Page 12 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

With no other option, Dravek steeled himself and entered the cavern. The air grew cooler with each step, carrying the earthy scent of moss and minerals. The uneven floor demanded his full attention, patches of slick algae threatening to upend him at every turn. He welcomed the physical challenge, using it to ground himself, to push away the confusing thoughts and feelings that had been plaguing him.

As he ventured deeper into the cave, Dravek found himself in a labyrinth of tunnels adorned with bioluminescent flora. Under different circumstances, he might have paused to admire the beauty of Tharvis’s underground wonders. But experience had taught him that on this planet, beauty often concealed deadly hazards.

His suit’s sensors chirped, alerting him to energy fluctuations nearby. Dravek dismissed them as natural geological activity, but a nagging doubt lingered in the back of his mind. Something about this place felt... off. Or was it just his own inner turmoil, projecting itself onto his surroundings?

Rounding a bend in the tunnel, Dravek finally spotted her. Zora sat perched on a flat rock, her brow furrowed in concentration as she fiddled with the malfunctioning Sprig. The soft glow of the surrounding crystals bathed her in an almost ethereal light, highlighting the determination etched across her features.

For a moment, Dravek allowed himself to simply look at her. The tightness in his chest eased, replaced by a warmth he didn’t dare examine too closely. She was alive, seemingly unharmed.The relief that washed over him was so intense, it was almost physical.

Startled by the strength of his own reaction, Dravek quickly schooled his features back into their usual mask of stoic detachment. He was a prince, a leader. He couldn’t afford to be ruled by such... unpredictable feelings.

NINE

“Zora,” he called out, his deep voice echoing off the cavern walls. “You are a difficult person to find.”

Zora’s head snapped up, surprise flashing across her face before being replaced by a mixture of relief and... was that annoyance? A wry smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and Dravek felt his heart rate inexplicably quicken.

“Dravek,” she replied, her tone a perfect blend of respect and sarcasm. “Fancy meeting you here. Come to join my little spelunking expedition?”

Dravek approached, his keen eyes taking in every detail. The torn sleeve of her jacket. The scrapes and bruises marring her arms. The barely perceptible wince as she shifted her weight. Each mark, each sign of her ordeal, sent a fresh wave of... something... coursing through him. Protectiveness? Concern? He pushed the feelings aside, focusing instead on the facts, the tangible evidence before him.

“You’re injured,” he stated, unable to keep a hint of concern from creeping into his voice. The lapse in control irritated him. Since when did he allow his emotions to color his words so easily?

Zora waved off his observation with a dismissive gesture. “Just a few scratches. Nothing I can’t handle.” She patted the medkit at her side. “I’ve got everything under control.” Her eyes scanned the wide space. “That is if the cave doesn’t collapse on top of us.”

The casual dismissal of her own well-being ignited a spark of frustration within Dravek. Didn’t she understand the gravity of the situation? The dangers that lurked in these uncharted territories? The risks she’d taken, the worry she’d caused...

Worry. There was that word again. Dravek clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure. When had he started worrying about her? And why couldn’t he seem to stop?

“Venturing into forbidden areas alone is reckless,” he admonished, his tone sharpening. “Especially without informing anyone of your whereabouts. Do you have any idea?—”

“First of all,” Zora interrupted, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. “Nobody said anything about this place being off-limits. Secondly, I told my sister ofmy whereabouts. I didn’t realize I needed your permission to conduct my research, Your Highness.”

The title, usually spoken with reverence, dripped with sarcasm. His jaw clenched, the muscle twitching beneath his skin. How could someone so brilliant be so obstinate? And why did her defiance both infuriate and... intrigue him?

“This isn’t about permission,” he ground out, fighting to keep his voice level. “It’s about basic safety protocols. Protocols that exist for a reason.”

Zora opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak, Sprig’s garbled voice cut through the tension.

“Caution: Atmospheric anomalies detected... Vorsicht: Atmosphärische Anomalien...” The robot’s mixed-language warnings created a moment of confusion.

Dravek blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by the sudden interjection. He glanced at the malfunctioning device, one eyebrow raised in a silent question. The break in their argument allowed him a moment to collect himself, to push down the swirling emotions that threatened to overwhelm his carefully constructed composure.

Zora sighed, running a hand through her already disheveled hair. “He took a bit of a tumble during the landslide. He’s mixing up his language databases.” A rueful smile played across her lips. “Among other things.”

As if on cue, Sprig projected a holographic image into the air between them. A Tharvisian goat—a creature known for its stubborn nature and ability to climb near-vertical surfaces—appeared in miniature, executing an elaborate dance routine.

For a moment, Dravek stood frozen, torn between maintaining his stern demeanor and giving in to the absurdity of the situation. He watched as Zora pressed her lips together, clearly trying to suppress a laugh. And despite himself, despite every instinct that screamed at him to remain aloof and in control, Dravek felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward.

The moment of shared amusement, however brief, sent a jolt of... something... through him. It was warm, unfamiliar, and deeply unsettling. Dravek found himself relaxing ever so slightly, some of the rigid formality leaving his posture. What was this woman doing to him? How could she make him feel so... unbalanced with just a smile?

“Since everyone seems mobile,” he said, “I suggest we head back to the palace before another?—”

But before he could finish, a low hum filled the air, vibrating through the soles of Dravek’s boots. His eyes widened as he watched ancient symbols etched into the stone walls begin to glow with an inner light.

“Zora,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Step back from the wall. Slowly.”

To his surprise and relief, she didn’t argue. As they both retreated into the center of the cavern, a shimmering field of energy materialized before their eyes. Within seconds, the way he had entered was completely sealed off by a pulsating barrier of light.

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