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6.

Alex had encountered countless beings across the vast expanse of the universe warriors, diplomats, leaders of distant worlds but none of them had ever intrigued him as much as the small, fragile human lying before him. As his ship ascended back into the cosmos, leaving the smoldering wreckage of the Earth facility far behind, Alex found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the girl.

She was unlike anything he had ever seen. So delicate, so different from the hardened soldiers and steel blooded politicians he was used to dealing with. Her skin was pale, almost translucent under the sterile lights of the medical chamber where she had been placed. Wisps of her hair clung to her face, damp with sweat from the fear and exertion she had endured just moments before. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, steady breaths, the only sign that she was still alive.

Alex approached her slowly, his footsteps echoing through the otherwise silent chamber. He had seen images of humans before holograms and recordings from previous expeditions but they had never captured the essence of what stood before him now. There was something almost ethereal about her, a softness that seemed at odds with the harshness of the universe.

Reaching out, Alex hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering just above her face. He had always prided himself on his control, on his ability to remain detached and calculating in all situations. But now, as he stood before this human, he felt a strange pull—an urge to touch, to understand what it was about her that captivated him so.

Finally, he allowed his hand to lower, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Her skin was warm under his touch, a warmth that sent a jolt of something unfamiliar through him. A feeling he couldn’t quite name, but one that unsettled him all the same.

She stirred slightly at the contact, her lips parting as if to speak, but no sound came out. Alex withdrew his hand, stepping back as if the proximity to her might break whatever spell she had cast over him. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, not now. Not when so much was at stake.

Turning away from her, Alex activated the ship’s communication system. “Status report,” he barked, his voice as commanding as ever, though there was a tension in it that hadn’t been there before.

“Your Majesty, we are on course to return to the capital. All systems are functioning within normal parameters,” one of his lieutenants responded promptly. “The human sustained no serious injuries during the extraction and appears to be in stable condition.”

“Good,” Alex replied, his eyes drifting back to where she lay. “Ensure that she remains so. I want a full report on her condition by the time we reach the capital.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Alex cut the communication, his mind racing. This human—Aeryn, as he had heard the scientists call her—was the key to everything. The prophecy had foretold of a union that would unlock his true power, and she was the one who would fulfill that role. But as he looked at her now, so small and vulnerable, he couldn’t help but wonder if she would survive the trials that lay ahead.

He wasn’t even sure why he cared. She was a means to an end, nothing more. A tool to be used in the pursuit of his goals. And yet, something about her was different, something that made him hesitate.

As the hours passed, Alex remained in the chamber, watching over her as the ship carried them further from Earth. His advisors would have questioned his presence there, would have urged him to focus on the matters of state that awaited him. But for once, Alex found himself uninterested in the political machinations of his kingdom. All he could think about was the girl lying before him, and the strange, unexplainable effect she had on him.

It wasn’t just her appearance that drew him in, though she was certainly beautiful by human standards. There was something deeper, something that resonated within him on a level he didn’t fully understand. He had always been a being of immense power, but with that power came a loneliness, a distance from those around him that he had long since accepted as his fate.

But now, as he watched Aeryn breathe, her face peaceful in unconsciousness, Alex felt that distance begin to close. It was as if, in her fragility, she had the power to reach a part of him that had long been sealed away, a part that he had forgotten even existed.

He shook his head, frustrated with himself. This was nonsense, a distraction he couldn’t afford. He was the ruler of a vast empire, a being destined to reshape the universe according to his will. He couldn’t allow himself to be swayed by something as trivial as emotion, especially not for a human.

And yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about her.

The hours dragged on, and as the ship continued its journey through the stars, Aeryn began to stir. Alex watched as her eyelids fluttered, her brow furrowing in confusion. Finally, her eyes opened, wide and filled with fear as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings.

She tried to sit up, but her body was still weak from the ordeal. Alex moved quickly, his instinct to help surprising even him. He caught her before she could fall, his strong hands steadying her.

Aeryn gasped, her eyes locking onto his. For a moment, time seemed to freeze as they stared at each other, the silence between them heavy with unspoken questions.

“Who… who are you?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Alex didn’t answer immediately. He could see the fear in her eyes, but there was something else too—something that mirrored the strange pull he felt toward her. It was as if, even in her terror, she recognized something in him, something that connected them in a way neither could explain.

“I am Alex,” he finally said, his voice low and steady. “And you are in my ship, far from the world you know.”

She blinked, trying to process his words. “Why… why did you take me? What do you want with me?”

Alex hesitated, unsure of how to explain the truth to her. How could he tell her that she was the key to unlocking a power beyond her comprehension? That she was destined to stand by his side, to be the bridge between their worlds?

Instead, he simply said, “You are important, Aeryn. More important than you realize.”

Her confusion deepened, but she didn’t have the strength to argue. Her body sagged against him, exhaustion taking over once more. Alex gently laid her back down, his hand lingering on her shoulder for a moment longer than necessary.

As she drifted back into unconsciousness, Alex found himself torn between his duty and the growing, inexplicable need to protect her. He had never felt this way before—never allowed himself to care about anyone beyond what they could do for him.

But with Aeryn, it was different. She was doing something to him, something he couldn’t quite understand. And as the ship continued its journey back to his kingdom, Alex couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one who was truly in danger—not from the enemies that sought to destroy him, but from the feelings this fragile human was beginning to stir within him.

Whatever was happening, Alex knew one thing for certain: Aeryn had changed everything. And there would be no turning back.

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