Read Claimed by the Alien King for Free Online Page A

anything this ship can't do?
    Maya looked all around her, taking a deep breath and finding the air breathable. She could smell the fresh scent of nature and feel the cool breeze on her skin. She looked down at her fingers, touching her face and arms to find she was still made of flesh and blood. She bounced a little on the solid ground beneath her feet. It looked and felt so real. Had she teleported or something? No, this seemed like yet another cool feature of the entertainment. A virtual reality that was as real as reality itself.
    She took a few tentative steps, her stride growing bolder the further she walked. She'd not realized how claustrophobic the windowless ship had felt until now. She stood at the top of one of the higher hills. Land progressed as far as the eye could see, but close by sat a lake. The area looked remarkably like a peaceful nature trail found on Earth. She might have even believed it was Earth if most of the grass and trees weren't blue-and-purple tinted instead of fully green.
    She was on Aqueloc, at least a computer rendered version of it. As she walked down a natural path grooved into the grass toward the lake, she marvelled at the planet's beauty. Everything seemed so fresh and clean, unmarred by human's touch. At the lake's edge, she stared out at the wide expanse of water. The temptation to roll up her pants legs and dip her feet inside was too strong for her to ignore. Shoes off, pants legs rolled up, she sat on the edge of the lake and dipped her feet inside it. Sighing with contentment, she leaned back on her hands and stared out at the lake as she swished her legs lazily in the water.
    "Earth lakes are often home to all manner of creatures that enjoy the taste of human flesh. Why do you not believe Aqueloc's lakes are the same?"
    Maya turned her head sharply at the sound of Lir's voice. Why did he always sneak up on her like that? And did he just mention that the lake might be filled with creatures that would eat her? Maya quickly pulled her legs from the water, turning her body to frown up at him.
    "This isn't the real thing, though," she countered. "It's like a virtual reality."
    "That reflects reality as close as possible," he said. "There could have been harmful creatures in it but this lake is safe."
    Maya's frown deepened. "It is? So why did you tell me it wasn't?"
    "I did not. I cautioned you that it could be unsafe."
    "Yeah, well, thanks," she said, looking away. She was beginning to remember the events of their last time together as well as the hurt and disappointment. Forget him , she thought, but that was impossible because he was standing right behind her.
    Isn't he supposed to be avoiding me? Why is he here?
    "Would you like me to leave?" he asked quietly.
    Maya closed her eyes in slight embarrassment, remembering belatedly that he could hear her thoughts.
    "I—no," she said. "You can stay."
    She swung her legs back into the water, listening as he moved about behind her. Soon, he sat down beside her, his shoes gone and his pants legs rolled up too. The sight of his bare feet in the water amused Maya for some reason. She supposed it was because he seemed so serious all the time that something as simple as being shoeless deviated from his character.
    Her gaze roved across the beauty surrounding them, the sight of it squeezing her heart free of the anger she felt because of Lir and replacing it with peace and contentment.
    "You own all of this," she said, caught between envy and wonder.
    "It belongs to my people too, but it is mine, yes."
    "Your humble generosity leaves me breathless, Your Highness."
    Lir gave her an amused look. "Severe is the punishment for mocking the king, human."
    The smile playing on her lips dimmed. "I am not just 'human'. I am Maya. I am more than just a species, Lir. I am just as valuable as your kind. Someone you can talk to. Someone you can touch—" She broke off, her face growing hot as she began to stutter. "I-I mean, not like you have to touch me if