Enticed by the Alien Warrior (Warriors of Agron #8) - Hope Hart Page 0,6

was going to help sick people. But my mother killed those illusions. And over the years, she set fire to them and buried them.

“Darling, you’re too pretty to be locked away in a lab,” she cooed. “You need to do something that will show off that gorgeous face.”

I was four.

My mother got to work, and within a few weeks, I had an agent. Within a few months, I was doing commercials. Within a few years, I was modeling in a kids’ runway show in Paris.

My mother was ecstatic.

My stomach rumbles, and I force myself to push the memories away.

“I’m hungry. Where can I get breakfast around here?”

Cauri waves her hand toward a tray I hadn’t noticed on a small table near my bed. My stomach rumbles again, and I tense, ready to ditch the maid and leap on the food like a hungry wildebeest.

She tugs at my hair again. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Ow!”

I glare at her. I spent hours of my life sitting in front of mirrors being painted and prodded. I’m not putting up with it on this planet.

“Enough.”

She must realize she’s dancing on my last nerve, because she slides one final pin into my hair and pronounces me ready to go.

I may dislike this woman, but habit—and manners—kick in.

“Thank you.”

Surprise flashes across her face, and she nods, pointing toward my breakfast.

“Eat,” she says and then stalks out of my room.

I would’ve killed for a maid in Rakiz’s camp. Now I have one, and she’s a dictator. Just my luck.

Chapter Three

Arix

Another of my most trusted guards is dead with no warning. My hands fist as I stare down at his body. Heril was a good male. One who guarded me loyally after the deaths of my parents.

“How?” I murmur.

Bevix leans down and pulls aside Heril’s black uniform, revealing the wound.

“Stabbed in the heart,” Korzyn mutters behind me. “Quick, lethal, and done by someone he trusted enough to let them get that close.”

And that makes it so much worse. Over the past revolution, many of my most trusted guards have been killed, one by one, leaving me with an increasingly sparse group of those I can trust. Someone wants my throne. And they are getting impatient.

“I want to visit his family.”

Bevix nods. “I will make arrangements.”

How will I face Heril’s mate, Caris? How will I face his parents, knowing it is my fault he is lying here, killed by someone he trusted? By someone I trusted.

Korzyn slaps his hand on my shoulder. “We will find who did this,” he murmurs. “And we will make them pay.”

I nod, feeling as if I am in a daze as I make my way to my throne room. I have a meeting with my advisers, who are debating the merits of creating potential trade agreements with some of the barbarian Braxian tribes from across the water. My spies are currently closely watching the tribes’ qatais, judging how likely they would be to honor any potential alliances.

“Arix,” my uncle booms as I walk into the empty room. Behind me, I can practically hear Korzyn grinding his teeth. My commander is convinced that Tridi is responsible for these attacks. As I have no heirs, my uncle would be the next in line for my throne.

However, even with all Korzyn’s spies and his constant, continual monitoring of Tridi, he has never been able to provide any evidence that the other male is responsible for my parents’ murders.

Each time I see my uncle, I fight the urge to order him to leave my court. Not just because the chance he is betraying me is high but because his face is so close to my father’s that my gut sometimes twists when I look at him. My father would have those lines beside his eyes now. Would likely have the beginnings of gray in his hair.

“Tridi.” I take my throne, watching as his eyes flare at the sight.

“What’s this I hear about human females staying as your guests?”

I raise one eyebrow. I have no obligation to explain myself to Tridi, but since he’s a council member, it’s often best to placate him.

“They wish to use contacts within the marketplace to fix their ship.”

Bevix is leaning against one of the walls, and his eyes widen. The male has long been fascinated with the idea of traveling between planets, and I have no doubt he will want to speak with the human females.

I bite down the urge to warn him that while he may speak to Sarissa, Vivian is off-limits.