Enticed by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (the giving tree read aloud .TXT) 📖

the women in your court, I guess. Constantly at parties and dinners, all in an attempt to be seen with the right people. My father was a partner at a law firm, and he was never home. It was well known that he was constantly having affairs, and he didn’t care enough to be discreet about it. This made my mom desperate for a distraction. She needed somewhere to focus her attention, and I was the convenient choice.”

“Affair?”

“Sleeping with women who weren’t my mother.”

I frown. These human men would dishonor their mates this way?

Vivian sighs. “I was an adorable kid. At least that’s what all the adults around me said. I was conventionally cute. Blonde hair, blue eyes, but most importantly, I was well-behaved. That’s what they’re really looking for in the industry when it comes to little kids. They need a fast turnaround and kids that can follow directions. So my modeling and acting career took off, and my mom became my manager. Unfortunately, I can’t act my way out of a paper bag, and there’s only so far looks can take you in life.”

I frown. “It sounds as if your mother was living her life through you.”

She nods. “As an adult, I can look back now and see what my mom was doing. When I fell in line with her plans, when I was the perfect daughter, I was rewarded with her attention. It was fleeting though. And I don’t remember her ever telling me I was smart. Once, I had a nanny who told me I could go to college one day. My mother almost fired her on the spot. She said I wouldn’t need college because I would be too busy traveling the world as a model. She was horrified when my breasts became too large for me to fit the sample sizes. And she’s barely looked at me since the day I told her I wouldn’t be getting a reduction.”

I tense, sliding one hand over her breast, and she shivers.

“A reduction?”

“Made smaller. They would cut here and take away some of the…” Her voice trails off as I stare at her, horrified, and she bursts out laughing.

“I think this is the most disconcerted I’ve ever seen you,” she says.

I can barely find my words. “Your mother wanted this for you?”

She shrugs. “When I was young, it was fun, you know. As long as I was doing what I was told, my mom would be supportive, and kind…almost like a normal mom. But the moment I pushed back, she would turn on me. She could be…vicious. I know she had problems of her own—my dad was never around. But no matter how much I dieted, I was still all tits and hips. I hit rock bottom when I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I’d eaten properly and I was considering going to see a surgeon. It would be one thing if it were a career I chose, or something I loved, but I was just doing it for her. And if she couldn’t love me enough without the modeling, then why was I begging for scraps of her affection?”

Vivian’s face is wet, and I wipe away her tears, but more quickly take their place.

“I’m sorry. Where was your father in this?”

She shrugs. “He didn’t give a crap. When Mom decided she was done with me, he cut me out of his life as well. I was still modeling, but I was never going to be an editorial model, and I wasn’t suitable for high fashion. I was lucky though. I had my own little niche doing commercial modeling, and before I was abducted, I’d moved into lingerie and bikini modeling. It may not have been my passion, but I was good at it.”

I don’t know some of the words Vivian has spoken, but I understand a little more about her life. She was betrayed by her family and taught not to trust. She had to choose to look after herself and only herself.

Her cousin is all she has left of her family. It’s not surprising that she would do anything to ensure they both return safely to their own planet.

Some of the rage that has been simmering inside of me since Korzyn told me she agreed to betray me…it is lessened. Oh, I am still angry. But I have not told Vivian I have ordered my people to search for the chip she needs. I don’t want to give her false hope if it can’t be found.

I scowl as thumping sounds come from the other room. Someone is banging on the door.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty, come quick!”

Vivian’s eyes widen, and she sits up, clutching her blanket to her chest. I push away the urge to order whoever has dared interrupt me to leave so I can roll her beneath me once more. Instead, I stride from the bedroom to the sitting room and throw open the door, scowling at Bevix.

His face is pale, and I open my mouth, but he’s already stumbling over his words.

“It’s Tridi,” he says. “He’s dying.”

Vivian gasps behind me, and I meet her eyes. She has pulled on her dress and is leaning against the doorway.

“Stay here,” I order her, and she nods as I stride from the room.

“Where is he?”

“His rooms.”

I run through the halls, ignoring the gasps of the servants as they jump out of my way.

Tridi is choking on his own blood when I arrive, Korzyn attempting to stem the bleeding from his chest wound.

“He wouldn’t let me call for the healers,” Korzyn says. “He insisted on speaking to you first.”

“Are you mad?” I turn and roar for the healers.

Bevix crouches next to me. “I’ve already called for them, Your Majesty. They’re on the way.”

I survey Tridi’s chest wound as Korzyn replaces the thick cloth he’s using to stem the bleeding. Tridi gasps, and I lean down.

“What happened?”

“Attack. Traitor.” He coughs, and his face turns gray. “Came out of nowhere. I turned, and a knife was in