Dear Reader... Again...

No update again this week. Sorry guys! My laptop, which has the editing software I use to edit my stories, finally died. I've had it for ten years and it's been crashing on me lately and frequently. I'm getting a new one soon, so once I get it up and going I hope to actually post part of the story then. Until then, here is a (poorly edited) chapter from the guards' perspective…

Kiss Me Again, feat. Rin and Karolek

Rin-

He'd been keeping an eye on the princess periodically, but Rin mostly kept his eyes on a swivel looking for any potential threats, as he was trained to do. Unlike most of the people there, save for the Voyan Prince and his guard, Rin didn't have the advantage of being able to sense people's thoughts. He could only react to their actions, not prevent them. From that aspect, he and the princess made a good team. Her gift was incredibly strong and usually, she kept a telepathic link with him so he'd know if she was in danger. Even if he didn't have a telepathic gift, Rin had honed his ability to read people fairly well. As he looks around the room he feels Belia's link begin to fade until it's nonexistent. Rin quickly looks around the ballroom and the princess is nowhere to be found. As he does another sweep of the room, he finds that the Voyan Prince has also disappeared. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the two need to spend more time together, but he is the foreign prince from a planet that wished to control Krystaliv; not to mention he's five years older than the princess, and a man. The more Rin thought about it the more he felt like he needed to find Belia. He's about to leave when the King calls him over.

"Where is my daughter?" the King telepathically asks Rin.

"She stepped out for a moment," Rin says, which isn't technically a lie. "Do you wish to speak with her?"

"I do, but it can wait until tomorrow. She should enjoy tonight as it will probably be the last time she sets foot on Krystaliv if everything goes well." The King dismisses Rin, and he quickly exits the ballroom. Rin teleports to the residential wing and goes to Belia's room. She's not there. He checks her brothers' rooms as sometimes she goes there to think. Nothing. Rin goes to the outdoor space. No princess there either. It's like she completely disappeared. Then Rin remembers Belia mentioning in passing her father gave her an old agricultural dome for her birthday. Rin goes to a transporter, but without knowing where the dome is, it's useless to try teleporting there. As Rin goes back to the ballroom, he runs into the Voyan Prince's guard, Karo-lick, or something like that.

"Out of my way," the Voyan guard tells Rin as he brushes past. Rin assumes he's looking for the Prince. If Rin could speak, he would tell the other guard that he wouldn't be able to find him, but Rin just lets him storm off. Rin waits a little longer outside Belia's door, but he eventually decides to go back to his quarters.

"How was the party?" Kya asks as Rin walks in.

"It was great up until the part Bel snuck away with the prince."

"Belia did what?" Kya says in disbelief.

"She and the prince snuck off during the party and I've not been able to find her. I've looked everywhere."

"How come you haven't called the Royal Guard?"

"And cause an incident? I want to keep my job. I have faith Bel can handle herself and I think she would have reached out to me if she needed my help."

"You have a point." Not wanting to think too much about it, Rin gets ready for bed. When he goes into the bedroom Kya is waiting for him. She activates their bond and Rin immediately feels warm.

"Should we be doing this? I mean, today's not a safe day for you," Rin says. Kya kisses him.

"If all goes well, I won't be with Bel anymore and neither will you. We can focus on our family for a little bit after this. We've been married for a few years now, and as much as I love having you by myself. I've been lonely…" Rin understands, but he just wants to make sure Kya does as well. Rin smiles and kisses Kya.

"Let's make a baby," he whispers in her ear.

Karolek-

Karolek had looked everywhere for the Prince since he slipped out of his supervision. Karolek wasn't sure what the Prince was up to, but it couldn't be good if he couldn't tell him. Karolek hears the door to the Prince's quarters open. Karolek goes into full guard mode and pins the person coming into the wall.

"It's me," Timur says, Karolek doesn't want to let him go, instead he wants to increase the pressure on the prince's throat, but he doesn't.

"Where the hell have you been?" Karolek demands.

"With the Princess. I've decided I'm going to marry her." Karolek is startled as Timur seems absolutely smitten right now.

"Did she force you to do something? Have they gotten into your head using their telepathy?"

"We kissed." Timur blushes and Karolek wants to punch him.

"You decided you wanted to marry this alien because she kissed you?"

"Actually I kissed her."

"You've finally snapped. All these years of war and space travel have finally gotten to you," Karolek says. Timur gives Karolek an irritated shove as he goes over to the bed.

"I'm being serious. I don't hate the idea of having Belia by my side."

"I mean compared to your ex, she's a breath of fresh air, but this is a bit drastic, isn't it?"

"Belia makes me feel something other than lust. You get it, right? I mean you've had guys that you would be satisfied just being around and not sleeping with."

"But aren't you just manipulating her? I mean, you're going to have other consorts that you'll like more than her; Voyan women."

"Eventually, but if this prevents us from losing more people, it's worth playing with her emotions a little." Karolek can see the difficult position Timur is in, however, he also knows what the people will think, and they won't like their future empress being an alien. As far as Karolek is concerned, Timur just made sure the next few years would be a living nightmare for him.