Page 30 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

“She did,” Raelee confirmed, rolling her eyes. “I was mortified. I ran out of the room crying.”

“And we followed you,” Mila said softly. “We hid in that little alcove behind the curtains in the East Room.”

Zora nodded, her eyes warm with the memory. “We stayed there for hours, just talking and laughing.”

“You two made me feel better,” Raelee said. “You always have. No matter what’s going on, I know I can count on my sisters.”

Mila felt a lump form in her throat. “We’ve always had each other’s backs, haven’t we?”

“Always,” Zora confirmed. “And we always will. Which is why we’re here now, telling you to take a chance on love.”

Mila sighed, leaning back on the bed. “It’s not just the emotional stuff. Roq and I... we’ve been intimate. And it was... God, it was amazing. But now I feel even more vulnerable. Like I’ve given him a piece of myself I can’t take back.”

Raelee nodded understanding. “That’s normal, Mila. Being physically intimate with someone you care about... it changes things. But it doesn’t have to be a bad change.”

“Exactly,” Zora chimed in. “It’s just another way of connecting, of building your relationship. And from what you’vesaid, it sounds like you and Roq have a pretty solid foundation already.”

Mila couldn’t help a small smile. “He is... pretty incredible. The way he looks at me sometimes, it’s like he sees right through all my defenses. Like he knows me, the real me, not just the President’s daughter or the brilliant scientist.”

Raelee grinned. “Sounds like someone’s got it bad.”

Mila laughed, shoving her sister playfully. “Oh, shut up.” But the laughter faded quickly, replaced by a look of contemplation. “I just... I don’t know how to move forward from here. How do I balance my feelings for him with everything else?”

“Love isn’t about balance, Mila,” Raelee said softly. “It’s about integration. It’s about finding ways to weave your relationship into the fabric of your life, not treating it as a separate entity that needs to be managed.”

Zora nodded, adding, “And it’s about trust. I know it’s hard for us, given how we grew up. But Roq’s shown he’s worthy of your trust, hasn’t he?”

Mila nodded slowly, letting her sisters’ words sink in. “I think I understand. But it’s still scary.”

“Of course, it is,” Raelee agreed. “Anything worth having usually is. But Mila, from what you’ve told me, it sounds like Roq respects your independence. He values your expertise. I don’t think he wants to change you – I think he wants to stand beside you.”

Zora squeezed Mila’s hand. “And we’ll be here for you, every step of the way. You’re not alone in this, Mila.”

As her sisters spoke, Mila felt something change inside her. The fear was still there, but it was no longer paralyzing. Instead, it mingled with a sense of excitement and possibility.

“Thank you, both of you,” Mila said, pulling her sisters into a tight hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

They stayed like that for a moment, the bond between them a tangible force. When they pulled apart, Raelee’s eyes were twinkling with mischief.

“So, when are you going to tell him?”

Mila blinked, caught off guard. “Tell him what?”

Zora laughed. “That you’re madly in love with him, of course!”

Her cheeks flushed. “I... I don’t know. He said he’d give me space to think things through after we got back from the wild lands. The ball’s in my court, I guess.”

Raelee raised an eyebrow. “And? What are you waiting for?”

Mila opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. What was she waiting for? The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. She stood abruptly, startling her sisters.

“I have to go,” she said, her voice filled with a newfound determination.

Zora and Raelee exchanged knowing looks. “Go get him, sis,” Zora said with a grin.

As Mila headed for the door, Raelee called out, “And Mila? Remember, it’s not a negotiation anymore. It’s a partnership.”

Mila paused at the door, looking back at her sisters with a smile. “I know. Thank you, both of you. Really.”

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