Rogue Warriors of Lorr
Stolen by the Alien Prince Chapter 22

Climbing into the PulXar, Gianna couldn't help but feel awful with how things had played out between Despite the king's rotten attitude toward his son, the king's words seemed to really rattle Kozien in a

and his father.

by she hadn't thought was possible. It made her sad to think that someone's own flesh and blood could treat them so poorly. Especially someone like Kozien who seemed to have a kind of loyalty that most in the galaxy would kill to possess. Despite being beaten down and given constant battles to fight between his brothers and his father, Kozien was still very much put together. Gianna definitely couldn't say the same for herself.

As soon as she got herself strapped in, Kozien flipped on the PulXar and pulled back on the control stick to lift it off the ground. She settled back into her seat, letting him navigate their ship off of the dock and out into the world around them. Back behind them, Gabe sat in one of the compact seats. He was far enough away from them that they would be able to have their own private conversation without him overhearing.

As soon as their ship cleared the airfield, she turned in her seat to look at Kozien. "You didn't have to do that for us, you know. Get yourself disowned like that." He let out a long sigh, piloting the ship through the atmosphere. "I mean it, Kozien. Gabe and I can just walk away. This doesn't have to be your fight, too."

He shook his head at her. "And what good will that do you both? You will never survive on your own. Not against the D'Narvius. I told you I will protect you. That was my solemn promise to you."

She couldn't help but feel a warmth spread throughout her chest.

Even through the intense battles they'd been dealing with the past few days, it felt good that she could count on him. Even in the darkest moments, when she really thought Oxxaro was about to rape her, he swooped in and saved her. How could she not be grateful for him? "Thank you, Kozien," she murmured to him.

He was quiet for the rest of the trip back to the hub, lost in thought by whatever plagued his mind-whether her words of gratitude or what had happened with his father. She wished she could reach in there and discover what was really going on inside his head. His stone face was hard to read, even from how much time they'd spent together.

She knew he was bound to be upset over his father's words and how he'd been disowned. It was only natura. But Gianna wished she could fix it for him. She wanted to make it so his father wasn't an a*****e and didn't demand things of his offspring they clearly didn't want to give him.

Unfortunately, the only thing she could really do was to support him in any way she could. Even if he She loved that part of him the deepest and cherished it the most out of anything.

As soon as they landed at the hub, Kozien opened the door for all of them.

Gianna couldn't help but feel relieved that they were finally back in territory that wasn't threatening t

is stone on the outside, she knew better. She knew he had deeper layers because he'd shown them to her firsthand.

em with long spears and unresolved anger issues.

"I've got a place at a local motel that we can stay at," her brother said once they were all off of the ship. "It's not much, but it'll keep us safe for the time being." Kozien patted Gabe on the back of the shoulder. "Lead the way."

As soon as Gabe turned to start walking, Kozien pulled her against his side and tucked an arm tightly around her. She smiled. It made her feel safe and secure when he was like this. Even though they were all at risk of getting jumped or mugged, at least Kozien would be there to defend them.

The motel that Gabe described was, to its core, not much. But at least it had running water, two beds, and a place to rest while they recouped from being on Lorr.

She couldn't help but laugh when Gabe, after locking the door behind them all, immediately went over to one of the beds and flopped down onto it. "Comfy?"

"Mmrrff," came his muffled response.

She snorted at him and turned to see Kozien's eyes darting around the small space. He took it all in, analyzing every single nook and cranny to make sure it was as safe as Gabe claimed. Once he was satisfied, he nodded to himself and moved to close the distance between them.

Gianna smiled when he cupped her face with both of his hands and pulled her into a brief kiss.

"I've been thinking about something since coming back from Lorr."

"I saw that." She tried to smile at him, her worry clinging to her voice.

He brushed her hair back away from her face. "It is something serious, Gianna."

Behind them, she heard Gabe shift on the bed. Most likely he'd moved to sit up and eavesdrop on whatever conversation they were about to have.

"Okay," she said slowly. "What is it?"

Instead of answering her, Kozien looked over her shoulder to where her brother was. "Gabe, I would like to ask for your sister's hand."

Gianna felt her eyes widen. She whipped around to look at Gabe, watching as he blinked in confusion.

"As in... her hand in marriage?"

Kozien scoffed. "Yes, of course that's what I meant. What else did you think I was referring to when asking that? Her actual hands?"

"I don't know!" Gabe threw his hands up in the air. "You Lorr warriors are weird!"

Gianna let out a small laugh, her face flushed from Kozien's blunt attitude in asking her brother for his permission to... something. She couldn't help but find it incredibly charming. Her Lorr warrior was serious about it considering the dip between his brows and the frown working its way onto his face.

"Please, Gabe. I need your answer."

Her brother shook his head. "I'm not giving you permission until you ask my sister first. You need to make sure she wants it."

Kozien nodded gravely and turned back to face Gianna, his hands falling away from her face in order to clasp her hands in his.

"Gianna Clay, will you do me the honor of officially becoming my mate? Not just in words but in a true bond as well?"

She laughed softly. "What does that entail, exactly?"

"We are to pledge our intentions in front of a Noxxa judge who will then decree us legally and spiritually bound to each other. From then on, we will be seen as true mates."

Oh, she loved the sound of that. "And that's permanent?"

Kozien nodded. "Yes."

She squeezed his hands in hers. It was what she'd wanted from the moment he'd made love to her in his sleeping berth and held her in his arms until she'd woken up the next morning. "I would love to, Kozien."

He practically beamed at her.

Gabe snorted. "Well, I can't say no to you two lovebirds."

"You can," Kozien drawled. "I would just advise against it."

Gabe groaned. "Then what's the point in asking me, Kozien?"

Kozien shrugged. "Formalities."

"You're ridiculous. I hope you know that." Her brother rolled his eyes.

Kozien chuckled. "Let's get some rest. Then shall we all get back to Noxxa?"

Heading to the high courts of Noxxa, Kozien couldn't help the fluttering feeling in his gut as they arrived back on the planet and stepped out into the warm air.

He knew exactly what he wanted the moment the idea had come to mind when they'd first left Lorr. He'd mulled over it for hours while they traveled and kept the idea to himself because he didn't want it to seem so soon after their debacle with his father and the royal guards.

However, he couldn't help the desperation to find out Gianna's answer to his burning question. He knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, until his very dying breath. Thinking about letting her go in order to let her live her life felt like absolute agony. As selfish as it was considering all of his family drama, he wanted her all to himself as long as she'd allow it.

His elation had only increased once she'd said yes.

When they reached the high courts with Gabe in tow, they were met with his brothers waiting for him at the front steps leading up into the courthouses. He nodded to both of them, happily surprised they'd dressed up for the occasion. "It's good to see you both."

They both rumbled a greeting back to him.

"Look at that." Trigg smirked. "Our big brother is getting mated. Who would have thought?"

Next to him, Grux laughed.

"I suppose," Kozien drawled. "All things must change eventually, brothers."

Both of them sobered up, nodding in respect.

Kozien turned back to his bride-to-be, holding out the crook of his elbow for her to take. "Shall we?"

She smiled and hooked her arm around his, letting him lead her up the stairs and into the courthouses.

Long hallways and steep staircases met them as they crossed the threshold. Other species were milling about, all with purpose in their strides as they marched in and out of rooms.

Kozien held Gianna close to him, leading her down toward the officiant side of the courthouses. Their mating wouldn't take long, thankfully. He couldn't wait to finally make all of this official with his brothers and hers as their witnesses.

Even with the differences between him and his brothers, he'd been pleasantly surprised that they'd showed up to support him in this. It was what a true family did, after all.

As soon as they were called into the courtroom, Kozien marched them and their party inside and up to the officiant. He stood proudly with Gianna at his side, his excitement bubbling over when the officiant spoke clearly about accepting their intentions for each other.

Grux leaned forward, his hand coming to rest on Kozien's shoulder while he spoke quietly. "Once you do this, brother, you will be forever severed from the Lorr throne."

Kozien couldn't help but smirk at that. "Good."

Grux nodded and stepped back away from him, giving them the space they needed in order to speak their decrees and finally be bonded together.

Gianna's eyes teared up when the officiant pronounced them mates, which Kozien couldn't help but find endearing. He took her face in his hands and gently cupped it, bringing her in for a soft and tender kiss.