Page 34 of Claimed By the Alien Warlord

She falls quiet, her fingers playing with the hem of her flannel shirt. I feel the tension in her body, the way she’s coiled tight like she’s bracing for something. Sshe finally speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Guvan?”

“Hmm?”

“What did I break? That night, when we… you know. You were so angry. I’ve been too scared to ask, but… I need to know.”

The question hangs between us, heavy and raw. I suck in a breath, letting the cool air fill my lungs before I exhale slowly. The anger I’ve been carrying since she smashed that brick through my limo window feels distant now, like a storm that’s passed. I’m done being mad at her. She didn’t know. How could she?

“It was a globe,” I say, my voice steady but soft. “About this big.” I hold my hands apart, the size of a softball. “My parents made it, using their own scales. It was calledSunrise on Vakuta. They crafted it together, a mosaic of red and orange. It was… it was the last thing I had left of them. The only thing.”

Reily’s breath catches, and her hands fly to her mouth. “Oh, God. Guvan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t know.”

Her voice breaks, and she starts to cry, her shoulders shaking. I reach out, my large hand cupping her cheek, the warmth of her skin against my rough palm. “Hey. Look at me.”

She does, her blue eyes swimming with tears. “I didn’t mean to take that from you. I was just so angry, and I… I didn’t think. I’m so sorry.”

I brush a tear away with my thumb, my voice soft but firm. “You didn’t take anything from me, Reily. Not really. I’ve gained so much more. You’ve given me something I haven’t had in centuries.”

Her breath hitches again, and she leans into my touch. “What’s that?”

“You,” I say simply. “You’re my sunrise now.”

She lets out a choked laugh, tears still streaming down her face. “That’s the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“It’s true,” I say, leaning in to kiss her forehead, then her cheeks, brushing away the tears. “I love you, Reily Dawson. My little spitfire.”

She buries her face in my chest, her arms wrapping around me. “I love you too, Guvan…my Master.”

I hold her close, the sound of the lake lapping at the shore blending with the rhythm of her breathing. For the first time in a long time, I feel whole.

The sun dips below the horizon, casting the lake in a golden glow. Reily shoves her phone into my hand and leans back, her arms spread wide like she’s trying to hug the entire view.

“Take it,” she says, grinning. “Make me look good.”

I raise an eyebrow. “You always look good.”

She rolls her eyes but keeps smiling. “Yeah, yeah, but this is for the grandkids, Guvan. We need proof we were young and hot once.”

I snort, holding the phone out with my long arm to get the best angle. She’s framed perfectly, the lake behind her shimmering with the last light of the day. I snap a few shots before handing it back. “Why the sudden urge for photos?”

She flips through the pictures, nodding approvingly. “We exchanged the L word, Guvan. My mom’s been hinting she knows something’s up, and so has everyone else. They’re not dumb.”

“What are you getting at?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

She steps closer, her blue eyes locking onto mine. “We’re together. We kind of already were, unofficially. But it’s official now, so that means I want pictures we can show our grandkids someday.”

I laugh, the sound low and rumbling. “You’re planning our future already?”

“Damn right,” she says, punching my arm playfully. “Someone’s got to keep you in line.”

The drive back to the cabin is quiet, my hand resting on her thigh as she hums along to the radio. When we pull up,I’m surprised to see Jareth sitting on the porch, his human holographic disguise flickering slightly.

“You,” I say, stepping out of the Range Rover. “I’ve wanted to get my hands on you since that maid’s uniform incident.”

Jareth holds up his hands in mock surrender. “How was I supposed to know about human cultural nuance? I’m a tech guy, not a fashion consultant.”

Reily laughs, leaning against the car. “Nice to see you, Jareth.”

He nods, tossing her a small vial filled with a clear liquid. “Veritas finally developed a cure for the sickness. It’s tasteless and colorless, so it’s being added to the town’s water supply. But I brought a concentrated dose for your mom. It’ll work almost instantly.”

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