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

Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

“ N ice work,” Dravek said, genuine admiration in his voice as they dragged the unconscious guards into a nearby alcove.

Zora grinned, the rush of adrenaline making her feel invincible. “I told you I could handle myself.”

They slipped into the communication hub, locking the door behind them. The room was a maze of blinking consoles and holographic displays. Zora’s fingers flew over the controls, her training kicking in as she navigated the complex systems.

“How long?” Dravek asked, keeping watch at the door.

“Just a few more minutes,” Zora muttered, her brow furrowed in concentration. “We need to time this perfectly with Malgor’s speech.”

As if on cue, Malgor’s voice boomed through the air as if through invisible speakers, and his image appeared on every screen in the hub and probably the entire planet. His words were honeyed poison, speaking of unity and progress while concealing his true, tyrannical intentions.

Zora’s hands trembled slightly as she made the final adjustments. Everything they had worked for came down to this moment. She thought of her mother, of the rebels who had put their faith in her, and of the future of Xuevis hanging in the balance.

“It’s ready,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her.

Dravek moved to her side, his presence reassuring. “Together?” he asked, his hand hovering over the final switch.

Zora nodded, placing her hand over his. “Together.”

They pressed the button, and the truth was unleashed.

Malgor’s speech cut off abruptly, replaced by a cascade of damning evidence. Financial records displayed on the screens showing his dealings with the Drakanor mercenaries, secret communications outlining his plans to eliminate Zora and her sisters, and footage of him orchestrating so-called “natural disasters” to maintain his grip on power.

Through the in-house monitors, Zora and Dravek watched as chaos erupted in the Grand Chamber. Malgor’s face contorted with rage and disbelief as his carefully constructed lies crumbled around him.

“We did it,” Zora breathed, scarcely able to believe it.

Dravek’s hand found hers, squeezing gently. “You did it,” he corrected, his voice filled with pride.

Their moment of triumph was short-lived. Alarms blared throughout the building, and the sound of running footsteps echoed from the corridor outside.

“Time to go,” Dravek said, pulling Zora toward the door.

But as they reached it, the door burst open, revealing a squad of Drakanor mercenaries, their weapons trained on Zora and Dravek.

“Well, well,” a deep voice rumbled. “What have we here?”

The military leader stepped forward, his amber eyes gleaming with predatory excitement. “The princess and her prince caught in the act. Lord Malgor will be most pleased.”

Zora’s mind raced, assessing their options. The room was too small for a prolonged fight, and they were outnumbered. She glanced at Dravek, seeing the same calculations running through his mind.

“Now, now,” Zora said, forcing a playful tone into her voice. “Surely we can talk about this like civilized beings?”

As she spoke, her hand inched toward a pouch at her waist where she kept her most potent botanical creations.

The militant’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “I’m afraid the time for talk is over, Your Highness.”

In that instant, several things happened at once.

Zora threw a handful of seeds at the mercenaries’ feet, where they burst into a thick, choking mist. Dravek lunged forward, his fist connecting with the man’s jaw in a bone-crunching impact.

“Run!” Dravek shouted, grabbing Zora’s hand and pulling her through the confused tangle of coughing mercenaries.

They sprinted down the corridor, the sounds of pursuit close behind. Zora’s heart pounded in her ears as they ran, dodging palace guards and panicked party-goers.

“This way,” Dravek said, pulling her down a side passage. “There’s a secret exit?—”

His words were cut off by a searing bolt of energy that struck the wall inches from Zora’s head. She yelped, ducking instinctively as fragments of stone rained down on them.

They rounded a corner, finding themselves in a vast ballroom. Ornate pillars lined the walls, and a massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. On the far side, a set of floor-to-ceiling windows offered a tantalizing glimpse of freedom.

But before they could cross the room, more mercenaries poured in from other entrances, cutting off their escape. The same military officer strode in, a nasty bruise forming on his jaw, murder in his eyes.

“Nowhere left to run,” he snarled.

Zora and Dravek stood back-to-back, surrounded on all sides. Zora could feel Dravek’s muscles tensing, ready for a fight.

“Any more tricks up your sleeve?” Dravek murmured.

Zora’s mind whirled, assessing their surroundings. Her gaze landed on the chandelier, and a desperate plan formed.

“Just one,” she whispered back. “When I say ‘now,’ drop to the floor.”

The leader advanced, a wicked-looking energy weapon aimed at Zora’s heart. “Lord Malgor might want you alive, Princess, but he didn’t say anything about unharmed.”

Zora’s hand closed around a seed pod—a work-in-progress she hadn’t yet perfected. It was risky, but they were out of options.

“You know,” she said, her voice steady despite her racing heart, “there’s something you should understand about nature.”

The man’s brow raised, curiosity momentarily overriding his bloodlust. “And what’s that?”

Zora’s lips curved into a defiant smile. “It always finds a way.”

With that, she hurled the pod at the chandelier. “Now!” she shouted to Dravek, dropping to the floor.

The pod exploded in a burst of vivid green light. Instantly, vines erupted from it, growing at an impossible speed. They wrapped around the chandelier, creaking and groaning under the sudden weight.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, with a deafening crash, the chandelier plummeted to the ground.

Chaos erupted. Mercenaries dove for cover as crystal shards and twisted metal rained down. Zora felt Dravek’s arm wrap protectively around her, shielding her from the worst of the debris.

As the dust settled, Zora and Dravek scrambled to their feet. The fallen chandelier had created a barrier between them and most of the mercenaries. But the military head, quicker than the others, was already climbing over the wreckage, his face contorted with rage.

“Go!” Dravek shouted, pushing Zora toward the windows. “I’ll hold him off!”

Zora hesitated, torn between escape and not wanting to leave Dravek. But the decision was taken from her as the general lunged, tackling Dravek to the ground.

The two men grappled, trading fierce blows. Dravek’s warrior training was evident in every calculated move, but the other fought with the raw ferocity of a cornered animal.

Zora’s heart raced as she watched the brutal fight unfold. She couldn’t leave Dravek, not like this. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything she could use to help.

A glint of metal caught her attention—a decorative sword mounted on the wall. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward it, her fingers closing around the hilt just as a mercenary vaulted over the fallen chandelier.

The man charged her, energy weapon raised. Zora’s martial arts training kicked in. She ducked under his wild swing, bringing the sword up in a swift arc. The blade connected with the mercenary’s weapon, slicing through its power core. The gun sputtered and died, and Zora followed through with a kick that sent the man sprawling.

“Dravek!” she shouted, tossing the sword toward him.

Dravek’s hand shot out, catching the blade midair. In one fluid motion, he brought it down, slashing across the enemy’s chest. The Drakanor commander howled in pain and fury, stumbling backward.

Seizing the moment, Dravek scrambled to Zora’s side. “Nice throw,” he panted, a hint of a smile playing on his lips despite the dire situation.

“I had a good teacher,” Zora replied, her eyes locked on the approaching mercenaries.

They stood back-to-back once more, Dravek with the sword and Zora with only her wits. The odds were still heavily against them, but Zora felt a surge of confidence. Together, they stood a chance.

“Any ideas for our grand escape?” Dravek asked, his voice low and tense.

Zora’s mind raced. The windows were their best bet, but they were several stories up. A fall from that height would be lethal. Unless...

“Cover me,” she said, already moving toward the windows.

Dravek nodded, positioning himself between Zora and the advancing mercenaries. He moved like a whirlwind, the sword flashing as he parried energy blasts and engaged anyone who got too close.

Zora reached the windows, her hands shaking slightly as she pulled out her last few seed pods. These were her most experimental creations yet, designed for extremely rapid growth and elasticity. She had never tested them in a situation like this, but they were out of options.

“Whatever you’re planning, do it fast!” Dravek called out, his voice strained as he fended off multiple attackers at once.

Zora took a deep breath, focusing her energy. She crushed the pods in her hand, feeling the seeds within pulsing with potential. With a silent prayer to whatever forces might be listening, she pressed her palm against the window and released the seeds.

For a heart-stopping moment, nothing happened. Then with a sound like cracking ice, vines erupted from her hand. They spread across the glass in a spiderweb pattern, growing thicker and more numerous by the second. The window groaned under the pressure, and then, with a thunderous crash, it shattered.

Cool night air rushed in, whipping Zora’s hair around her face. The vines continued to grow, stretching out into the darkness like grasping fingers.

“Dravek!” Zora shouted over the chaos. “We need to jump!”

Dravek’s eyes widened as he realized her plan. He fought his way to her, leaving a trail of groaning mercenaries in his wake.

“You’re insane,” he said, but there was admiration in his voice.

“Probably,” Zora agreed, grabbing his hand. “Ready?”

Before he could answer, a roar of fury cut through the din. The commander was on his feet, blood streaming from the gash across his chest. In his hand was a compact but deadly-looking energy cannon.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he snarled, the weapon powering up with an ominous whine.

Time seemed to slow. Zora saw his finger tightening on the trigger. She saw Dravek’s eyes widen in horror. And she knew with bone-deep certainty there was only one thing she could do.

With all her strength, Zora shoved Dravek toward the window. He stumbled, caught off guard, and fell backward into the tangle of vines. In the same instant, Zora dove to the side.

The energy blast missed Dravek by inches, the heat of it singeing Zora’s skin as it passed. But her relief was short-lived. A searing pain exploded in her side as a second shot caught her mid-dive.

Zora cried out, her vision blurring as agony radiated through her body. She was dimly aware of strong arms wrapping around her and of the sensation of falling.

“Zora!” Dravek’s voice seemed to come from very far away. “Zora, stay with me!”

The vines caught them, bending under their weight but holding firm. They slid down the makeshift rope, the ground rushing up to meet them at dizzying speed.

They hit the ground hard, Dravek taking the brunt of the impact with Zora cradled protectively in his arms. The shock of the landing sent a fresh wave of pain through Zora’s injured side, and she bit back a scream.

“Zora?” Dravek’s face swam into focus above her, his features etched with worry. “Zora, can you hear me?”

She tried to speak, but all that came out was a weak groan. The world was starting to fade around the edges, shock and blood loss taking their toll.

“Stay with me,” Dravek pleaded, his voice cracking with emotion. He pressed his hand against her wound, trying to stem the bleeding. “You can’t leave me, not now. I... I need you.”

A warmth spread through her chest. She wanted to tell him that she needed him too and that she wasn’t going anywhere. But the darkness was closing in, inexorable and all-consuming.

The last thing she saw before consciousness slipped away was Dravek’s face, his usually stoic expression shattered by fear and something that looked a lot like love.

Then, everything went black.