Page 5 of The Alien's Unwanted Bride

Lost in thought, Zora nearly walked into a low-hanging branch. Dravek’s hand on her arm steadied her, the brief contact sending a tingle up her.

“Careful,” he said, amusement coloring his tone. “We wouldn’t want you to add a concussion to your list of exciting discoveries today.”

Zora laughed, grateful for the break in tension. “Hey, you never know. A bump on the head might be just what I need to solve the mystery of those shape-shifting vines.”

“Ah yes, the great vine debate. I still think you’re being too hasty in dismissing the Morpheus classification,” Dravek teased.

“Oh, don’t you start.” Zora groaned good-naturedly. “I’ll have you know I’ve written three papers on the subject of adaptive plant morphology across different planetary ecosystems, and?—”

She cut herself off, realizing she was about to launch into a full lecture. “Sorry, I tend to get a bit carried away when it comes to botany.”

Dravek’s smile was genuine and warm. “Never apologize for your passion, Zora. It’s one of the things I lo—” He coughed, quickly correcting himself. “One of the things I admire most about you.”

Before Zora could process the implications of his near-slip, they emerged from the gardens into the grand palace courtyard. The bustle of palace life surrounding them broke the intimate bubble they’d been in all morning.

“Well,” Zora said, suddenly feeling awkward. “Thank you for accompanying me today. Your insights were really helpful.”

“It was my pleasure,” Dravek replied, his formal tone returning though his eyes remained soft. “Perhaps we could do it again sometime?”

Zora’s heart leaped at the suggestion. “I’d like that,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too eager.

As they parted ways, Zora heading to her lab and Dravek to his royal duties, she was already looking forward to their next encounter. The morning had been full of surprises, both scientific and personal, and she had a feeling that her time on Tharvis was about to get even more interesting.

With Sprig bobbing along beside her, chattering about data correlations and spectral analyses, Zora made her way to her private laboratory. Her mind, however, was only half on the exciting fungal discoveries. The other half was replaying every moment with Dravek, analyzing each word, each look, each almost-something that had passed between them.

As Zora settled into her lab, the excitement of the morning’s discoveries with Dravek gradually gave way to wandering thought until her eyes landed on something out of place.

On a table near the far wall, a book she’d never seen lay open. “Where did that come from?” she asked out loud.

Sprig swirled around. “What are you referring to, Zora Arison?” it asked. She made her way across the room to the mysterious tome.

It looked ancient, more like bound parchment than normal sheets of paper. The words were in an alien language but the illustrations were familiar.

“Shall I translate for you, Zora Arison?” Sprig asked.

“Yes, please,” she answered as she leaned closer to study the images.

To her amusement, Sprig cleared his electronic “throat.” “The Shadowed Highlands have been explored very little due to the intense foliage and rough terrain. But the highlands conceal unique flora that have the potential to…” Sprig stopped.

She glanced at him. “Potential for what?”

“Processing most logical translation” came the mechanical voice. “Potential for unprecedented medical discoveries for diseases and extended longevity. Please turn the page.”

Zora gasped. “Are you serious?” she blurted. Her mind erupted with possibilities: a cure for cancer and Alzheimer’s, regenerative and new organ growth, living beyond a hundred years, completely wiping out childhood diseases.

“Of course, I’m serious, Zora Arison. I am incapable of providing spontaneous humor.”

She grinned. “Sorry, Sprig. But you provide more humor than you know.” Carefully, she lifted the thin sheaf of paper and flipped it over. Underneath lay a loose, folded sheet. “What do we have here?” She unfolded the parchment into a roughly two-foot-by-two-foot square.

“It appears to be a map of the Shadowed Highlands,” Sprig said. “Though it is quite primitive compared to modern holographic diagrams.”

“Sprig,” she mumbled, “secure the room. Privacy mode.”

The little robot beeped in acknowledgment, its sensors sweeping the area for any potential eavesdropping devices. “Room secured, Zora Arison. Privacy mode activated.”

With a deep breath, Zora moved the map to spread it out on her workbench. The faded text and mysterious symbols seemed to come alive under the lab’s bright lights. Her fingertips traced the outline of the Shadowed Highlands on the ancient map, a thrill of anticipation running through her.

“Okay, Sprig, take a picture of the map.” The material was so fragile, she doubted she’d be able to refold it, much less carry it with her into the unknown. “Next, let’s make expedition plans,” she said, determination clear in her voice. “We leave at dawn tomorrow. Can you plot the best route to get there without hindrances?”

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