chapter 15

Orion’s p.o.v

“I thought I told you to be out before the sun rises brother” Karin said, making her way into the room in a not so quiet manner.

I groaned, stretching myself out to get rid of the back aches, “well I can assure you, that you are five days late on the matter.” I said rolling my eyes as I further stretched “you are such a bad host, I did not even get a proper place to sleep” I said, scowling at her but she rolled her eyes at me, taking a sit where I just laid. "

“don’t worry brother, I can assure you that you would survive. Or has that space ship of yours spoilt you so much?” she teased, looking at me with that taunting look in her eyes.

I rolled my eyes, I was definitely not in the mood for her games this morning. “Thank you, for your hospitality” I said in the most sarcastic voice, I shall be on my way now” I said making my way to go out of the room.

“Brother” she called, her voice now holding a bit of seriousness to it that made me pause. “About what we talked about the day you came, have you reached a decision?” I stood, sucking in a deep breath.

‘Did I come to a decision? Was I going to tell her?’ my heart skipped a beat at the thought.

“I think that would be the best option, to tell her that is” I said with a sigh.

“You don’t seem too happy about that” Karin said, getting a bit closer to me to comfort me.

“i…. i don’t know how to feel about it to be honest, what if she cannot accept me for who i truly am?” i closed my eyes, taking in a bit of her essence to calm me down but instead, it only seemed to remind me of how desperately i wanted her. Her essence was far different from anything a Martian could offer and that was one of the few things that made her more unique.

“i believe you should get this off your chest and then come back and worry about this later”

“you are right”, i said, taking in a deep breath

“speaking of things you should worry about, father has summoned us to give a report of what we have been able to achieve these past months, are you going to tell him of this progress?'“ she asked, looking at me with a bit of concern.

I felt my body tense up. “how could i forget!” i said, trying to hide the fact that i was panicking. I could not show such emotion, not even in front of Karin, no matter how close i hoped we were ‘show no weakness’ it was a rule that was burned into my brain and i had already shown enough of that weakness the first day i arrived.

“so, what are you going to do?” she asked again, looking at me as though to gauge her reaction.

“there is nothing to do. Father would know when i decide what i want to do with Astrid” i tried to hide my essence in case she could tell that i was getting anxious.

‘there was definitely no need to let father know, especially since i was sure that Astrid was not going to accept me.’

“you know what happens when you hide things from father, or have you forgotten the last time?”

"i definitely had not forgotten the last time, especially since it was i who was locked up all because i failed to notify father of mothers visit” i said, fighting the snarl that tried to escape. “but i would rather go through that than allow father see Astrid as a pet i must own, you of all people should know that” i did not miss the way her face changed. We were cursed with the same fate since she was also compatible with a human.

Sadly for her, father got to find out and despised the fact that they could even be in a romantic relationship. To him, humans are to be owned, to be used as nothing more than puppets and also included how they live, or if they should live

“i am sorry, i should not have not have spoken out of turn” i apologized, feeling a bit bad that i had gone that far

“it is fine” she said dismissively, trying to get over the conversation.

“i should be taking my leave now. Thank you, for opening your doors for me in my time of need” i said wanting to hug her, both to comfort her and bid her goodbye but then decided against it..

“of course, i cant have the council on my ass for playing dirty for the throne” she said with a smirk.

“where to my prince?” Caelum said, looking more relaxed than when we came

“earth” i said, taking in a deep breath. He looked at me with a knowing look before he went to steer the ship towards earth

*

“Caelum, what is the best gift for the human?” i said, standing in the midst of a shopping mall.

He said nothing, equally as clueless as i was. ‘why could this not be as easy?’ i thought as i walked through the isle of sunglasses.

I imagined her in the sun, with the shade on while she looked at me with a smile.

The thought of that got me picking a few before i finally decided on one. It was a simple cat eyed frame, black in colour.

“you should give her” i said handing him the box or at least i almost handed him the box.

“you hesitate my lord. Are you unsure?”

“never mind, i would hand it over myself” i was well aware of the pendant he had given her before but i did not mind, or at least i tried to tell myself that it did not bother me at all, but deep down, it irked me that she would readily accept a gift from him than she would from me.

“are we headed to any other place my lord?” he said, his head bowed, waiting for my command.

“home” i was already eager to meet Astrid that it made me a bit nervous

The ship had barely touched the ground when i had this tightening feeling on my neck, causing me to fly down, making a beeline to her room

“Astrid!?” i called, banging her room open.

Empty

I started to panic on the inside as I checked every spot where she could possibly be inside the ship.

“where is she!!” I yelled at the poor Caelum who had been searching just as hard as I was

‘did she escape?’ I ground my teeth just thinking about it. She would not do that would she?

I approached the room, seeing the door slightly ajar.

I swung the door open, just to be hit with Astrid’s essence. “Astrid!!!” I yelled, looking around the room to find where she was.

“p..prince o..orion” it was her voice, I was sure of it.. I turned slowly to where the orb was placed, dread filling my body. “h..he..lp”

Without think I went heads first into the orb where her scared voice came from.

“I’ve got you” I whispered as I held her tightly, trying my best to pull us out. It most likely was not the smartest idea to try and let out my wings in this narrow place. “fuck my wings are stuck!” I muttered, trying my possible best to hold her tightly whilst I held on to the small anchor that was threatening to snap.

I tried pulling us out, using a bit of anti-grav ity trick with my powers but it was becoming more and more difficult.

I felt it happen, slowly but surely I felt it happen. She was slipping out of my hands as her body got more and more slippery from the sweat.

“P…rince, please don’t let go” she pleaded, holding on to me for her dear life.

Unfortunately, I could not keep to that pleading as my grip loosened, with a loud scream which churned my gut