Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

V enus’s breath caught in her throat as Azlun’s sleek spacecraft glided silently over the vast, mirror-like expanse of the Tharvisian ocean. The twin moons cast an ethereal glow on the water’s surface, creating an otherworldly landscape that still, after all this time, made her heart skip a beat.

“You know,” she said, trying to mask her awe with humor, “when you said we were going for a ride, I half expected another death-defying hover bike adventure. Not that I’m complaining about this upgrade.”

Azlun chuckled, the sound sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. “What, and risk you showing me up with your piloting skills again? I do have some pride left.”

As he guided the ship to a halt, hovering mere feet above the gently lapping waves, Venus felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. There was something in Azlun’s demeanor, a mix of excitement and nervousness that she’d never noted from him.

“So, Your Highness,” she said, turning to face him with a raised eyebrow, “are you going to tell me why you’ve brought me to the middle of nowhere? Not that it isn’t a spectacularly beautiful nowhere, but still.”

Azlun’s lips quirked into that half-smile that never failed to make her knees weak. “Patience, my love. The show is about to begin.”

As if on cue, the sky above them erupted into a symphony of color. Waves of light danced across the heavens, shimmering curtains of green, blue, and purple that rippled and pulsed with a life of their own. Scattered among the undulating sheets of color were bursts of red and gold like celestial fireworks frozen in time.

“Oh my,” Venus breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. She pressed her hands against the ship’s transparent dome, drinking in the spectacle. “Azlun, it’s... it’s incredible.”

“It’s called the Celestial Dance,” Azlun said softly, coming to stand behind her. His arms encircled her waist, and Venus leaned back into his embrace, reveling in his warmth. “It only happens once every few years when our planet aligns just right with the nearby nebula.”

Venus watched, transfixed, as the colors shifted and swirled overhead. It was like watching the Northern Lights on Earth, but a thousand times more vibrant, more alive. “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” she murmured.

“Second most beautiful,” Azlun corrected, his breath warm against her ear.

Venus turned in his arms, ready with a sarcastic retort, but the words died on her lips when she saw the intensity in his eyes.

“Venus,” he said, his voice low and filled with an emotion that made her heart race, “when I first agreed to this arrangement, I never imagined... I never dared to hope that I would find not just a political ally, but a true partner. Someone who challenges me, who makes me laugh, who makes me want to be better every day.”

“Azlun,” Venus started, but he gently pressed a finger to her lips.

“Please, let me finish. I love you, Venus Arison. Not because of any agreement or political necessity, but because you’re you. Brilliant, stubborn, impossibly brave you.” He took a deep breath, and to Venus’s amazement, she saw a hint of nervousness in his usually confident demeanor. “I know we’re already technically engaged, but I want to do this right.”

With a fluid motion that still managed to look a bit shaky, Azlun dropped to one knee. Venus’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide.

“Venus Arison,” Azlun said, producing a small box from seemingly nowhere, “will you marry me? Not for Earth, not for Tharvis, but for us?”

He opened the box, revealing a ring unlike anything Venus had ever seen. The band seemed to be made of living light, pulsing with the same intricate patterns as Azlun’s royal tattoos. Set in the center was a stone that shifted from deep green to vibrant blue as it caught the light of the Celestial Dance above them.

“It’s made from a shard of Tharvisian crystal,” Azlun explained, a hint of pride in his voice. “Infused with the same energy that powers our tattoos. It will always be a part of me just as you are.”

Venus felt tears stinging her eyes, but this time she was unable to blink them away. “You know,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, “on Earth, it’s considered bad luck to propose in a vehicle. Something about it going nowhere.”

Azlun’s face fell for a moment before he caught the twinkle in her eye. “Is that a yes, then?” he asked, hope evident in his voice.

Venus pretended to consider for a moment. “Well, I suppose since we’re technically not ‘in’ a vehicle, but ‘on’ one, and we’re definitely going somewhere amazing together...” She grinned, pulling him to his feet. “Yes, Azlun Tharvis. A thousand times yes.”

As Azlun slipped the ring onto her finger, Venus marveled at how right it felt. The stone seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat, a tangible symbol of their connection.

“I love you,” she said softly, reaching up to cup his face. “And I’m so incredibly happy that we’re building this partnership together. Not just on paper, but in our hearts.”

Azlun’s response was to pull her into a kiss that made Venus’s toes curl. As they embraced, the Celestial Dance continued overhead, bathing them in ever-shifting light. Venus couldn’t help but laugh as they parted, both slightly breathless.

“What’s so funny?” Azlun asked, his eyes dancing with joy.

Venus held up her hand, watching the play of light on her new ring. “I was just thinking... I came to Tharvis expecting a political marriage to an alien prince. Instead, I’m getting a fairy tale romance complete with magical rings and light shows in the sky.” She grinned up at him. “If I wake up and this has all been a dream, I’m going to be seriously annoyed.”

Azlun laughed, pulling her close again. “Trust me, my love. This is very, very real.”

As they stood together, watching the celestial display above and below them, Venus felt a sense of peace and rightness settle over her.

And if their love story happened to put every Earth rom-com to shame? Well, that was just a bonus.