“Can we go back to the palace now?”

I looked at Marissa. She had the expression of someone who was exhausted and put through an emotional and physical wringer. Bags showed under her eyes. I felt sorry for her.

“Yes, of course.” I nodded and picked her up.

As we flew home, I noticed the sensation of Marissa’s head lolling on the back of my shoulder. Her weight became heavy as her muscles relaxed. She had fallen asleep.

I carried her back to my room and gently placed her on my bed and threw a soft blanket over her. I watched her sleeping serenely for a moment or two. I became entranced by the soft and mellow breathing of her chest, in and out.

I got up and walked to the door. “Keep her safe,” I warned the guards who I had instructed to wait outside of my bedroom.

I didn’t want to risk the chance of either her running away or Dakir trying to find her and poisoning her while I wasn’t home.

My guards nodded diligently and stood at attention, ready to defend her if it came down to that. The windows had been properly secured so that no one could get in or out of them.

I needed some fresh air. I walked outside in the garden, trying to clear my head and think of a solution to my nagging and dangerous problem.

I stood next to the Iopa tree. I didn’t know why I had the fucking poisonous thing in my garden in the first place. But its flowers were so lush and beautiful, I couldn’t find the will to cut it down.

I stood there for what seemed like a long time. I took in the breeze and drew in a deep breath as I closed my eyes. I contemplated whether I had it in me to kill my own brother.

I also pondered the idea that if I did harm him, almost everyone would guess me to be the culprit. I didn’t know if I wanted that murderous reputation looming over my head. I wasn’t a killer by nature, not like he was. Besides, his army of followers would surely have my head if I killed him, then I would be dead, too, and all of my actions would be for nothing in the end.

With my conscience and character values still intact for at least the moment, I walked on, enjoying the late afternoon sun as it warmed my skin and gave purpose and new life to my heart and soul.

If there were a safer, less deadly way to take Dakir out of the picture, I would jump on whatever chance that was. But I came up empty no matter how far I ravaged to the back of my mind for reasoning.

“Kadic,” I heard a male voice call out to me and swiftly turned to see who was there, interrupting my thoughts. My inner security rose and my senses heightened.

I sighed with relief and allowed my muscles to unclench when I noticed it was just my best friend, Caliph, walking in to join me in the center of the densely populated flower garden.

“I haven’t seen you in days,” he greeted me with a firm handshake.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been a little preoccupied,” I admitted.

“That’s fine; I was just worried about you, that’s all.” He gave me a friendly slap on the back.

I glanced at my loyal best friend for a moment. We had been inseparable since we were young kids and I usually knew I could trust him with any information. I just wasn’t sure if this pressing problem was something that I should get him involved in at the moment.

“So anyway, what are you doing out here all by yourself?” Caliph grinned, teasing me.

“Oh, nothing really.” I shrugged and tried to act nonchalant.

“How’s it going with ‘the human girl’?” The words rolled off his tongue as if he had just tasted something sour.

His referral of Marissa in that degrading tone rubbed me the wrong way. “Don’t talk about her like that,” I warned.

“Sorry,” Caliph held his hands up. “Don’t get all defensive on me.”

“I’m not,” I rolled my eyes as we walked on some more through the garden. “I’m having a nice time with her, actually.”

“Oh wow, I’m quite surprised to hear that. I thought the species barrier would be too wide for you guys to be able to bond.”

“It’s been a little tough,” I disclosed. “But most of the time it’s been very enjoyable spending quality time with her.”

“Well, that’s nice to hear. I hope it works out for you.”

I exchanged a look with my best friend and his eyes were genuine. I knew he was rooting for me on the inside, even if he liked to give me a hard time.

I stopped walking for a moment. “Can I confess something to you?”

Caliph, always one for gossip, had a probing grin. “Sure, what is it?”

“Marissa…that’s her name by the way, well—she’s exactly the type of woman I would want to marry. She’s smart, sweet, and beautiful. There’s just one problem.”

“What?”

“She’s not interested in me,” I said this part with slight embarrassment.

Caliph snorted. “I can’t imagine why not.”

“Well, for starters, she wants to move back home to Earth. She’s not even remotely willing to give this place, or me, for that matter, a chance.” The further I explained, the sadder I became.

Caliph laughed cynically. “Are you telling me after she’s come here and witnessed with her own eyes how beautiful and peaceful it is here, she still wants to return to a planet overrun with war-mongering lower life forms?”

“I know, even the thought is ridiculous,” I concurred.

“Alpazon is a fucking paradise compared to the shithole of Earth. You couldn’t pay me to live there,” Caliph stated his opinion emphatically.

I nodded in agreement. “Tell me about it. So, what is the problem? I must be doing something wrong. I’ve even slept with her.”

At this confession, Caliph raised his eyebrows. “Wow, great job getting her to fuck right away. I need to meet this girl.”

I shook my head and laughed. “She told me she enjoyed it, but she’s still adamant about returning home. No matter what I do or say, she just won’t budge.”

“Hmm.” Caliph gazed at the sky with a thoughtful expression. “Have you taken her to the waterfall yet?” His voice perked up at the mention of the well-known sanctuary.

“Yes,” I sighed. “I also took her to the mines.”

Caliph looked at me as if I’d just told him I wanted to chew off my own arm.

“Are you crazy? Why the fuck would you bring her there? Women want to be showered with expensive gifts of flowers, chocolate, and jewelry. No wonder she’s turned off now, you brought her to the equivalent of hell, filled with pain and suffering.”

His words stung because I knew he was right, but he didn’t know the whole story yet.

“Trust me.” Caliph wagged a lecturing finger at me. “Buy her pretty things and lavish gifts. That’s the way to win her heart.”

“Maybe,” I said and looked out to the horizon. I was frustrated and willing to try just about anything to get her to stay with me. “I guess I could give it a try.” I mustered a smile, but inside, I was nervous as hell.