Page 20 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

“You know,” Raelee said, breaking the comfortable silence, “for a guy who claims to do no manual labor, you’re surprisinglygood at this whole wilderness thing. No blisters? No complaints about the lack of room service?”

Vex’s lips quirked in that half-smile she’d come to adore. “Perhaps I’ve been holding out on you. A man of mystery has to keep some secrets, after all.” His eyes, dark and intense, met hers. “Though I find myself wanting to share those secrets with you more and more.”

The weight of his gaze sent a shiver down Raelee’s spine that had nothing to do with the cool morning air. She laughed, partly to dispel the sudden tension, the sound echoing through the trees. “Oh, please. At this point, I think I know you better than I know myself.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Raelee felt a pang in her chest. Did she really know him? And more importantly, did he know the real her? The guilt of her deception weighed heavily, but she pushed it aside. For now, she wanted to live in this moment, pretending they were just two normal people on a hike. They stopped to drink water before continuing.

They continued along the trail, the terrain growing more challenging. Massive boulders jutted from the earth, forcing them to climb and scramble. At a particularly steep section, Vex reached back to offer Raelee his hand. She took it without hesitation, marveling at how natural it felt to touch him, to rely on his strength.

“Thanks,” she murmured as she reached level ground. But instead of letting go, she found herself holding on, their fingers intertwined. Vex’s hand was warm, calloused in places that spoke of a life different from the one he claimed to have.

Vex looked down at their joined hands, then back at her face. The intensity in his eyes made Raelee’s breath catch. “Raelee, I?—“

A twig snapped in the distance, cutting off whatever Vex had been about to say. In an instant, his entire demeanor changed.Gone was the relaxed hiker. In his place stood a warrior, alert and ready for action. His body tensed, muscles coiled like a spring ready to release.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a gun in that bag, would you?” she asked.

“Sorry. I don’t usually carry those.”

She squeezed his arm. “Don’t worry.”

“Get behind me,” Vex said, his voice low and urgent. He shoved the pack off his shoulders and pushed Raelee behind him, handing her the bag and shielding her with his body.

Raelee’s heart raced, but she stood her ground, she dropped the bag, adrenaline already coursing through her veins. “No way. We’re in this together, remember?” She moved into a defensive stance, silently thanking her self-defense instructor for all those grueling sessions.

Before Vex could argue, figures emerged from the shadows of the trees. Mercenaries, at least three, armed to the teeth moved with military precision. They fanned out, cutting off any possible escape routes.

“Well, well,” drawled the leader, a scarred man with eyes like chips of ice. He twirled a wicked-looking knife between his fingers. “Looks like our little princess decided to go for a nature walk. How convenient for us.”

Raelee’s mind whirled. Who were these men and how did they know who she was? But more importantly, how were she and Vex going to get out of this? She scanned their surroundings, looking for anything they could use to their advantage.

“Look,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady, buy some time. “I don’t know who you think I am, but?—“

The leader’s laugh cut her off, a harsh sound devoid of any real mirth. “Save it, sweetheart. We know exactly who you are. Your face has been on every news outlet for days. And we knowthere’s a pretty price on your head. Alive...” his grin turned feral, “or mostly alive.”

Vex shifted, placing himself more firmly between Raelee and the mercenaries. When he spoke, his voice carried a dangerous edge. It sent chills down her spine. “If you value your lives,” he said, each word carefully enunciated, “you’ll turn around and walk away. Now.”

For a moment, silence reigned in the forest. The very air seemed to hold its breath. Then, chaos erupted.

The mercenaries charged, and Vex sprang into action. Raelee watched in awe as he moved with lethal precision, his body a blur of controlled violence. He took on multiple attackers at once, his fighting style a blend of martial arts and something entirely foreign. A punch that should have connected with his jaw was deflected with impossible speed. He used the mercenary’s momentum against him, sending the man crashing into his comrades.

As Vex incapacitated one attacker, another took his place. And Raelee wasn’t about to stand idly by.

She ducked under a wild swing from one of the mercenaries, using her smaller size to her advantage. Her fist connected with the man’s solar plexus, driving the air from his lungs. As he doubled over, she brought her knee up, catching him square in the face. The crunch of cartilage was oddly satisfying.

“Not bad, princess,” Vex called out, a hint of pride in his voice even as he grappled with two attackers. He moved like a force of nature, all controlled power and deadly grace.

“Thanks,” Raelee grinned, adrenaline singing in her veins. “I took a self-defense class once. Who knew it’d actually come in handy?” She spun, narrowly avoiding a punch aimed at her head. “Though I don’t remember covering ‘how to fight off a small army’ in the curriculum.”

Their banter was cut short as more mercenaries joined the fray. Raelee found herself backed against a massive oak tree, facing off against a hulking brute of a man. His meaty fists were easily the size of her head. She searched desperately for a way out, her eyes landing on a low-hanging branch just above her.

With a silent prayer to whatever deity might be listening, Raelee leaped. Her hands closed around the rough bark of the branch, muscles straining as she swung her legs up. Her momentum carried her in an arc, feet connecting solidly with the mercenary’s chest. He went down hard, the impact shaking the ground. Raelee landed in a crouch, feeling for all the world like she’d just pulled off a move straight out of an action movie.

“Ha!” she exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement despite the dire situation. “Did you see that, Vex? I think I missed my calling as a stuntwoman.”

But her triumph was short-lived. As she turned to find Vex, pain exploded in her ankle. She’d stepped wrong, the joint twisting at an unnatural angle. Raelee stumbled, vulnerable for a crucial moment. She saw the glint of a blade from the corner of her eye, instinctively jerking back. The knife sliced through the air where her throat had been a split second before.

“Raelee!” Vex’s voice was filled with raw panic. He fought with renewed ferocity, desperation lending him impossible strength as he tried to reach her side.

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