Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

M ila felt a wave of anger wash over her. She had always been passionate about environmental protection, but this was beyond anything she had faced. The fate of an entire world hung in the balance, and suddenly, her personal mission had become intertwined with the political stability of Tharvis.

“We can’t let them get away with this,” she said fiercely, her blue eyes flashing with determination. “We have to stop them, Roq. Whatever it takes.”

Roq nodded, his expression softening as he looked at her. “We will,” he promised, reaching out to cup her cheek gently. “Together.”

The touch sent a spark through Mila, and for a moment, all the confusion and tension of the past few days seemed to crystallize into something clear and undeniable. She looked up at Roq, seeing not just the duty-bound prince, but the man who had become her partner in every sense of the word.

Before either of them could speak, the sound of voices in the distance carried on the wind.

“We’ve got company,” he said urgently. “Drakanor hunters heading this way. We need to go. Now.”

She could hear the distant sound of engines approaching, growing louder by the second. Roq grabbed her hand, pulling her toward a dense thicket of alien vegetation.

“This way,” he whispered, his grip firm but gentle. “There’s a series of caves not far from here. We can hide and regroup.”

They ran along the crest, then headed back down toward the sparse trees, ducking under low-hanging branches and leaping over twisted roots, Mila felt a strange mix of fear and exhilaration. The danger was real, but so was the thrill of discovery – and the undeniable connection she felt with Roq.

They reached the caves just as the armored vehicles crested a nearby hill. Roq pulled Mila into a narrow crevice, their bodies pressed close in the tight space. Mila felt the rapid beating of his heart matching the frantic rhythm of her own.

For several tense minutes, they remained motionless, barely daring to breathe as the patrol passed by. Mila was conscious of every point of contact between her body and Roq’s – his chest against her back, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. Despite the danger, she felt safe in his embrace.

As the sound of engines faded into the distance, Mila slowly turned to face Roq. In the dim light of the cave, his eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire. Without thinking, she reached up, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips.

“Roq,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I...”

He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers. “I know,” he murmured. “I feel it too.”

For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was only this – the warmth of his breath, the solid strength of his arms around her, the undeniable pull between them. Mila tilted her head, her lips parting slightly as she moved to close the distance between them.

A loud crash from outside the cave shattered the moment. Mila and Roq sprang apart, instantly alert. The sound of voices drifted toward them – rough, angry tones that could only belong to the Drakanor.

“We need to hide,” Roq said, his voice low and urgent. “There’s a network of tunnels that lead deeper into the mountains. We can lose them there.”

Mila nodded, pushing aside her disappointment at the interrupted moment. There would be time for that later – assuming they survived this.

As they made their way through the tunnels lit by a tiny flashlight that put out an amazing amount of light, Mila’s mind raced. The evidence they had uncovered pointed to a plot far more sinister than she had imagined. The Drakanor sect weren’t just after power – they were willing to destroy an entire ecosystem to get it.

“Roq,” she whispered as they paused to catch their breath. “Even if we make it out of here, how do we stop them? The damage they’ve already done... it could take decades to reverse.”

Roq’s expression was grim but determined in the faint light of his tech device. “We’ll find a way,” he said firmly. “Your environmental expertise combined with our technology – we can develop a plan to heal Tharvis. But first, we need to expose their plot and rally support from the council.”

Mila nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. This was bigger than her initial mission, bigger than the political marriage she had resisted. This was about saving a world – and perhaps, in the process, finding where she truly belonged.

Hours passed as they navigated the labyrinthine tunnels, relying on Roq’s amazing mini-flashlight and intuition to guide them. Finally, they emerged in a small cavern, dimly lit by bioluminescent fungi clinging to the walls.

“We should be safe here for now,” Roq said.

Mila sank to the ground, exhaustion finally catching up with her. Roq sat beside her, close enough that their arms brushed. The simple contact was comforting, grounding her in the midst of the chaos they had uncovered.

“What happens now?” Mila asked softly, turning to look at Roq. In the soft, otherworldly glow of the cavern, he looked both regal and vulnerable – a prince bearing the weight of his world’s future.

Roq met her gaze, his dark eyes filled with a mix of determination and something deeper, more personal. “Now,” he said, reaching out to take her hand, “we fight. For Tharvis, for the truth – and for us.”

Mila felt her heart swell with a complex mix of emotions – fear, hope, and a deep, undeniable affection for the man beside her. She squeezed his hand, marveling at how natural it felt to reach for him, to seek comfort in his touch.

“Us,” she repeated, testing the word on her tongue. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

Roq chuckled softly, the sound sending a pleasant warmth through Mila’s body. “I rather like the sound of it,” he said, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand. “Though I must admit, when I first met you, I never imagined we’d end up here.”

Mila raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing at her lips. “Oh? And where exactly did you imagine we’d end up, Your Highness?”

Roq laughed, the sound echoing softly in the cavern. “Well, if I’m being honest, I thought you’d be itching to return to Earth by now. You made it quite clear that you weren’t thrilled about this arrangement.”

“I wasn’t,” Mila admitted, her voice softening. “But that was before I knew... before I understood...”

“Before you understood what?” Roq prompted gently, his eyes searching hers.

Mila took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “Before I understood you,” she said quietly. “The real you, not just the prince or the scientist. Before I saw how much you care about your people, about Tharvis. How brilliant and dedicated you are.” She paused, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “And how infuriatingly charming you can be when you’re not being all proper and princely.”

Roq’s smile was warm, his eyes twinkling with amusement and affection. “Infuriatingly charming, am I? I’ll have to remember that one.”

“Don’t let it go to your head,” Mila retorted, but there was no bite in her words. She found herself leaning closer to him, drawn by the warmth of his presence.

“And what about you, Dr. Arison?” Roq asked, his voice low and intimate. “What did you imagine when you first arrived on Tharvis?”

Mila considered the question, thinking back to her first days on the alien planet. “Honestly? I imagined doing my research, maybe making some interesting discoveries, and then going home. I didn’t expect to get caught up in a planet-wide conspiracy or...” She trailed off, suddenly unsure how to put her feelings into words.

“Or?” Roq prompted, his gaze intense.

“Or to find someone who understands me so completely,” Mila finished softly. “Someone who challenges me, who makes me see things differently. Someone who makes me want to stay.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. Roq reached up, gently tucking a strand of hair behind Mila’s ear. His touch lingered, sending a tremble down her.

“Mila,” he murmured, her name sounding like a caress on his lips. “I want you to know that whatever happens, whatever we face, I’m grateful for this time with you. You’ve shown me a side of my own world I never truly appreciated before. You’ve made me a better leader, a better scientist... a better man.”

Mila felt her heart swell with emotion. She leaned into his touch, her eyes never leaving his. “Roq, I?—“

A sudden rumble shook the cavern, cutting off her words. Dust and small rocks rained down from the ceiling as the ground trembled beneath them.

“What was that?” Mila gasped, instinctively clutching Roq’s arm.

Roq was already on his feet, pulling Mila up with him. “Seismic activity,” he said grimly. “But it’s not natural. Our planet’s core is extremely stable. Something has to be causing it.”

Her earlier fear and anger rushed back. “We have to find their operation and stop them before they cause irreparable damage to Tharvis’s existence.”

Roq nodded, his expression hardening into one of determination. “You’re right. We need to act now.”

As another tremor shook the cavern, Mila felt a surge of adrenaline course through her. The danger was real, the stakes higher than ever, but she found herself strangely calm. She looked at Roq, seeing her own resolve mirrored in his eyes.

“So, what’s the plan?” she asked, a hint of her usual sass creeping into her voice. “Sneak into the secret base of a radical faction hellbent on destroying your planet’s ecosystem? Should be a walk in the park compared to dealing with Earth politics.”

Roq’s laugh was sharp and surprised. “Your ability to find humor in dire situations never ceases to amaze me, Dr. Arison.”

“What can I say? It’s a gift,” Mila quipped, but her smile faded as she grew serious. “Roq, whatever we’re about to face... I want you to know I’m with you. Not because of any political arrangement or scientific mission, but because I choose to be. Because I believe in you, in us, and in what we can accomplish together.”

Roq’s eyes softened, and for a moment, Mila thought he might kiss her. Instead, he took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss that sent sparks shooting through her entire body.

“Together, then,” he said, his voice filled with warmth and determination. “Let’s go save a planet.”

As they prepared to venture deeper into the tunnels toward the source of the seismic disturbances, Mila felt a mix of fear and exhilaration. The journey ahead would be dangerous, the odds stacked against them. But with Roq by her side, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

They moved through the winding passages, retracing the route previously taken. More tremors guided them down a different passage.

As they rounded a corner, a faint glow appeared in the distance. Roq held up a hand, signaling Mila to stop. They had reached the exit—but to where?

Roq reached out, cupping Mila’s face in his hands. For a moment, the world around them faded away, and Mila saw in his eyes everything she felt reflected at her – fear, hope, determination, and something deeper, something that made her heart race.

“Whatever happens,” Roq said, his voice low and intense, “know that meeting you, working with you, falling for you... it’s been the greatest adventure of my life.”

Before Mila could respond, Roq leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. It was a kiss that spoke of promises and a future they both wanted to fight for. When they finally parted, Mila felt breathless and more alive than she ever had before.

“Ready to save a planet, Dr. Arison?” Roq asked, a hint of his princely authority creeping back into his voice.

Mila grinned, her earlier fears giving way to a surge of confidence and determination. “Lead the way, Your Highness.”