Page 9 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

“Oh, it is so on.” Mila laughed, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down Roqron’s spine. “Just don’t come crying to me when my ‘primitive’ tools outperform your shiny toys.”

“As much as I like how you call meYour Highness, you’re going to be my bride. Call me Roqron.”

She met his gaze and licked her lips, making him forget how to breathe. “Can I call you Roq?”

The way her voice lowered to say the nickname caught his attention. “If you desire.”

Her gaze lingered on his mouth. “Okay, Roq.” Then their gazes met and held. “I so desire.”

He did too. Too much.

As they continued to banter and prepare for the expedition, Roq noticed Mila’s every movement. The way she bit her lip when concentrating on a particularly complex piece of equipment. The graceful arc of her neck as she tilted her head back in laughter at one of his unexpectedly dry comments. The brush of her hand against his as they both reached for the same tool, sending sparks of electricity through his body.

“You know,” Mila said casually as she helped him load equipment onto the hovercraft, “for someone who’s supposed to be all prim and proper, you’re not half bad at this whole ‘fun’ thing.”

Roq felt a warmth spread across his cheeks. “I... thank you. I must admit, it’s not a side of myself I often get to explore.”

Mila’s expression softened. “Well, maybe this expedition will be good for both of us. You can teach me about your fancy Tharvisian tech, and I’ll show you how to loosen up a little. Deal?”

“Deal,” Roq agreed, realizing with a start that he was actually looking forward to it.

When he lifted a thick case that looked different from the others, Mila asked him, “What’s in that one?”

“Weapons,” he replied.

She froze in place. “What for?”

He heard the slight waver in her tone. “They aren’t called the wild lands for nothing. There are dangerous creatures we could encounter. But don’t worry, I’m aware of what roams the forests onmyplanet.”

Mila rolled her eyes at his faux-haughtiness. “Whatever, Tarzan. Can I see the weapons?”

He set the case on the floor of the hovercraft. “Of course.” He flipped the lid up to display the items he’d packed.

There were several items she’d never seen and had no idea how to use. “What’s that little box thing? It doesn’t look like it could harm a fly.”

“That device generates an electronic pulse that can temporarily stun an animal.”

“Oh,” she said, “a wireless Taser. That’s cool. No Glock, I see. I trained with one of those. Part of Daddy’s safety regimen for his daughters, along with years of martial arts.”

As they finished loading the last of the equipment, Roq found himself stealing glances at Mila. She was unlike anyone he had ever met – brilliant, stubborn, infuriating, and undeniably intriguing. This expedition was going to be interesting, to say the least.

“Ready to head out?” he asked as they boarded the hovercraft.

Mila grinned, strapping herself into the co-pilot’s seat. “Born ready. Let’s go save your planet, Roq. And who knows? Maybe we’ll have some fun along the way.”

As the hovercraft’s engines hummed to life, Roq couldn’t shake the feeling that this expedition was going to change everything – not just for Tharvis, but for him personally as well. With Mila by his side, challenging him at every turn and bringing out a side of himself he barely recognized, he was beginning to see his world in a whole new light.

The hovercraft lifted off, carrying them toward the wild lands and whatever adventures – or dangers – awaited them. As they soared over the gleaming spires of the palace, Roq allowed himself a small smile. Whatever happened out there, one thing was certain – with Mila around, it wouldn’t be boring.

EIGHT

The wild lands of Tharvis stretched before Mila, a tapestry of alien beauty that took her breath away. Towering bioluminescent plants loomed overhead, their ethereal glow casting dancing shadows across the rugged terrain.

The air hummed with unfamiliar sounds—echoing calls and rustling movements that sent shivers down her. It was both thrilling and unnerving, a stark reminder that she stood on a world far removed from the familiar landscapes of Earth.

Mila’s boots sank slightly into the soft, pulsating moss that carpeted the ground. Each step released a faint, shimmering glow as if the very earth beneath her feet responded to her presence. In the distance, jagged mountain peaks pierced the sky, their surfaces glittering with what appeared to be embedded mineral deposits. The entire scene felt like something out of a fever dream, beautiful and terrifying in equal measure.

As one of Tharvis’s twin suns dipped below the horizon, the sky deepened to a rich, striking blue. Mila couldn’t help but pause, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the alien sunset. She’d seen countless sunsets on Earth, but nothing could have prepared her for this.

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