The Alien’s Unwanted Bride (Alien Brides #4)

Chapter 2

TWO

B efore Zora could sputter out a response, a deep voice cut through the teasing atmosphere. “I assure you, my observational habits are strictly professional.”

Prince Dravek Tharvis stood in the doorway, his imposing figure softened by the hint of a smile tugging on the corners of his mouth. Her heart did a little flip, which she promptly told herself was simply a reaction to being startled. Absolutely not because of the way Dravek’s black eyes seemed to look right through her, or how his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

“Your Highness,” Zora managed, hoping her voice sounded steadier than she felt. “We were just, um, discussing the day’s plans.”

“Indeed,” Dravek said, taking the empty seat beside her. Was it her imagination, or did he sit closer than strictly necessary? “And what fascinating discoveries do you have planned for today, Dr. Arison?”

The use of her title, spoken with a hint of playful formality, made Zora’s pulse quicken. Two could play that game. “Oh, you know,” she said airily, “just revolutionizing our understanding of interplanetary botany, one glowing mushroom at a time. The usual.”

Dravek’s deep chuckle sent a warm flutter through her chest. “The usual, of course. I don’t suppose you’d be amenable to some company on your expedition? I find myself with a rare free morning, and I’ve been meaning to observe your work firsthand.”

The table fell silent, all eyes darting between Zora and Dravek. Zora could practically feel the suppressed excitement radiating from her sisters. She took a deep breath, willing her voice to remain casual. “I’d be happy for the company, Your Highness. Though I should warn you, botanical fieldwork isn’t always as glamorous as it sounds.”

“I think I can handle a little dirt,” Dravek replied, his eyes never leaving hers. “I look forward to it, Dr. Arison.”

As breakfast continued, the conversation flowing around her, Zora’s mind raced with possibilities. A whole morning with Dravek away from the formalities of the palace. The thought was both thrilling and terrifying.

She was so lost in thought that she nearly missed Sprig’s excited beep. The little robot had been unusually quiet during breakfast, probably running diagnostics. Now, though, it was practically vibrating with eagerness to share something.

“Zora Arison!” Sprig chirped. “I have completed my analysis of the morning dew patterns as requested. Would you like me to present my findings to the group?”

Zora blinked, momentarily confused. “Morning dew patterns? I don’t remember requesting that, Sprig.”

The robot’s optical sensors flickered, a sign of its sometimes glitchy processing. “My apologies. It seems I misinterpreted a previous instruction. Shall I delete the data?”

A laugh bubbled up from Zora’s chest, bright and carefree. “No, keep it. You never know when information about morning dew might come in handy. In fact,” she added, struck by a sudden idea, “why don’t you tell us all about it? I’m sure everyone here is fascinated by dew patterns.”

The mischievous glint in her eye was not lost on her companions. As Sprig launched into a surprisingly in-depth analysis of dew formation and distribution across the palace grounds, complete with holographic charts and graphs, the table erupted into barely suppressed giggles.

Dravek leaned in close, his breath tickling Zora’s ear as he whispered, “Is your assistant always this... thorough?”

Zora turned to him, suddenly very aware of how little space there was between them. “Oh yes,” she murmured back, a smile playing on her face. “Sprig is nothing if not dedicated. Though sometimes I think it has a secret mission to entertain us all with its unique interpretations of data.”

As Sprig continued its presentation, now delving into the potential applications of dew pattern analysis in climate control (much to the amused bewilderment of the others), Zora allowed herself a moment of pure contentment.

Here she was on an alien world more beautiful than she had ever imagined, surrounded by family and new friends, with the promise of scientific discovery awaiting her. And now, the prospect of spending the morning with the intriguing Prince Dravek added an extra layer of excitement to her day.

Yes, she thought, her heart light with joy and anticipation. Today was definitely going to be special.

After breakfast, as everyone began to disperse to their various duties and projects, Zora found herself lingering in the dining hall. She was gathering her notes and giving Sprig last-minute instructions when she felt a presence behind her.

“So,” Dravek’s voice was low and amused, “shall we embark on our grand dew-pattern expedition, Dr. Arison?”

Zora turned, a retort ready on her lips, only to find Dravek standing much closer than she’d expected. Her witty comeback died in her throat as she looked up (and up—Tharvisians were impressively tall) into his face. His expression was one of warmth and genuine interest with just a hint of that ever-present intensity that never failed to make her pulse race.

“I—” Zora started, then cleared her throat, willing her voice to sound normal. “I thought we were studying bioluminescent fungi, Your Highness. Unless you’ve developed a sudden passion for dew?”

Dravek’s laugh was rich and deep, sending a pleasant shiver down Zora. “I assure you, Dr. Arison, my interests are far more diverse than mere dew. Though I must admit, your assistant’s presentation was surprisingly captivating.”

“Oh no,” Zora groaned, though she couldn’t help but smile. “Please don’t encourage Sprig. Next thing you know, it’ll be giving three-hour lectures on the migratory patterns of Tharvisian dust mites.”

“Fascinating!” Sprig chirped, its sensors brightening. “Shall I begin compiling data on Tharvisian dust mites, Zora Arison? Their locomotion methods could have interesting implications for micro-robotics.”

Zora and Dravek exchanged a look of amused exasperation before bursting into laughter. “Maybe later, Sprig,” Zora managed between giggles. “For now, let’s focus on our fungi, shall we?”

As they made their way toward the palace gardens, Zora noticed how Dravek moved with a fluid grace that belied his imposing stature, and she couldn’t help but sneak glances at him from the corner of her eye.

“I must confess,” Dravek said as they entered the lush expanse of the gardens, “I’ve been looking forward to observing your work up close. Your insights have already led to several breakthroughs in Tharvisian botanical research.”

A blush crept up her neck at the praise. “That’s very kind of you to say, Your Highness. But really, I’m just scratching the surface. Tharvis is a botanical wonderland—I could spend lifetimes here and barely begin to understand it all.”

The way Dravek looked at her made her breath catch. “Perhaps you will,” he said softly, almost to himself.

Before Zora could ponder the meaning behind his words (and the flutter they caused in her chest), they arrived at the Whispering Grove. The sight never failed to take her breath away.

Towering trees with iridescent bark reached toward the sky, their leaves a shimmering canopy of teal and gold. Bioluminescent flowers bloomed in clusters, their petals pulsing with gentle light even in the morning sun. And there at the base of the largest tree was the patch of fungi Zora had been eager to study.

“Oh, wow,” she breathed, already reaching for her sample kit. “They’re even more beautiful than yesterday. Look at how the caps seem to ripple with color.”

She knelt by the fungi, her earlier self-consciousness forgotten in the face of scientific curiosity. Dravek crouched beside her, his presence a warm, solid comfort at her side.

“What makes these specimens so special?” he asked, his voice pitched low as if to avoid disturbing the delicate ecosystem around them.

Zora’s face lit up with enthusiasm. “Watch this,” she said, reaching for a small tuning fork in her kit. She struck it gently against a rock, then held it near the fungi.

The effect was immediate and mesmerizing. As the soft tone resonated through the air, the fungi began to glow brighter, their caps undulating in sync with the sound waves. Colors rippled across their surface—deep purples fading to brilliant blues, then bursting into vibrant greens and golds.

“It’s like they’re dancing,” Dravek murmured, awe evident in his voice.

“Exactly!” Zora exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. “They’re responding to the sonic vibrations, but in a way I’ve never seen. The implications are fascinating. If we can understand the mechanism behind this response, it could lead to advancements in everything from communication technologies to new medical treatments.”

As she spoke, her hands moved rapidly, taking samples and readings with practiced ease. Sprig hovered nearby, its sensors whirring as it recorded data and captured images.

With rapt attention, Dravek watched her work, occasionally asking insightful questions that revealed a deeper understanding of xenobotany than Zora had expected.

As the morning wore on, she relaxed in his company, their conversation flowing easily from scientific theories to childhood stories to playful debates about the best way to classify a particularly stubborn species of shape-shifting vine.

“No, no, you can’t just lump it in with the Morpheus family,” Zora argued, waving a scanner emphatically. “Just because it changes shape doesn’t mean?—”

Stepping back, her heel hit a raised root. She teetered backward, bracing for impact with the mossy forest floor. But instead of the soft thud she expected, she felt strong arms wrap around her, catching her mid-fall.