Page 32 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

Shaking himself from his reverie, Roq moved to join her. “Let’s start with the atmospheric purification systems,” he suggested, leaning in close over her shoulder.

Mila leaned back against him, her body fitting perfectly against his. “Mmm, good idea,” she murmured, her focus on the data before them. “If we can modify the existing systems to target the specific pollutants from Wrezen’s operation, we could potentially clear the air in a matter of weeks rather than months.”

Roq nodded, his chin brushing against her hair. “Exactly. And if we integrate that with the nano-regenerative technology for soil restoration...” His hands flew over the controls, bringing up schematics and simulations.

They worked in tandem, bouncing ideas off each other and refining their plans. Hours passed in a blur of scientific discussion and shared eureka moments. But underlying it all was a current of growing intimacy – casual touches, lingering glances, and the way they gravitated toward each other even as they moved around the lab.

As the first hints of dawn began to color the sky outside, Roq realized they had worked through the night. He looked at Mila, expecting to see fatigue, but instead found her eyes bright with excitement and determination.

“I think we’ve got something here,” she said, gesturing to the complex web of plans and simulations they had created. “It’s ambitious, maybe even a little crazy, but...”

“But it might just work,” Roq finished, a grin spreading across his face. Without thinking, he pulled Mila into a tightembrace, lifting her off her feet and spinning her around in a moment of pure joy.

Mila laughed, the sound bright and beautiful in the quiet lab. As Roq set her down, she didn’t step back, instead staying close, her arms looped around his neck. “We make a darn good team,” she said softly, her eyes searching his.

Roq’s hands settled on her waist, drawing her even closer. “The best,” he agreed, his voice low and husky. He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers. “Mila, I...”

He wanted to say it. The words were there on the tip of his tongue.I love you.But something held him back – fear, perhaps, or the lingering sense that this wasn’t the right moment, not with so much at stake.

Mila seemed to sense his internal struggle. She smiled softly, reaching up to cup his cheek. “I know,” she whispered, and then she was kissing him, soft and sweet and full of promise.

Roq returned the kiss with fervor, pouring all the words he couldn’t say into the gesture. When they finally parted, he couldn’t help but smile. “We should probably get some rest,” he said reluctantly. “We have a big day ahead of us.”

Mila nodded but made no move to step away. Instead, she tucked her head under his chin, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Five more minutes,” she murmured against his chest.

Roq chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Five more minutes,” he agreed, holding her close.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms with the first light of dawn streaming through the windows, Roq felt a sense of peace settle over him. Maybe, soon, he would find the courage to tell Mila exactly how he felt.

For now, though, this moment was enough. They had a planet to save, after all.

TWENTY-TWO

Mila’s heart raced as she and Roq approached the grand council chambers. The massive doors loomed before them, ornately carved with scenes from Tharvisian history. She took a deep breath, steadying herself for the challenge ahead.

“Ready?” Roq’s voice was low, his black and silver eyes searching her face.

Mila nodded, squaring her shoulders. “As I’ll ever be. Let’s go dazzle them with science and charm.”

Roq’s lips quirked in a small smile. “I’ll leave the dazzling to you. I’ll stick to looking princely and nodding at appropriate intervals.”

Mila snorted, grateful for the moment of levity. “Don’t sell yourself short, Your Highness. I’ve seen you dazzle with the best of them.”

The playful moment passed as the doors swung open, revealing a cavernous room that practically oozed power and tradition. Mila’s steps faltered for a moment as she took in the scene. The council members sat in a semi-circle on elevated thrones, their faces stern and unwelcoming. The air hungheavy with formality and the weight of centuries of Tharvisian protocol.

Mila felt like an ant under a magnifying glass as she walked beside Roq to the center of the chamber. The council members’ gazes bore into her, some curious, others openly hostile. She recognized a few faces from her research into Tharvisian politics - there was Councilor Farin, known for his isolationist views, and Councilor Iyra, who had long opposed any collaboration with Earth.

As they reached the speaking platform, Roq squeezed her hand briefly before stepping forward. His voice rang out, clear and authoritative.

“Esteemed members of the council, we come before you today with urgent news regarding the future of our planet.”

Roq launched into their presentation, his fingers dancing over the holographic controls as he brought up charts and data visualizations. Mila watched, impressed as always by his command of the technology and his ability to break down complex information.

When it was her turn to speak, Mila stepped forward, pushing aside her nervousness. This was her element - the science, the data, the irrefutable evidence of the crisis facing Tharvis.

“As you can see from these soil samples,” she began, bringing up a holographic display of her own, “the illegal mining operations have accelerated the depletion of key minerals essential to Tharvis’s ecosystem. But this is only part of the problem.”

She delved into the details of their discoveries, explaining how the planet’s core instability was interacting with the surface-level damage to create a potentially catastrophic situation. As she spoke, she could see some council membersleaning forward, their interest piqued. Others, however, remained stubbornly impassive.

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