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

Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

Z ora grabbed Dravek’s hand and jumped up from the moss they had been seated on. “Come on,” she hollered, trying to pull him to his feet, “we’ve got to see what he’s talking about. Maybe it’s Xuevis.”

With Dravek reluctant to follow, she sprinted ahead without him. “Last one there is a rotten egg.” She hurried along the corridor and rounded a corner then slid to a stop. “Whoa.”

She stood before what seemed to be a portal, its dormant frame a tantalizing gateway to the unknown. The inscriptions etched into its surface seemed to pulse with a hidden energy, beckoning her closer. She ran her fingers along the intricate symbols, feeling a connection that transcended time.

“These symbols, they look familiar,” she murmured more to herself than to Dravek who stood beside her with a mix of curiosity and caution. “There’s a sequence to activate the portal.”

Dravek’s brow furrowed as he studied the portal. “Are you certain about this, Zora? We have no idea what’s on the other side.”

She turned to face him, her blue eyes alight with determination. “This may be the only way to get the answers we need. About why I’m here, about my family’s history... about everything.”

For a moment, Zora saw the conflict play out across Dravek’s usually stoic features. His military training urged caution, but she could see the spark of curiosity in his eyes that mirrored her own. Finally, he nodded.

“I trust your judgment,” he said, his deep voice softening. “But we proceed with caution.”

Zora’s lips curved into a small smile. “Of course.” She closed her eyes and recalled the “game” she and her mother used to play. The symbols her mother drew and she had to find the right order.

The lines and swirls in her mind fell into place that at one time she knew by heart. Her eyes opened and she studied each of the seven inscriptions.

“This one is first.” She placed her hand on the image and it brightened. “Then this one.” Carefully, she touched each pictograph in the order her mother had trained her to do twenty years ago.

Before laying a hand on the last symbol, Zora couldn’t help but marvel at how far they’d come – from her home on Earth, to being engaged to an alien prince, to learning about her own mysterious ancestry. Every step had led them here.

She glanced at Dravek, remembering their first awkward encounters, the tension that had slowly given way to understanding and... something more.

Zora took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. “Ready?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dravek nodded, a rare smile there. “Together.”

He laid his hand on the back of hers, and then, together, they pressed on the final inscription. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, with a sound like a thousand crystal glasses shattering at once, the portal burst to life.

The previously empty archway filled with a swirling vortex of light and color. Hues Zora had never seen danced and spiraled, creating patterns that seemed to hold the secrets of the universe. The energy intensified, making the hairs on her arms stand on end.

Without thinking, Zora reached out, grasping Dravek’s hand. His fingers interlaced with hers, strong and reassuring. The gesture lasted only a moment, but it spoke volumes—a promise of support, a shared adventure, a connection deeper than words.

“Well,” Zora said, her voice tight with anticipation, “shall we see what Xuevis has in store for us?”

Dravek squeezed her hand once before letting go. “After you, Dr. Arison.”

Taking a deep breath, Zora stepped forward. The moment her foot crossed the threshold, the world around her dissolved into a kaleidoscope of sensations. She felt weightless as if floating in a sea of stardust. Time seemed to stretch and compress simultaneously, and flashes of cosmic wonders swayed at the edges of her vision—distant nebulae, swirling galaxies, and patterns that defied description.

Through it all, she was acutely aware of Dravek’s presence beside her and Sprig’s stabilizing field surrounding them. The journey seemed to last both an eternity and a heartbeat before, suddenly, solid ground materialized beneath her feet.

Zora stumbled slightly as gravity reasserted itself, though it felt... different. Lighter, somehow. She blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the new environment. As her vision cleared, she gasped, overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of what lay before her.

They stood on a cliff edge overlooking a landscape that defied imagination. Floating islands drifted gracefully through the sky, connected by bridges of pure light that shimmered and shifted like auroras. Crystalline structures rose from the ground, their facets reflecting and refracting the ambient light in mesmerizing patterns.

The sky above was a canvas of perpetual twilight, painted with swirling colors that put Earth’s most vibrant sunsets to shame. Zora’s scientific mind raced, trying to catalog and explain the phenomena she was witnessing, but part of her was content to simply bask in the wonder of it all.

“It’s... incredible,” she breathed, turning to see Dravek’s reaction.

Dravek stood with his mouth slightly agape, his usual composure momentarily forgotten. “I’ve traveled to many worlds,” he said softly, “but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Zora took a tentative step forward, marveling at how the lighter gravity made her movements feel buoyant and graceful. The air around them carried a subtle glow, illuminating everything with a gentle radiance. She inhaled deeply, tasting a crispness that invigorated her senses.

As she surveyed their surroundings, a strange feeling washed over her. It was more than just awe at the alien landscape—it was a sense of... belonging. As if some part of her recognized this place, even though she’d never set foot on Xuevis before.

“Zora,” Dravek’s voice cut through her reverie, a note of urgency in his tone. “We have company.”

She turned to see a group of figures approaching cautiously, weapons at the ready. Leading them was a woman whose presence commanded attention. Tall and lithe with silvery-white hair that fell to her waist, she moved with a grace that seemed almost supernatural.

“State your purpose here,” the woman demanded, her melodious voice carrying both authority and a hint of curiosity.

Zora stepped forward, her heart pounding. This was the moment of truth. “My name is Zora Arison,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “This is Prince Dravek Tharvis of Tharvis and our companion, Sprig. I believe we’ve been led here for a reason, but we’re unclear of exactly what that is.”

The woman’s eyebrows rose slightly, her gaze intensifying as she studied Zora’s features. “Arison? Is your mother’s name Meline Tan’er?”

“Melanie,” Zora replied, then added, “is her Earth name.”

A ripple of murmurs passed through the group. The woman held up a hand, silencing them. “Show me the emblem,” she said, her tone brooking no argument.

Emblem? She had no idea what the woman was looking for. She glanced at Dravek and he shrugged.

The woman huffed as if she couldn’t believe Zora didn’t understand. “Lift your hair and turn around.”

Having no reason not to obey, Zora gathered her hair into a bun on top of her head and turned. The only thing on her nape was a birthmark that looked like an eight-pointed star. All her sisters had the same mark.

The woman’s eyes widened, and she took a step closer. “By the eternal auroras,” she breathed. “It’s true. You’re one of Meline’s daughters.”

“You know my mother?” Zora asked, her voice filled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

The woman’s expression softened. “I am Ylara Windrider, leader of the Xuevisian resistance. And yes, I know Meline. She was... is... my cousin. Which makes you, Zora Arison, one of the rightful heirs to the Xuevisian throne.”

Zora’s mind reeled. Heir to the throne? Her, a scientist from Earth? “One of the heirs?” she echoed, confusion evident in her voice.

Ylara nodded, her eyes scanning the area behind Zora as if expecting to see others. “Yes. You and your sisters are all potential heirs. Have only you returned?”

“My sisters?” Zora’s confusion deepened. “They’re... they’re on Tharvis. They’re married to Tharvisian princes.”

Understanding dawned in Ylara’s eyes. “Of course. The alliance. It’s all coming together now.”

Before Zora could ask for clarification, Dravek spoke up, his military instincts kicking in. “You mentioned resistance. What exactly are you resisting?”

Ylara’s face darkened. “The tyranny of Malgor Tan’er. He was once a respected member of the Xuevisian council, but his greed and lust for power corrupted him. Since he’s gained power, scores of citizens have vanished. Some political rivals, some who have spoken out against his regime.

“He uses physical and psychological torture to put fear into the populace. Man, woman, nor child are immune to his savagery. He’s even forced half the city into near starvation.”

She turned to Zora. “Your mother’s departure to Earth was more strategic than you might realize. It was a carefully orchestrated move – a contract marriage with Earth to ensure her safety and the continuation of the royal line.”

Zora’s head spun with this new information. “A contract marriage? But... why?”

Ylara’s expression was grave. “Meline knew that Malgor would stop at nothing to eliminate any threat to his rule. By allying with Earth and having children there, she ensured there would be heirs who could one day return to claim the Xuevisian throne. And by arranging marriages between her daughters and the Tharvisian princes...”

“She created a powerful alliance,” Dravek finished, understanding dawning in his eyes.

“Exactly,” Ylara confirmed. “An alliance that could challenge Malgor’s power and restore balance to Xuevis. That’s why your arrival is so significant, Zora. With you and your sisters married to Tharvisian royalty, Malgor’s worst fears are realized. A united Xuevis and Tharvis would be a formidable force – one that could finally end his tyrannical rule.”

Zora’s mind raced, trying to process all this new information. Her entire life, her very existence, was part of a grand political strategy. She thought of her sisters – Raelee, Mila, and Venus – wondering if they knew the full implications of their marriages.

“But I’m not married to a Tharvisian prince,” Zora pointed out.

A small smile played on Ylara’s lips. “Not yet, perhaps. But your presence here, alongside Prince Dravek, suggests that the final piece of the alliance may soon fall into place.” Her gaze flickered between Zora and Dravek, a knowing look in her eyes. “It’s obviously only a matter of time.”

Zora felt a blush creep up her cheeks, pointedly avoiding Dravek’s gaze. She cleared her throat, focusing on the bigger picture. “So what happens now? What am I – what are we – supposed to do?”

Ylara’s expression turned serious once more. “Now, we battle.”