21.

Alex paced back and forth in his chamber, his thoughts a tangled mess of confusion and frustration. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Aeryn, something that connected her to Earth in a way that went beyond just being human. Every time he looked at her, he saw a puzzle, a mystery that he couldn't quite solve, and it gnawed at him constantly. He needed to know more, to understand what made her so different, why she had such a powerful effect on him.

He had tried to push these thoughts away, to focus on the pressing matters of his kingdom, but his mind kept drifting back to her. The way she looked at him, the fear and uncertainty in her eyes, it all made him want to protect her, to keep her close. But there was also a darker part of him, a part that wanted to control her, to make sure she never left his side. It was a dangerous mix of emotions, and it only made him more determined to figure out what was going on.

Finally, unable to take the uncertainty any longer, Alex decided to summon her to his private quarters. He needed answers, and he was going to get them. He sent one of his trusted guards to fetch her, instructing them to bring her to him immediately. As he waited, his mind raced with possibilities, trying to piece together the puzzle that was Aeryn.

When she finally arrived, she looked nervous, her hands clasped together in front of her as she entered the room. Alex could see the hesitation in her eyes, the way she avoided his gaze, and it only made him more determined. He needed to know what was going on in her head, and he wasn't going to let her leave until he got some answers.

"Aeryn," he said, his voice low and controlled as he took a step closer to her. "I've been thinking a lot about you."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with uncertainty. "About me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Alex said, taking another step closer until he was standing right in front of her. "I can't help but feel that there's something you're not telling me. Something about my planet?"

Aeryn's breath caught in her throat, and she took a small step back, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond to his intense gaze. She could feel his presence, his power, and it made her feel small, vulnerable.

"I want to go back." She stammered, pricking her nails feeling a terrified emotion burning in her guts.

"Why are you so interested in Earth?" Alex asked, his voice growing more insistent as he reached out and gently took hold of her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Is there something there that you're trying to hide from me?"

Aeryn swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a response. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to explain the complicated emotions that were swirling inside her. She wanted to go back to Earth, to escape from this strange world and return to the life she knew. But at the same time, she felt a strange connection to Alex, a pull that she couldn't quite explain.

"I..." she began, her voice trembling as she tried to find the right words. "I just... I want to go home."

Alex's eyes darkened at her words, and his grip on her chin tightened ever so slightly. "Home?" he repeated, his voice dangerously low. "You want to go back to Earth?"

Aeryn nodded slowly, her heart pounding in her chest as she saw the anger flash in his eyes. She didn't know what to expect, didn't know what he was going to do. All she knew was that she wanted to escape, to get away from this place and return to the life she knew.

But before she could say anything else, Alex moved with a sudden, fluid motion, sneaking his arm around her waist and pulling her impossibly close. Aeryn gasped, her breath hitching as she felt his body pressed against hers, his heat seeping into her. She could feel the power radiating off of him, the intensity in his gaze as he looked down at her.

"Do you really wish to go back?" Alex asked, his voice low and dangerous as he searched her eyes for any hint of doubt.

Aeryn blinked, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She wanted to say yes, wanted to tell him that she needed to return to Earth, to her old life. But there was something about the way he was looking at her, something in his eyes that made her hesitate. She couldn't explain it, couldn't put it into words, but she felt an undeniable pull toward him, a connection that she couldn't ignore.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she nodded, a small, hesitant motion that barely moved her head. "Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I want to go back."

The moment the words left her lips, Alex's expression darkened, his grip on her waist tightening as if he was afraid she would slip away. "You are not going back," he growled, his voice filled with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "Never."

Before Aeryn could react, before she could fully process his words, Alex leaned down and captured her lips in a fierce, possessive kiss. The force of it took her by surprise, her mind going blank as she froze in place, her body unable to move. She could feel his lips against hers, demanding and insistent, as if he was trying to claim her, to make her his.

For a moment, Aeryn was too shocked to react, too overwhelmed by the suddenness of it all. But as the kiss continued, as she felt the heat of his body against hers, something inside her began to stir. It was a strange, unfamiliar feeling, one that made her heart race and her mind spin. She had never experienced anything like this before, never felt so completely consumed by another person.

Alex's grip on her waist tightened even further, pulling her closer as if he was trying to merge their bodies together. The kiss was intense, overwhelming, and Aeryn could feel herself being swept away by it, her mind losing all sense of direction. She didn't know what to think, didn't know what to feel, but she couldn't deny the strange, powerful connection she felt with him. Curling her finger around his neck, she tried to forget the things he was making her feel.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alex pulled back, breaking the kiss but keeping her close. His breathing was heavy, his eyes dark and filled with a mixture of emotions that she couldn't quite decipher. Aeryn could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and desire.

"You are mine now," Alex announced, his voice low and possessive as he looked down at her. "You belong to me, and I will not let you go."

Aeryn's breath caught in her throat at his words, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her, the intensity of his emotions washing over her like a tidal wave. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond. All she knew was that she was in way over her head, caught in a situation she couldn't control.

Alex's grip on her waist loosened slightly, and he stepped back, his eyes still locked on hers. "You are not going back to Earth," he said again, his voice firm and unyielding. "You are staying here, with me."

Aeryn could only nod, too overwhelmed by everything that had just happened to form a coherent response. She felt like she was caught in a storm, tossed about by forces beyond her control. And as she looked up at Alex, saw the determination in his eyes, she knew that there was no escaping him, no going back to the life she once knew.

She was his now, and there was no turning back.