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5.

The morning light filtered through the thick clouds, casting a pale glow over the sprawling research facility. Aeryn stood at the edge of the launch pad, the massive rocket towering above her like a monolith. The facility buzzed with activity as scientists and engineers scurried about, finalizing the last-minute details of their mission. But despite the controlled chaos around her, Aeryn’s mind was focused on one thing: the journey she was about to undertake.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of excitement and fear. This was the moment they had all been working towards the culmination of years of research and experimentation. Aeryn had been chosen for this mission not just because of her intelligence, but because of her resilience. She was the one they believed could handle the unknown, could face whatever lay beyond the stars.

But as she adjusted the straps of her suit and took one last look at the blue sky above, a sense of unease began to creep in. The mission was dangerous, the risks immense. The rocket before her was a prototype, its systems untested in the harsh environment of space. And though she trusted her team, there was always the possibility that something could go wrong.

“Are you ready, Aeryn?” Dr. Fletcher, the lead scientist, approached her with a reassuring smile. His eyes, however, betrayed a hint of worry.

Aeryn nodded, forcing a smile in return. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good. We’re counting on you to make history today.” He patted her on the shoulder, a gesture meant to comfort, but it did little to quell the anxiety brewing inside her.

As Aeryn climbed the ladder to the rocket’s entry hatch, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. This was it. There was no turning back now. The world was watching, and the fate of their research—and possibly more—rested on her shoulders.

She strapped herself into the cockpit, the familiar hum of the instruments around her providing a small measure of comfort. The countdown began, the voice of the mission control crackling through her earpiece, counting down the seconds to liftoff. Aeryn closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing, willing herself to stay calm.

But then, just as the countdown reached its final seconds, something went horribly wrong.

A sudden explosion rocked the facility, the ground beneath her shuddering with the force of the blast. Aeryn’s eyes flew open, her heart leaping into her throat as alarms blared in her ears. The rocket’s systems flickered, the screens around her flashing with warning signs.

“Abort! Abort!” The panicked voice of Dr. Fletcher rang out in her earpiece, but it was already too late.

Another explosion followed, this one closer, the shockwave slamming into the rocket and sending it teetering on its supports. Aeryn’s breath caught in her throat as she struggled to unbuckle herself from the seat. The world outside the cockpit was a blur of smoke and fire, scientists and engineers running in every direction, their faces masks of terror.

The rocket began to tilt, the metal groaning under the strain. Aeryn’s hands fumbled with the harness, her fingers trembling as she tried to free herself. She had to get out. She had to—

A deafening roar filled the air, and Aeryn froze, her blood turning to ice. Through the haze of smoke, she saw it—a massive, dark shape descending from the sky, its silhouette blocking out the sun. It was a spaceship, unlike anything she had ever seen before, its sleek, menacing design sending a wave of terror through her.

Aeryn’s heart pounded in her chest as the ship descended, landing with a thundering crash not far from the burning wreckage of the facility. The scientists who had been fleeing for their lives stopped in their tracks, staring up at the ship in horror. And then, as if on cue, they began to scatter, their fear driving them to abandon the facility—and Aeryn—entirely.

“Help!” Aeryn’s voice was lost in the chaos as she finally managed to unbuckle herself and stagger out of the cockpit. But there was no one left to hear her cries. The facility was empty, the only sounds the crackling of flames and the distant roar of the spaceship’s engines.

Aeryn stumbled down the ladder, her legs weak beneath her as she tried to make sense of what was happening. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The mission, the rocket continued was all falling apart. And now, this… this alien ship had appeared out of nowhere, its presence a harbinger of something far worse than she had ever imagined.

She had to run. She had to get away before,

The spaceship’s hatch opened with a hiss, and Aeryn’s breath caught in her throat. A figure emerged from the ship, tall and imposing, its form shrouded in shadow. But even in the dim light, Aeryn could see the golden horns, the regal bearing that marked the figure as something far beyond human.

It was him. The king.

Alex.

Aeryn’s world spun as the realization hit her like a physical blow. She had heard the stories, the legends of the powerful king who ruled over the stars, who sought a human bride to unlock his true potential. But she had never believed them never thought that she would be the one to face him.

And now, as Alex’s gaze locked onto her, she felt the weight of his presence, the raw power that radiated from him like a force of nature. Her knees buckled, the fear overwhelming her, and before she could even think to run, her vision blurred, her body swaying unsteadily.

The last thing Aeryn saw before darkness claimed her was Alex, his eyes glowing with an intensity that promised both danger and destiny. And then, the world faded away, leaving her in a void of unconsciousness, alone and at the mercy of the king who had come to claim her.

To be continued...

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