Maid For An Alien Prince: A SciFi Alien Romance (Intergalactic Exchange Program Book 1) Read online

  Spring had come in full force, displaying her beauty and covering the rolling hills with lush, vibrant foliage. The sky, a radiant azure by day, was fading to vivid violet as the sun set beyond the farthest hills. It was stunning, yet I never took the time to fully appreciate it.

  Even now, as I raked my gaze over the glowing silver spires atop the gates to the royal lands, my mind was on my job. As the assistant director of the Hollander division of the Intergalactic Exchange Program, I rarely had time for a life outside of work.

  As I turned and headed to the long dining table in the grand hall of Holland Manor, I caught the slight frown pulling at my mother’s mouth.

  “You work too much, Niall,” she commented as I took my seat across from her. My father sat at the head of the table, my mother to his right. I was on his left. My younger brothers, Soren and Aiken, were on the other side of my mother and me.

  I didn’t bother answering her. We’d been through this many times before, and I had nothing new to add. It was my job to ensure that our division of the IEP ran as smoothly as possible. I wasn’t about to jeopardize the influence we’d gained across the galaxies because my mother thought I worked too hard.

  “How is the implementation of the Transillium Protocol going?” I asked instead, changing the course of the conversation.

  “Very well,” my father replied. “In fact, I believe we’ll soon have full application across the entire galaxy. The city is nearly there. Of course, the farthest outlying planets are slower to adopt the technology. But we’re getting there.”

  “Thanks to our fearless future leader,” Soren said, giving me a proud smile.

  I reached for my glass of Vamblosne wine and lifted it in thanks. My brothers were always supportive of my endeavors. Soren, who was a doctor, was particularly interested in the science behind technological developments. Whereas Aiken, who was studying interplanetary sociology, found the dynamics of technology adoption across cultures to be fascinating.

  I sipped the wine, the flavor of the sweet berries exploding on my tongue. Vamblosne was native to Hollander, and this particular vintage was aged to perfection.

  “That’s good to hear,” I told my father. “The new developments with the communicator technology are in the final stages. Hopefully, it will further convince those who are reluctant to adopt the technology that it truly is a marvel and there’s nothing to fear.”

  My father gave me an approving nod. “My hopes precisely. How much longer do you anticipate until the advanced communicators are ready?”

  I detailed my expectations for him while my brothers listened, jumping in with their own questions here and there. The discovery of Transillium—and its uses in creating communicator devices that instantly translated all known languages for those who chose to have them implanted—made our kingdom rich beyond comprehension, but it had also secured our position as one of the leading planets in the Intergalactic Alliance.

  While neither of my brothers worked for the IEP or had dealings with the IA, Soren was always on the lookout for new technology that would further his medical practice. As for Aiken, the Transillium Protocol had played a big hand in interplanetary politics and culture, and he was always interested in what new developments might further his own studies.

  My mother let out a sigh, and I paused mid-sentence. “I’m sorry, Mother, I didn’t mean to bore you.”

  “It’s just that I wish every conversation we had wasn’t about work.” She picked at the freshly harvested salad greens that had been prepared for our first course. “I’d like to talk about family for a change. I’m not getting any younger, you know. It would be nice to know that I might live to see my grandchildren before I die.”

  She looked up at me, her gaze reprimanding. Her swirling silver eyes that were a hallmark of the Hollander race seemed to glow, as if she were silently chiding me. We’d been through this plenty of times before.

  “Your mother is right, Niall,” Father said. “You’re next in line for the throne. It’s your duty to produce an heir. At the very least, it wouldn’t hurt you to find a nice woman and settle down. You’re going to need someone strong to stand by your side and help you rule one of these days.”

  I pressed my lips together, noting Soren’s sharp glance my way. According to Hollander tradition, if I didn’t produce an heir, he would be the next in line for the throne if something happened to me. I didn’t know how he actually felt about that. I’d been the one groomed from childhood to rule our kingdom while Soren had chosen to become a doctor.

  “I know you’re right, Mother, but I’m just not ready to take on a wife. And I’m certainly not ready for children. My job is too important, my role with the IEP too demanding. There isn’t time for anything else.”

  My mother only frowned deeper. “It would only make things easier on you, dear, if you had a woman around. She could help around the house and it would be an immense stress reliever for you to have one less thing to worry about.”

  “That’s what maids are for,” I replied. “And we have plenty of those.”

  I’d much prefer that to having a wife anyway. At least they didn’t expect anything like time and attention. They did their job and moved along, just the way I liked things.

  Mother opened her mouth to protest, no doubt with some prepared argument. This wasn’t the first time she’d pressured me to find a wife, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.

  Fortunately, the doors to the dining room opened before she could say anything, and a stream of servants rushed in to clear away our salads, refill the wine, and place our main courses before us. By the time we resumed our meal, she must have thought better of it and decided to drop the conversation. Throughout the rest of dinner, we talked about an upcoming visit of a foreign dignitary, and I couldn’t help but wonder if my mother would use the opportunity to continue trying to find me a wife. I had to hand it to her, she didn’t give up easily.

  Once dinner was finished, I took my leave, telling my family I needed to get some rest because I had a busy day tomorrow. It was absolutely the truth, but it wouldn’t be any busier than any other day. That was just my life. Always something to take care of.

  As I made my way down the hill from the manor to my own luxurious accommodations, I couldn’t help but reflect on what my mother had said. She was right—I knew I had to find a wife at some point. But what I’d said was just as true. I had no room in my life for a wife. The IEP was my sole focus. There was no way I would be able to provide a wife with the attention she deserved. Honestly, it wouldn’t be fair to her. No doubt, there were plenty of women on the planet who wouldn’t mind, but I did.

  When the time for me to settle down finally came, I wanted to be in a position where I could devote myself to my family as much as I did to my job or my kingdom. And the truth of the matter was that just wasn’t possible right now.

  I reached my residence on the eastern side of the hill and made my way around to the back terrace that overlooked the distant cliffs that dropped off into the turquoise waters of Hollander Bay. When I saw the remains of my breakfast were still spread out on the table from that morning, I frowned.

  My own fault since I insisted on privacy and didn’t want maids in my private quarters while I was away. I left the mess there, moving to the terrace railing and looking out over the magnificent view. Kelly green trees and vines covered the hillside, sprinkled with flowers in vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange. At the base of the hills, the foliage gave way to black sand beaches that stretched out toward the sea. Yes, I definitely needed to take more time to appreciate the beauty that surrounded me.

  With a sigh, I turned back and collected my dirty breakfast dishes. There was never enough time in the day. My mother’s words echoed in my mind as I cleaned up. She wasn’t wrong—it would be nice to have someone to help around the house. But a wife certainly wasn’t the answer. A wife wasn’t just for cooking and cleaning. A wife required love, affection, time, and attention. And I just didn’t have
any of that to spare right now.

  Perhaps I should revisit my thoughts on hiring a maid, though…

  A week later, I knew it was definitely time to hire someone. The only problem was I wasn’t sure how to go about it. Work seemed like it was only getting busier. Just last night, I’d had to sacrifice doing laundry for sleep because of what was ahead today—a meeting with some IEP executives at Novis Station.

  Most people would probably think it was crazy that I did my own laundry. But I liked my privacy. I was around people all day every day. I didn’t want to come home from work and have to be around a housekeeper. There was always the option of hiring someone to come in while I was at work, but I really didn’t like the idea of some stranger in my home, in my space, when I wasn’t there.

  Not to mention the fact that it was hard enough having privacy when you were the crown prince. I had women throwing themselves at me or giving me blatantly suggestive looks on a good day. No need to stir up the gossip mills by having one of them inside my house. There really was no good solution, but something had to give.

  It was still dark out, and I hurried through my breakfast and got dressed in a flight suit I’d had specially ordered and rush delivered last night when I realized all of my flight suits were dirty. It wouldn’t do to show up to a meeting with those more senior than me in the program looking less than my absolute best. Not just because I was a Hollander prince, but because I had aspirations within the program as well as within my own kingdom. I was determined to bring the IEP to the next level, and I wanted to be the one leading it there.

  My meeting later today was the first step. I went over my notes in my Holopad as I took my personal transport pod to the Hollander Terminal where my ship was docked. From there I would travel to Novis Station, the centrally located ship that housed the intergalactic IEP headquarters. It was where all official business was conducted, from auctions, to policy creation, to intergalactic relations.

  I had a list of changes that needed to be made for the Hollander unit of the program, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible. Even though I’d spent weeks preparing for this meeting, I knew I could never be prepared enough.

  When I boarded my ship, the royal flight crew greeted me.

  “Prince Niall, welcome aboard,” the captain said, bowing deeply.

  “Thank you, Garik.” I made to move deeper into the ship but was stopped by an attendant.

  “Would your highness desire any refreshments?” the young female named Shara asked, batting her eyes and smiling at me with a bit more than friendliness.

  “No, thank you.” I started to move past, then noticed she was eyeing me like a different type of refreshment was up for offer. I cleared my throat. “I actually need to take care of some work in my private cabin. If you could see to it that I’m not disturbed.”

  Disappointment reflected in her silvermist eyes, but I pretended not to notice, rushing off to close myself in my private cabin. I definitely didn’t have time for her brand of distraction today.

  Before long, we were taking flight, the ship launching through the atmosphere until nothing but black sky and distant stars surrounded us. I barely even took notice.

  The flight to Novis Station would take until that afternoon, so I took the time to review my notes once more. When my ship docked at the station hours later, I checked my appearance one last time before disembarking. The forest green flight suit had the crest of the Hollanders emblazoned on the chest and was crisp and clean. The golden bars on my chest and arms denoted my rank. I’d pulled the top half of my flaxen hair back from my face, the rest left to hang down my back. The golden uniform accents perfectly accentuated my pale gold skin. Satisfied that I looked every bit the part of the accomplished and commanding prince, I tucked my Holopad away and disembarked.

  The station was busy today. As I made my way down the domed, Plastisteel-covered docks toward the main hub of the station, I passed hundreds of visitors from just as many planets. I acknowledged those who greeted me with a brusque nod and hurried on.

  Turning a corner as the dock corridor forked in three different directions, I suddenly felt the strangest sensation in my chest. It was so shocking and unfamiliar that I stopped in my tracks. What the hell?

  I rubbed at my chest as the strange sensation morphed from a twinge to a full-on ache. Sucking in a breath, I struggled to maintain a calm and collected appearance. The last thing I wanted was for people to see me acting out of character.

  But what the hell was happening to me? I’d never felt anything like it in my life. It wasn’t painful, not exactly, but it was definitely a throbbing sensation, almost like a…pull. Like I was being drawn in by something.

  Ignoring the weird feeling because I did not have time for weird stuff, I started walking again, striding down the corridor until I was in the center of the station where multiple offshoots headed in a dozen different directions. In the middle was a bank of lift pods.

  Just as I was about to select one and head up to the top level of the station, the feeling came back. Only this time it was stronger, more severe. Unable to ignore it, I glanced around, wondering if I was the only one experiencing this or if it was some type of gravitational shift I’d simply never encountered before. Novis Station was located near a particularly strong gravitational force field. It was what enabled it to maintain its position in space. Could something be off?

  But no one else seemed to be affected. It was just me. Glancing left and right once more, I made to take another step forward when suddenly I was struck in the chest as if I’d been on the receiving end of a particularly powerful blow.

  I gasped, my breath rushing out of me as I locked my eyes on a woman just ahead being led from an adjacent corridor to a waiting room. She was short—human, then—with long brown hair that fell in waves down her back. I couldn’t see her face, but I had the strangest urge to go to her.

  The aching pull in my chest grew impossibly stronger. I had no idea what was happening to me.

  Just then, the woman stopped and turned. I caught a glimpse of her profile. Full lips, delicate nose, and smooth porcelain skin. From this distance, I couldn’t see the exact shade of her eyes, but they were large and dark. Intrigue flared to life in my chest.

  Who was she and why was she here? Without thought, I took a few steps forward, my gaze pinned on her. But then she turned again and was ushered into the waiting room, the door sliding closed behind her.

  Frustration like I’d never known urged me to know who she was, and I grabbed the arm of the guard standing outside the waiting room, not even caring when his eyes widened with fright.

  “P-prince Niall,” he stammered, fumbling an attempted bow. He swallowed hard.

  “Who was that woman that just entered?” I demanded, feeling completely out of sorts. Normally, I was calm and had my wits about me, but for some reason, my composure had deserted me.

  “I-I-I don’t know her name, sir. I mean, Prince. I mean, Your Highness. Sh-she’s part of the exchange program. Every person in this room is.”

  I narrowed my eyes and tightened my grip on his arm. “You mean she’s here for auction.”

  He nodded frantically. “Y-yes. The humans in this room are from Earth. Ready to have contracts put up for auction. She’ll be headed to another planet within the hour.”

  My gut clenched, an overwhelming sense of dread forming there. I didn’t understand what I was feeling, but I knew without a doubt that she absolutely could not leave this station and head to another planet. Away from me.

  I glanced at the guard’s nametag. Petros. “Who is in charge of this auction?” There were hundreds upon hundreds of IEP contract auctions that took place on this station every single day.

  “It’s Tramos, sir,” Petros told me as I maintained my grip on him.

  “Take me to him. Now.”

  I had no idea what had come over me, why I was acting like this, but I didn’t care as I followed Petros down a different corridor. I didn’t even care that
what I was doing now might make me late for a meeting I’d been planning for weeks.

  I didn’t know who she was, what type of service she was auctioning. I only knew one thing. That I wanted to purchase her contract, no matter the price.

  2

  Brittany

  The auction was nothing like I expected. For some reason I thought it would be like the type of IEP auctions I’d seen on old television programs when I was a child, even though those didn’t exist anymore.

  But no, there was no crowd of people gathered to judge my worth while I stood on a platform before them. Not that I wasn’t glad for it. That was the last thing I wanted to do. But it was still weird to know there was a group of aliens bidding on my service right now.

  I was seated in a holding room of sorts with three other girls, all of whom seemed far more relaxed than I was. I was having a hard time staying in my seat, nervous anticipation making me restless.

  “Is this your first time away from Earth?” the girl sitting across from me asked as she twirled her bright red hair around her finger.

  “Um, yeah,” I said, feeling more than a little awkward. It looked like I was the only one with reservations, though. All the girls in here looked like they were beyond eager to be auctioned off for a year of servitude. “How about you?”

  “Oh, no, I’ve been to lots of other planets,” she replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “For vacations and whatnot. You know. The usual.”

  “Yeah, sure,” I murmured. “The usual.”

  What the hell? Who took vacations to alien planets? No one I knew, that was for sure. Yeah, I’d heard of people traveling the galaxies for pleasure, but they never seemed real to me. No one had that kind of money just lying around.