19.

Aeryn returned to her room, her heart still racing from the encounter she’d just had with Alex. The memory of his gentle touch, the way he’d spoken to her, and the strange comfort she felt in his presence made her feel all flustered. It was a mix of emotions she wasn’t used to fear, curiosity, and something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

As she entered her room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her room, with its soft, glowing lights and warm tones, was a stark contrast to the cool, dark galaxy-like atmosphere of Alex’s chamber. She found herself missing the surreal beauty of his room, but she quickly pushed the thought away. She needed to focus, to clear her mind of the confusing feelings that were swirling around inside her.

Aeryn walked over to her bed and sat down, her legs feeling heavy with exhaustion. The events of the day had drained her, both physically and emotionally. She lay back on the bed, her head sinking into the soft pillows, and stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts racing.

The realization that she had let Alex see her vulnerable side made her feel exposed. She wasn’t used to showing that side of herself to anyone, especially not to someone as intimidating as Alex. And yet, she had felt safe with him, comforted by his presence. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced in a long time, and it both scared and intrigued her.

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She needed to calm down, to stop overthinking everything. Maybe a nap would help her relax, help her escape from the whirlwind of emotions that had taken over her mind.

Aeryn kicked off her shoes and curled up on the bed, pulling the blankets over herself. The soft, warm fabric felt comforting against her skin, and she closed her eyes, willing herself to relax. As she lay there, the tension in her body slowly began to melt away, and she felt herself drifting off into sleep.

Her thoughts gradually turned into a hazy, dreamlike state, and soon she was slipping into a fantasy world, a place where everything was peaceful and calm. In this dream, she was back on Earth, walking through a sunlit forest with her dog, Sheriff, by her side. The trees were tall and green, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The air was fresh and cool, filled with the scent of pine and wildflowers. It was a place of comfort, of familiarity, and it made her feel safe.

Sheriff barked happily as he ran ahead of her, his tail wagging excitedly. Aeryn smiled as she watched him, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. She didn’t have to worry about anything here- no aliens, no strange new worlds, no confusing feelings. It was just her and Sheriff, walking together in a place that felt like home.

But even in her dream, there was a part of her that knew it wasn’t real. A part of her that knew she would have to wake up eventually, that she couldn’t stay in this fantasy forever. And as much as she wanted to hold on to this feeling of peace, she knew she had to face reality.

Slowly, the dream began to fade, and Aeryn felt herself slipping back into consciousness. The peaceful forest and Sheriff’s happy barks were replaced by the soft hum of the lights in her room and the distant sounds of the palace. She opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling, feeling a pang of sadness as the dream slipped away completely.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes and trying to shake off the lingering feeling of longing. She missed Earth, missed the familiar sights and sounds, but she knew there was no going back. She was here now, on this strange alien planet, and she had to find a way to survive.

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, Alex was back to his regular routine. He had spent the morning dealing with various matters of the kingdom, meeting with his advisors and discussing the ongoing affairs of the planet. His mind, however, kept drifting back to Aeryn, to the way she had looked at him, the way she had made him feel.

But he couldn’t afford to let his thoughts wander. There were more pressing matters at hand, things that needed his immediate attention. He had responsibilities, duties that came with being the ruler of his people. And right now, those duties were more important than anything else.

As he was going over the latest reports with his advisors, one of them suddenly approached him with a grave expression on his face. The advisor handed Alex a data tablet, his voice low and serious.

“My lord,” the advisor said, “we’ve intercepted communications from Earth. It appears that the humans are planning to send a spacecraft to our planet.”

Alex’s expression darkened as he read through the information on the tablet. The humans were trying to send a spacecraft to his planet? This was unexpected, and it was something he couldn’t ignore. The thought of Earth’s inhabitants attempting to breach his world made his blood boil. How dare they? He had taken one of their own, but he had done so with purpose, with reason. And now they were trying to invade his space, to threaten his people?

“Who authorized this mission?” Alex demanded, his voice cold and furious.

“We believe it was the Earth’s government,” the advisor replied, his tone careful. “It seems they’ve been monitoring the area where Aeryn was taken, and they’ve detected unusual activity. They’re sending a spacecraft to investigate.”

Alex’s jaw clenched in anger. The humans were more persistent than he had anticipated. He had assumed that Aeryn’s disappearance would go unnoticed, that her people wouldn’t care enough to investigate. But it seemed he had underestimated them.

“We cannot allow this spacecraft to reach our planet,” Alex said, his voice laced with anger. “It would pose a serious threat to our security. Prepare the defenses and make sure the spacecraft is intercepted before it gets too close.”

The advisor nodded, quickly relaying the orders to the other members of the council. Alex watched them go, his mind racing with thoughts of what this could mean for his kingdom. If the humans succeeded in sending a spacecraft to his planet, it could lead to war, to conflict that would threaten everything he had worked so hard to build.

But even as he thought about the potential danger, his mind kept drifting back to Aeryn. How would she react to this news? Would she see it as a sign that her people hadn’t forgotten about her, that they were trying to rescue her? Or would she view it as a threat, a danger to her new life here?

Alex shook his head, trying to push those thoughts away. He couldn’t afford to think about Aeryn right now. He had to focus on protecting his kingdom, on making sure that the humans didn’t pose a threat to his people. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t completely banish the thought of her from his mind.

He stood up from his seat and walked over to the large window that overlooked the palace grounds. The sky was a deep shade of blue, dotted with stars that shone like diamonds. It was a beautiful sight, one that usually brought him a sense of peace. But today, all he felt was anger and frustration.

The humans had crossed a line, and he couldn’t let them get away with it. He would do whatever it took to protect his people, to make sure that his planet remained safe. But even as he made that vow, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning, that there was more to come.

And through it all, Aeryn remained at the forefront of his mind. She was the one piece of Earth that had managed to slip through his defenses, the one human who had managed to get under his skin. And as much as he tried to deny it, he knew that she was more important to him than he cared to admit.

But for now, he had to put those thoughts aside. He had a kingdom to protect, a planet to defend. And he would do whatever it took to ensure that the humans didn’t succeed in their mission.

With a determined expression on his face, Alex turned away from the window and strode out of the room, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.