45.

Aeryn strolled through the lush gardens, eyes wide in wonder at the breathtaking display of alien flora surrounding her. The tall trees had metallic leaves that shimmered in shades of silver and emerald, and the flowers bloomed in colors she had never seen before—vivid hues of deep violet, electric blue, and radiant gold. Some of the flowers even seemed to glow, casting a soft light that reflected off her skin, making her feel like she was part of the ethereal scene.

“This place is… stunning,” she breathed, bending down to touch the petals of a flower that seemed to pulse with life. The moment her fingers brushed it, the flower vibrated, making her giggle. “It’s like they’re alive.”

“They are,” Alex said, his voice laced with amusement as he walked behind her. “Not like your Earth flowers, Aeryn. These flowers react to the energy around them. They can sense your mood.”

Aeryn straightened up, turning to face him. “Sense my mood? What kind of flowers are these?”

Alex shrugged, stepping closer, his silver-blue eyes twinkling with mischief. “You’ll have to figure it out. You’re the one exploring.”

She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Alex smirked, his gaze traveling from her face to the flower she had just touched. “Try touching it again.”

Rolling her eyes but unable to resist, Aeryn knelt down once more and brushed her fingers against the velvety petals. This time, the flower emitted a faint chiming sound, almost like laughter. Aeryn gasped, her smile widening as she looked up at Alex.

“It’s laughing!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with genuine joy.

Alex chuckled, crossing his arms. “It likes you.”

“Likes me? How can a flower like me?” She stood up again, brushing her hands on her dress. “This place is full of surprises.”

“You haven’t seen the half of it.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping as he teased, “I can tell you’re trying hard not to faint again.”

Aeryn blushed, remembering the last time she had fainted in his presence. “I am not!”

“Right, right. You only faint when you’re overwhelmed.” He leaned in, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, “Or when you’re around me too long.”

She turned redder, pushing him away gently. “Stop it, Alex.”

“I’m just stating the facts.” He grinned, clearly enjoying her embarrassment. “You humans are fragile.”

“I’m not fragile!” she shot back, crossing her arms defensively.

Alex raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk still playing on his lips. “Oh? Then prove it. You think you can handle these flowers?”

Aeryn huffed, trying to ignore how his teasing was getting under her skin. She marched toward a cluster of flowers with wide petals, determined to prove she wasn’t as delicate as he seemed to think. When she touched the first flower, it bloomed instantly, its petals opening to reveal a tiny, glowing orb in its center. The orb floated into the air, hovering just above the flower, and Aeryn stared in awe.

“Wow,” she murmured, completely captivated by the sight.

Alex watched her with an amused expression, enjoying how fascinated she was by everything. Her curiosity was endearing, and he couldn’t help but admire the way she marveled at the world around her.

“Careful,” he said, his voice softer now, “that one can be a bit… unpredictable.”

Aeryn glanced back at him, raising an eyebrow. “Unpredictable? What does it do?”

“Why don’t you find out?” he replied, his smirk returning.

She shot him a suspicious look but didn’t move her hand away. Instead, she poked the glowing orb gently. The moment she did, the orb expanded, surrounding her hand in a warm, golden glow that made her gasp in surprise.

“It feels… warm,” she said, looking up at Alex with wide eyes.

“It’s sensing your warmth,” Alex explained, stepping closer to her now. “The more warmth you give it, the bigger it grows. But if you’re too cold…”

Aeryn quickly withdrew her hand, her heart racing. “Too cold? What happens if I’m too cold?”

Alex chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair playfully. “Relax, it wouldn’t hurt you. But it might shrink and disappear. That’s why you’ve got to be careful with it.”

Aeryn smoothed down her hair, giving him a mock glare. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Alex grinned. “I know. But you love it.”

She rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “I’m starting to think you enjoy teasing me too much.”

“Maybe,” Alex replied, his tone teasing. “But I like seeing that smile of yours. Makes it all worth it.”

Aeryn’s heart fluttered at his words, but she quickly looked away, focusing back on the flowers. She didn’t want him to see how much his playful words affected her. Instead, she let herself get lost in the beauty of the garden again, touching more flowers and listening to the soft chiming sounds they made.

As she wandered deeper into the garden, Alex followed her, occasionally teasing her or pointing out some of the unique plants that only existed on his planet. But despite his constant teasing, there was a gentleness to the way he spoke to her, a warmth that made her feel safe and comfortable, even in this strange new world.

While Alex and Aeryn were lost in their playful banter in the garden, Arin was on her way to meet Jack.

***

Arin stepped through the darkened corridors of Jack’s hideout, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any signs of life. She found him sitting on his throne, though he didn’t look nearly as imposing as he once had. Jack’s skin had paled, his eyes sunken, and his posture slouched in a way that made him seem weaker than ever.

“Jack,” Arin said coolly, stopping a few feet away from him. “You’re looking… worse for wear.”

Jack glanced up at her, a sneer curling his lips. “Arin. Come to gloat?”

“I don’t gloat,” she replied, folding her arms. “But I can’t say I’m surprised to see you like this.”

Jack’s sneer deepened. “And what do you want? To rub it in?”

“No,” Arin said calmly, stepping closer now. “I came to offer you a deal.”

“A deal?” Jack laughed, though it was a weak, brittle sound. “Why would I make a deal with you?”

“Because you’re running out of options,” Arin said bluntly. “You’re losing your power, and you’re not going to survive much longer in this state.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across his face. “And what exactly do you want?”

Arin smiled, though there was no warmth in it. “It’s simple. You help me drag Aeryn back to your kingdom, and I’ll help you regain your strength.”

Jack sat up a little straighter, interest piqued. “And what’s in it for you?”

“I have my reasons,” Arin said smoothly. “But all you need to know is that Aeryn is valuable to both of us. You get your power back, and I get what I want.”

Jack considered her for a moment before finally nodding. “Deal.”

Arin’s smile widened. “Good. Then let’s get started.”