Chapter 19

NINETEEN

R aelee's heart thundered wildly.

"Stay close," he murmured, his deep voice carrying an edge of steel.

They inched toward the temple's entrance, every sense on high alert. Raelee's fingers brushed against the cool feel of the weapon Vex had given her earlier. The weight of it, once foreign, now felt like a lifeline.

The attack came with the suddenness of a lightning strike.

A group of warriors, their faces twisted with hate, burst from the shadows. Raelee's world exploded into chaos. The air filled with the clash of weapons and the guttural cries of battle.

"Raelee, behind you!" Vex's shout cut through the mayhem.

She spun, her weapon raised just in time to deflect a blow that would have taken her head. The force of it sent shockwaves through her arms, but adrenaline dulled the pain. Her attacker's eyes widened in surprise at her quick reflexes. Raelee didn't give him time to recover.

She ducked under his next swing, and drove her elbow into his stomach. He doubled over, gasping, and she brought her knee up to connect with his face. He crumpled to the ground.

No time to celebrate. Another warrior charged her, his weapon a blur of deadly motion. Raelee backpedaled, her mind racing.

She stumbled behind a massive stone pillar, the warrior's weapon glancing off it with a shower of sparks. Raelee used the moment of his weapon's recoil to strike, landing a solid kick to his knee. As he staggered, she brought the hilt of her light sword down on the back of his head. With a crack of bone, he went down hard.

Her victory was short-lived.

"Raelee, behind you!" From the corner of her eye, she saw Vex launch himself toward her.

She whirled, her heart in her throat, to see Vex stumbling away from her, blood blossoming on his side where a warrior's blade had found its mark. Vex swung his arm, slicing through the attacker who would've struck her if not for Vex.

Time seemed to slow as Raelee watched him fall, his face contorted in agony.

"No!" The scream tore from her throat, raw and primal.

Rage, hot and all-consuming, flooded through her veins. Raelee hurled herself at their assailants, all finesse forgotten in the face of her fury. She fought like a woman possessed, her movements a blur of desperate strength. Her world narrowed to a pinpoint focus: protect Vex, stay alive.

But they were outnumbered, and Vex was down. Raelee held her ground, standing over his prone form, her weapon a whirlwind of defense. Sweat stung her eyes, her muscles screamed in protest, but she refused to yield. She would die before she let them touch him again.

Just as her strength began to falter, a new voice rang out.

"For Tharvis!"

Garek burst into the fray, a team of elite warriors at his back. The tide of battle shifted in an instant. Raelee allowed herself a moment of relief before redoubling her efforts, fighting alongside Garek to push back the attackers.

With the reinforcements, the battle was over quickly. The last of Eerion's forces fell or fled, leaving behind a scene of carnage and the heavy silence of aftermath.

Raelee dropped to her knees beside Vex, her hands shaking as she assessed his wound. "Vex? Vex, can you hear me?"

His eyes fluttered open, pain clouding their usual intensity. "Raelee," he rasped. "You're... safe."

A sob caught in her throat. Even now, barely conscious, his first thought was for her safety. The realization hit her like a physical blow. All her anger, her sense of betrayal over his deception... it all paled in comparison to the fear of losing him.

"You idiot," she choked out, tears streaming down her face. "Why did you do that? Why did you take that hit for me?"

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Duty to you... before self," he whispered, echoing his oft-repeated mantra.

But Raelee shook her head fiercely. "No. This wasn't duty. This was..." She trailed off, the word lodging in her throat.

Love. This was love.

The truth of it washed over her, sweeping away the last of her resistance. Vex hadn't hidden his identity out of malice or manipulation. He'd done it because he wanted a chance at real connection, at a relationship built on more than political necessity. Just as she had.

"Garek!" Raelee called, her voice cracking. "We need to get him back to the palace. Now!"

Garek was at her side in an instant, his face grim as he took in Vex's condition. "The transport's ready. We need to move fast."

Together, they carefully lifted Vex. He groaned in pain, the sound tearing at Raelee's heart. As they made their way to the transport, Raelee kept her hand pressed firmly against Vex's wound, willing her strength into him.

The journey back to the palace was a blur of tension and fear. Raelee sat by Vex's side, her eyes never leaving his face, silently willing him to hold on. Her mind raced with all the things left unsaid between them, all the moments they'd shared, both as strangers on Earth and as betrothed royals on Tharvis.

She thought of their first meeting in that dingy diner, the instant spark of connection that had caught her off guard. She remembered the exhilaration of their impromptu road trip, the way his quiet strength had been a balm to her restless spirit. The memory of their first kiss charged with unspoken longing and the thrill of the forbidden sent a shiver down her spine.

But more than that, she thought of the man beneath the princely facade. The man who had listened to her dreams and fears without judgment. The man who had shown her wonders beyond her wildest imagination and had opened his heart to her even when she'd been determined to keep hers closed.

"I've been such a fool," she whispered, her fingers gently brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. "Please, Vex. Please be okay. I need to tell you..."

The transport touched down at the palace with a jolt, snapping Raelee out of her reverie. A team of medical professionals swarmed around them, whisking Vex away on a hover-stretcher. Raelee made to follow, but Garek's hand on her arm held her back.

"Let them work," he said gently. "They're the best in the galaxy. He's in good hands."

Raelee nodded numbly, her eyes following Vex's retreating form until he disappeared from view. The adrenaline that had kept her going began to ebb, leaving her feeling hollow and drained.

"Come," Garek said, steering her to a nearby room. "You need to rest and get checked out yourself. I'll update you as soon as there's news."

Raelee wanted to protest, to insist on staying by Vex's side, but the logic of Garek's words penetrated her fog of worry. She allowed herself to be led away, collapsing into a chair as soon as they entered the room.

As a medical droid tended to her minor injuries, Garek filled her in on the situation. "Vex's brothers have successfully neutralized the warrior sect for now," he reported. "But the political situation remains fragile. There will be more challenges ahead."

Raelee nodded, absorbing the information. A part of her marveled at how quickly she'd come to care about the fate of this alien world. Just days ago, she'd been running from the very idea of this arranged marriage. Now, the thought of not being here, of not standing by Vex's side to face whatever came next, was unthinkable.

"How bad is it?" she asked, her voice hoarse. "Vex's injury, I mean."

Garek's expression softened. "It's serious, but not life-threatening. Our medical technology is far beyond anything on Earth. He'll recover quickly."

Relief washed over Raelee, so intense it left her lightheaded. "Thank God," she breathed.

"You should get some rest," Garek suggested. "I'll wake you as soon as there's any change in his condition."

But Raelee shook her head. "No. I need to see him. Please, Garek."

He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "All right. Come with me."

They made their way through the palace's winding corridors to the medical wing. The stark, clinical environment was a jarring contrast to the ornate architecture of the rest of the palace. Garek led her to a private room where Vex lay surrounded by softly beeping machines.

Raelee's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. He looked pale and vulnerable, so different from the strong, commanding presence she'd come to know. She moved to his bedside, gently taking his hand in hers.

"I'll give you some privacy," Garek said softly, retreating from the room.

Alone with Vex, Raelee felt the full weight of her emotions crash over her. Tears she'd been holding back spilled down her cheeks as she clutched his hand.

"You scared me half to death, you know that?" she whispered angrily, her voice thick with unshed tears. "I thought... I thought I was going to lose you before I had the chance to tell you..."

She took a shaky breath, gathering her courage. "I love you, Vex. God help me, I tried not to. I was so angry when I found out who you really were. I felt betrayed, manipulated. But now I understand. You did what you did because you wanted a chance at something real, just like I did."

Her thumb traced gentle circles on the back of his hand as she continued. "When I saw you take that hit for me... when I thought I might lose you... nothing else mattered. Not your lie, not our arrangement, nothing. All that mattered was you."

Raelee leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "So you better wake up soon, you hear me? Because we have a lot to talk about, and a whole future to plan. Together."

As if in response to her words, Vex's fingers twitched in her grasp. Raelee's heart leaped as his eyes slowly fluttered open, confusion giving way to recognition as his gaze focused on her.

"Raelee?" he murmured, his voice weak but clear.

A watery laugh escaped her. "Hey, there, sleeping beauty. Welcome back."

Vex's brow furrowed as he took in their surroundings. "The temple... Eerion's men..."

"It's over," Raelee assured him quickly. "Garek arrived with reinforcements. We're safe now."

Relief washed over Vex's features, followed quickly by concern. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"

Raelee shook her head, marveling at his selflessness even in this state. "I'm fine. You're the one who decided to play hero and take a blade for me, remember?"

A ghost of a smile touched Vex's lips. "I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

"Don't you dare," Raelee warned. She hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead. "Vex, I... I need to tell you something."

He looked at her expectantly, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes.

Raelee took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. For doubting you, for pushing you away. I understand now why you did what you did on Earth. And I... I love you. I love you, and I want to be with you, not because of some arrangement or treaty, but because you're you."

Vex's eyes widened, a mix of joy and disbelief washing over his face. "Raelee, I... are you sure? After everything that's happened..."

She silenced him with a gentle kiss. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

When she pulled back, Vex's smile was radiant despite his weakened state. "I love you too," he whispered. "More than I ever thought possible."

They stayed like that for a long moment, basking in the newfound honesty between them. Then Vex's expression grew serious. "Raelee, you should know... the situation on Tharvis is still unstable. There will be more challenges ahead. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to return to Earth, to safety."

But Raelee was already shaking her head. "Not a chance. You're stuck with me, Your Highness."

Vex's laugh, though weak, was full of genuine joy. "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear you say that."

"There's just one thing I don't understand still."

"What?"

"How did you know where I was when we were on Earth? I mean our meeting was clearly not a coincidence. Even with me wearing a wig and under an assumed name, you knew it was me right?"

He nodded and picked up her hand, kissing her ring finger. She glanced at the beautiful ring she'd had been wearing since the day she runaway and gasped. "The ring?"

He grinned. "It's got an advanced GPS tracking. I always know where you are."

She laughed and slapped his arm playfully. "Not fair! I never stood a chance."

He met her gaze with so much love it took her breath away. "No, my princess, I never stood a chance."

She had come to Tharvis as a reluctant bride, determined to maintain her independence at all costs. But now she could freely admit she was a woman completely in love.

Raelee leaned down and kissed him. Vex wrapped his arms around her and pulled her onto the bed with him, deepening the kiss. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and she tangled hers with it. Tingles of desire skittered over her skin and a burning need whirled in her core.

As they kissed deeply, Raelee felt his warm, strong hands slide underneath her shirt and wrap around her waist, pulling her body against his. She moaned into the kiss as he gently massaged her back.

She pulled at his clothes, eager to feel his skin against hers once more. They panted softly as their lips parted, their chests heaving with ragged breaths. He slipped her shirt over her head and tossed it onto the floor, exposing her bare skin to the cool air of the room.

He kissed her lips, then her chin, and then trailed kisses down her neck and collarbone while holding onto one breast gently between two fingers, rolling the hardened nipple between them. She squirmed under him, needing more contact but also savoring this slow seduction. Her hips rocked involuntarily against his hard cock pressing against his pants when he took one wet nipple into his mouth, suckling on it gently while the other hand found its way lower to tease at the lace of her panties.

Raelee gasped as he finally brushed his fingers against her wet entrance, causing a jolt of pleasure to shoot through her core.

"Oh God," she whispered, biting her lip to keep from crying out too loudly. His finger moved in and out of her slowly, tormenting but also bringing her immense pleasure she never knew existed.

As his fingers pushed deeper, she arched her back and moaned into his touch, gripping the sheets beneath her. She could feel him smirk against the soft skin of her neck as he breached her tight entrance with another finger, stretching her slowly but surely. A shudder ran through her in response.

"You're so wet," he whispered against her skin, his voice low and rough with desire.

The feeling of his fingers sliding in and out of her pussy combined with the sucking on her nipple was driving her crazy. She writhed under him, wanting more.

"Vex," she panted, not daring to ask for anything too much yet.

He pulled away from her breast reluctantly, the cool air of the room making it tingle where his warm mouth had been. Then he stood up and removed his underwear, revealing a hard cock that was already half-hard. Raelee's mouth watered as she looked at it, stroking herself hastily, aching for him to be inside of her.

He crawled back onto the bed, kneeling between her legs as he positioned himself at her entrance. She whimpered when she felt him press against her slick folds, and she spread herself wider to let him in. He leaned in to capture one of her nipples again in his mouth while sliding inside of her slowly but surely, filling her completely.

She cried out in pleasure at the sensation of being stretched by him, clutching at his shoulders desperately as he began to thrust up into her slowly but surely.

Raelee's fingers dug into Vex's shoulders as their pace increased; she felt herself getting closer to orgasm with every thrust of his hips. Sparks of pleasure raced through her body. She arched under him desperately for more friction on an especially sensitive spot just inside of her as they reached their release at the same time.

"I love you," Vex said as he settled beside her on the bed.

"I love you, too." Raelee snuggled into him, never wanting to let him go.