Page 25 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

After surveying the site and pinpointing the guards, Mila and Roq made their way down the ridge, using the jagged terrain for cover as they approached the main building. As they neared the perimeter, he held up a hand, stopping.

“More guards,” he whispered, pointing to a pair of armored figures patrolling the outer fence. Their armor was a blend oftraditional Tharvisian design and advanced technology glowing faintly with an internal energy source. “We’ll need to time this perfectly.”

Mila nodded, her expression determined. “Just tell me when to go.”

Roq’s heart swelled with admiration for her courage. He pushed the feeling aside, focusing on the task at hand. “Follow my lead and stay close.”

With practiced stealth, they slipped past the initial defenses, using the shadows cast by the massive machinery as cover. Roq’s every sense was on high alert, his body tense and ready for action. The central chamber of the mining operation loomed before them, a fortress-like structure that seemed to pulse with malevolent energy.

As they slipped inside the side entrance, a familiar voice rang out, sending a chill down Roq’s spine.

“Well, well. The genius prince is here.”

Wrezen Rathor stepped out of the shadows, flanked by his elite warriors. He cut an imposing figure, his muscular frame adorned with the traditional armor of Tharvisian nobility enhanced with glowing circuitry that hummed with power. But it was his eyes that held Roq’s attention—cold and calculating with a hint of madness lurking just beneath the surface.

“Wrezen,” Roq acknowledged, his voice steady despite the anger boiling inside him. “This madness ends now. You’re destroying our planet, all for your own selfish gain.”

Wrezen’s lips curled into a sneer. “Selfish? I’m doing this for Tharvis, cousin. Our once-great planet has grown weak, corrupted by outside influences.” His gaze flickered to Mila, his expression hardening. “And I see you’ve brought one of them right to our doorstep. Tell me, does she warm your bed as well as she warms your heart?”

Roq’s vision went red with fury. He took a step forward, his body coiled like a spring ready to release. “Silence! You will not speak of her that way,” he snarled, his voice barely recognizable.

Mila’s hand on his arm stopped him. “He’s trying to provoke you,” she murmured. “Don’t let him.”

Taking a deep breath, Roq forced himself to calm down. “You speak of strength, Wrezen, but true strength comes from adaptation and cooperation. Tharvis can’t thrive in isolation. The universe is changing, and we must change with it.”

Wrezen’s expression darkened. “Change? You mean weakness. You would have us bow to the whims of other worlds, diluting our culture, our very essence.” He gestured to the mining operation around them. “This is the key to our independence. With these resources, we can rebuild Tharvis into a fortress, impregnable and self-sufficient.”

“At what cost?” Roq demanded. “You’re tearing the heart out of our world. The environmental damage you’re causing could take centuries to repair—if it can be repaired at all.”

For a moment, doubt flickered across Wrezen’s face. Then his features hardened once more. “A necessary sacrifice for the greater good. But I see now that you’re too far gone, too corrupted by your Earthling pet to understand.” He turned to his warriors. “Take them. The girl first—let’s see how strong our prince is when his weakness is exposed.”

Time seemed to slow as Wrezen’s guards advanced. Roq’s body tensed, ready to spring into action, but before he could move, Mila stepped forward.

“I am not a weakness,” she declared, her voice ringing with conviction. “And I’m certainly not a pet. Just try and see what happens when you lay a finger on me.”

Her words seemed to catch Wrezen off guard. He hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he reassessed the woman before him.

Roq felt a surge of pride and affection for Mila. In that moment, he saw her not just as a brilliant scientist or a political ally, but as a true partner—someone willing to stand beside him in the face of danger.

The moment of stillness shattered as Wrezen barked an order to his guards. “Enough talk. Take them both!”

Chaos erupted in the chamber. Roq moved with fluid grace, years of combat training kicking in as he engaged the first of Wrezen’s warriors. His fist connected with the guard’s jaw, the impact cushioned by the advanced armor but still enough to send the man stumbling backward.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mila duck and weave, using her agility to avoid the guards’ grasp as she kicked knees and groins. She may not have been a trained fighter, but her quick thinking and environmental knowledge gave her an edge. She toppled a stack of equipment crates, creating an obstacle between her and her pursuers.

“Mila!” Roq called out, his voice tight with concern. “The control panel to your left—if you can override it, we might be able to shut down the mining operation!”

Mila nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. She dove for the panel, her fingers flying over the complex array of buttons and switches.

Roq turned his attention back to the fight, his movements a blur of precision and power. He fought with a ferocity he’d never known, driven by the need to protect both Tharvis and Mila. Each strike was calculated to disable rather than kill—these were still his people, after all, misguided though they might be.

A cry of pain cut through the air, snapping Roq’s attention away from the fight. Mila had been cornered by one of Wrezen’s guards, her arm twisted painfully behind her back.

The sight ignited something primal in Roq’s chest. With a roar of fury, he surged forward, breaking through the guards’formation. In three long strides, he reached Mila’s captor, his fist connecting with the guard’s jaw with a sickening crack.

As the guard crumpled, Roq pulled Mila close, his eyes scanning her for injuries. “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice rough with concern.

Mila nodded, wincing slightly as she rotated her shoulder. “I’m fine. Roq, behind you!”

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