Page 30 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

“This way,” Dravek murmured, guiding her toward a side passage with a gentle hand on her lower back.

They slipped away from the main group, ducking into a dimly lit corridor. Zora’s heart pounded as they approached a heavily guarded door—the entrance to the communication hub. According to the intel they had, this room wasn’t supposed to be guarded. So much for reliability.

“Any ideas?” Dravek asked, his voice low.

Zora’s mind raced. They couldn’t fight their way through without raising an alarm. Then, an idea struck her.

“Actually, yes,” she said. “How’s your acting?”

Before Dravek could respond, Zora stumbled forward, letting out a high-pitched giggle. She swayed on her feet, playing the part of an intoxicated party-goer to perfection.

“Oh, darling!” she called out to Dravek, her voice slurred. “I think I’ve had too much of that lovely Xuevisian wine. Everything’s spinning!”

Dravek, catching on quickly, rushed to her side. “My dear, you must be more careful,” he said, his usually stern voice now filled with exaggerated concern.

The guards exchanged glances, their postures relaxing slightly at the seemingly harmless scene before them.

Zora lurched toward the door, Dravek supporting her. “Is this the way to the chamber?” she asked innocently, blinking up at the guards.

One of the guards stepped forward, his hand raised. “I’m sorry, but this area is off-limits?—”

He never finished his sentence. Quick as lightning, Zora’s hand shot out, pressing a small device against his neck. A soft hiss, and the guard crumpled to the ground. Dravek moved simultaneously, subduing the second guard with a swift, precise strike.

TWENTY-TWO

“Nice work,” Dravek said, genuine admiration in his voice as they dragged the unconscious guards into a nearby alcove.

Zora grinned, the rush of adrenaline making her feel invincible. “I told you I could handle myself.”

They slipped into the communication hub, locking the door behind them. The room was a maze of blinking consoles and holographic displays. Zora’s fingers flew over the controls, her training kicking in as she navigated the complex systems.

“How long?” Dravek asked, keeping watch at the door.

“Just a few more minutes,” Zora muttered, her brow furrowed in concentration. “We need to time this perfectly with Malgor’s speech.”

As if on cue, Malgor’s voice boomed through the air as if through invisible speakers, and his image appeared on every screen in the hub and probably the entire planet. His words were honeyed poison, speaking of unity and progress while concealing his true, tyrannical intentions.

Zora’s hands trembled slightly as she made the final adjustments. Everything they had worked for came down to this moment. She thought of her mother, of the rebels who had puttheir faith in her, and of the future of Xuevis hanging in the balance.

“It’s ready,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her.

Dravek moved to her side, his presence reassuring. “Together?” he asked, his hand hovering over the final switch.

Zora nodded, placing her hand over his. “Together.”

They pressed the button, and the truth was unleashed.

Malgor’s speech cut off abruptly, replaced by a cascade of damning evidence. Financial records displayed on the screens showing his dealings with the Drakanor mercenaries, secret communications outlining his plans to eliminate Zora and her sisters, and footage of him orchestrating so-called “natural disasters” to maintain his grip on power.

Through the in-house monitors, Zora and Dravek watched as chaos erupted in the Grand Chamber. Malgor’s face contorted with rage and disbelief as his carefully constructed lies crumbled around him.

“We did it,” Zora breathed, scarcely able to believe it.

Dravek’s hand found hers, squeezing gently. “You did it,” he corrected, his voice filled with pride.

Their moment of triumph was short-lived. Alarms blared throughout the building, and the sound of running footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.

“Time to go,” Dravek said, pulling Zora toward the door.

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