CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Walking from my new office to the elevator with my heart palpitating, I thought about the locked door once more and then it faded from my mind as Xavier grabbed my waist and took me into the elevator without a word.
There was no one watching us so I didn't understand his reason for being so close to me but I couldn't resist the way he smelled so I stood there as the elevator went down, my blood pumping fast.
“How are your parents adjusting to the changes?” He asked and I didn't answer at first, scared that I was imagining things but then he looked at me expectantly and I realized he had actually said those words.
“They're… um, they're fine. They are happy, I think,” I replied, my voice shaky. I was nervous, confused and horny all at once and my voice probably betrayed everything to him in one go.
“If you want to go see them, you can do that but always take enough guards with you,” he replied passively. It was like he was trying so hard not to care, making me feel like his previous attitude was purely intentional.
But then, I couldn't stop my mind from flying with so many questions.
Was he back or was this another tactic to frustrate me? I was getting whiplash from the man but then I decided to take advantage of whatever mood he was in to help my friend, Rose.
“Can I ask you for a favor?” I spoke up as the elevator opened up.
“Maybe later, I need you to go through a speech you'll be delivering at the rally,” he said rudely, his earlier exterior back like it never left.
Damn, I really needed to do something about her situation.
“Wait, you want me to speak to the people? Your people? Right now?” I asked, suddenly realizing what he'd said. I couldn't even hide my shock. He'd had all morning to inform me about it but he waited until the last minute to do so.
“They're your people too, Tessa and yes, you don't expect you'll be mute throughout the rally, do you?” He snapped at me as he opened the car door for me.
He mixed kindness with that harsh attitude in a perfect blend of confusion and I didn't have any choice but to swallow my words.
“Your Majesty, the Jet is ready for you,” a guard spoke up behind him.
“Don't worry, Talos. We'll drive instead,” he replied and got into the driver's seat.
A spark of excitement rose up in my stomach at his consideration but I smothered it quickly. The man was probably going to do something equally maddening to balance out his act of kindness.
I was going to run mad if I allowed myself to feel everything he was evoking in me. I'll probably be a stoic monk by the time he's done with me.
Signing deeply in irritation and fucking frustration, I began to go over the paper he'd handed over to me
“If you don't understand the big words, let me know. You don't need to scrunch up your face like that,” he scolded me as he drove.
“What makes you think I don't understand the words? Intergalactic and cosmos sounds too big for you?” I snapped at his insinuation that I was too dumb for basic grammar.
Funny enough, the language they all communicated with is rightfully ours and yet they try to shame us with it.
“That's not what I meant,” he grumbled.
“I'm scrunching my face because this speech is saying that aliens are going to be given priority above humans and I don't understand why I have to reiterate that. Y'all already are given the opportunity to be everything you want and we're not. Why rub salt in people's injuries with crap like this?” I lashed out, nearly throwing the infuriating paper at him.
“Everything in there has been vetted to make you more likable to the people. You will read every single word in it and that's final. I can't believe you actually think you're going to divide my reign into a me versus you situation. You're under me and whatever I'm doing, that's what you'll be all about. So if for whatever reason I decide to be pro humans, then you can go all out in supporting your people but until then, whatever these ky’rhans need, we'll give it to them. At least until this crap is over,” he muttered the last part. I almost didn't hear it but I did and everything he'd said just made me livid.
Anger seemed to be my constant emotion these days and I hated what my life was turning into.
“Then I want out. I have given you the powers that you need and you don't want me to give birth to your kids either so there's no need to keep me. Do what you need to do but with someone else. I'm begging you, Xavier. I'm done! Just let me go,” I pleaded with him, genuinely frustrated.
He looked at me for a long second but he didn't say anything.
Knowing his silence, I knew there wasn't anything that would change today and I was expected to give this blasted message to a crowd of ky’rhans who were gathered to judge me in several ways but also, the television stations would air this to all the humans across the world and every iota of hope they've felt as a result of me becoming queen would diminish to zilch.
I couldn't do it.
So I took a pen and began adjusting the words.
We'd gotten to the location before he said anything.
“What are you doing?” He growled when he saw me writing on the paper.
“Some of these words are too ambiguous and the humans won't understand them so I'm adjusting them,” I lied and hoped he wouldn't call my bluff and actually look at it.
Thankfully, we were already being ushered into the venue; a stadium with a big podium in the middle.
Security guards were all around us as we were taken up the podium to a loudly cheering crowd.
They really loved their new King. He waved at them and they screamed back in excitement, their words Zorvathian and their skins blue. It was obvious that this was a statement of power to them.
I on the other hand stood awkwardly by the side, the confidence I'd poured into my outfit dissipating with every scream I heard from the crowd.
Suddenly, the changes I'd made to the speech seemed too daring and audacious.
What if they booed me or even attempted to hurt me? Xavier would definitely be on their side and I'll be the only human in the midst of these aliens with no idea how to escape the backlash.
But I also didn't want to be the person that'll turn against my people just because I got to the top of the pyramid and was surrounded by this glittering lifestyle.
If they hurt me, I guess I'll just consider myself a freedom fighter or some radical title but I wasn't going to give them the benefit of degrading humans through me and Xavier could kiss my ass for all I cared.
So as they finally quieted down for him to give them the welcoming speech, I took several breaths, knowing it'll be my turn to speak next and I couldn't imagine what their response was going to be.
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