20.

Alex stood in the control room, his eyes fixed on the holographic display of his planet's defenses. His anger was palpable, the intensity in his gaze sending a wave of unease through the room. His advisors exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to approach him in his current state. The news that Earth was planning to send a spacecraft to his planet had struck a nerve, igniting a fury within him that he rarely displayed so openly.

"Strengthen the planetary defenses," Alex ordered, his voice cold and unyielding. "Deploy all available ships to patrol the outer atmosphere. Any unauthorized spacecraft that enters our territory is to be intercepted and destroyed immediately."

The advisors nodded, quickly relaying his commands to the necessary channels. Alex's orders were absolute; no one dared question him when he was in this mood. The thought of Earth trying to breach his planet's defenses infuriated him. He had taken Aeryn for a reason, and the idea that her people were attempting to retrieve her only added fuel to his already raging fire.

"Ensure that our forces are on high alert," Alex continued, his tone sharp. "We cannot allow any spacecraft to approach our planet undetected. I want updates on the situation every hour."

Once his orders were given, Alex turned on his heel and strode out of the control room. His steps were quick and purposeful, each one echoing with the anger that simmered beneath the surface. He needed to get away, to find a moment of solitude where he could think clearly. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—about the humans, about Aeryn, and about the potential threat that loomed on the horizon.

As he walked through the palace corridors, his thoughts kept drifting back to Aeryn. She was the catalyst for all of this, the reason the humans were sending a spacecraft to his planet. And yet, he couldn't bring himself to be truly angry with her. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that drew him in despite his better judgment. But now was not the time to dwell on those feelings. He had a kingdom to protect.

By the time he reached his chamber, Alex's anger had not diminished. If anything, it had only grown stronger. He pushed open the door and stepped inside, the familiar surroundings of his room doing little to calm his nerves. The walls of his chamber were a deep shade of black, dotted with stars that glowed faintly in the dim light, creating the illusion of a galaxy surrounding him. Normally, it was a sight that brought him a sense of peace, but today, it only reminded him of the impending threat.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh as he tried to push his thoughts away. But they kept coming back, nagging at him, refusing to be ignored. He needed to clear his head, to focus on what needed to be done. But as much as he tried, he couldn't stop thinking about Aeryn.

Meanwhile, in another part of the palace, Aeryn was waking up from her dream. The peaceful fantasy world she had been in was gone, replaced by the cold reality of her situation. She sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes as she tried to shake off the remnants of sleep. But as soon as she opened her eyes fully, she frowned at the sight that greeted her.

The room was filled with maids, all of them busily cleaning and preparing the space. Aeryn's eyes widened in surprise as she watched them move about the room with practiced efficiency. She hadn't expected to wake up to this, and the sudden presence of so many people in her room made her feel uncomfortable.

"Good morning, miss," one of the maids said, offering Aeryn a polite smile as she approached with a neatly folded dress in her hands. "We've brought a dress for you to wear. Lord Alex has requested your presence."

Aeryn blinked, still trying to process everything that was happening. She hadn't been awake for more than a few minutes, and already she was being summoned to meet Alex. The thought made her stomach twist with anxiety. She wasn't sure she was ready to face him again, not after the way he'd spoken to her before.

But there was no use in resisting. She knew she had no choice but to comply. With a small nod, Aeryn accepted the dress from the maid and slipped out of bed. The dress was elegant, made of a soft, shimmering fabric that felt smooth against her skin. As she put it on, she couldn't help but marvel at how different it was from the clothes she was used to wearing on Earth. Everything here felt strange, alien, and she wasn't sure she would ever get used to it.

Once she was dressed, the maids quickly helped her with her hair, brushing it out and arranging it neatly. Aeryn stood there quietly, trying to calm her nerves as they worked. She didn't want to meet Alex looking disheveled, but the thought of facing him again filled her with unease.

Finally, when the maids were finished, they stepped back and gestured for her to follow them. Aeryn hesitated for a moment, but then took a deep breath and nodded. She had to be strong, to face whatever was coming her way with as much courage as she could muster.

As she followed the maids through the palace corridors, Aeryn couldn't help but be captivated by her surroundings. The architecture of the palace was unlike anything she had ever seen on Earth. The walls were made of a smooth, glowing material that seemed to pulse with energy, and the ceilings were adorned with intricate patterns that sparkled in the light. But what caught her attention the most was the star- the same green and blue star that had appeared in her room before. It seemed to follow her as she walked, hovering above her like a guardian.

Aeryn found herself mesmerized by the star, her eyes glued to its glowing form as it floated gracefully through the air. It was beautiful, unlike anything she had ever seen before, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as she watched it. For a moment, the anxiety she had been feeling faded away, replaced by a sense of wonder.

But her reverie was interrupted when she reached the door to Alex's chamber. She could hear his gruff voice from inside, and her heart skipped a beat as she realized that she was about to face him again.

"Come in, Aeryn," Alex's voice called from inside the room.

Aeryn hesitated for a brief moment, her hand hovering over the door handle as she fidgeted with her fingers. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face him, especially after everything that had happened. But she knew she couldn't avoid him forever. With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The room was as dark and mysterious as she remembered, the walls still adorned with the glowing stars that created the illusion of a galaxy. But her eyes were immediately drawn to Alex, who stood in the center of the room, his piercing gaze fixed on her. The intensity in his eyes made her feel small, vulnerable, and she couldn't help but fidget nervously as she approached him.

Alex watched her closely, his expression unreadable as he took in the sight of her. He had been angry before, but now that she was standing in front of him, that anger seemed to dissipate, replaced by a mix of emotions he couldn't quite identify. There was something about her that intrigued him, something that made him want to know more about her, despite the fact that she was human.

Aeryn stopped a few feet away from him, her hands clasped together as she tried to steady herself. She didn't know what to expect, didn't know what he wanted from her. All she knew was that she was in his world now, and she had to find a way to survive.

"Why have you summoned me?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain.

Alex studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered her question. He could see the fear in her eyes, the uncertainty in her posture, and it stirred something within him. He wanted to know more about her, to understand what made her tick, but he also knew that he couldn't afford to let his emotions cloud his judgment.

"I wanted to see you," he finally said, his voice low and even.

Aeryn frowned slightly, her confusion evident on her face. "See me? Why?"

Alex didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a step closer to her, his gaze never leaving hers. The closer he got, the more she seemed to shrink back, but he didn't let that stop him. He needed to understand her, to figure out why she had such an effect on him.

"You intrigue me, Aeryn," he said, his voice soft but firm. "There is something about you that I cannot ignore."

Aeryn's heart skipped a beat at his words. She didn't know how to respond, didn't know what he wanted from her. All she knew was that she was in a situation she had never anticipated, and she had no idea how to navigate it.

Alex reached out and gently took her hand in his, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "You may be human," he continued, "but you are now a part of my world. And I intend to learn everything there is to know about you."

Aeryn's breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond. All she could do was nod, hoping that she could find a way to survive in this strange new world.

And as Alex's grip on her hand tightened ever so slightly, she knew that her life was about to change in ways she could never have imagined. Aeryn never knew what changes her fate will bring to her and if she told herself, it was a just fragment of her imagination than she would be lying. Because, Alex was anything but a lie.