Page 47 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

“Vex,” she whispered, her hand finding his. “What do we do?”

He squeezed her hand briefly, his eyes never leaving Eerion. “When I say run, head for the trees to our left. Don’t stop, no matter what you hear. Understand?”

Raelee nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She tensed, ready to spring into action at Vex’s word.

“Now, Your Highness,” Eerion drawled, raising his weapon. “It’s time to?—“

“RUN!” Vex roared. In one fluid motion, he pulled a small device from his belt and threw it at Eerion’s feet. There was a blinding flash of light and a deafening bang.

Raelee didn’t hesitate. She sprinted for the trees, Vex right beside her. The sound of shouting and weapon fire filled the air behind them, but she didn’t look back. Her legs pumped furiously as they plunged into the dense undergrowth, branches whipping at her face and arms.

“This way!” Vex called, veering to the right. Raelee followed, her breath coming in short gasps. She could hear their pursuers crashing through the forest behind them, getting closer by the second.

Suddenly, Vex skidded to a stop, nearly causing Raelee to crash into him. “What—“ she began, but he pressed a finger to his lips, silencing her. With his other hand, he pointed to what looked like a solid rock face covered in shimmering vines.

Vex approached the vines, running his hand along them in a specific pattern. To Raelee’s amazement, they began to part,revealing a hidden entrance. “Quickly,” he urged, ushering her inside.

They slipped through the opening, and Vex manipulated something on the other side. The vines closed behind them, leaving them in near-total darkness. Raelee blinked rapidly, trying to adjust her eyes to the dim light.

“Where are we?” she whispered, her voice echoing slightly.

“An ancient temple,” Vex replied, his voice equally low. “ We need to stay out of sight until my men get here.”

“Your men? How will they know where to find us?”

He touched the small button on his belt he had pressed earlier when Eerion surrounded them. “Transponder,” he said.

“Oh,” she replied, “you sent out a distress signal. Good thinking.”

“Still might not be enough. It takes time to get here from the palace. Follow me.”

As her eyes adjusted, Raelee began to make out details of their surroundings. They were in a large, circular chamber, its walls covered in intricate carvings that seemed to glow faintly. At the center of the room stood a raised dais upon which rested a strange, glowing crystalline structure.

“What is this place?” Raelee asked, her fear momentarily forgotten in the face of such otherworldly beauty.

Vex’s expression softened as he looked around the chamber. “This is one of our most sacred sites. It’s said that the first Tharvisian rulers made their vows here, pledging to protect and guide our people.”

He walked toward the dais, his fingers trailing reverently over the carvings as he passed. “The crystal at the center is believed to be a fragment of the star that formed the lake outside. It’s a symbol of the bond between the rulers and the land itself.”

Raelee followed him, her eyes wide as she took in every detail. The closer they came to the center of the room, the brighter her surroundings became until it seemed like daylight. Despite the danger they were in, she couldn’t help but feel awed by the history and significance of this place. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured.

Raelee’s heart thundered in her chest as she stood facing Vex in the center of the ancient temple. The air around them seemed to pulse with an energy she couldn’t quite explain, mirroring the tumult of emotions swirling within her.

Vex’s eyes, usually so guarded, now shone with an openness that made her breath catch. “Raelee,” he began, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine, “what I’m about to share with you is one of our most sacred traditions. It’s called the Tharvisian bonding ceremony.”

Raelee swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “What does it entail?” she asked, surprised by the tremor in her own voice.

As Vex explained the ceremony, emphasizing that it was his choice, not his duty, to offer this to her, Raelee felt something shift inside her. The walls she’d built around her heart since learning of their arranged marriage began to crack.

“I... I’d be honored,” she whispered, the words escaping before she could second-guess herself.

When Vex took her hands in his, Raelee’s skin tingled at the contact. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts, but her mind kept circling back to one undeniable truth: she was falling for him. Hard.

As Vex began to recite the ancient words, Raelee’s eyes flew open in surprise. A warm, pulsing energy flowed from his hands into hers, spreading throughout her body. The sensation was unlike anything she’d ever experienced, both exhilarating and terrifying in its intensity.

Vex’s voice took on a melodic quality as he continued the ritual. Though Raelee couldn’t understand the words, their meaning seemed to bypass her ears and speak directly to her heart. Unbidden memories of their time together flashed through her mind:

Vex’s quiet strength as they fled from danger. His genuine interest in her dreams and fears during their late-night conversations. The way his rare smiles seemed reserved just for her.

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