17

Alex observed Aeryn closely as she stood in front of him, her wide eyes darting nervously around the unfamiliar surroundings. The uncertainty and fear in her gaze softened slightly when she took in the sight of his room—a place he had always found comfort in, a sanctuary within the vastness of his world. But now, as he watched her, he found himself hoping that she might find some semblance of peace here as well.

When he suggested they go to his room, she hesitated at first, her fear of him and the unknown still strong, but there was something in his voice, a quiet reassurance that coaxed her to follow him. The moment they entered his room, Aeryn gasped, her breath catching in her throat. The room was unlike anything she had ever seen—a deep, endless expanse of black and gray that stretched out like the vastness of space. The walls shimmered with a subtle, star-like twinkle, creating the illusion of a galaxy within the confines of the room.

Her eyes widened in awe, and she stepped forward without thinking, drawn to the beauty of it. The darkness of the room should have been intimidating, but instead, it was mesmerizing. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of the universe, gazing out into the infinite possibilities that lay beyond. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced, and for a brief moment, all her fears and worries melted away.

A small smile crept onto her lips, and Alex felt a strange sense of satisfaction wash over him. It was the first time he had seen her smile since she arrived, and something about it made his chest tighten. The smile was small, tentative, but it was there, and it made her entire face light up. He realized then that her smile was even more captivating than he had imagined.

For a few moments, Aeryn forgot where she was, lost in the beauty of the room. She turned around slowly, taking in every detail, her fingers lightly trailing over the smooth, cool surface of the walls. The feeling of being in a galaxy, surrounded by stars, was surreal, and she couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder. It was as if she had been transported to another world—one that was both terrifying and beautiful.

But just as she was beginning to relax, a loud growl echoed through the room, and Aeryn froze, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Her stomach had decided to make its presence known in the most inconvenient way possible, and she felt her face heat up as she clutched her midsection. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until that moment, and now she was mortified.

Alex, who had been silently watching her, couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound. The soft, musical laugh caught Aeryn off guard, and she looked up at him in surprise. It was the first time she had heard him laugh, and the sound was warm and oddly comforting. For a moment, the fear and tension that had been gnawing at her faded away, replaced by a strange sense of ease.

“Don’t worry,” Alex said, his voice laced with amusement. “It seems my galaxy hasn’t scared your appetite away.”

Aeryn’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, and she quickly looked away, her embarrassment growing by the second. She didn’t know how to respond, so she just stood there, fidgeting with the hem of her dress and avoiding his gaze.

Seeing her discomfort, Alex’s expression softened. He didn’t want her to feel embarrassed or scared around him. He wanted her to feel safe, to know that he wasn’t her enemy.

With a quick command, he ordered the guards stationed outside to bring food for Aeryn. As they waited, Alex’s gaze remained fixed on her, his eyes filled with curiosity and something else—something more tender. He noticed the way she fidgeted with her fingers, the way her eyes flicked nervously around the room as if she were still trying to make sense of everything.

He decided to break the silence, hoping to put her at ease. “So,” he began, his tone light, “what do you humans prefer to eat?”

Aeryn looked up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the question. For a split second, she hesitated, unsure if he was being serious or if this was some sort of test. But when she saw the genuine curiosity in his eyes, she relaxed slightly and allowed herself to smile just a little.

“We eat food,” she said simply, her voice carrying a hint of humor as she answered in the most obvious way possible.

Alex blinked at her response, and then, much to Aeryn’s surprise, he laughed. The sound was rich and deep, filling the room with warmth. She wasn’t sure if she had ever seen him laugh before, but it was a pleasant change from the usual seriousness he exuded.

“I suppose that makes sense,” he said, his lips still curled into an amused smile. “But what kind of food?”

Aeryn tilted her head, considering his question. “Well…on Earth, we have all sorts of food—fruits, vegetables, meat, bread, sweets. There’s a lot of variety. It depends on what you like.”

Alex nodded thoughtfully, absorbing her words. “I see. We have similar things here, though perhaps not as varied. Our diets are…simpler.”

Aeryn nodded, trying to imagine what kind of food they might have in this strange world. She was about to ask more questions when another thought crossed her mind—a thought that sent a shiver down her spine.

“Do you…do you eat humans?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. The question had been gnawing at her ever since she arrived, and she couldn’t hold it back any longer. She needed to know if she was in danger.

Alex raised an eyebrow at her question, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. “Yes,” he said, his tone teasing. “But only you.”

Aeryn’s eyes widened in horror, her heart skipping a beat as she took a step back. She was about to panic when she noticed the glint of amusement in his eyes and realized he was joking. The tension that had built up inside her suddenly released, and she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

“You’re joking,” she said, a hint of relief and exasperation in her voice.

Alex’s smirk widened into a full smile, and he nodded. “Of course. We don’t eat humans here. I just wanted to see your reaction.”

Aeryn gave him a look that was somewhere between annoyance and disbelief, but she couldn’t stay mad for long. His playful demeanor was disarming, and she found herself smiling again, despite her earlier fears.

“You scared me,” she muttered, crossing her arms and trying to look stern, but failing miserably.

Alex chuckled again, pleased that he had been able to ease some of her fears, even if just a little. He was beginning to understand that she was different from what he had expected—a mixture of strength and vulnerability, curiosity and fear. And there was something about her that drew him in, something that made him want to protect her, to see her smile more often.

The sound of footsteps interrupted their moment, and Aeryn turned to see a guard entering the room, carrying a tray of food. The tray was filled with an assortment of dishes, some of which looked vaguely familiar, while others were completely foreign to her. But her hunger quickly overpowered her curiosity, and she reached for the nearest plate without hesitation.

Alex watched as she began to eat, her movements quick but graceful. He found himself fascinated by her every gesture, the way her eyes lit up as she tasted something new, the way she seemed to relax more with each bite. It was a simple, mundane moment, but to him, it felt significant—almost intimate.

“Is it good?” he asked, genuinely curious about her opinion.

Aeryn nodded, her mouth full as she tried to swallow quickly so she could answer. “It’s…different, but good,” she said, her voice muffled by the food. “Thank you.”

Alex nodded in acknowledgment, pleased that she was satisfied. He had never really cared about what others thought before, but with her, it was different. He wanted her to be comfortable, to feel at ease in this strange world that she had been thrust into.

As she continued to eat, Alex found himself studying her again, his mind wandering to thoughts he hadn’t allowed himself to entertain before. Was it possible that they were meant to be together? The idea seemed absurd, but there was something about her that made him question everything he thought he knew.

She was so small, so fragile compared to him, and yet there was a strength in her that he admired. She was resilient, even in the face of fear, and he couldn’t help but feel a deep respect for her. But there was more to it than that—something deeper, something he couldn’t quite put into words.

The desire to protect her, to keep her safe, was growing stronger with each passing moment. And as he watched her, he realized that he didn’t just want to protect her—he wanted her to be his, to claim her in a way that went beyond the ceremonial marriage that had been planned. He wanted to truly understand her, to know what made her smile, what made her laugh, what made her eyes light up with wonder.

But as much as he wanted to pursue these thoughts, he knew he had to be careful. She was still scared, still unsure of her place in this world. He couldn’t rush her, couldn’t push her too far too fast. He needed to earn her trust, to show her that he wasn’t just a ruler, but someone who could care for her