Hearts of Peilia : Alien Mail Order Bride Romance

By Anna Lewis

When it's time for Prince Kivan of Peilia, playboy of the galaxy, to take on his crown and all the duties that come along with it, he had no idea that his parents would be picking a mate for him. Fearing the thought of a lifelong bond to someone insufferable, he makes a deal with his parents to find his own bride. But what happens when the Earth girl he chooses proves to be more of a lover than his paid placeholder?

Lydia Taggart was short on cash and even shorter on time as she faced eviction after losing her job, but running into an old friend brought her the opportunity of a lifetime. Getting paid to pretend to be some alien's date should have been a walk in the park, but Lydia certainly bit off more than she could chew.

Kivan and Lydia are in for the shock of their lives and their hearts, when the lines between business and pleasure become blurred with an unexpected passion. Love will blossom, but can it last when the contract that binds them threatens these hearts of Peilia?

Standalone Romance Stories With No Cliffhanger!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Lewis
• Release date: Feb 21, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386608257

Book preview

Hearts of Peilia

Book 1: Professional Princess

Chapter 1

The solid gold flecks floating in the cool grey iris of Prince Kivan’s eyes twinkled under the light of his bedroom. The cerulean tone of his skin seemed to morph before his very eyes as the elixir he’d imbibed began to take its effect. Everything was just short of spinning while he gripped the edge of the bedside table to steady himself.

There was a tentacle draped over him that was entirely too heavy to be the same female he’d went to sleep with. But as he turned over to see who was there, he wasn’t surprised. Three beautiful faces of three different species, all draped in silk, sprawled across his massive mattress. The scent of their debaucheries still lingered in the air as he forced himself out of the bed.

Stretching his lean, muscular frame, every inch of his 6’7 height ached. From his tail up to the gills on his neck, he rubbed over them with his four fingered hands, trying to soothe the soreness away. Groaning and stretching out once more, he huffed a gust of air through his nostril slits before making his way into the main corridor of the spaceship he was travelling in. He glanced up and down the hall, it was a mess. He dreaded the words of his parents if they saw the condition it was in.

There were sparks flying out from hanging wires. The lights flickered on and off as he dragged himself past the countless amount of beings who were sleeping off the previous night’s extravaganza. A few stirred as he stepped over them, but none woke, which pleased the prince greatly.

He was making his way to the mess hall where he was certain breakfast would be waiting. Instead, he found his best friend, Betylt, on his hands and knees wiping something off the floor. His light blue skin turned a nauseating shade of sea green as he choked back the gag reflex from whatever it was he was cleaning.

We have servants for that, Kivan chuckled as he stepped over him and headed straight into the pantry.

Technically, I am a servant, Betylt told him, peeling his violet colored eyes from the mess in front of him to stare at the prince. And besides, the cleaning staff quit, and walked off the ship as soon as we docked.

Docked? When did we dock? And where? he questioned taking a bite of his breakfast.

We’re home, Kivan, Betylt told him. We’ve been in the docking station for hours now waiting for the second cleaning staff to get here. No one likes to come aboard after you’re done with a ship.

Kivan waved his hand at him. Nonsense, somebody’s going to come clean this mess.

I can tell you for a fact that somebody won’t be me! a voice exclaimed stepping into the kitchen. Kivan turned around to see his sister, with a look of disgust etched into her navy blue face. Her gold eyes scanned the disaster around them, with her thin lips curling up at the corners, while she desperately tried to move around so nothing would touch her. You’re in deep this time. Mom and dad are waiting for you in the study.

Kivan glanced to Betylt who simply shrugged his shoulders and told him, I can’t take that lecture from them. I work for you remember?

Fine, he sighed. Let’s just get this over with.

Meeting with the king and queen of Peilia was always a task Kivan dreaded. He’d been partying the past few weeks away in preparation for this very moment. He knew it was coming. It came with all their lectures.

Waltzing through the palace, it was of no shock to him that everyone was avoiding eye contact. He knew the staff were purposely trying to get out of cleaning up the mess he’d left on the ship. But he didn’t care about that, that’s what Betylt was good for...cleaning up his messes.

When Kivan entered the study, his mother and father both rose to greet him. He bowed slightly at the waist before attempting a sober salutation, Heard you guys wanted to talk to me about something.

The look on his mother’s face said that she wasn’t very amused. The more he thought about, he didn’t think anything or anyone amused her at all. His father was the only one to ever get his mother to laugh. He imagined that’s why they fell in love.

How lovely of you to finally return to your home planet, Kivan. We thank you for your presence, she quipped with her gold eyes narrowing their gaze onto him. He could have sworn she was looking right through him as he approached her with open arms. A light hug was all she needed as he embraced her and took a seat in the most comfortable chair.

It wasn’t comfortable at all. It was rigid and cold. He hated being in the study. His mother was the only one to use the room, and she preferred to use it when scolding her subjects, himself included.

The sound of her words echoed as Queen Zaelfina moved around the room speaking eloquently to her son. Her skin was a soft purple hue, and she had black hair, a few shades darker than his own, trailing down her back as she finally stopped in front of him. Are you listening to me Kivan?!

Yes, he snapped to attention. Shooting a look to his father, he saw King Nyrok was going to simply let his wife do the talking. His attitude seemed to be as lily white as the hair on his head. Kivan ran his fingers through his own strands as he waited for the king to say something; anything at all.

Don’t look to him! she scolded. He’s done enough by coddling you and your outlandish behavior! Your crowning ceremony is imminent and with that comes a wife. We’ve given you far too much time as it is when your younger sister has already chosen her mate. She’s accepted her crown and now it’s time for you to do the same. I will not move this ceremony again, and I will have a suitable mate for you there as well. You will be crowned as the official prince of Peilia, and you will take on the duties that come with that title. Your party ship has docked!

Mother, please, Kivan stood to plead for her mercy. I know that I have been rather callous in my treatment of royal property, but with all of my experiences across the galaxy, I highly doubt that you will find a suitable mate for me! You’ll probably choose one of your warrior protégés.

And what’s wrong with that? Your father and king certainly didn’t have any problems with choosing a warrior!

He didn't choose a warrior, Mother. He chose you, he stared deeply into her eyes hoping for some leniency.

So, what do you propose, Kivan? King Nyrok finally broke his silence.

I will not move the ceremony, but you must let me choose my mate. Please allow me that much at least.

Zaelfina looked to her husband who nodded quietly. She sighed and shook her head. He spoils you rotten.

You let him, he winked and kissed her delicately on the cheek. Thank you. I assure you, you will not regret this choice. I’ll have her brought here immediately.

Is it possible you already have someone in mind, the queen’s eyes lit up at the thought of her son being in love.

It took every ounce of Kivan’s control not to burst into laughter at her hopes. Images of his salacious night roamed around his head before he shook them free. I certainly do. But let me reach out to her and I promise that I will be on my best behavior from now until the ceremony.

Okay, I expect the very best this galaxy has to offer when we meet this female, Zaelfina sighed.

And it’s the very best in the galaxy you shall see, Kivan smiled while walking out of the room. He hadn’t any idea who he was going to choose and it worried him. The idea of being indefinitely bound to a Peilian warrior made his stomachs twist. While he loved his mother, dealing with two Peilian warriors in the palace sounded like a nightmare.

Betylt was waiting for him in front of his quarters when he finally arrived.

So, what’s the new date for the ceremony? he sighed as he opened the door for Kivan to enter.

The prince began to strip out of his clothes immediately, tossing them without a care as to where they landed. He plopped down on his bed, staring up at the high ceiling. No new date, Betylt.

What?!

As a matter of fact, we have to find the love of my life as soon as possible and get her out here. The queen wants me to mate as soon as I’m crowned and I will not have it. I need a way to get someone here to hold the place of my mate while I still live my life.

I don’t understand, the aide moved next to him.

Kivan sat up. Let’s just say...the same guy you got our entertainment from last night knows of someone far more wholesome and we pay for her to come out here. While she’s winning over the royal matriarch, I can still gallivant and party, ship to ship, as I please. I’ll even have time to figure out how to get out of having a bride altogether.

I’ll get right on it, Betylt said as he pulled out his communicator. After pushing a few buttons, he got a hold of the person he was looking for. Hey Gryf, it’s Tilt. I need something special that can last a few weeks. Wholesome, marrying kind, that sort of thing. Do you have someone available?

Kivan watched his friend intensely as he bargained for a bride. By the time he got off his call, Betylt was all smiles. He has a few in mind and will send me pictures within the hour. We can pick out of the selection and you’ll be as good as married by Peilia’s next sun rotation.

Is it too late for a request? Kivan pondered loudly.

I’m sure it isn’t, Betylt shrugged.

Make her an Earthling. I haven’t had one in the longest while. If I’m going to blow my parents away, I might as well have one of the best species in the galaxy at deception working with me, right?

I don’t think that line of thinking benefits you the way you think it does, he laughed.

Kivan didn’t care. He’d only dealt with Earthlings from time to time for that very reason. Their ability to lie and do it so well was a plague to every species’ existence, but in this case, he needed someone who could do it without remorse. He needed his bride to be able to spin a web of lies to please his parents, and the entire kingdom of Peilia, without doubting a single word uttered from her lips. With great force in his voice, he said to Betylt, I know exactly what kind of benefits it will have for me. Do it!

It will be done.

Chapter 2

Lydia Taggart was fifth in line to get a number. That number would then tell her the next line she’d have to stand in just to have her name put on a list. It was the list of all lists. It was the only list that mattered to her. It was the list of possible jobs she could take while in search of her dream career. She’d had her dream career, but as it went with most jobs on Earth, technology made her position null and void. Although she lasted longer than most as a computer repair technician, she knew the changeover was inevitable. The other thing that was inevitable? That came without fail every month? The slip under her door from the landlord telling her the rent was due.

Brushing her perfect bangs out of her bright hazel eyes, she took a moment to