Page 20 of The Alien's Captive Bride

EIGHT

Azlun’s boots crunched against the alien soil as he crested the final hill, his muscles screaming in protest. The landscape before him was a painter’s fever dream—twisted trees with luminescent bark stretching their gnarled branches toward a sky painted in shades of deep purple and burnt orange. In the distance, the silhouette of a five-legged creature loped across the horizon, its eerie howl echoing across the barren plains.

“I spy with my little eye,” Venus’s voice came from behind him, slightly breathless but still full of mirth, “something that looks like it wants to eat us.”

Azlun turned, an eyebrow raised. “You’ll have to be more specific. That describes about ninety percent of this charming planet.”

Venus snorted, coming to stand beside him. Her hair, usually so perfectly styled, was a mess of windblown curls, and there was a smudge of dirt across her cheek. Somehow, she still managed to look regal. “Fair point. How about something that looks like a good place to collapse for the night without becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet for the local wildlife?”

Azlun’s eyes scanned the alien terrain, finally settling on a small clearing nestled between jagged rock formations. Bioluminescent flora dotted the area, casting a soft, ethereal glow. “There,” he said, pointing. “It’s defensible, and those glowing plants might keep some of the nocturnal predators at bay.”

“Ooh, pretty and practical. I’m impressed, Your Highness,” Venus teased, nudging him with her elbow. “Lead on, oh wise and mighty alien prince.”

Azlun rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Your sarcasm is truly the highlight of this harrowing escape, my lady.”

They made their way down the hill, both on high alert. The day had been a gauntlet of dangers—massive creatures with too many limbs and not enough eyes, mercenaries with itchy trigger fingers, and terrain that seemed determined to twist their ankles at every step.

As they entered the clearing, Azlun’s tactical mind kicked into gear. “I’ll secure the perimeter and hunt for food. Think you can handle gathering water and setting up camp without starting an intergalactic incident?”

Venus placed a hand over her heart in mock offense. “Why, Prince Azlun, I’ll have you know I was a champion camper in the Royal Girl Scouts of Earth.”

“There’s no such thing as Royal Girl Scouts.”

“Shows what you know about Earth culture,” Venus retorted with a wink. “Don’t worry, Your Alienness. I’ve got this covered. Try not to get eaten by any six-legged bunnies out there.”

Azlun chuckled, the sound low and warm. “I’ll do my best to avoid becoming some creature’s dinner. Your concern is touching.”

“Hey, if you die, who’s going to carry all our stuff?”

With a final smirk, Azlun headed into the surrounding wilderness. The alien flora cast strange shadows, and everyrustle in the underbrush set his nerves on edge. Finally, he spotted his prey—a creature that looked like the unholy offspring of a rabbit and a kangaroo with an extra set of ears for good measure.

“Sorry, little guy,” Azlun muttered as he set his snare. “But it’s either you or protein paste, and I’ve had enough of that stuff to last a lifetime.”

As he waited for his trap to spring, Azlun’s mind wandered to Venus. She was a paradox wrapped in an enigma with a side of sarcasm. One moment, she was every inch the polished political daughter, the next, she was cracking jokes that would make a Tharvian dock worker blush. And through it all—the kidnapping, the auction, their daring escape—she had shown a resilience that both impressed and attracted him.

The snap of his trap jolted Azlun from his thoughts. He retrieved his catch, silently thanking the creature for its sacrifice, and made his way back to the clearing.

The sight that greeted him made him pause. Venus had not only gathered water but had also arranged some of the bioluminescent flora into a makeshift bouquet at the center of their camp. She sat cross-legged, attempting to start a fire with two rocks, her face a mask of concentration.

“I see the Royal Girl Scouts didn’t cover fire starting,” Azlun said as he approached.

Venus looked up, blowing a strand of hair out of her face. “Oh, like you could do better with these alien rocks. For all I know, they’re some sort of petrified alien poop.”

Azlun couldn’t help it—he burst out laughing. “Petrified alien poop? That’s a new one.”

“Well, you try coming up with witty observations when you’re exhausted, hungry, and surrounded by things that defy the laws of Earth biology,” Venus grumbled, but there was a grin on her face.

“Here, allow me,” Azlun said, kneeling beside her. He pulled out a small device from his pocket, and with a click, a strong flame appeared.

Venus’s jaw dropped. “You had that the whole time? And you let me sit here banging rocks together like some sort of cavewoman?”

“You seemed so determined. I didn’t want to dampen your adventurous spirit,” Azlun replied innocently.

“Oh, you are so going to pay for that,” Venus threatened, but she was laughing now.

They worked together to prepare the meal, falling into an easy rhythm. Azlun built the fire while Venus skinned and prepared the meat, her nose wrinkling at the task but her hands steady and sure.

“So,” Venus said as they sat to eat, the aroma of roasted alien-rabbit filling the air, “does royal Tharvian training include a course in ‘Surviving on Hostile Alien Planets 101’, or is this a special skill you picked up in your spare time?”

---