Page 14 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

And as terrifying as that realization was, Roq found that he wouldn’t have it any other way.

TEN

Mila jolted awake, her heart pounding against her ribcage. For a disorienting moment, she couldn’t place where she was. The air hung thick with alien scents, and the darkness pulsed with strange, bioluminescent light. Then reality crashed back—she was on Tharvis, deep in the wild lands on an expedition with Roq.

It was still weird not saying “Your Highness.” But he was going to be her husband. The nickname felt right like a secret shared between them.

Something was wrong. The peaceful night sounds she’d drifted off to had vanished, replaced by an eerie silence broken only by unsettling rustles in the surrounding vegetation.

“Roq?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

A shadow moved, and suddenly he was there, crouched beside her. His face, illuminated by the soft glow of alien flora, was tense. “We need to move,” he murmured, fastening his loaded utility belt around his waist. “Now.”

Mila didn’t question him. Over the past few days, she’d learned to trust Roq’s instincts. They gathered survival necessities, leaving behind anything nonessential.

As they slipped out of their camp, Mila’s breath caught. The alien wilderness had transformed into something menacing. Bioluminescent plants flickered with an unsettling rhythm, casting shifting shadows across the uneven ground. Distant wildlife calls now sounded sharp and close as if the entire ecosystem was conspiring against them.

Mila glanced at Roq, worry gnawing at her. His usual composed demeanor had vanished, replaced by a coiled intensity she’d never seen in him. Gone was the witty prince she’d bantered with. In his place stood a warrior, every muscle ready for action.

A low growl echoed in the distance. Mila’s hand instinctively reached for Roq’s arm. “Tell me that’s just some harmless nocturnal creature,” she whispered, aiming for levity but falling short.

Roq’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of concern—not for himself, but for her. It sent an unexpected warmth through her chest. “Stay close,” he said softly, his hand covering hers briefly before moving to his weapon.

Without warning, the shadows erupted into motion. A handful of warriors materialized from the darkness, their movements liquid and predatory. Their armor, a blend of advanced tech and primal design, marked them unmistakably as Drakanor—Tharvis’s rebel fighters.

“Drakanor,” Roq growled, positioning himself slightly in front of Mila. The protective gesture wasn’t lost on her, and she felt a surge of both gratitude and a fierce desire to keep him safe as well.

The Drakanor attacked with terrifying speed and precision. Chaos exploded around them, the peaceful night shattered by the hum of energy weapons and the clash of combat.

Mila ducked and weaved, her heart thundering. She was no stranger to danger, but this was different. These weren’tunpredictable animals or hostile environments—these were trained killers with a purpose.

As she narrowly avoided a Drakanor’s energy blade, Mila’s defensive training kicked into overdrive. She scanned the area desperately, searching for anything she could use. Her eyes landed on the Taser-like gadget attached to Roq’s belt and inspiration struck.

“Roq!” she yelled over the chaos. “Your tech—can it disrupt their weapons?”

Even in the heat of battle, Roq trusted her without hesitation. His fingers flew to his device. “What’s the plan?” he shouted back, deflecting another attack.

“Electromagnetic pulse!” Mila ducked under a swing. “Overload their electronics!”

Understanding flashed in Roq’s eyes. He made a final adjustment, and suddenly the air crackled with unseen energy. The Drakanor weapons sputtered and died, energy blades dissipating into harmless sparks.

In the moment of confusion that followed, Mila grabbed Roq’s hand. “Run!” she yelled, pulling him toward a gap between two massive, twisted trunks.

They sprinted through the foliage, the angry shouts of the Drakanor fading behind them. Mila’s lungs burned, but exhilaration coursed through her veins. She’d faced danger before, but nothing like this. And yet, with Roq beside her, she felt a strange sense of invincibility.

As they ran, weaving through the otherworldly landscape, Mila couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride—and something deeper. Her quick thinking combined with Roq’s technological skill had saved them both. They made a good team. More than that, the way he’d immediately trusted her judgment, the way he’d put himself between her and danger... it stirred something in her.

“Nice work with that pulse,” Mila panted as they continued to put distance between themselves and their pursuers.

Roq flashed her a grin that made her heart skip. “It was your idea. I’m just glad my device had enough power to pull it off.”

“Yeah, me too. Look, I know it’s late,” she between breaths, “but I’m fine with you calling for the palace guards to come get us.”

He patted his pocket then another. “My communicator is gone. I must’ve lost it during the fight.”

Of course, she thought. That’s how things worked in her life. Nothing was ever easy.

They pressed on through the wild lands, the terrain growing more treacherous with each step. Twisted roots threatened to trip them, while strange, glowing fungi cast eerie shadows. The sounds of pursuit had faded, but neither dared slow their pace.

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