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9.

Aeryn's eyes darted around the room, panic gripping her chest as she searched for a way out. The cell was unlike anything she had ever seen—cold, metallic, and eerily silent. The walls were a deep, iridescent blue, shimmering faintly in the dim light, as though they were alive with some otherworldly energy. Her breathing grew rapid as she tried to calm the storm of thoughts in her mind. How had she ended up here? Where was she? And most importantly, how could she escape?

She ran to the door, her hands trembling as she pounded against it, but it was solid, immovable. There were no handles, no visible locks, just a smooth surface that offered no hope of escape. Aeryn’s heart sank as she realized the futility of her efforts, and she collapsed to the ground, tears welling in her eyes. Despair washed over her as she pressed her forehead against the cool metal, her sobs echoing in the emptiness.

Suddenly, a faint shuffling sound reached her ears. She froze, lifting her head just enough to see movement in the shadows beyond the doorway. Her pulse quickened, fear surging through her as she scrambled back on her hands and knees, retreating to the far corner of the cell.

The door slid open with a whisper, revealing a tall figure that seemed to materialize from the darkness. Aeryn’s breath caught in her throat as the figure stepped into the dim light, revealing a man who was not quite human. His eyes, a mesmerizing blend of green and blue, seemed to glow with an inner light, shifting colors as they locked onto her. His skin, too, shimmered with the same hues, a faint, ethereal glow that was both alien and breathtaking.

For a moment, Aeryn was too stunned to react. This was the first time she had ever seen someone—or something—like him. He was tall, towering over her even from across the room, his presence commanding and dominant. But there was something else, something that left her breathless. He was beautiful in a way that was almost painful, his features sharp and otherworldly, yet undeniably captivating.

Alex, for his part, was equally stunned. He had expected to find a human, of course, but nothing had prepared him for this. Aeryn was unlike anything he had ever seen. Fragile, delicate, with soft features that seemed so impossibly different from the beings he had known all his life. Her eyes, wide with fear and shimmering with tears, drew him in, and for a moment, he found himself simply staring, unable to tear his gaze away.

Aeryn’s heart pounded as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing. This wasn’t just some strange man—he was an alien. A real, live alien, standing in front of her, watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. She gasped, instinctively backing away as he took a step toward her, her fear spiking as her back hit the cold wall behind her.

“Don’t come near me,” she whispered, her voice trembling with terror. Her eyes widened as she watched his eyes shift, the colors deepening to a more intense shade of blue, then back to green. The effect was hypnotic, beautiful, and yet terrifying all at once.

Alex sucked in a deep breath, his chest tightening at the sound of her voice. It was soft, pleading, and it sent a shiver down his spine that he had never felt before. He had always been the one in control, the one who commanded fear and respect. But this girl, this human, was doing something to him, something he couldn’t quite understand. He could feel his resolve wavering as he looked at her, her vulnerability stirring something deep within him.

“Don’t move, Aeryn,” he whispered, his tone cold yet somehow filled with an underlying warmth. It was a command, but it was also a plea—an unspoken desire for her to stay, to not run from him. He took another step forward, his eyes never leaving hers.

Aeryn shivered, her body trembling as his words washed over her. The way he said her name sent a jolt through her, a strange mix of fear and something else she couldn’t name. She was terrified, but there was something about him that made her want to obey, to stay still and listen to him, even as every instinct in her body screamed at her to run.

Alex’s eyes roamed over her face, taking in every detail. Her skin was soft, a light flush coloring her cheeks, her lips slightly parted as she breathed rapidly. Her hair framed her face in delicate waves, and her eyes—those eyes that had captured him from the moment he entered the room—were wide and filled with fear, yet they held a depth he couldn’t quite fathom.

He reached out, his hand trembling slightly as he moved closer to her. He had faced countless enemies, commanded armies, and ruled over worlds, but nothing had ever made him feel this way. This human, this fragile creature, was affecting him in a way he didn’t understand, and it unsettled him. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to be near her, to touch her, to make sure she was real.

As he moved closer, Aeryn pressed herself harder against the wall, her breath hitching in her throat. She watched in helpless terror as his hand came closer, the shimmering skin almost glowing in the dim light. She wanted to scream, to tell him to stay away, but the words caught in her throat. All she could do was watch as his hand finally reached her face, his fingers brushing lightly against her cheek.

The touch was electric, sending a jolt through both of them. Alex froze, his eyes locked on hers as he felt the warmth of her skin under his fingers. It was soft, so much softer than anything he had ever touched before, and it made his breath catch in his throat. He had expected resistance, anger, fear—but this? This was something entirely different.

Aeryn’s breath hitched as she felt his touch, a strange warmth spreading through her despite the cold terror in her chest. His fingers were cool against her skin, but the touch was gentle, almost reverent. She had expected something harsh, something terrifying, but instead, there was a softness in his touch that made her heart skip a beat.

For a moment, the two of them were frozen, locked in a strange, silent connection that neither of them fully understood. The fear that had gripped Aeryn’s heart began to loosen, replaced by a strange sense of calm. Alex’s hand lingered on her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin as he studied her face, his eyes softening as he took in her expression.

But then, as quickly as it had started, the moment shattered. Aeryn’s fear surged back to the surface, and she flinched away from his touch, her eyes wide and terrified once more. “Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Don’t hurt me.”

Alex’s heart clenched at the sound of her voice, the plea tugging at something deep within him. He let his hand drop, taking a step back as he struggled to regain his composure. This was not how it was supposed to be. He was supposed to be in control, to command and dominate, not to feel this strange mix of emotions that left him reeling.

But as he looked at Aeryn, her body trembling with fear, he knew that he couldn’t hurt her. He couldn’t bring himself to be the cold, unfeeling king he had always been. Something about her had changed him, had awakened something within him that he had long thought dead.

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmured, his voice softer this time, almost gentle. “I won’t hurt you, Human.”

But even as he spoke the words, he knew that things were no longer as simple as they had once been. This human girl had already begun to change him, and he wasn’t sure if he could ever go back to being the man he once was.

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