Page 36 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

The council chamber was a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the grand hall. Here, the air was thick with tension, the faces of the council members grave as Vexor took his seat at the head of the table.

“Your Highness,” Councilor L’hen began, his voice carefully neutral, “we must address the possibility that the Earth woman may refuse to go through with the marriage. The political ramifications could be... severe.”

Vexor’s jaw tightened. “Her name is Raelee,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “And I assure you, I will do everything in my power to ensure the alliance remains strong.”

“But if she refuses-“ another councilor interjected.

“Then we will find another way,” Vexor cut him off, his voice filled with quiet determination. “This alliance is about more than just a marriage. It’s about building a bridge between our worlds, fostering understanding and cooperation. We will not force anyone into a union against their will.”

The council members exchanged uneasy glances, but none dared to challenge him further. As the meeting adjourned, Vexor felt the weight of responsibility settle more heavily on his shoulders. He had to find a way to make this work, not justfor the sake of the alliance, but for Raelee, for himself, and the future they could build together.

As the hours ticked by, Vexor found himself drawn back to the grand hall. He moved through the space, checking and double-checking every detail. The decorations were a harmonious blend of Tharvisian and Earth aesthetics, a visual representation of the unity they hoped to achieve.

His fingers trailed over the petals of an Earth rose, its delicate beauty a stark contrast to the bioluminescent flora of Tharvis. The gesture reminded him of Raelee’s soft touch, the way her hand had felt in his as they danced in the rain on some nameless Earth street.

A commotion at the entrance snapped Vexor out of his reverie. “They’re here!” a guard announced, his voice echoing through the hall.

Vexor’s heart leaped into his throat. This was it. The moment of truth had arrived.

He strode to the entrance, each step measured and deliberate. As the grand doors swung open, Vexor’s eyes immediately sought out Raelee among the Earth delegation.

And there she was.

Raelee stood at the forefront of the group, her sisters flanking her on either side. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she took in the grandeur of the Tharvisian palace, but there was a wariness in her posture, a tension in the set of her shoulders.

For a moment, the rest of the world faded away. Vexor saw only Raelee, her beauty as breathtaking as the first time he had laid eyes on her in that small Earth diner. Her gaze swept the room, taking in the alien architecture and unfamiliar faces before finally landing on him.

Vexor watched as recognition dawned in her eyes, followed quickly by confusion, then shock. He saw the exact momentwhen understanding hit her, her body going rigid, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Time seemed to slow as Vexor stepped forward, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure everyone in the room could hear it. He reached for Raelee’s hand, feeling the warmth of her skin against his own. The connection between them was as strong as ever, an electric current that made his pulse race.

“Raelee,” he began, his voice low and intense, “I-“

But before he could continue, Raelee snatched her hand away, her eyes blazing with a mix of emotions - hurt, anger, betrayal.

FOURTEEN

The spacecraft hatch hissed open, releasing a rush of alien air that smelled faintly of cinnamon and ozone. Raelee Arison took a deep breath, steeling herself for what awaited her on the other side. She glanced at her sisters—Zora and the twins Mila and Venus—each wearing expressions that mirrored her own mix of anticipation and apprehension.

“Ready?” Raelee asked, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Zora gave a small nod, her auburn hair catching the strange light of Tharvis’s twin suns. “As we’ll ever be.”

With a shared look of determination, the Arison sisters stepped out onto the surface of Tharvis.

The sight that greeted them took Raelee’s breath away. The sky above was a canvas of vibrant purples and deep blues, streaked with ribbons of golden light from the setting suns. The architecture of the spaceport seamlessly blended sleek, futuristic lines with organic shapes that seemed to grow from the very ground. It struck Raelee as a perfect fusion of nature and technology, alien yet somehow familiar.

“Holy shit,” Mila whispered, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. “This makes our most advanced tech look like stone tools.”

Venus, such the eagle-eye, was already analyzing the structures around them. “The engineering principles at work here are... beyond anything I’ve ever seen. The load-bearing capabilities alone must be-“

“Ladies,” a melodious voice interrupted. They turned to see a tall, willowy Tharvisian approaching. Her skin had a pearlescent sheen, and her eyes were a deep, swirling galaxy of stars. “Welcome to Tharvis. I am Xylith, your guide to the Royal Palace.”

Raelee nodded, slipping into her diplomatic role with practiced ease. “Thank you, Xylith. We’re honored to be here.”

As they followed Xylith to a waiting transport vehicle—a sleek, hovering craft that hummed with barely contained energy—Raelee’s mind raced. She’d come here with a purpose: to negotiate her own future, to assert her independence in the face of this arranged marriage. But now, standing on alien soil, the enormity of the task before her felt overwhelming.

The journey to the palace passed in a blur of stunning vistas and mind-bending architecture. Raelee tried to focus, to take in every detail, but her thoughts kept drifting to the man she was here to meet. Prince Khav’exorne. The name conjured images of a stern, aloof alien ruler, nothing like the warm, adventurous man she’d fallen for on Earth.

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