26.

Aeryn sat up slowly, her body aching as she shifted from beneath the sheets. The soft glow of the alien moonlight filtered through the room, casting a silvery hue over everything it touched. She winced slightly as a dull pain reminded her of what had transpired. Her heart raced, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to steady herself. When she opened them again, her gaze fell on the bed sheet.

The small bloodstain stood out starkly against the pale fabric, and a gasp escaped her lips. Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling the sound that threatened to spill out. Horror and disbelief welled up inside her, and her breath quickened. She stared at the stain, unable to tear her eyes away from the evidence of what had just happened.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, confusion, and a strange, unwanted thrill. She had known what was going to happen, but that knowledge had done little to prepare her for the reality. Alex’s touch had been firm, dominant, and demanding, leaving her no choice but to yield to him. Yet, even as she fought against the overwhelming sensation of powerlessness, there had been a part of her that had responded to him, that had found a peculiar solace in his intensity.

Aeryn’s hands trembled as she reached up to touch her lips, still tingling from the heat of his kisses. She could still feel his hands on her skin, the way he had held her, the way he had claimed her as his own. It was both terrifying and strangely intoxicating, and she hated herself for the small part of her that had enjoyed it, that had yearned for his touch even as she feared it.

She glanced over at Alex, who was now lying beside her, his eyes closed and his breathing deep and steady. He looked peaceful, almost vulnerable in his sleep, a stark contrast to the powerful and commanding presence he had exuded earlier. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his chest rose and fell rhythmically with each breath.

Aeryn bit her lip, feeling a wave of guilt wash over her. She knew that this union was supposed to save his kingdom, that she had been brought here for a purpose. But that didn’t make it any easier to accept. She was still just a human, a woman who had been ripped from her world and thrust into a situation she could barely comprehend.

Her eyes drifted back to the bloodstain on the sheet, and she felt a fresh surge of panic. What did this mean for her? For them? She had never imagined that her first experience with someone would be under such circumstances. The thought of it made her feel sick, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.

But then, as she sat there in the quiet darkness, another emotion began to creep in—one she didn’t expect. A deep, gnawing sense of loss. It wasn’t just about her lost innocence or the life she had left behind on Earth. It was something more profound, something she couldn’t quite put into words. It was as if, in that moment, she had lost a part of herself, a part of her identity that she would never get back.

She had been marked, claimed, bound to this alien man and his kingdom in a way that she had never anticipated. And while part of her recoiled at the thought, another part of her—the part that had responded to his touch, to his kiss—was strangely accepting of it.

Aeryn shook her head, trying to banish these thoughts from her mind. She didn’t want to think about what this meant, about what was expected of her. All she wanted was to go back to Earth, to her old life, to the familiar comfort of her own bed, her own world. But she knew that was impossible. This was her reality now, and she had to find a way to live with it.

Carefully, Aeryn pulled the sheet around her, covering herself as she curled up on the bed. She didn’t know what would happen next, but she knew she needed to be strong. For herself. For whatever future lay ahead of her.

She glanced once more at Alex, feeling a strange mixture of fear and fascination. He was unlike anyone she had ever known, powerful and dangerous, yet there was something about him that drew her in, that made her feel safe in a way she couldn’t explain.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, Aeryn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She would need her strength for whatever came next. The road ahead was uncertain, but she was determined to face it with all the courage she could muster. There was no turning back now.

As Alex lay beside Aeryn, his eyes closed in the dim light of their room, a deep sense of satisfaction settled over him. He felt a completeness that he hadn’t known was missing until now. The night had been intense, filled with a passion he hadn’t expected, but more than that, it had solidified something within him. Aeryn was no longer just the human brought to save his kingdom—she was his.

The thought brought a possessive warmth to his chest. She was his in every sense of the word, bound to him in a way that went beyond the physical. It was as though he had finally found the missing piece of himself, and now that he had it, he would never let it go. Alex’s hand rested lightly on the bed, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her. Even in her sleep, her presence calmed him, grounding him in a way that nothing else ever had.

His eyes flickered open briefly, and he turned his head slightly to look at her. The soft rise and fall of her breath, the way her hair framed her face—it all made his chest tighten with an emotion he was still coming to grips with. She had become an addiction, a need that grew with each passing moment. The idea of being without her, of her slipping away from him, filled him with a kind of dread he had never experienced before.

Alex’s jaw clenched slightly as he made a silent vow. No matter what happened, no matter the cost, he would not let her go. She was his, and nothing in this world—or any other—would change that. The bond they had forged was unbreakable, and he would ensure that she remained by his side.

A possessive smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he imagined their future. Aeryn, standing beside him as his queen, as his partner in everything. She might resist at first, might struggle against the reality of their union, but he was certain that in time, she would come to accept it. She would come to realize that this was where she belonged—with him, by his side, forever.

The intensity of his feelings surprised him. He had known from the moment she arrived that she was different, that she was special. But he hadn’t anticipated how deeply he would come to need her, how much he would crave her presence, her touch. It was more than just desire; it was a fundamental shift within him, a realization that his life would be incomplete without her.

As he drifted closer to sleep, Alex’s mind was filled with images of the future—of Aeryn at his side, of the life they would build together. His hand unconsciously reached out, brushing against her arm, as if to reassure himself that she was still there, still his.

In that moment, as the night began to fade into morning, Alex knew one thing with absolute certainty: Aeryn was his, and he would do whatever it took to keep her. She was no longer just a part of his life; she had become the center of it. His possession, his addiction, his everything. And he would never let her go.