Chapter 10

TEN

T he soft blue glow of the medical pod cast eerie shadows across Azlun’s face as he sat vigil by Venus’s side. His hand rested on the smooth surface of the pod, a futile attempt to bridge the gap between them. The ship’s control panels blinked lazily in the background, but Azlun’s focus remained fixed on the unconscious form of the woman who had, against all odds, stolen his heart.

“I should’ve protected her better,” he muttered, guilt gnawing at his insides. The image of Venus falling, wounded by the mercenaries’ attack, played on repeat in his mind. He had always prided himself on his ability to handle any situation, but seeing Venus hurt had shaken him to his core.

As the medical pod hummed softly, working its technological magic to heal Venus’s injuries, Azlun found himself reflecting on their journey so far. What had started as a political pact had blossomed into something he never expected — true, deep affection.

A quiet beep from the ship’s console snapped Azlun out of his reverie. With a last, lingering look at Venus, he rose to check the navigation system. His fingers danced across the holographic interface as he set a course for Tharvis. “Home,” he thought, though the word held new meaning now. Home wasn’t just his planet anymore; it was wherever Venus was.

As the star map flickered to life, Azlun’s brow furrowed. A warning signal flashed insistently in the corner of the display. “What now?” he growled, tapping the icon to expand the alert.

His heart sank as he read the diagnostics. The ship’s systems had been compromised — sabotaged. Azlun’s mind raced. How? When? He’d been so focused on getting Venus to safety that he’d missed the signs of tampering.

“We’re not alone in this,” he realized, a chill running down his spine. The implications were staggering. If someone had managed to sabotage his ship, it meant the conspiracy ran deeper than he’d imagined. His thoughts turned to the Drakanor Sect and the various enemies he’d made in his years as a diplomat. Any one of them could be behind this.

Azlun’s fingers flew across the console as he tried to isolate the damage and reroute critical systems. But with each passing moment, it became clearer that this was no simple malfunction. Whoever had done this knew exactly what they were doing.

Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the ship. Red warning lights bathed the cabin in an ominous glow. Azlun’s heart rate spiked as he realized all communications were down. His hand instinctively went to his pocket, searching for his personal communicator, only to find it missing.

“Damn it,” he hissed, remembering how he’d lost it in the rush to get Venus to the ship. They were truly on their own now.

The ship lurched violently, nearly throwing Azlun off his feet. He grabbed the edge of the console, steadying himself as he watched in horror as all the readings plummeted. They were losing velocity quickly, and with it, any hope of a smooth journey home.

Azlun threw himself into the pilot’s seat, his hands gripping the manual controls. “We’re not crashing,” he muttered through gritted teeth, fighting the ship’s descent. But even as he spoke the words, he knew they were a lie.

As the ship hurtled toward the surface of a nearby planet, captured in its gravitational field, Azlun’s thoughts turned to Venus still unconscious in the medical pod. He had to protect her, had to ensure she survived this. With a grunt of effort, he managed to angle the ship’s descent, aiming for a clearing in the lush, green landscape below.

The impact was jarring. Metal screamed against earth as the ship skidded across the terrain, leaving a deep gouge in its wake. Sparks flew from the control panel, and acrid smoke filled the cabin. Azlun’s head snapped forward, then back against his seat, stars exploding behind his eyes.

For a moment, all was still. Then, with a groan, Azlun pushed himself up, shaking off the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him. His body ached, but a quick self-assessment told him he had escaped any serious injury. His first coherent thought was of Venus.

He stumbled to the medical pod, his heart in his throat. Relief flooded through him as he saw it was still intact, its protective field having shielded Venus from the worst of the impact. With trembling hands, he checked the pod’s readouts. She was still unconscious, but stable. The additional trauma of the crash hadn’t worsened her condition.

As the smoke began to clear, Azlun made his way to a cracked view screen, peering out at the world they had crash-landed on. His heart sank as he recognized the distinctive flora of the planet. Of all the places they could have ended up, it had to be here — the home of Princess Nyrea’s family.

“By the stars,” Azlun muttered, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “This complicates things.”

His history with Nyrea was... thorny, to say the least. Their families had pushed for a match between them, seeing it as a way to strengthen ties between their planets. But Azlun had ended things, knowing his heart wasn’t in it. Nyrea hadn’t taken the rejection well, and their last meeting had been tense, to put it mildly.

Now, stranded on her home planet with a damaged ship and an injured Venus, Azlun found himself in a precarious position. The royal family here was known for their tendency to keep unwanted visitors as “guests” — a polite term for prisoners. While they were technically allies, Azlun knew all too well how quickly alliances could shift in the face of personal grudges.

A soft groan from behind him pulled Azlun from his worried musings. He turned to see Venus stirring in the medical pod, her eyes fluttering open.

“Easy,” he said softly, moving to her side and helping her sit up. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”

Venus winced, her hand going to her side where the wound was still healing. “Where are we?” she asked, her voice hoarse.

Azlun sighed, bracing himself for her reaction. “We had some... problems during our flight. We’ve crash-landed on a planet. One ruled by Princess Nyrea’s family.”

Venus’s eyebrows shot up. “Princess Nyrea? And who might that be?”

Before Azlun could respond, the sound of approaching vehicles reached them. He moved to the ship’s hatch, peering out to see a procession of sleek hovercars approaching, emblazoned with the royal crest of Nyrea’s family.

“It seems our welcoming committee has arrived,” Azlun said grimly. He turned back to Venus, offering her his hand. “Are you able to stand? We need to present a united front here.”

Venus nodded, gritting her teeth as she got to her feet. Azlun could see the pain in her eyes, but also the determination. It was one of the things he admired most about her — her refusal to show weakness even in the face of adversity.

As they stepped out of the ship, Azlun’s eyes immediately locked onto the figure at the head of the approaching group. Princess Nyrea hadn’t changed much since he’d last seen her. Her silver-blonde hair cascaded down her back in elaborate braids, and her pale violet eyes seemed to glow in the planet’s soft light. She was as beautiful as ever, but Azlun felt none of the attraction he once had. His heart belonged to Venus now.

“Prince Azlun,” Nyrea called out, her voice a mixture of concern and something else — possessiveness, perhaps? “What a surprise to find you here. And in such... interesting company.”

Her gaze flicked to Venus, and Azlun felt the temperature drop several degrees. Nyrea’s eyes narrowed as she took in Venus’s appearance, no doubt noting the way Azlun stood protectively close to her.

“Princess Nyrea,” Azlun replied, keeping his tone neutral. “We apologize for the unexpected arrival. Our ship was damaged, and we were forced to make an emergency landing.”

Nyrea’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How fortunate that you landed here where we can offer you proper care and hospitality.” Her gaze lingered on Venus. “And who might your... companion be?”

Before Azlun could answer, Venus stepped forward, her chin raised defiantly despite her injury. “I’m Venus Arison, Azlun’s fiancée. And you are?”

Nyrea’s eyebrows shot up, and Azlun could practically see the gears turning in her head. “Fiancée? How... quaint. I’m Princess Nyrea, an old friend of Azlun’s. We have quite a history together, don’t we, darling?”

Azlun tensed at the use of the endearment, his jaw clenching. He could feel Venus stiffen beside him. “Nyrea, please. This isn’t the time or place for?—“

“Oh, but it is,” Nyrea interrupted, her smile turning predatory. “After all, we should all get to know each other better, shouldn’t we? Especially if you’ll be staying with us while your ship is repaired.”

Venus’s eyes narrowed. “That won’t be necessary. We can manage on our own.”

Nyrea laughed, the sound like tinkling glass. “Don’t be absurd. You’re injured, your ship is in no condition to fly, and you’re on foreign soil. As a ruler, it’s my duty to ensure the safety and comfort of our... guests.”

The way she said “guests” made it clear they had little choice in the matter. Azlun knew they were treading on dangerous ground. They needed Nyrea’s help, but accepting it would put them at her mercy.

“We appreciate your hospitality, Princess Nyrea,” Azlun said carefully, placing a protective hand on the small of Venus’s back. “We’ll gladly accept your offer of shelter while we make arrangements for our departure.”

Nyrea’s smile widened, her eyes glinting with triumph. “Excellent. I’m sure we’ll have so much to catch up on, Azlun. And Venus, I can’t wait to regale you with tales of Azlun’s and my time together. There’s so much you probably don’t know about your... fiancé.”

Venus’s jaw clenched, but she managed a tight smile. “I’m sure it will be fascinating. I always enjoy a good fairy tale.”

Azlun had to suppress a smirk at Venus’s quick wit. Nyrea’s eyes flashed dangerously, but before she could retort, Azlun stepped in.

“Perhaps we could continue this conversation somewhere more comfortable? Venus is still recovering from her injuries.”

Nyrea’s expression softened into a mask of concern that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Of course, how thoughtless of me. Please, follow me to the palace. We’ll have our best healers attend to you, Venus.”

As they followed Nyrea to the waiting hovercars, Azlun leaned in close to Venus. “I’m sorry about this,” he whispered. “Nyrea can be... difficult. But I promise you, whatever happened between us in the past is long over. You’re the only one I care about.”

Venus gave him a small smile, but he could see the uncertainty in her eyes. “I hope you’re right, because your ex seems to have other ideas.”

The ride to the palace was tense, filled with Nyrea’s pointed reminiscences and thinly veiled barbs. Azlun did his best to steer the conversation to neutral topics, but Nyrea seemed determined to emphasize her past with him at every turn.

“Remember that night under the twin moons, Azlun?” Nyrea said, her voice dripping with sugary sweetness. “You said the stars paled in comparison to my eyes.”

Azlun winced internally. “That was a long time ago, Nyrea. Things have changed.”

“Have they?” Nyrea’s gaze flicked to Venus. “Some things change, but others... well, they’re meant to be, aren’t they?”

Venus, who had been silent for most of the journey, suddenly spoke up. “You know, Princess, it sounds like you’re stuck in the past. There’s help available for people who can’t move on from their exes. I hear therapy can work wonders.”

Nyrea’s younger sister, who had been quiet until now, let out a surprised laugh. Azlun had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning. Venus’s spunk was one of the things he loved.

Nyrea’s face flushed an angry red. “How dare you?—“

“That’s enough,” Azlun cut in firmly, his patience wearing thin. “Nyrea, I expect you to treat Venus with the respect due to my future wife and princess of Tharvis.”

Nyrea’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Future wife? Last I checked, you weren’t married yet. And in politics and love, anything can happen.”

The threat in her words was clear, and Azlun felt a chill run down his spine. He exchanged a worried glance with Venus. They both knew that their stay on this planet had just become potentially dangerous.

As they arrived at the palace, Azlun managed to pull Venus aside for a moment. “I’m sorry about all this,” he murmured. “Nyrea and I... it was never serious. Not like what you and I have.”

Venus raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what exactly do we have, Prince Charming?”

Despite the tension of the situation, Azlun found himself smiling. “You know very well what we have is solid. Real. The foundation others can only wish for. Something worth fighting for.” He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing her cheekbone. “I love you, Venus. No amount of Nyrea’s schemes can change that.”

Venus’s expression softened, and for a moment, Azlun thought she might kiss him. But then Nyrea’s voice cut through the moment like a knife.

“Come along, lovebirds. Venus, I’ve had a room prepared for you. I’m sure you need your rest after such an ordeal.”

Azlun frowned. “Surely Venus can stay with me? She’s still recovering, and I’d like to keep an eye on her condition.”

Nyrea’s smile was pure venom. “Oh, but that wouldn’t be proper, would it? After all, you’re not married yet. We must observe the proper protocols.”

Before Azlun could protest further, Nyrea had whisked Venus away, leaving him standing alone in the grand entrance hall. He clenched his fists, frustration and worry warring within him.

He needed to find a way to contact Garek, to get them off this planet before Nyrea could cause any more trouble. But how? The only communication devices available would be controlled by Nyrea and her family.

An idea struck him. If he could get close to Nyrea, maybe he could “borrow” her communicator long enough to send a message. It was risky — he’d have to play along with her games, at least for a while. The thought made his skin crawl, but he’d do anything to ensure Venus’s safety.