Chapter 19

NINETEEN

T he soft hiss of the healing chamber’s door closing behind her wrapped Mila in a cocoon of silence. The stark contrast between the chaos of the wild lands and the serene atmosphere of the royal palace’s private healing chambers hit her like a physical force. Warm, soothing light bathed the room in a gentle glow, and the quiet hum of advanced healing technology pulsed in the background, a rhythmic heartbeat of recovery.

Mila took a deep breath, inhaling the faintly antiseptic air. Her body ached, muscles protesting even the simplest movements, but it was her mind that truly resisted rest. The weight of recent events pressed on her, a constant reminder of the danger they’d faced and the looming threat to Tharvis.

“You should lie down, Dr. Arison,” a soft voice urged. A Tharvisian healer materialized at her side, gesturing toward the bed at the center of the room. “Your body needs time to recover. Prince Roq asked us to ensure you rest while he meets with His Highness and his brothers.”

Mila shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “My body might need rest, but my mind’s not getting the message.” She paced slowly around the room, her fingers trailing along the smooth, metallic surfaces of various healing devices. “Is there any way I could access some research materials?”

The healer’s brow furrowed, clearly torn between duty and the determined look in Mila’s eyes. After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded. “I can have a data terminal brought in, but please, try to limit your work. Rest is an essential part of the healing process.”

As the healer left to fetch the terminal, Mila’s thoughts drifted to Roq. The memory of their kiss in the cave surrounded by danger and the pounding rain sent a shiver through her. It had been impulsive, born of adrenaline and fear, but it had awakened something in her that she couldn’t ignore.

The quiet whoosh of the door opening pulled Mila from her reverie. She turned, expecting to see the healer with the promised data terminal. Instead, her sisters Raelee and Zora stood in the doorway, concern and affection etched on their faces.

“Mila,” Raelee said, stepping into the room. “I thought I might find you here instead of actually resting.”

Zora followed, her gentle presence filling the room with warmth. “We brought reinforcements,” she added, holding up a bag that smelled suspiciously like their favorite comfort food from Earth.

Mila laughed, the sound a mix of amusement and sheepishness. “You know me too well. How was the honeymoon, Rae?”

Raelee’s eyes sparkled with happiness. “It was wonderful. Vexor and I had a chance to really connect away from all the political pressures.” She paused, studying Mila’s face. “But I think we have more important things to discuss. How are you, really?”

The genuine concern in Raelee’s voice coupled with Zora’s comforting presence, broke through Mila’s carefully constructed barriers. She sank onto the edge of the healing bed, suddenly feeling the full weight of her exhaustion. “I don’t know. Everything’s... complicated.”

Raelee settled on one side of Mila as Zora began unpacking the food, the familiar scent of home filling the air. “Complicated how?” she probed gently.

Mila took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts. “It’s Roq,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “I think... I think I’m falling for him.”

Raelee’s eyebrows rose, but she remained silent, allowing Mila to continue. Zora, ever the optimist, beamed.

“And it terrifies me,” Mila admitted. “I’ve always prided myself on my independence, on putting my work first. But now, with Roq... I can’t stop thinking about him. About us. And I’m scared that if I let myself feel this way, I’ll lose who I am.”

Raelee squeezed her hand gently. “Oh, Mila. Love doesn’t have to mean losing yourself. It can be a partnership, a way to enhance each other’s strengths.”

Mila shook her head, frustration seeping into her voice. “But how? How do I balance my feelings for him with everything else? There’s so much at stake – Tharvis’s future, my research, the environmental crisis we uncovered. I can’t afford to be distracted.”

“Is that really what you’re afraid of?” Raelee asked softly. “Or is it about trusting someone again?”

Mila flinched, memories she’d tried to suppress bubbling to the surface. “You know why I can’t just... open up like that.”

Zora’s eyes filled with sympathy. “Jake,” she said simply.

Mila nodded, her jaw clenching. “He seemed so perfect. Charming, intelligent, interested in my work. I thought I could trust him.”

“And then he sold your story to the press,” Raelee finished, anger coloring her tone.

“Not just the story,” Mila said bitterly. “Those photos... They weren’t even risqué, just private moments I thought I was sharing with someone who cared about me. Suddenly, they were everywhere.”

Zora wrapped an arm around Mila’s shoulders. “Jake was a jerk, Mila. But Roq isn’t Jake.”

“I know,” Mila sighed. “Logically, I know that. But it’s not just Jake. Remember Samantha?”

Raelee groaned. “Your college roommate? The one who spilled all your secrets to that gossip blog?”

Mila nodded. “I thought she was my friend. I told her things I’d never told anyone else. And she just... sold me out. For what? Fifteen minutes of fame as the girl who knew the President’s daughter?”

“People can be awful,” Zora replied. “But, Mila, you can’t let a few bad experiences close you off forever. Especially not from someone like Roq.”

Raelee nodded. “You know, I went through something similar with Vex.”

Mila looked up, surprised. “You did? But you two are so... perfect together.”

Raelee laughed. “We are now. But there was a time when I was terrified to let him in. I kept thinking about all the ways it could go wrong, all the reasons I shouldn’t trust him.”

“What changed?” Mila asked.

“I realized that by not trusting him, I was already ruining our chance at happiness,” Raelee said. “I had to make a choice – keep my walls up and lose him or take a chance on love. It was the scariest decision I’ve ever made, but God, Mila, it was worth it.”

Zora grinned. “Plus, Vex is hot. That probably helped.”

Raelee swatted at her sister, laughing. “You’re terrible.”

Mila couldn’t help but join in the laughter. It felt good, a release of tension she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “You two are impossible.”

“That’s why you love us,” Zora said, sticking out her tongue.

As the laughter died down, Mila found herself smiling softly. “Do you remember when we were kids, and Dad had that big state dinner?”

Raelee groaned. “The one where I spilled punch all over the French ambassador’s wife?”

Zora giggled. “I forgot about that! Didn’t she call you a ‘petite catastrophe’?”

“She did,” Raelee confirmed, rolling her eyes. “I was mortified. I ran out of the room crying.”

“And we followed you,” Mila said softly. “We hid in that little alcove behind the curtains in the East Room.”

Zora nodded, her eyes warm with the memory. “We stayed there for hours, just talking and laughing.”

“You two made me feel better,” Raelee said. “You always have. No matter what’s going on, I know I can count on my sisters.”

Mila felt a lump form in her throat. “We’ve always had each other’s backs, haven’t we?”

“Always,” Zora confirmed. “And we always will. Which is why we’re here now, telling you to take a chance on love.”

Mila sighed, leaning back on the bed. “It’s not just the emotional stuff. Roq and I... we’ve been intimate. And it was... God, it was amazing. But now I feel even more vulnerable. Like I’ve given him a piece of myself I can’t take back.”

Raelee nodded understanding. “That’s normal, Mila. Being physically intimate with someone you care about... it changes things. But it doesn’t have to be a bad change.”

“Exactly,” Zora chimed in. “It’s just another way of connecting, of building your relationship. And from what you’ve said, it sounds like you and Roq have a pretty solid foundation already.”

Mila couldn’t help a small smile. “He is... pretty incredible. The way he looks at me sometimes, it’s like he sees right through all my defenses. Like he knows me, the real me, not just the President’s daughter or the brilliant scientist.”

Raelee grinned. “Sounds like someone’s got it bad.”

Mila laughed, shoving her sister playfully. “Oh, shut up.” But the laughter faded quickly, replaced by a look of contemplation. “I just... I don’t know how to move forward from here. How do I balance my feelings for him with everything else?”

“Love isn’t about balance, Mila,” Raelee said softly. “It’s about integration. It’s about finding ways to weave your relationship into the fabric of your life, not treating it as a separate entity that needs to be managed.”

Zora nodded, adding, “And it’s about trust. I know it’s hard for us, given how we grew up. But Roq’s shown he’s worthy of your trust, hasn’t he?”

Mila nodded slowly, letting her sisters’ words sink in. “I think I understand. But it’s still scary.”

“Of course, it is,” Raelee agreed. “Anything worth having usually is. But Mila, from what you’ve told me, it sounds like Roq respects your independence. He values your expertise. I don’t think he wants to change you – I think he wants to stand beside you.”

Zora squeezed Mila’s hand. “And we’ll be here for you, every step of the way. You’re not alone in this, Mila.”

As her sisters spoke, Mila felt something change inside her. The fear was still there, but it was no longer paralyzing. Instead, it mingled with a sense of excitement and possibility.

“Thank you, both of you,” Mila said, pulling her sisters into a tight hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

They stayed like that for a moment, the bond between them a tangible force. When they pulled apart, Raelee’s eyes were twinkling with mischief.

“So, when are you going to tell him?”

Mila blinked, caught off guard. “Tell him what?”

Zora laughed. “That you’re madly in love with him, of course!”

Her cheeks flushed. “I... I don’t know. He said he’d give me space to think things through after we got back from the wild lands. The ball’s in my court, I guess.”

Raelee raised an eyebrow. “And? What are you waiting for?”

Mila opened her mouth to respond, then closed it again. What was she waiting for? The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. She stood abruptly, startling her sisters.

“I have to go,” she said, her voice filled with a newfound determination.

Zora and Raelee exchanged knowing looks. “Go get him, sis,” Zora said with a grin.

As Mila headed for the door, Raelee called out, “And Mila? Remember, it’s not a negotiation anymore. It’s a partnership.”

Mila paused at the door, looking back at her sisters with a smile. “I know. Thank you, both of you. Really.”

With that, she stepped out into the hallway, her heart pounding with anticipation. The path to Roq’s quarters seemed both endless and too short. Every step took her closer to a future she was only now allowing herself to imagine.

As she approached his door, Mila took a deep breath. This wasn’t about duty or political alliances anymore. This was about two people who had found something unexpected and beautiful in each other. It was about taking a chance on love, on partnership, on a future that was brighter together than it could ever be apart.