11.

Alex had never been one to dwell on uncertainty, but the day had left him feeling more restless than usual. After leaving Aeryn in the care of the medical team, he had returned to his chamber, where his uncle’s probing questions and veiled warnings had lingered in his mind. But now, as night fell over his kingdom, Alex called it a night, needing rest before the challenges of the next day.

The next morning, Alex was still shaking off the remnants of a fitful sleep when a group of attendants entered his chamber. They were the women of the royal household, tasked with the care and preparation of important guests. Their presence was not unexpected, but what they requested took him slightly by surprise.

“Your Majesty,” the eldest of the group began, bowing low. “We seek permission to give the human girl a royal bath. She is to be treated with the respect and dignity of one who will soon be queen.”

Alex knew this was customary, a tradition as old as his kingdom itself. Yet, he also knew Aeryn was no ordinary guest. She was a human—fragile, frightened, and utterly out of her element. He could easily imagine her reaction to a group of strange, otherworldly women attempting to bathe her against her will.

He hesitated for a moment, weighing the importance of tradition against Aeryn’s likely terror. But in the end, he nodded. “Proceed with the preparations. She is to be treated as a future queen should be.”

The women bowed again, their faces showing no sign of surprise at his command. They had served the palace long enough to know the importance of their duty, even if it meant dealing with a reluctant subject. Alex watched them leave, their footsteps echoing down the hall, before turning his attention back to the matters of his kingdom.

Throughout the morning, Alex was kept busy with the responsibilities that came with ruling an empire. Reports from his generals, updates on the search for potential threats, and the ever-present need to maintain order within his vast territories occupied his mind. But no matter how much he tried to focus, his thoughts kept drifting back to Aeryn.

By the time afternoon arrived, he could no longer ignore the nagging sense of curiosity—and concern—that had been growing within him. He needed to see how she was doing, to gauge how she was coping with the unfamiliarity of her new surroundings.

Leaving the matters of state in the capable hands of his advisors, Alex made his way to the part of the palace where Aeryn was being kept. The corridors grew quieter as he neared her location, the bustle of the palace fading into a distant hum.

When he reached her cell, he paused outside the door, gathering his thoughts. He had never seen a human up close before, and his first impressions of Aeryn had been… surprising. She was delicate, yes, but there was a resilience in her eyes, a fire that hinted at a strength beneath her fragile exterior. And now, she was in his world, under his protection or perhaps, under his control.

Taking a deep breath, Alex opened the door and stepped inside.

The room was quiet, save for the faint rustle of fabric as Aeryn shifted slightly on the bed. The moment he entered, her eyes shot up, locking onto his with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. She was dressed in the traditional garments of his people, a flowing gown that shimmered with the colors of their sky—a deep indigo, flecked with stars. The material clung to her form in a way that was both modest and revealing, accentuating her slight figure while maintaining an air of regality.

For a moment, Alex was taken aback. He had expected her to be scared, but there was something about the way she looked at him now something that made his heart skip a beat. She was breathtaking, in a way that was entirely different from the women of his world. Her beauty was soft, subtle, and utterly human.

Aeryn, on the other hand, was struggling to maintain her composure. The events of the past day had left her exhausted, both physically and emotionally. The royal bath had been a bewildering experience—hands she didn’t recognize, voices speaking in a language she didn’t understand, all while she was too weak to protest. And now, here she was, dressed in strange clothing, in a place that felt more like a dream—or a nightmare—than reality.

When Alex entered the room, she felt a chill run down her spine. His presence was overwhelming, a combination of authority and power that made her feel small and vulnerable. And yet, there was something in his eyes that caught her off guard—a flicker of something she couldn’t quite identify.

She shivered involuntarily as their eyes met, and Alex noticed the way she tensed, as if bracing herself for whatever might come next. He took a step forward, his movements slow and deliberate, not wanting to startle her.

“You needn’t be afraid,” he said, his voice low and measured. “I won’t harm you.”

Aeryn didn’t respond, her eyes wide as she watched him approach. She was still trying to make sense of everything of where she was, of who this man was, and of what he wanted from her.

When he was close enough, Alex stopped, allowing a respectful distance between them. He could see the fear in her eyes, the way her body trembled slightly despite her efforts to remain composed.

“This must be overwhelming for you,” he continued, his tone softening slightly. “I understand that you’re frightened, but you have no reason to be. You are safe here.”

Safe. The word echoed in Aeryn’s mind, but it did little to ease the knot of anxiety in her chest. How could she feel safe in a place that was so alien, so far from everything she knew? And yet, as she looked at him—at the man who had brought her here—she couldn’t help but notice the way he seemed to regard her, not with the cold indifference she had feared, but with something else entirely.

“You… you’re not human,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

Alex’s expression didn’t change, though there was a glimmer of something in his eyes—amusement, perhaps? Or was it something deeper, something more complicated?

“No,” he replied simply. “I am not.”

Aeryn swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to process this information. She had suspected as much, of course—his appearance, his presence, the strange technology she had seen since waking up—but hearing it confirmed was something else entirely.

“What… what do you want from me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Alex paused, considering his words carefully. He could sense her fear, her uncertainty, and he knew that whatever he said now would shape her perception of him—and of her situation—going forward.

“You are important to my people,” he said at last. “There is a prophecy, one that speaks of a union between our kind and yours. Without it, my kingdom is in danger. You have been chosen to fulfill that role.”

Aeryn’s heart pounded in her chest as she absorbed his words. A prophecy? A union? What did that even mean? And why her? Why had she been chosen for this?

“But I don’t understand,” she stammered, her voice shaking. “I don’t belong here. I’m just… I’m just a normal person. I’m not special.”

To her surprise, Alex’s expression softened, and for the first time, she saw something in his eyes that wasn’t cold or calculating. It was something almost… human.

“You are special,” he said quietly. “You are more special than you realize.”

His words hung in the air, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Aeryn felt a strange mix of emotions—fear, confusion, and something else she couldn’t quite put into words.

But then, as quickly as it had appeared, the moment passed. Alex straightened, his demeanor shifting back to that of the king, the ruler who held the fate of a kingdom in his hands.

“You will remain here for now,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “There is much you need to learn, and I will ensure that you are given the time and guidance to do so.”

With that, he turned to leave, his long cloak trailing behind him as he walked toward the door. Aeryn watched him go, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She still didn’t fully understand what was happening, but one thing was clear—her life had changed in ways she could never have imagined.

As the door closed behind him, Aeryn sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she tried to steady her breathing. She was alone again, in a place that was as strange and terrifying as it was beautiful.

And as she stared at the door, the reality of her situation began to sink in. She was far from home, in a world she didn’t understand, surrounded by beings who were not like her. And yet, somehow, she was supposed to play a role in saving them.

The weight of it all was almost too much to bear, and for a moment, she felt the sting of tears in her eyes. But she blinked them back, forcing herself to stay calm, to stay strong.

Because whatever happened next, she knew she would need every ounce of strength she had to face it.