Page 60 of Swipe Right for Stardust

“Ladies, gentlemen, and beings of all species,” she announced, “I have exciting news. During the final challenge, our intrepid contestants Vanessa Wilson and Dr. Kolvari made an incredible discovery.”

All eyes turned to us, and my face heated up. Zarnak squeezed my hand reassuringly.

Lysandra continued, “This artifact appears to be of ancient origin, potentially holding untold power. Our technicians have assured me that it’s perfectly safe, but we’ll be conducting further studies to unlock its secrets.”

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd. I scanned the room, searching for Caelan. Where was he?

As if in answer to my unspoken question, a movement grabbed my attention. There, near the display case, was Caelan. He was crouched low, fiddling with something in his hands.

This was it. The moment we’d been waiting for.

I nudged Zarnak, nodding subtly in Caelan’s direction. His eyes widened in recognition, and we began to make our way through the crowd, trying not to draw attention to ourselves.

As we got closer, I could see Caelan more clearly. He was attaching a small device to the base of the display case, his movements quick and furtive.

We had to time this perfectly. Too soon, and Caelan might slip away. Too late, and who knew what damage that device might cause?

Zarnak and I exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between us. We were in this together, no matter what happened next.

Just as Caelan straightened up, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes, Zarnak stepped forward. “Caelan,” he said, his voice carrying across the suddenly quiet room. “What are you doing?”

All eyes turned to Caelan, who froze like a deer in headlights.

Nobody moved. Then, chaos erupted.

Caelan lunged for the artifact, but Zarnak was faster. He tackled Caelan to the ground, the two of them grappling on the floor.

I rushed to the display case, carefully removing the device Caelan had planted. It was small but complex, with a timer counting down. My hands shook as I held it, unsure of what to do next.

“Vanessa!” Lysandra called out, rushing over. “Give that to me. The security team will handle it.”

I handed over the device, relief washing over me. As Lysandra passed it to a waiting security officer, I turned back to the scene unfolding before us.

Zarnak had Caelan pinned, but the host was putting up a fierce fight. “You don’t understand!” Caelan shouted. “That artifact could make us rich beyond our wildest dreams!”

“At the cost of putting innocent lives in danger?” Zarnak growled, tightening his hold. “Like you did when you decided to change the race routes to something more ‘entertaining?’ We should have known from the beginning something was wrong. No dating show should have sent its contestants into so much danger.”

Security officers swarmed in, pulling Caelan to his feet and restraining him. The room buzzed with shocked whispers and exclamations.

Lysandra stepped forward, her face a mask of controlled anger. “Caelan, you’re under arrest for sabotage, endangerment of contestants, and attempted theft. Take him away.”

As Caelan was led out, still protesting his innocence, I felt a wave of exhaustion wash over me. It was over. We’d done it.

Zarnak came to stand beside me, his presence a comforting anchor. “How are you holding up?” he asked softly.

I nodded, leaning into him slightly. “Just... processing everything. I can’t believe we pulled it off.”

He wrapped an arm around my waist, and some of the tension left my body. “We make a good team,” he said, a smile in his voice.

The warmth in his gaze struck me. “We do, don’t we?”

The chaos around us faded away. It was just Zarnak and me, standing together in the eye of the storm. I wondered, not for the first time, what would happen when all this was over.

Before I could say anything else, Lysandra approached us. “Thank you both,” she said. “Without your help, who knows how much more damage Caelan could have done.”

“We’re just glad it’s over,” I replied, forcing myself to focus on the present.

Lysandra nodded. “There will be a lot to sort out in the coming days, but for now... I think we all deserve a moment to breathe. Why don’t you two enjoy the rest of the party? You’ve certainly earned it.”

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