Page 7 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
We approach an imposing door framed by twisting vines and intricate carvings of Kiphian lore. The guards push it open with a heavy creak, revealing a lavish room that feels like a different world altogether.
Soft mossy floors cushion my feet as I step inside. The walls rise high, adorned with bioluminescent stones that hum gently like an electric lullaby. A massive window offers a breathtaking view of the sprawling forest below—a vibrant tapestry of greens and blues that pulses with life.
But before I can fully absorb the beauty surrounding me, two guards shove me toward the center of the room.
“Your equipment,” one of them says gruffly as they reach for my pack.
“Wait! No!” I struggle against their hold, adrenaline surging through me as they start rifling through my things. They yank out my data tablet and vials—everything vital to my research—and drop them unceremoniously onto a plush table.
And then they grab Todd.
“No! You can’t—” My voice rises in panic as they capture him in a net of glimmering threads that spark slightly when he thrashes about.
One guard turns to me with a smirk. “You’ll need your hands free for whatever Prince Zevran has planned for you.”
My heart races; fury ignites within me. “You can’t do this!” I lunge at them, trying to wrest Todd free from his confinement.
They catch me easily, pushing me down onto the soft floor where moss gives way beneath me like quicksand. Pain shoots through my shoulder as I hit the ground harder than intended.
“Stop resisting,” one soldier growls while keeping a tight grip on my arm.
I bite back retorts that could only make things worse. They pin me down for just long enough to secure their hold before finally releasing me and retreating to stand by the door like sentinels guarding treasure.
The door slams shut behind them with an echoing thud that sends shivers racing down my spine. The lock clicks into place—finality hangs in the air thick enough to choke on.
I curl up in a corner, drawing my knees tightly against my chest while fighting back tears that threaten to spill over in frustration and fear. Todd buzzes quietly nearby, still tangled in his net but emitting soft whirs of reassurance.
“If they kill Todd,” I whisper fiercely into the silence of this opulent prison, “I swear I’ll haunt this tree planet.”
This is not how it was supposed to go; I came here for research, not imprisonment!
With trembling fingers brushing against the moss beneath me, I stare at the ceiling—an intricate pattern of leaves woven into art—and try to make sense of what just happened.
“What the hell is happening?” My voice breaks through the stillness; it echoes back like a ghost taunting me with unanswered questions lingering between breaths.
And who the fuck is Prince Zevran?
CHAPTER 6
ZEVRAN
Ipace the smooth floor of my study, each step an attempt to ground myself. The rich wood feels foreign under my feet, and the flickering light from the ion sconces casts dancing shadows that mirror my agitation. My spine burns, a lingering reminder of her touch, heat coiling around me like vines.
Jalshagar. The word thrums in my mind, impossible to shake. Fated mates are a myth to most—old tales spun by drunk nobles at the Council of Vines. But it's the only explanation. The touch, the heat, theneed. Jalshagar is the only answer.
A knock breaks through my spiraling thoughts, and Aran’tha steps inside, her presence commanding even in the midst of chaos. She’s always been sharp-tongued and astute, but today her eyes narrow with curiosity.
“What troubles you?” she asks, crossing her arms. “I heard about the trespasser.”
“More like a lost doe,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. “She’s claims to be a researcher.”
Aran’tha raises an eyebrow, skepticism mingling with intrigue. “Have you interrogated her yet? What are you doing holed up in your study?"
“No interrogations.” My voice comes out too harsh; I force myself to take a breath. “Not yet. But we do need to consider what she might know about our territories.”
Aran’tha steps closer, studying me as if deciphering an unfamiliar text. “Zevran, you seem… off.”
I glance out the window at the sprawling canopy below—the trees stand tall and proud, oblivious to my turmoil. “Her presence disrupts everything I've fought for.”
