Free Dahlia's Deception (The Annihilation Series) by Saxon Andrew Page A

me.”
    Vicky looked at him, “I don’t?”
    “No, you won my heart the first time I saw you. I don’t know if what I’m feeling is love, but I can promise you that no one else will ever hold my interest.” Dean paused and said, “I can’t allow you to endanger yourself by coming to my world. More than a third of our population was killed in the last invasion and two of the Five are determined to take control of my star cluster. However, I will promise to come to see you again…soon.”
    Scott stared at Victoria shaking his head and she turned to him, “You know my abilities.” Scott slowly nodded, “He’s the one I’ve been waiting on my entire life. I know this to be true.” Victoria put her hand on her heart, “In here.”
    “You can’t abdicate your title.”
    “I watched Nicole during the time she and Ping loved each other. She told me that every moment she was with him was more valuable than all the time she spent being a princess.” She turned and looked at Dean, “I am not going to lose the opportunity to feel that way with you.” Victoria hesitated and said, “I know you’ll have difficulty living here; but I can go and live with you in your world.”
    Scott said, “Victoria, that’s just not possible. You will rule the Realm.”
    Victoria smiled, “No, Father; that is not my calling.”
    Scott shook his head, “If not you, then who?”
    Victoria looked at Ping, “He will follow you; it is his destiny. He just doesn’t see it.”
    Ping immediately started shaking his head, “There is no freaking way I’ll be king. I won’t do it. I probably won’t live that long anyway.”
    Victoria looked at Dahlia as she said to Ping, “Sometimes you have to do things you would never willingly accept.” She turned to Ping, “You should know that by now after all you’ve been through.”
    Dean came over and bowed to Scott, “I will not take her back with me; I care about her too much to put her in that much danger. However, I humbly ask that you allow me to come and visit your daughter.”
    Scott looked in Dean’s eyes and saw something. He looked at Victoria and saw her nod. She had seen it as well. “You may come back and take whatever time is needed to confirm that what you feel is real.” Scott turned to Dahlia, “I would ask that you do all you can to make sure he comes to no harm.”
    Dean said, “Wait a minute!”
    Victoria walked over and took his hands, “You can’t have it both ways. Until this issue is resolved in your heart, you must avoid danger.” Dean looked into her eyes, blew out a breath, and nodded.
    Dahlia shook her head, “My Planet’s Ruler will have to make the call on this. I can’t promise anything; this will be Tess’ decision.”
    Dean looked at Dahlia, “What’s wrong?”
    “I’ll discuss this with you later.”
    Dahlia was shocked by Victoria’s next statement, “Listen to her, Dean. She has your best interests at heart.” Victoria hugged Dean and stepped back. Dean turned and went with Ping and Dahlia to the Mite. He stared out of the viewport and saw Victoria staring up at him until he could no longer see her.
    • • •
    “Father, he is the one.”
    “How can you know that, child?”
    Victoria looked up at her father and smiled, “It’s not how long you’ve lived; it’s how you’ve lived. He is the one. I don’t know why they brought him here; maybe it’s destiny. You know I can see the truth. I’m seeing it clearly now.”

Chapter Five
    D ahlia started yelling at Dean the moment the ship lifted off the landing pad and continued all the way back to earth. Ping thought it would have slowed down but as soon as they exited the Portal to the Planter’s Planet, Dahlia started again. Finally Ping yelled, “Will both of you please SHUT UP!!!”
    Dahlia and Dean turned to Ping and saw him rub his hand across his brow, “This must be what an aneurysm feels like.” He looked at Dahlia, “I’ve loved once and I can tell you that I would