Page 24 of The Alien's Captive Bride

“Damn it,” he hissed, remembering how he’d lost it in the rush to get Venus to the ship. They were truly on their own now.

The ship lurched violently, nearly throwing Azlun off his feet. He grabbed the edge of the console, steadying himself as he watched in horror as all the readings plummeted. They were losing velocity quickly, and with it, any hope of a smooth journey home.

Azlun threw himself into the pilot’s seat, his hands gripping the manual controls. “We’re not crashing,” he muttered throughgritted teeth, fighting the ship’s descent. But even as he spoke the words, he knew they were a lie.

As the ship hurtled toward the surface of a nearby planet, captured in its gravitational field, Azlun’s thoughts turned to Venus still unconscious in the medical pod. He had to protect her, had to ensure she survived this. With a grunt of effort, he managed to angle the ship’s descent, aiming for a clearing in the lush, green landscape below.

The impact was jarring. Metal screamed against earth as the ship skidded across the terrain, leaving a deep gouge in its wake. Sparks flew from the control panel, and acrid smoke filled the cabin. Azlun’s head snapped forward, then back against his seat, stars exploding behind his eyes.

For a moment, all was still. Then, with a groan, Azlun pushed himself up, shaking off the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him. His body ached, but a quick self-assessment told him he had escaped any serious injury. His first coherent thought was of Venus.

He stumbled to the medical pod, his heart in his throat. Relief flooded through him as he saw it was still intact, its protective field having shielded Venus from the worst of the impact. With trembling hands, he checked the pod’s readouts. She was still unconscious, but stable. The additional trauma of the crash hadn’t worsened her condition.

As the smoke began to clear, Azlun made his way to a cracked view screen, peering out at the world they had crash-landed on. His heart sank as he recognized the distinctive flora of the planet. Of all the places they could have ended up, it had to be here — the home of Princess Nyrea’s family.

“By the stars,” Azlun muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “This complicates things.”

His history with Nyrea was... thorny, to say the least. Their families had pushed for a match between them, seeing it as a wayto strengthen ties between their planets. But Azlun had ended things, knowing his heart wasn’t in it. Nyrea hadn’t taken the rejection well, and their last meeting had been tense, to put it mildly.

Now, stranded on her home planet with a damaged ship and an injured Venus, Azlun found himself in a precarious position. The royal family here was known for their tendency to keep unwanted visitors as “guests” — a polite term for prisoners. While they were technically allies, Azlun knew all too well how quickly alliances could shift in the face of personal grudges.

A soft groan from behind him pulled Azlun from his worried musings. He turned to see Venus stirring in the medical pod, her eyes fluttering open.

“Easy,” he said softly, moving to her side and helping her sit up. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

Venus winced, her hand going to her side where the wound was still healing. “Where are we?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

Azlun sighed, bracing himself for her reaction. “We had some... problems during our flight. We’ve crash-landed on a planet. One ruled by Princess Nyrea’s family.”

Venus’s eyebrows shot up. “Princess Nyrea? And who might that be?”

Before Azlun could respond, the sound of approaching vehicles reached them. He moved to the ship’s hatch, peering out to see a procession of sleek hovercars approaching, emblazoned with the royal crest of Nyrea’s family.

“It seems our welcoming committee has arrived,” Azlun said grimly. He turned back to Venus, offering her his hand. “Are you able to stand? We need to present a united front here.”

Venus nodded, gritting her teeth as she got to her feet. Azlun could see the pain in her eyes, but also the determination. It was one of the things he admired most about her — her refusal to show weakness even in the face of adversity.

As they stepped out of the ship, Azlun’s eyes immediately locked onto the figure at the head of the approaching group. Princess Nyrea hadn’t changed much since he’d last seen her. Her silver-blonde hair cascaded down her back in elaborate braids, and her pale violet eyes seemed to glow in the planet’s soft light. She was as beautiful as ever, but Azlun felt none of the attraction he once had. His heart belonged to Venus now.

“Prince Azlun,” Nyrea called out, her voice a mixture of concern and something else — possessiveness, perhaps? “What a surprise to find you here. And in such... interesting company.”

Her gaze flicked to Venus, and Azlun felt the temperature drop several degrees. Nyrea’s eyes narrowed as she took in Venus’s appearance, no doubt noting the way Azlun stood protectively close to her.

“Princess Nyrea,” Azlun replied, keeping his tone neutral. “We apologize for the unexpected arrival. Our ship was damaged, and we were forced to make an emergency landing.”

Nyrea’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How fortunate that you landed here where we can offer you proper care and hospitality.” Her gaze lingered on Venus. “And who might your... companion be?”

Before Azlun could answer, Venus stepped forward, her chin raised defiantly despite her injury. “I’m Venus Arison, Azlun’s fiancée. And you are?”

Nyrea’s eyebrows shot up, and Azlun could practically see the gears turning in her head. “Fiancée? How... quaint. I’m Princess Nyrea, an old friend of Azlun’s. We have quite a history together, don’t we, darling?”

Azlun tensed at the use of the endearment, his jaw clenching. He could feel Venus stiffen beside him. “Nyrea, please. This isn’t the time or place for?—“

“Oh, but it is,” Nyrea interrupted, her smile turning predatory. “After all, we should all get to know each other better,shouldn’t we? Especially if you’ll be staying with us while your ship is repaired.”

Venus’s eyes narrowed. “That won’t be necessary. We can manage on our own.”

Nyrea laughed, the sound like tinkling glass. “Don’t be absurd. You’re injured, your ship is in no condition to fly, and you’re on foreign soil. As a ruler, it’s my duty to ensure the safety and comfort of our... guests.”

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