppeared intact and unhurt. He might have looked slightly thinner than normal.

  “Let me go!” His shouts echoed through the arena. His cries bellowed and lashed at everyone.

  When the guards reached the place were Prince Jerren stood in center, he nodded his cue to Kylin and me. I put my brave face on. It was time to bring my brother to justice.

  It was our turn to play our roles in the prank. We gave him subtle nods in understanding, but Chad would never have noticed. He was full of despair and hysterics.

  He continued to swiftly jerk his body around and perform an array of wild thrashing movements. He was fighting his release. I had to give him that much. His survival instinct must have been running like wildfire inside him.

  “Let me go!” he wailed, trying to bite and spit at the guards who remained stoic statues, grimacing as they tried to keep a tight grip over the aggressive Chad. They didn’t waver or flinch, which I found remarkable.

  Kylin and I moved to stand next to Prince Jerren. I folded my hands together and glanced at the ground, pretending to be both distraught and emotionally distant. I had a role to keep up and a poker face to play if I wanted this to work.

  I glanced at Katie, who stood in the shadows, seeking to remain undetected so that Chad wouldn’t be able to see her filming the entire charade as it unfolded. Otherwise, he’d be on to us.

  I was just happy to see her holding up her end of the bargain, which was to capture the whole event on camera. I knew it must have been hard for her. Surely, she’d be torn and conflicted, but she was strong. This was her chance to prove her worth.

  This footage would be gold. It would be go well beyond getting Chad back for his prankster years of sociopathic behavior directed not only at me, but to so many other innocent victims as well.

  As I stared at Chad, kicking and screaming and begging desperately to be freed, I couldn’t help but feel the sweet relief of closure. He was a slimeball, whether he was my brother or not.

  Finally, he was going to get served what he deserved in the end. Karma was a bitch, and it was coming back to haunt Chad today. I just hoped our hard work and efforts paid off and that he would finally learn his lesson.