Page 7 of Alien Prince's Fated Mate

“I can walk,” she protested weakly.

“Save your strength,” I murmured, cradling her closer to my chest. “You’ll need it.”

We moved swiftly through the winding corridors of the temple complex. I relied on my training, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger. But it was Niam who truly guided our escape.

“Left here,” she whispered, her breath warm against my neck. “There’s a maintenance access point that leads to the lower levels.”

I followed her instructions, marveling at her knowledge of the temple’s layout. We encountered a few more guards along the way, but I dispatched them quickly, never letting go of my precious cargo.

Finally, we reached a heavy metal door. Niam squirmed in my arms, and I reluctantly set her down. She approached a nearby panel, her fingers flying over the keys with practiced ease.

“How do you know all this?” I couldn’t keep the awe from my voice.

She glanced at me, a hint of sadness in her eyes. “I’ve been connected to this place for a long time. But not anymore.”

The door slid open with a hiss, revealing a dark passageway beyond. We stepped through, the cool air a stark contrast to the warmth of the upper levels.

“We’re almost there,” Niam said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just a little further.”

I nodded, following her lead. We navigated through a maze of pipes and machinery, the hum of ancient systems surrounding us. Finally, we reached another door. This one required both Niam’s expertise and my strength to force open.

And then, suddenly, we were outside.

A sea of red rock and shadow stretched out before us under the setting sun. The wind whipped around us, carrying dust and the promise of freedom.

I turned to Niam, ready to celebrate our escape, but my words vanished at the sight of her silent tears streaming down her face as she stared out at the horizon.

I turned away, giving Niam a moment of privacy. The wind carried her soft murmur to my ears.

“I’d forgotten how beautiful the sky could be.”

Her words ignited a fury deep within me. How long had she been trapped in that accursed temple? Denied even the simple pleasure of seeing the sun and stars?

I watched as Niam composed herself, wiping away the tears with the back of her hand. She turned to face me, her expression a mix of curiosity and wariness.

“Who are you? And why are you here?” she asked, her voice stronger now.

I hesitated, unsure how to explain something I barely understood myself. “My name is Tharon. I was there when the human women put together the pieces of that device. I heard your message, asking them to bring it to the mountains.”

Niam’s eyes widened, a flash of worry crossing her face. “But why are you here instead of them? Lita, Denna, Mila - are they alright?”

“They’re fine,” I assured her quickly, feeling a strange urge to ease her concern. “I volunteered to go in their place, to keep them safe.”

She frowned, studying me intently. “That doesn’t explain why you’re here, with me, instead of at the meeting point.”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated by my own lack of understanding. “I’m not entirely sure myself. I was on my way there, but then...” I trailed off, searching for the right words. “There was this pull, something insistent that made me change course.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

The easy lies of the court nearly came to my lips, but fell away. Only the truth here, to her.

“I felt a pull. Something I couldn’t explain. It led me here instead. To you.”

She took a step back, wariness replacing her earlier confusion.

“You’re dangerous,” she said quietly.

I didn’t deny it. I was dangerous. To my enemies, to anyone who threatened what was mine. But never to her.

---