My Alien Prince: Claimed by the Atrexu (SciFi BBW Alien Romance) by Calista Skye Page B

Ber'Ain said flatly. “I urge you to reconsider.”
    “The decision has been made, Ber'Ain,” Ev'Ax said. “Why are you suddenly discussing orders? It's not like you. Ar'Ric, should we tell her about the purpose of our visit to her station?”
    The prince thought for a moment.
    “Let's not. To start with, I mean. At some point it will become necessary, I suppose, once she sees our own women and realizes that, with her genuinely female shape, she possesses immense beauty, compared to their boniness. It's bound to make her suspicious. And I don't want her to know who we are. Or, specifically, who I am. If she were to, say, fall in love with me, I want it to be not because of my status, but because of myself.” 
    The words hung in the air, and the Prince felt himself blush. This was not a common topic among Imperial officers. “Of course I know there's little chance of that, ” he snapped, embarrassed. “I'm not attractive, as I well know. But I'm just saying if . If there's a chance for a big win, one must not block that avenue for oneself. That's sound military philosophy.”
    “Be that as it may,” Ber'Ain said, “it's my opinion that we should take the woman back to her station right away. Too many things about this whole situation are mysterious and frankly dangerous. We know nothing about her, except that she was heavily armed and that she has the highest possible code of honor. And the fact of the matter is that she did fire her weapon at the Heir Apparent of our Empire, although at its lowest power setting. Can we be completely sure that she isn't a spy or a saboteur or an assassin? And what if she's unwilling to consider any proposal? She may have hidden powers or weapons. It seems to me that by allowing this alien to enter our home world, we're taking a huge chance, Ar'Ric. And don't get me started on the lunacy of making this alien an Imperial Princess!”
    “She must be vetted, of course,” Ev'Ax said calmly. “Potential royal brides always are.”
    “But you have already made up your mind, haven't you, Ar'Ric?” Ber'Ain said, his voice low and strained. “You want this alien! Yes, she's wondrously attractive! Even I can see that, despite that sackcloth she's wearing. But I warn you, Your Highness, as one officer to another: Don't let your cock determine the future of the Empire!”
    The prince felt the blood draining from his face in anger. It was not the way Ber'Ain was phrasing his challenge, which was perfectly and unassailably formed, but more that what he said hit too close to home.
    “I'm well aware of my responsibilities as concerns the fate of the Empire,” he said coldly. “I will not be lectured on that topic. I spend most of my waking hours with that on my mind, not that it has done me much good so far. In this alien woman, I see the best chance for securing the succession and future of that empire I have ever seen. Shall the Crown Prince, of all people, have to marry a female that leaves him cold? Shall not I have the right to take my chances on marrying a woman from love and attraction? I demand that right. And I will have it. If this arrangement is not to your liking, Ber'Ain, then so be it.”
    “It's not to my liking, as I have already stated. I will do my duty, follow orders and fly this ship to Atrexu. But-” Ber'Ain suddenly went quiet, as if struck by an idea.
    “But what, Ber'Ain?” the prince demanded.
    “I have nothing to add.” The pilot disengaged from the conversation, swung his seat around and busied himself with the ship's instruments. A noticeable chill had descended on the cabin, and there was a long silence, only broken when the prince got up to check on the alien female.

17
    E mily stretched comfortably. She felt wonderfully refreshed and ready for anything. She had planned to clean the Level Six public toilets today, which was not the most pleasant task, but at least it was in the alien section, so there was always a chance to see maybe a weird being or