Chapter 12

TWELVE

T he sky above Tharvis erupted without warning, transforming the wild lands into a treacherous, rain-soaked expanse. Thick, warm sheets of water poured from the heavens, drenching everything in their path. The once-stable ground beneath Roq’s feet turned to slick mud, each step a calculated risk.

Roq’s eyes darted around, assessing their surroundings. The alien flora, usually docile and bioluminescent, seemed to come alive in response to the deluge. Tendrils reached out, their glow intensifying as if stirred by the storm’s energy. The landscape he knew so well had become an unpredictable, dangerous maze.

“We need to find shelter—now,” Roq called over the roar of the storm, his voice filled with urgency. He glanced at Mila, concern etched on his features. Her clothes clung to her body, her hair plastered to her face, but her eyes blazed with determination.

“Lead the way,” Mila yelled, struggling to maintain her footing in the treacherous mud. Despite the chaos around them, Roq couldn’t help but admire her resilience. She pushed forward, matching his pace stride for stride.

Roq’s keen eyes scanned the terrain, searching for any sign of refuge. The rain beat down relentlessly, obscuring his vision and making the task all the more challenging. Then, through the curtain of water, he spotted it—a small opening in the side of a hill, barely visible but promising shelter.

“There!” He pointed, motioning for Mila to follow. “A cave!”

They pushed through the storm, battling against the wind and rain. Roq’s muscles burned with exertion, but he pressed on. His protective instincts, honed through years of royal training, kicked into overdrive. He had to get them to safety.

As they neared the cave, Roq quickened his pace. He reached the entrance first, pausing only long enough to scan the interior for any immediate threats. Satisfied that it was safe, he gestured for Mila to enter.

“Go,” he urged, his voice barely audible above the storm. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Mila didn’t hesitate. She ducked into the cave with Roq following close behind. The moment they were inside, they both collapsed against the rough stone walls, their chests heaving from the exertion.

The cave was large enough for the two of them to fit in with some extra space. Its walls were rough-hewn, carved by nature rather than design. The only light came from the faint bioluminescence of the plants outside and the occasional flash of lightning. The air inside was cool and damp, a stark contrast to the warm rain they’d just escaped.

Roq took a moment to catch his breath, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. He could hear Mila’s ragged breathing beside him and feel the heat radiating from her body despite their soaked clothes. The closeness of the space combined with their exhaustion and the intensity of the storm created an atmosphere that was both intimate and charged.

“Well, that was fun,” Mila said, her voice laced with sarcasm as she pushed her wet hair out of her face. “Nothing like a mad dash through alien terrain to get the blood pumping.”

Roq couldn’t help but chuckle, wiping the water from his own face. “Tharvis tends to keep things... interesting.” His tone was light, but he could feel an undercurrent of tension in the air—something that went beyond the storm and their current predicament.

He glanced at Mila, really looking at her for the first time since they’d entered the cave. She was soaked to the bone, her clothes clinging to her body in a way that made Roq acutely aware of her presence. Her hair, usually styled in a ponytail, was a loose wild mess. Yet, there was something about her in this moment—disheveled, tired, but still radiating strength—that Roq found utterly captivating.

“You’re staring,” Mila said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Do I look that bad?”

Heat crept up his neck; he was thankful for the dim light that hid his embarrassment. “No, not at all. You look...” he paused, searching for the right word. “Remarkable.”

Mila raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Remarkable? That’s a new one. Usually, people go for ‘beautiful’ or ‘stunning’ after a near-death experience.”

“You’re those things too,” Roq said without thinking, then cleared his throat. “I mean, you handled yourself remarkably well out there. Not many could keep up in those conditions.”

“Smooth recovery, Your Highness,” Mila teased, but there was a softness in her eyes that hadn’t been there.

The cave’s small size forced them to sit close, their shoulders almost touching. He was suddenly intensely aware of every point where their bodies nearly met, of the sound of her breathing, of the scent of her skin beneath the earthy smell of rain.

“We should try to get dry,” Roq said, his voice sounding strained even to his own ears. He reached into a pocket of his utility belt, pulling out a small metallic cube. With a press of a button, the cube unfolded, expanding into a large, thick blanket.

Mila’s eyes widened in surprise. “Okay, that’s impressive. Let me guess—standard issue for Tharvisian royalty caught in rainstorms?”

Roq smiled, handing her the blanket. “Something like that. It’s thermal-regulated and water-resistant. It should keep you warm and help you dry off.”

“What about you?” Mila asked, hesitating to take the blanket.

Roq pulled out another cube. “I always carry a spare. You never know when you might need to share.”

As they both wrapped themselves in the high-tech blankets, Roq couldn’t help but notice Mila as she removed her clothes from under the blanket to set them on a rock to dry. He followed her lead and did the same, acutely aware of the fact they were both naked under their blankets. He watched the material cling to Mila’s form, accentuating her curves. He quickly averted his gaze, trying to focus on their situation rather than his growing attraction.

“So,” Mila said, breaking the silence that had settled between them. “What’s our plan? Wait out the storm?”

Roq nodded, grateful for the distraction. “That’s the safest option. The wild lands can be treacherous even in good weather. In this storm, it’s too dangerous to venture out.”

“And the equipment? Will it be safe at the camp?” The concern in Mila’s voice was evident. Roq knew how important her research tools were to her, how much of herself she’d invested in this mission.

“The cases are waterproof and shock-resistant,” he assured her. “We’ll send someone to get everything after we get back to the palace.”

Mila visibly relaxed at his words. “Good. I guess there are some perks to all that fancy Tharvisian tech.”

“It has its uses,” Roq agreed. “Though I have to admit, your ‘primitive’ Earth tools have proven surprisingly effective. I’ve been impressed by how you’ve adapted them to Tharvis’s unique environment.”

A genuine smile spread across Mila’s face, lighting up her features in a way that made Roq’s heart skip a beat. “Was that a compliment, Your Highness? I think you actually like having me around.”

The teasing lilt in her voice sent a warmth through Roq’s chest. “Would that be such a bad thing?” he asked softly, surprising himself with his honesty.

Mila’s smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of vulnerability that Roq had never seen. “I... I don’t know,” she admitted. “This whole arrangement—it’s not what I expected.”

Roq felt a surge of emotion at her words. He’d been feeling the same way, struggling to reconcile his growing feelings for Mila with the political nature of their relationship. “What did you expect?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Mila was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on the cave entrance where rain continued to pour in sheets. “I expected it to be simple,” she finally said. “A political marriage, nothing more. I’d do my research, fulfill my obligations, and that would be that.” She turned to look at him, her blue eyes intense in the dim light. “I didn’t expect... you.”

The weight of her words hung between them, heavy with implication. Roq found himself leaning in slightly, drawn by an invisible force he couldn’t name. “And what am I?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mila’s eyes flickered to his lips, then back to his eyes. “Complicated,” she breathed. “Infuriating. Brilliant.” She paused, a small smile on her face. “Surprisingly not terrible to be around.”

Roq chuckled softly, the tension between them easing slightly. “High praise indeed. I’ll have to add that to my list of royal titles.”

“Oh? And what would that sound like? ‘His Royal Highness, Prince Roq of Tharvis, Keeper of Advanced Technology and Not Terrible Company’?” Mila’s eyes sparkled with laughter.

“You forgot ‘Surprisingly Impressive in a Rainstorm,’” Roq added, enjoying their banter.

Mila laughed, the sound echoing off the cave walls and sending a thrill through Roq. He’d never heard her laugh like that—free, unguarded, genuinely happy.

As their laughter faded, Roq found himself studying Mila’s face, taking in every detail. The curve of her cheekbones, the arc of her eyebrows, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed. He’d always known she was attractive—that had been obvious from the moment they met. But this was different. This wasn’t just an acknowledgment of her physical beauty. It was an appreciation of everything that made her who she was.

Her intelligence, which challenged him at every turn. Her determination, which had gotten them through difficult situations. Her compassion, which she tried to hide behind sarcasm but shone through in her actions. Her strength, which matched and sometimes even surpassed his own.

“You surprise me,” Roq said quietly. The words slipped out before he could stop them, hanging in the air between them.

Mila turned to look at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “In a good way, I hope.”

Roq nodded, his gaze steady as he met her eyes. “Yes. In a good way.”

There was something in his tone that seemed to catch Mila off guard. Roq could see the shift in her expression, the way her eyes widened slightly. The mood between them changed, moving from casual conversation to something deeper, more intense.

Roq had always prided himself on his control, on keeping his emotions in check. It was what was expected of him as a prince. But with Mila, that control was slipping. There was something magnetic about her, something that drew him in despite his best efforts to maintain distance.

As they sat there, side by side in the small cave, the pull between them was undeniable. His heart raced, and he was certain it had nothing to do with their recent dash through the storm.

Mila met his gaze, and for a brief moment, Roq forgot everything else. The storm, their mission, the dangers that lurked in the wild lands—it all faded away. All that existed was the two of them, here, in this cave, and the tension that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long.

Without fully realizing what he was doing, Roq leaned in slightly, his eyes locked on Mila’s. There was a beat of hesitation, a moment where everything hung in the balance. This was a boundary they’d toed despite the growing attraction between them.

But then, almost imperceptibly, Mila shifted closer. The distance between them disappeared, and Roq’s hand moved as if of its own accord, cupping the side of her face. Their lips met in a kiss that was slow, deliberate, and filled with all the emotions they’d both been holding back.

The kiss surprised Roq, not because of the act itself, but because of how right it felt. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. It was as if this moment had been inevitable from the start, a natural extension of everything they’d been through together.

As the kiss deepened, Roq felt the warmth of Mila’s body press against his. The rain outside, the storm, the danger—it all faded into the background as the chemistry between them took over. This wasn’t just attraction; it was the acknowledgment of something that had been growing between them, something they’d both tried to ignore but could no longer deny.

Roq’s hand tangled in Mila’s damp hair, pulling her closer as the kiss intensified. His other hand rested on her waist, and the contact sent a jolt of electricity through him. Every moment with her felt like stepping into unknown territory, but it was territory he found himself eager to explore.

As the kiss continued, Roq was surprised by the intensity of his own feelings. He hadn’t expected this—not with Mila, not with anyone. For so long, he’d been focused on duty, responsibility, and keeping his emotions in check. But now, with Mila in his arms, all of that seemed to melt away. She made him feel alive in a way he hadn’t felt in years, perhaps ever.

Roq pulled back slightly, his breathing ragged as he looked into Mila’s eyes. He could see the same surprise reflected in her gaze, the same realization that what had just happened wasn’t just a fleeting moment. It was the culmination of everything they’d been feeling but hadn’t said, everything they’d been trying to ignore.