Chapter 9

NINE

T he twin suns of Tharvis dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of deep purple and crimson. Roq surveyed the clearing below the caves he and Mila had chosen for their campsite, his keen eyes assessing the terrain for any potential threats.

“This should suffice for the night,” he announced, setting down his pack. “We’ll set up camp here.”

Mila nodded, already rummaging through her own gear. “Great. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get off my feet. Who knew saving a planet would involve so much walking?”

Roq couldn’t help but smile. Her ability to find humor in any situation continued to surprise and, if he was honest with himself, delight him.

“Allow me,” he said, reaching for a small, metallic cube in his pack. With a press of a button, the cube expanded, unfolding into a sleek, dome-shaped structure. The material was a transparent, shimmering fabric that seemed to blend with the surrounding environment.

Mila whistled, impressed. “Now that’s what I call camping in style. Let me guess, it comes with a built-in spa and room service too?”

Roq chuckled, shaking his head. “Not quite, but it does have atmospheric controls, a force field for basic protection, and...” he paused, realizing the next feature might be a bit awkward, “...a single, large sleeping area.”

He watched Mila’s reaction carefully, noticing the slight widening of her eyes and the faint blush that colored her cheeks. “Well,” she said, recovering quickly, “I guess we’re taking this arranged marriage thing seriously, huh?”

His own face grew warm. “I assure you, it’s merely for practical purposes. Body heat conservation and all that.”

“Of course,” Mila nodded, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Very scientific. I approve.”

As they finished setting up camp, Roq stole glances at Mila. The way she moved with such confidence, even in this alien environment, was captivating. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He was a prince, for stars’ sake. He shouldn’t be so affected by her presence.

“I’ll go hunt for our dinner,” he announced suddenly, needing a moment to collect himself.

Mila looked up, surprised. “Hunt? Can’t we just use those fancy ration packs you brought?”

Roq shook his head. “Those are for emergencies. Besides,” he added, a hint of pride in his voice, “I’m quite skilled at hunting. It’s part of our royal training.”

“All right, Your Highness,” Mila said, settling down by the newly formed camp. “Impress me with your mighty hunting skills. Just try not to get eaten by anything, okay? I’d hate to have to explain that to the council.”

Roq rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress his smile. “I’ll do my best to avoid becoming prey. Your concern is touching, Dr. Arison.”

As he ventured into the surrounding forest, Roq thought about his interactions with Mila. Why did he feel this need to provide for her and impress her? It was more than just duty or political alliance. There was something about her that drew him in, made him want to be more than just the crown prince of Tharvis.

Using his advanced tracking skills and some Tharvisian hunting technology, Roq managed to catch a couple of small, rabbit-like creatures. As he made his way back to camp, he felt a strange sense of anticipation. He was eager to see Mila’s reaction and share this meal with her.

When he returned, he found Mila had set up a fire pit and was examining some of the local flora. She looked up as he approached, her eyes widening at his catch.

“Wow, you really did it,” she said, sounding genuinely impressed. “I half expected you to come back empty-handed and demand we order pizza.”

Roq laughed, the sound surprising even himself. “I’m afraid our pizza delivery options are somewhat limited out here,” he replied, setting about preparing their meal.

As he cooked, the conversation flowed easily between them. Roq opening up to Mila in ways he never had with anyone else.

“You seem remarkably calm for someone who was nearly devoured by an alien predator earlier,” Roq commented, his tone a mixture of dry humor and genuine curiosity. “Is near-death experience a regular part of Earth science expeditions?”

Mila smirked, her eyes glinting in the firelight. “Oh, absolutely. We Earth scientists live for the thrill. Alien predators, quicksand, the occasional volcano eruption—just another day at the office. Besides,” she added with a wink, “it takes more than a few oversized space lizards to rattle me.”

“I’m beginning to think you might be more dangerous than any predator we’ve encountered,” Roq said, his voice low and tinged with amusement.

Mila’s eyebrows shot up. “Why, Roq, was that a compliment? Be careful, or I might start to think you actually like me.”

Every time he heard the nickname it caught him off guard. No one had ever called him “Roq” before. It should have felt too informal for someone of his station. Instead, he found he liked the way it sounded coming from her lips.

As they ate their meal under the stars, Roq found himself fascinated by Mila’s stories of Earth, her passion for science, and her dreams for the future. He realized with a start that he was enjoying her company not as a political ally or future wife, but as a person—someone he genuinely wanted to know better.

“You don’t seem like someone who enjoys being told what to do,” he said, breaking a comfortable silence. “I imagine that’s made things... interesting in your life.”

Mila raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “What gave it away? My charming personality or the fact that I’ve ignored about ninety percent of your royal decrees?”

Roq suppressed a chuckle. “Let’s call it an educated guess. Is that going to be a problem, Dr. Arison?”

“Only if you make it one, Your Highness,” she shot back, her blue eyes glinting with challenge in the firelight. “But something tells me you might enjoy a little rebellion now and then. Keeps things exciting, doesn’t it?”

As the night wore on, their conversation gradually shifted to more personal topics. Mila began to speak about her life on Earth, about the pressure of being the daughter of a powerful political figure.

“Everyone sees me as the president’s daughter,” Mila said, her tone casual but with an underlying edge that Roq didn’t miss. “But all I’ve ever wanted was to be seen for who I really am—a scientist, someone who can actually make a difference. Not just some political pawn to be married off for the sake of intergalactic diplomacy.”

Roq watched her, the flickering light from the campfire casting shadows across her face. There was something raw about her words, a vulnerability he hadn’t expected to see from her. He felt a strange connection forming between them, one that went beyond the political alliance their marriage was supposed to secure.

“I understand that pressure,” Roq said quietly, surprising himself with his honesty. “Every decision I’ve ever made has been under the weight of duty. The crown. My people. There are days I wonder if I’ll ever have a choice in my own life.”

Mila looked at him, genuine surprise flickering across her features. “And here I thought you enjoyed being royalty. Don’t tell me the crown is just for show. Next thing you’ll be saying is that you don’t actually sleep on a bed made of gold.”

Roq let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “I hate to disappoint you, but the bed is made of a rare Tharvisian crystal, not gold.” He paused, his tone growing more serious. “Being a prince isn’t all it’s made out to be. I’d much rather be in my lab working on AI advancements than attending royal meetings. Coding makes sense. Politics... don’t.”

“Well, well,” Mila said, leaning back and regarding him with newfound interest. “Looks like there’s more to you than just a pretty face and a fancy title. Who would’ve thought we’d have something in common besides our impending doom—I mean, marriage?”

Roq felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. It was strange, this feeling of being seen for who he really was, not just the crown prince of Tharvis. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had looked at him and seen Roq, not just Prince Tharvis.

“You really are nothing like I expected,” Roq said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mila tilted her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. “Good or bad?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Roq replied, though he knew the answer. Good. Definitely good.

As the fire began to die down, Roq found himself acutely aware of Mila’s presence. The space between them seemed to have shrunk, though neither had moved. He could see the flecks of gold in her blue eyes and hear the soft rhythm of her breathing. The urge to reach out and touch her was almost overwhelming.

“We should probably get some sleep,” Mila said, her voice slightly husky. “Big day of not dying tomorrow, right?”

Roq nodded, trying to ignore the disappointment that welled inside him. “Of course. We should rest.”

As they entered the tent and settled into the shared sleeping area, careful to maintain a respectful distance, Roq couldn’t block her aura from his senses. The soft sound of her breathing, the faint scent of her hair—it was all overwhelming in the best possible way.

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, a low growl echoed from the darkness outside. Roq was instantly alert, his hand reaching for his weapon.

“Stay close,” he whispered to Mila, who was now awake and tense beside him. “We’re not alone out here.”

As they faced the unknown threat together, Roq realized that something had fundamentally changed between them. This mission, this marriage—it was no longer just about duty. It was about Mila, about the connection they were forming, about the way she made him feel alive.

And as terrifying as that realization was, Roq found that he wouldn’t have it any other way.