Page 44 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

“Show me more,” she said instead, gesturing to the path ahead. The back of her hand brushed against something and Raelee stumbled back, her hand burning where it made contact. The world began to spin, her vision blurring.

“Raelee!” Vex’s panicked voice seemed to come from far away. “No, no, no. Hold on!”

She felt his strong arms around her as consciousness slipped away.

Raelee drifted in and out of awareness, catching snippets of frantic conversations.

“...immune system not prepared...”

“...need to synthesize an antidote...”

“...don’t you dare leave me, Raelee...”

When she finally opened her eyes, Vex’s face swam into focus. He looked haggard, his usually immaculate appearance disheveled, dark circles under his eyes.

“You’re awake,” he breathed, relief evident in every line of his body. “I thought... I was so afraid...”

Raelee tried to speak, but her throat was dry. Vex quickly brought a glass of water to her lips, supporting her head as she drank.

“What happened?” she croaked.

“The flower you touched,” Vex explained, his voice heavy with guilt. “It’s harmless to Tharvisians, but apparently toxic to humans. I had no idea. I’m so sorry, Raelee.”

She saw the genuine anguish in his eyes, the fear that still lingered there. Despite her weakened state, she reached out, taking his hand. “It’s okay,” she said softly. “You didn’t know. But we have to be careful for my sisters.”

“They’ve been given an immune boost so they have no issues with our planet.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m so sorry,” he repeated.

“I’m okay.”

Vex’s fingers tightened around hers. “I thought I was going to lose you,” he whispered. “And all I could think was that I’d never get the chance to make things right between us.”

Raelee’s heart swelled. In that moment, she saw past the prince, past the lies and the deception. She saw the man she’d fallen for on Earth, the man who’d risked everything to be with her.

“Vex,” she said, her voice gaining strength. “ I’m ready to talk.”

Relief washed over his features. “Anything you want to know, I’ll tell you. No more secrets, no more lies.”

And so they talked for hours. As Raelee regained her strength, they shared their fears, their hopes, their dreams.

As the Tharvisian night fell, casting the room in a soft, ethereal glow, Raelee found herself leaning into Vex’s embrace. His arm wrapped around her, strong and secure.

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vex’s hand gently stroked her arm. “Whatever you want,” he said. “I meant what I said before. I won’t force you into anything.If you choose to stay, to give us a chance, it will be because you want to, not out of duty or obligation.”

Raelee tilted her head up, meeting his gaze. The depth of emotion she saw there took her breath away. “And if I do choose to stay? What then?”

A smile, soft and genuine, spread across Vex’s face. “Then we face whatever comes next together. We find a way to bridge our worlds, to make a difference. You as an ambassador, me as a prince. Partners in every sense.”

The idea sent a thrill through Raelee. It wouldn’t be easy, she knew that. There were still challenges ahead, political unrest to navigate and cultural differences to overcome. But for the first time since arriving on Tharvis, she felt hope.

She snuggled closer to Vex, feeling the steady beat of his heart. As they sat there, watching the alien stars twinkle overhead, Raelee knew that whatever the future held, they would face it together.

The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions and revelations, but as she drifted off to sleep in Vex’s arms, Raelee couldn’t help but feel this was just the beginning of their greatest adventure yet.

---