Page 46 of Alien in the Attic

He pecked her lips before they started moving again. “I look forward to learning more of your Earth dances.”

“And I want to know everything about Thryal dances. That and everything else about your people.”

“And we have a whole future ahead of us to do just that, my love.”

They took turns teaching each other dances from their respective cultures. When they were thoroughly out of breath, they went to sit and watch the rest of the partygoers.

Searching for her sisters, she spotted the youngest first. Elena was with the tech crew, clearly trying to learn as much as she could about the holograms of animals that would soar above the party. They seemed surprised that one of the party’s honored guests would speak to them so eagerly, but they humored her questions.

Sofia had been ducking and weaving through the crowd so much that it took longer to find her. Arccoo leaned in toward her ear. “If you’re looking for your second sister, she’s with Maron, the royal historian. She’s the keeper of both historical facts and the legends that make our people who we are.”

Carmen followed his gaze to where Sofia stood with an older Thryal woman. They seemed to be in deep conversation. Her middle sister was gesturing enthusiastically, and the historian looked delighted to have an eager listener.

Sofia was adventurous and a truth seeker, but more than that, she loved the stories that came with the supposed ghosts and cryptids people encountered. She collected them like others collected coins or stamps and was always ready to recite a myth or legend. When it was her turn around the campfire, everyone paid attention.

“I hope you weren’t put off by my announcement,” Arccoo said. “I wanted them to know in case any of Rocco’s loyalists came for you. There’s a difference between coming for a prince’s consort and coming for a future queen.”

Carmen arched an eyebrow. “And here I thought you did it because you wanted to show me off.”

“Well, that too, of course.”

She pecked his cheek. “Of course.”

“The wedding might not be for some time, though. Between Rocco and the plague, the planet needs some stability before we have a massive wedding that breaks typical Thryal conventions.”

She took his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. “I don’t mind a longer engagement. In fact, I would prefer it. That way, I’ll have more time to learn your ways and ingratiate myself to your people.”

“That’s probably wise.”

“But enough talk about that.” She pulled him to his feet. “Let’s just dance and enjoy the moment.”

“As you wish, my queen,” he said as he let her lead him onto the dance floor once more.

Chapter 19

Carmen

The thrum of the starship’s engines vibrated through Carmen’s boots in a pulsing heartbeat that promised adventure. She stood at the panoramic viewport, her eyes taking in the velvet tapestry of space, studded with diamond-like stars. It was more than a view. It was a siren call to the uncharted void.

“Look at this,” she breathed, not turning as she felt Arccoo approach. His presence was a warm draft in the cool air of the observation deck.

“Stunning,” he agreed, his voice tinged with reverence. His hand came to rest beside hers on the glass, not quite touching. “To think we’ll be among those stars.”

Her sisters, Sofia and Elena, joined them. Their faces reflected the same awe Carmen felt to be joining Arccoo on his regular trips through the galaxy.

Sofia was already flipping through a holographic map of potential routes, plotting courses and noting celestial phenomena. Elena, whose love for stories had filled their childhood with tales of cosmic odysseys, leaned closer to the viewport, her eyes sparkling with reflected starlight.

“Imagine the stories waiting out there,” Elena whispered, a dreamy anticipation lacing her words.

Carmen finally turned from the view, facing her companions. “We’re doing this together,” she stated, the weight of her decision giving her voice an edge of command. Her wanderlust was a living thing, a desire to see and experience the vastness beyond their little corner of existence. “Every nebula, every distant world.”

“Agreed,” Arccoo said, nodding. His voice held a depth of intelligence and curiosity. He was a seeker of knowledge, hismotivation clear in the eager tilt of his posture. “There is much to learn, and I can’t think of a better crew.”

Sofia looked up from her maps, a small smile playing on her lips. “We’ll need a plan,” she said, the strategist in her already rising to the challenge. “But yes, let’s explore.”

Elena wrapped an arm around Carmen’s shoulders, her spontaneous nature igniting the moment. “Together,” she declared, her tone imbued with an excitement that was infectious. “It’s going to be epic.”

The four of them formed a circle, their heads leaning in, a pact silently forming in the space between them. Carmen could feel it, the beginning of something extraordinary. They were explorers bound by blood, friendship, and the hunger for discovery.

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