Page 23 of The Alien's Captive Bride

Azlun’s only response was to tighten his hold on her. “Save your strength,” he said softly, his voice rumbling through his chest. “Let me help you. Please.”

There was something in his tone—a vulnerability, a plea—that made Venus’s protests die on her lips. She realized, with a start, that Azlun needed this as much as she did. He needed toprotect her, to care for her. And for the first time in her life, Venus found that she didn’t mind being taken care of.

As Azlun carried her across the barren landscape, Venus allowed herself to relax into his embrace. She listened to the steady beat of his heart, a comforting rhythm in the chaos of their situation. Despite the pain of her injury, she felt safe.

“Tell me a story,” she murmured, her head resting against his chest. “Distract me.”

Azlun’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Did I ever tell you about the time Dravek and I got lost in the Forests of Lumina?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

As he recounted the tale, Venus found herself smiling despite the pain. She watched Azlun’s face as he spoke, noting the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed, the soft curve of his lips as he smiled. She realized with a jolt of surprise, that she was seeing the true man—not the polished, diplomatic prince she’d first met. The one who could laugh at himself, who cared deeply, who looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the universe.

“Azlun,” she said softly, interrupting his story. “Thank you.”

He looked down at her, his eyes softening. “Don’t thank me for doing my job. A man is to care and protect the woman he loves,” he replied, the words carrying the weight of an unending promise.

As they neared the ship, Venus felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. The pain in her side had dulled to a persistent throb, but she knew she was losing blood fast.

“Azlun,” she mumbled, her voice slurring slightly. “I don’t feel so good.”

Panic flashed across Azlun’s face. “Stay with me, Venus,” he urged, quickening his pace. “We’re almost there. Just hold on a little longer.”

Venus tried to focus on his voice, on the warmth of his arms around her, but darkness was creeping in at the edges of her vision. The last thing she saw before unconsciousness claimed her was Azlun’s face, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and something that looked a lot like love.

When Venus next opened her eyes, she found herself in the ship’s medical pod. The soft blue glow of the healing technology enveloped her, soothing away the worst of her pain. Azlun was there, his face haggard with worry, his hand clasping hers tightly.

“Hey,” she said softly, her voice hoarse.

The relief that washed over Azlun’s face was palpable. “Venus,” he breathed, bringing her hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “You scared me.”

“Sorry about that,” she replied with a weak smile. “Didn’t mean to ruin our romantic getaway.”

Azlun let out a choked laugh, his eyes suspiciously bright. “Only you could joke at a time like this,” he said, shaking his head fondly.

Venus squeezed his hand, suddenly serious. “Azlun,” she said softly. “I... I more than like you. I think I love you.”

“Venus Arison,” he said. “I don’t think – I know – I love you.”

As Azlun leaned in to kiss her, Venus felt something settle in her chest. This wasn’t the fairy tale romance she’d scoffed at as a child, nor was it the cold political arrangement she’d initially feared. This was something real, something powerful. Something purely theirs.

TEN

The soft blue glow of the medical pod cast eerie shadows across Azlun’s face as he sat vigil by Venus’s side. His hand rested on the smooth surface of the pod, a futile attempt to bridge the gap between them. The ship’s control panels blinked lazily in the background, but Azlun’s focus remained fixed on the unconscious form of the woman who had, against all odds, stolen his heart.

“I should’ve protected her better,” he muttered, guilt gnawing at his insides. The image of Venus falling, wounded by the mercenaries’ attack, played on repeat in his mind. He had always prided himself on his ability to handle any situation, but seeing Venus hurt had shaken him to his core.

As the medical pod hummed softly, working its technological magic to heal Venus’s injuries, Azlun found himself reflecting on their journey so far. What had started as a political pact had blossomed into something he never expected — true, deep affection.

A quiet beep from the ship’s console snapped Azlun out of his reverie. With a last, lingering look at Venus, he rose to check the navigation system. His fingers danced across the holographic interface as he set a course for Tharvis. “Home,” he thought,though the word held new meaning now. Home wasn’t just his planet anymore; it was wherever Venus was.

As the star map flickered to life, Azlun’s brow furrowed. A warning signal flashed insistently in the corner of the display. “What now?” he growled, tapping the icon to expand the alert.

His heart sank as he read the diagnostics. The ship’s systems had been compromised — sabotaged. Azlun’s mind raced. How? When? He’d been so focused on getting Venus to safety that he’d missed the signs of tampering.

“We’re not alone in this,” he realized, a chill running down his spine. The implications were staggering. If someone had managed to sabotage his ship, it meant the conspiracy ran deeper than he’d imagined. His thoughts turned to the Drakanor Sect and the various enemies he’d made in his years as a diplomat. Any one of them could be behind this.

Azlun’s fingers flew across the console as he tried to isolate the damage and reroute critical systems. But with each passing moment, it became clearer that this was no simple malfunction. Whoever had done this knew exactly what they were doing.

Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the ship. Red warning lights bathed the cabin in an ominous glow. Azlun’s heart rate spiked as he realized all communications were down. His hand instinctively went to his pocket, searching for his personal communicator, only to find it missing.

---