Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

R aelee's eyes fluttered open, the unfamiliar ceiling of the royal palace greeting her. Sunlight filtered through gossamer curtains, casting an otherworldly glow across the room. For a moment, she forgot where she was, her mind still clouded with sleep. Then it all came rushing back—Tharvis, Vex, the truth.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she sat up, running a hand through her tousled hair. The events of the previous day played on repeat in her mind, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Betrayal, anger, confusion... and yet, underneath it all, an undeniable pull to the man she thought she knew.

Before she could sink deeper into her thoughts, a series of rapid knocks echoed through the room, followed by the unmistakable sound of her sisters' voices.

"Raelee! Are you decent? We're coming in!" Zora's voice rang out.

"Whether you're decent or not, actually," Mila added with a chuckle.

The door burst open, and her three sisters tumbled in, a whirlwind of energy and laughter that instantly brightened the room. Zora, with her auburn hair in a messy braid, flopped onto the bed beside Raelee. Mila was examining every inch of the room with wide-eyed curiosity. Venus, looking impeccable as always in a sleek Tharvisian-inspired outfit, perched gracefully on a nearby chair.

"So, how's our almost-princess doing?" Venus asked, a teasing glint in her eye.

Raelee groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Please don't remind me. This whole situation is just... insane."

Mila paused her exploration to join them on the bed. "Speaking of insane, did you know they gave us some kind of immune boost yesterday? The doctor said it was to protect us from the flora and fauna of the planet, aka alien germs."

"Alien germs?" Raelee echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Zora nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! And get this—I swear I can hear better now. Do you think we're turning into superheroes? Because I could totally rock a cape."

The mental image of Zora in a flowing cape, dramatically posing atop the palace spires sent them all into fits of laughter.

"I don't think enhanced hearing is going to qualify you for the Avengers, Zora," Venus managed between giggles.

As their laughter subsided, Mila turned to Raelee with a more serious expression. "But really, Rae, how are you doing? We've been worried about you."

Raelee sighed, fiddling with the edge of her blanket. "I... I don't know. It's all so complicated. One minute I'm furious with Vex for lying to me, and the next..."

"The next, you're both trying to break his bed?" Venus supplied with a smirk.

"Venus!" Raelee exclaimed, feeling her cheeks warm. But she couldn't deny the truth in her sister's words.

Zora reached out, squeezing Raelee's hand. "We've been exploring the palace, you know. Well, the parts we're allowed in, anyway. There's some political unrest going on because of our arrival. But, Rae, the way Vex talks about you when you're not around... it's clear he cares deeply for you."

"Really?" Raelee couldn't keep the hint of hope out of her voice.

Mila nodded. "Absolutely. And from what we've seen of him and the guards, these Tharvisian men aren't half bad. A bit stoic, maybe, but definitely not the cold, unfeeling aliens we were worried about. We've yet to meet his brothers though. They're busy on top of this political unrest so we've had to imagine what they look like."

"Speaking of his brothers," Venus chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eye, "let's just say if they look anything like Vex I don't think I'll have a problem with this wedding business."

They all burst into laughter again, the tension in the room dissipating.

"The point is, Rae," Zora said once they'd calmed down, "we want you to be happy. If that means giving Vex a chance, then do it. And if it means telling him to shove his crown where the sun doesn't shine and you coming back to Earth with us, we'll support that too."

Raelee felt a rush of affection for her sisters. Despite the craziness of their situation, they were here, supporting her, making her laugh when she needed it most.

"Thanks," she said softly. "I appreciate you all so much."

A knock at the door interrupted their moment. Vex's deep voice came through, slightly muffled. "Raelee? I was wondering if you'd like to continue exploring Tharvis today. There's a place I'd like to show you away from the palace ."

The sisters exchanged knowing looks, barely containing their excitement.

"Go," Venus mouthed, making shooing motions with her hands.

Raelee hesitated for a moment, then called out, "All right. Give me a few minutes to get ready."

As her sisters quietly filed out of the room, each giving her an encouraging smile or thumbs up, Raelee felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach. She didn't know what the day would bring, but with her sisters' support and the memory of their laughter, she felt ready to face it.