Chapter 2 Xelene
TWO
XELENE
The words hit Xelene like a physical force. Alien planet. Shifter. Prince. Each concept should have triggered skepticism, yet excitement blazed through her veins instead.
“He’s about to ascend to the throne, you see,” Gerri continued, “but his current reputation as Nova Aurora’s most notorious playboy makes coronation impossible. His people won’t accept a king they can’t trust or respect.”
Xelene’s mind raced through the challenges such a case would present. Reputation management and optics protocol. Shifter politics. A realm she’d never encountered. The complexity was staggering and the potential for professional growth immense.
“What’s the timeline for this transformation?”
“Two weeks, perhaps less.” Gerri’s expression grew serious. “His father’s health is deteriorating. And the prince must complete a series of tests that demonstrate his character, wisdom, and worthiness to rule. Currently, he’s nowhere near ready to pass that trial.”
Two weeks to transform a literal royal disaster into a credible monarch.
The impossibility of it sent adrenaline surging through Xelene’s system. She’d built her career on accepting challenges others deemed hopeless, but this transcended anything she’d attempted.
“I’d want to bring backup.” Xelene glanced at Janice, whose hazel eyes had widened with a mixture of concern and fascination. “My associate here has invaluable experience with complex cases.”
“The more expertise, the better.” Gerri’s approval was immediate. “This prince requires significant work if he’s going to convince his people he’s worthy of their loyalty.”
Janice stepped closer, her voice carefully neutral. “When would this assignment begin?”
“Tomorrow morning would be ideal. We should leave first thing if you’re available.”
Xelene felt something shift inside her chest—a sensation she couldn’t quite identify.
Excitement? Anticipation? Something deeper?
For the first time in months, maybe years, she felt truly alive.
The prospect of tackling something completely unprecedented, of expanding her reputation to another world, sent electricity through her veins.
“Can you handle an interplanetary assignment on short notice?” She caught Janice’s eye, silently communicating the weight of the decision.
Janice shrugged, though her expression betrayed her own growing enthusiasm. “When have I ever turned down an adventure?”
“We’re in.” The words emerged before Xelene’s rational mind could intervene, driven by an instinct she rarely trusted. “Where do we meet tomorrow?”
Gerri’s smile transformed into something radiant, as if she’d just won a particularly satisfying victory. “The Naples power plant, tomorrow morning at eight. Ask for the special elevator.”
Before either woman could respond, Gerri melted back into the crowd with the same mysterious ease with which she’d appeared, leaving only the faint scent of citrus and the lingering sense that their lives had just taken a dramatic turn.
Janice stared at the spot where Gerri had vanished. “What exactly did you just commit us to?”
Xelene’s smile felt different than usual—less controlled and more genuine. “Consider this not only a vacation you suggested I take, but the job of a lifetime.”
Later that night, the sleek walls of Xelene’s Fort Myers condo reflected the city lights through the floor-to-ceiling windows as she methodically folded designer blouses, skirts, and dresses into her suitcase.
Each garment received the same precise attention she applied to everything in her life—crisp lines, perfect placement, and no wrinkles allowed.
Her phone buzzed against the nightstand. Mom flashed across the screen.
Xelene’s fingers paused on a silk blouse. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. She’d been dreading the upcoming Warren family gathering for weeks, searching for a legitimate excuse that wouldn’t trigger another lecture about priorities and personal responsibility.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Xelene, dear! I was just confirming the menu for Sunday’s dinner. Your father will be there with your stepmom, along with my new boyfriend, so I thought we’d keep things civilized with that seafood dish you enjoy.”
The familiar tension crept up Xelene’s spine at the mention of her parents sharing the same space. Even twenty-two years post-divorce, family gatherings felt like navigating a minefield of passive-aggressive comments and forced politeness.
“Actually, I need to cancel. I’m leaving town tomorrow morning for a work assignment.”
A pause stretched across the line, heavy with disappointment. “Another business trip? Xelene, you missed Christmas dinner last year for that senator’s crisis, and now—”
“This is different, Mom. It’s a unique opportunity that could expand my client base internationally.” Interplanetary, actually. “I’ll be gone for about two weeks.”
Her mother’s sigh carried the weight of years of similar conversations. “Sweetheart, don’t you think it’s time to slow down? You’re thirty-four. Most women your age are thinking about marriage, children, building something beyond a career.”
Xelene’s jaw tightened as she snapped the suitcase closed. “My career isn’t just something I do, Mom. It’s who I am. I’ve built a stellar reputation helping people transform their lives.”
“But what about your life? When was the last time you went on a real date? Not those... arrangements you mentioned.”
Heat flashed through Xelene. Her mother’s disapproval of her carefully managed romantic encounters had become a recurring theme in their conversations, another reminder of how different their values had become.
“Those arrangements serve their purpose. I get what I need without the complications that come with emotional entanglement.” Xelene’s voice carried the familiar irritation she used with her mother since Xelene was twelve. “Love makes people irrational. I’ve seen what it does firsthand.”
The words hung between them, loaded with the unspoken history of her parents’ spectacular relationship implosion. Years of watching two people who once claimed to love each other tear each other apart in courtrooms and custody battles had taught Xelene everything she needed to know about romance.
“Oh, honey.” Her mother’s voice softened, tinged with regret. “Not all relationships end like your father’s and mine. We were young and stubborn and didn’t know how to fight fair. But love doesn’t have to be destructive.”
“Doesn’t it?” Xelene moved to her bedroom window, gazing out at the glittering skyline. “You and Dad spent my entire adolescence proving that even the strongest connections eventually turn toxic.”
Another sigh, this one heavier. “I suppose we did give you quite an education in what not to do. But darling, you can’t let our mistakes keep you from finding happiness.”
Happiness. The word felt foreign. Xelene had built her life around achievement, control, and professional satisfaction. Those were reliable. Those made sense.
“I am happy, Mom. My work fulfills me in ways that relationships never could. This new client represents everything I’ve worked toward—the chance to prove my methods work on an unprecedented scale.”
“Just... be careful, sweetheart. And try to remember that success means nothing if you don’t have someone to share it with.”
Xelene’s reflection stared back at her from the dark window—polished, controlled, alone. “I’ll call you when I get back. Give Dad my regards.”
“I love you, Xelene.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
The line went dead, leaving silence in its wake. Xelene set the phone aside and sank onto her king-sized bed, surrounded by the trappings of her success—expensive furniture, original artwork, designer everything. All of it beautiful, all of it perfect, all of it hers alone.
What would Nova Aurora look like? The prospect of experiencing an entirely different world sent anticipation racing through her. How many people could claim they’d consulted for alien royalty?
And this prince. Her pulse quickened as she considered what kind of man would require such dramatic reputation rehabilitation.
She’d worked with playboys before—senators who couldn’t keep their pants zipped, CEOs who treated their personal lives like conquest games, and celebrities who burned through relationships like tissue paper.
But a lion shifter prince? The very concept challenged everything she thought she knew about power dynamics and alpha personalities.
How does one even begin to manage a literal predator?
The memory of Gerri’s knowing smile flickered through her mind. Something in those blue-gold eyes had suggested hidden depths to this assignment, layers of complexity that went beyond simple image management.
Why had the woman seemed so certain Xelene was perfect for this particular case?
Political considerations would obviously complicate matters. Transforming a playboy into a king meant navigating cultural expectations, traditional protocols, and the delicate balance between personal freedom and royal duty.
How different could Nova Aurora’s political landscape be from Earth’s?
Yet beneath her analytical planning, something else stirred—an enthusiasm that felt different from her usual professional excitement. This wasn’t just about adding another success to her portfolio. This felt like stepping into a story she’d never imagined possible.
How hard could it really be? she thought as exhaustion finally flooded her body. I’ve transformed plenty of challenging people. One alien playboy prince should be easy enough to handle.