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

Chapter 9

NINE

“ Z ora,” he called out, his deep voice echoing off the cavern walls. “You are a difficult person to find.”

Zora’s head snapped up, surprise flashing across her face before being replaced by a mixture of relief and... was that annoyance? A wry smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and Dravek felt his heart rate inexplicably quicken.

“Dravek,” she replied, her tone a perfect blend of respect and sarcasm. “Fancy meeting you here. Come to join my little spelunking expedition?”

Dravek approached, his keen eyes taking in every detail. The torn sleeve of her jacket. The scrapes and bruises marring her arms. The barely perceptible wince as she shifted her weight. Each mark, each sign of her ordeal, sent a fresh wave of... something... coursing through him. Protectiveness? Concern? He pushed the feelings aside, focusing instead on the facts, the tangible evidence before him.

“You’re injured,” he stated, unable to keep a hint of concern from creeping into his voice. The lapse in control irritated him. Since when did he allow his emotions to color his words so easily?

Zora waved off his observation with a dismissive gesture. “Just a few scratches. Nothing I can’t handle.” She patted the medkit at her side. “I’ve got everything under control.” Her eyes scanned the wide space. “That is if the cave doesn’t collapse on top of us.”

The casual dismissal of her own well-being ignited a spark of frustration within Dravek. Didn’t she understand the gravity of the situation? The dangers that lurked in these uncharted territories? The risks she’d taken, the worry she’d caused...

Worry. There was that word again. Dravek clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure. When had he started worrying about her? And why couldn’t he seem to stop?

“Venturing into forbidden areas alone is reckless,” he admonished, his tone sharpening. “Especially without informing anyone of your whereabouts. Do you have any idea?—”

“First of all,” Zora interrupted, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. “Nobody said anything about this place being off-limits. Secondly, I told my sister of my whereabouts . I didn’t realize I needed your permission to conduct my research, Your Highness.”

The title, usually spoken with reverence, dripped with sarcasm. His jaw clenched, the muscle twitching beneath his skin. How could someone so brilliant be so obstinate? And why did her defiance both infuriate and... intrigue him?

“This isn’t about permission,” he ground out, fighting to keep his voice level. “It’s about basic safety protocols. Protocols that exist for a reason.”

Zora opened her mouth to retort, but before she could speak, Sprig’s garbled voice cut through the tension.

“Caution: Atmospheric anomalies detected... Vorsicht: Atmosph?rische Anomalien...” The robot’s mixed-language warnings created a moment of confusion.

Dravek blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by the sudden interjection. He glanced at the malfunctioning device, one eyebrow raised in a silent question. The break in their argument allowed him a moment to collect himself, to push down the swirling emotions that threatened to overwhelm his carefully constructed composure.

Zora sighed, running a hand through her already disheveled hair. “He took a bit of a tumble during the landslide. He’s mixing up his language databases.” A rueful smile played across her lips. “Among other things.”

As if on cue, Sprig projected a holographic image into the air between them. A Tharvisian goat—a creature known for its stubborn nature and ability to climb near-vertical surfaces—appeared in miniature, executing an elaborate dance routine.

For a moment, Dravek stood frozen, torn between maintaining his stern demeanor and giving in to the absurdity of the situation. He watched as Zora pressed her lips together, clearly trying to suppress a laugh. And despite himself, despite every instinct that screamed at him to remain aloof and in control, Dravek felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward.

The moment of shared amusement, however brief, sent a jolt of... something... through him. It was warm, unfamiliar, and deeply unsettling. Dravek found himself relaxing ever so slightly, some of the rigid formality leaving his posture. What was this woman doing to him? How could she make him feel so... unbalanced with just a smile?

“Since everyone seems mobile,” he said, “I suggest we head back to the palace before another?—”

But before he could finish, a low hum filled the air, vibrating through the soles of Dravek’s boots. His eyes widened as he watched ancient symbols etched into the stone walls begin to glow with an inner light.

“Zora,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “Step back from the wall. Slowly.”

To his surprise and relief, she didn’t argue. As they both retreated into the center of the cavern, a shimmering field of energy materialized before their eyes. Within seconds, the way he had entered was completely sealed off by a pulsating barrier of light.

Dravek’s hand flew to the hilt of his energy blade, years of training kicking in as he assessed potential threats. The urge to protect Zora, to ensure her safety above all else, was almost overwhelming. It frightened him, this intensity of feeling. It went against everything he’d been taught about emotional control and detachment.

“What did you do?” he demanded, his voice harsher than he’d intended. Was he angry at her for potentially triggering the barrier, or at himself for these confusing, distracting emotions?

Zora held up her hands defensively. “I didn’t touch anything! I’ve been sitting here the whole time, trying to fix Sprig!”

Forcing himself to take a calming breath, Dravek approached the barrier. He extended his hand, careful not to make contact with the unknown energy field. Heat radiated from the surface, prickling his skin even through the protective layer of his suit.

With a practiced motion, he ignited his energy blade. The weapon hummed to life, casting a blue glow that mingled with the ambient light of the cavern. Dravek brought the blade down in a controlled arc, aiming for the edge of the barrier.

The resulting clash of energies sent a shower of sparks cascading to the cave floor. But when the light faded, the barrier remained intact, not even a scratch marring its surface.

“Well,” Zora said, her voice a mixture of fascination and concern, “I don’t think that’s going to work.”

Dravek deactivated his blade, frustration etching lines across his forehead. “Your talent for stating the obvious is truly remarkable,” he muttered.

To his surprise, instead of taking offense, Zora merely smiled. “One of my many charms. Now, let’s think about this logically. There must be a control mechanism somewhere in here. These symbols,” she gestured to the glowing glyphs that covered the walls, “they must mean something.”