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I sighed. “I have gone against the interests of Thorzan. Already, I have enemies who would not wish me their king. Now, those enemies may claim I care more for humans than I do for Thorzi.”
“That’s bullshit.” Lucas was scowling, angry on my behalf. Strangely, it made me calmer to know I had such a stalwart ally. “The Thorzi need humans who are happy, who feel like they are a part of your world. Otherwise, the hybrids just doubt themselves, and the Thorzi doubt them. That doesn’t work long-term. You know that.”
With a purr of my own, I leaned in and nuzzled his neck. “I know my Lucas is very wise.”
He huffed, but even in his frustration, he tipped his head back so I could kiss more of his beautiful neck. “If our return becomes dangerous and I am challenged, you must not interfere.”
“That’s not gonna happen, okay?”
I did not think that there was anything I could do, from this ship, to change what we would walk into back on Thorzan, but I hummed my assent anyway. I was ready to move on to sweeter distractions, and if this was my last chance to hold Lucas in my arms, I would take it.
“I will always protect you. I will see you and your people safe,” I muttered against his neck, pressing those promises into his flesh. “No matter what.”
His hands slid into my hair, held me tight. “And you too. You’ll be safe too.”
But as incredible as my Lucas was, I did not think he could protect me from an angry, vengeful Crux.
CHAPTER29
LUCAS
When we returned to Thorzan, Kaelum insisted that everyone wait on the ship until matters were settled with his people.
And that was bullshit, so I wasn’t doing it.
I followed him down and away from the ship even as he frowned at me. “My Lucas—”
“Nope.” I slipped my hand into his and fell in beside him, lengthening my stride to keep up. “I get it. You told me what we might be walking into. That’s why we’re leaving everyone else on the ship. But that’s not how it works if we’re partners, Kaelum. We do these things together. I’m your equal, and I stand by your side.”
He gave my hand a light squeeze and ducked his head, a slight blue flush creeping over his cheeks, and he nodded. “Partners.”
I wouldn’t say I was sorry for the affirmation a few minutes later when we walked into the throne room, but it was definitely... a bit overwhelming.
The room was packed to the rafters with aliens and hybrids, the king at the center, sitting on his throne and looking as severe as ever. Not shockingly, he ignored me and stared at Kaelum. “You have returned.”
Kaelum drew himself up to his full height, nodding. “I have. After righting a wrong done by Crux.”
Quite a few heads turned to Crux, who affected an expression I’d come to recognize as nonchalance on a Thorzi.
“We are aware that Crux has been acting inappropriately,” his father conceded. “But his testimony says that his actions have been toward the end of preserving our people. You, by your actions, have hurt our future.”
I moved to step forward, but Kaelum squeezed my hand tighter, unmoving.
Together.
So instead, I took a deep breath and turned to look at him, waiting.
“I have not,” he accounted, head held high. “What I have done was stop Crux from abusing the people who should be our future. If we kidnap humans against their wills, keep them in cells that could generously be called boxes, and feed them nothing but travel rations, we cannot then ask them to help us. And it is not the Thorzi way, to imprison and abuse innocents. I set that right and gave the humans the choice they should have been given to begin with.”
“And lost half of them!” Crux shouted, to loud grumbling from some of the assembled audience.
It was my turn to glare at him. “Two,” I corrected. “There are two fewer humans than there were. Sixteen of us have agreed to stay on Thorzan, despite our previous miserable treatment, as long as we’re treated respectfully from now on. But I can tell you that if Kaelum is punished for treating us well while Crux isn’t punished for imprisoning and abusing the others, that will change. We are only here, agreeing to help you, because of Kaelum and his men.”
Kaelum smiled, his chin lifting a fraction in pride, and it was well-deserved. His actions, and his crew’s easygoing attitudes, had been the reason we had wanted to stay. Because they had proven to us that the Thorzi could be good, and this could be an adventure.
That seemed to change the onlookers’ minds, and they turned and whispered to each other. Kaelum had not betrayed them at all. If anything, he’d gained our respect and trust in a way Crux hadn’t even cared to, and it was obvious.
My eye caught on Crux, and his bright blue eyes had gone hard, narrowed in anger. He didn’t glance at me, though. Instead, he turned to catch someone else’s eye, and then jerked his head in our direction.
