Page 26 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

Heat rose to her cheeks, not just from the compliment, but from the genuine warmth in Dravek’s voice. She placed her hand on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat beneath her palm. “Thank you,” she said, allowing her fondness to show in her smile. “You’re pretty amazing yourself.”

Dravek’s eyes widened slightly at her open display of affection, but his lips curved into a tender smile. Zora’s heart leaped at the sight. She wanted to encourage this softer side of him, to show him it was okay to embrace their growing connection.

“We make a good team,” she added, her voice low and intimate. “In more ways than one.”

Dravek’s arm tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against him. The heat of his body sent a thrill through Zora, and she had to resist the urge to kiss him right there in the lab.

“Indeed, we do,” Dravek murmured, his voice husky. He leaned in, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered. “Perhaps we should... explore that teamwork further later?”

Zora shivered at the promise in his words. “I’d like that,” she breathed, allowing her hand to trail down his chest before reluctantly stepping back. “But duty calls for now.”

Dravek nodded, his eyes still dark with desire. “Until later, then.”

As Ylara requested, Zora and Dravek made their way to the strategy room, her mind whirled with thoughts of him. Their physical attraction was undeniable, but it was the deepening emotional connection that thrilled her. She hoped for more – dreaming of a future where their arranged marriage could become as loving and genuine as her sisters’ unions.

The strategy session passed in a blur of tactical discussions and battle plans. Throughout it all, Zora’s thoughts kept drifting to Dravek. She noticed how he seamlessly integrated her botanical knowledge into their military strategies, how he deferred to her expertise without hesitation. His respect for her abilities deepened her growing feelings for him.

As evening approached, the mood in the rebel base shifted. The day’s intense preparations gave way to a need for levity, a chance to boost morale before the challenges that lay ahead.

It began with Zora’s quirky robotic assistant Sprig attempting to cheer up a group of tired rebels. The little robot projected a holographic image of itself, comically oversized, and began to dance in a jerky, mechanical parody of a Tharvisian waltz.

Soon, laughter filled the cavern as rebels gathered to watch the ad hoc performance.

“What in the world?” Dravek’s amused voice came from beside Zora. She turned to find him watching the spectacle with a rare, unguarded smile that made her heart skip a beat.

“I think they’re trying to lighten the mood,” Zora chuckled, unconsciously leaning into him. “Though I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a dancing routine or a malfunction.”

As if hearing her comment, Sprig suddenly projected a holographic image of Zora and Dravek. The miniature versions of themselves began to dance, mimicking their movements from their sparring session earlier—but with exaggerated, comical flair.

The rebels erupted in laughter and cheers. Several called out, encouraging the real Zora and Dravek to show them how it’s done.

Dravek raised an eyebrow at Zora, a challenge in his eyes. “Shall we give them a proper demonstration?”

Zora hesitated for a moment, aware of all the eyes on them. But the joy in the room was infectious, and the opportunity to be close to Dravek was too tempting to resist. “Why not? Though I warn you, I’m much better at cataloging plants than dancing.”

With a grin, Dravek took her hand and led her to the center of the impromptu dance floor. As they began to move together, the world seemed to fade away. Dravek’s hand on her waist and her palm against his chest felt right as if they were made to fit together.

They moved in perfect harmony, their earlier sparring session translating seamlessly into dance. Dravek led with confidence, guiding Zora through turns and dips that left her breathless. The cheers and music faded into background noise as Zora lost herself in Dravek’s eyes, seeing in them a reflection of her own emotions—desire, affection, and a hint of vulnerability that made her heart ache with tenderness.

As the dance came to an end, Dravek pulled Zora close, their faces mere inches apart. For a moment, it seemed as if he might kiss her right there in front of everyone. Zora hoped he would, no longer caring about propriety or appearances. She wanted the world to see how she felt about this man.

But instead, Dravek simply rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling. “Thank you,” he murmured, his voicelow enough that only she could hear. “For reminding me that there’s still beauty in the world even in the midst of war.”

Zora’s heart swelled with emotion. She reached up, cupping his face in her hands. “There will always be beauty,” she whispered back, “as long as we have each other to remind us of it.”

The intensity of Dravek’s gaze made Zora’s breath catch. She saw a flicker of something in his eyes – a softening, a vulnerability that he rarely allowed anyone to see. In that moment, Zora realized that her feelings for Dravek had deepened into something far more profound than she had ever expected.

The spell was broken by a round of enthusiastic applause from their audience. As they stepped apart, Zora caught Ylara’s eye across the room. The rebel leader gave her a knowing smile and a subtle nod of approval. In that moment, Zora understood that her relationship with Dravek wasn’t just a personal joy—it was a symbol of hope for the rebels, a living embodiment of the unity they were fighting for.

The spontaneous celebration continued late into the night, a much-needed respite from the constant combat training and strategy sessions. As the crowd began to thin, Zora was drawn to a quiet alcove, needing a moment to process the whirlwind of emotions she’d experienced throughout the day.

She leaned against the cool stone wall, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on her shoulders, but now it was intertwined with the warmth of her growing feelings for Dravek. She allowed herself to imagine a future where their arranged marriage blossomed into a true partnership filled with love and mutual respect like her sisters had found.

“Credit for your thoughts?” Dravek’s voice, soft and concerned, broke through her reverie.

Zora opened her eyes to find him standing before her, his expression a mix of worry and affection. Without a word, she stepped into his embrace, burying her face in his chest. His arms encircled her, strong and protective, and some of her tension melted away.

“I’m scared, Dravek,” she admitted, her voice muffled against his shirt. “All these people are depending on us and I have no idea what I’m doing. What if I let everyone down?”

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