Page 4 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
“Did you see that?” I whisper to Todd, who swivels his sensor toward where I spotted the motion.
A tiny creature scurries between roots—furry with iridescent spots glinting under the soft light filtering through leaves. “What are you?”
I scramble to my feet and inch closer to get a better look without startling it away. “Come on now… don’t be shy.” The creature pauses, tilting its head as if assessing me.
I kneel again, determined to capture every detail. “If only your cousins back on Earth could see this,” I murmur excitedly to Todd. “They’d lose their minds over such a unique specimen.”
Todd bobs in agreement but then suddenly sparks and flutters erratically, startling the creature into retreating deeper into shadows.
“Really? You had to do that?” My tone is half exasperated, half amused as I shake my head at him. “One job—stay calm.”
I return to collecting samples from the glowing fungus while keeping an eye on where the creature vanished. This place brimswith potential discoveries; each new plant or critter feels like a secret waiting to be uncovered.
I focus on the fungus, documenting its bioluminescence when Todd suddenly sparks mid-scan. The drone shoots upward, spinning wildly.
“Damn it, Todd!” I shout, lunging after him. My heart races as I dart into the thickening underbrush, vines twisting like serpents around my arms and legs. “Come back!”
The colors around me blur—vivid greens and blues morph into deep purples and blacks. The air grows dense and quiet, pressing against my ears like a heavy blanket. I stumble, the ground shifting beneath my feet. This isn’t mapped terrain; I’ve crossed some invisible line without realizing it.
“Todd! Where are you?” My voice echoes back to me in the stillness.
I check my comm device—nothing but static greets me. Panic wells up in my chest. “Great,” I mutter to myself, pushing through a curtain of vines that snaps back like a rubber band. “Just what I need—getting lost on a new planet with no signal.”
Ahead, shadows twist and coalesce into shapes that almost look architectural. Spires emerge from the foliage, their arched forms woven from wood interlaced with bio-glass that shimmers in shades of green and blue. A structure unlike anything I've ever seen rises before me.
“What the hell is this place?” I whisper, breathless as awe replaces fear for a moment. I inch closer, drawn by an unexplainable pull.
Todd zips downward in a jittery loop before landing beside me with a soft thud. His sensor eye flickers anxiously as he bobs slightly in the air.
“Finally! Where have you been?” I scold him while trying to keep my voice low. “You scared off that little creature and then went rogue on me.”
But my frustration dissolves as I take in the intricate details of the structure looming ahead—the bio-glass reflects light like gemstones embedded within ancient wood, radiating an inviting glow that feels almost alive.
“Carys,” Todd crackles weakly, his voice modulating strangely due to interference from the environment. “Map… Not on map…”
“What do you mean not on map? You’re telling me this place isn’t registered?”
He nods slowly as if understanding more than his programming allows him to express.
I take a step forward and squint at the spires jutting toward the sky like fingers beckoning me closer. Each step sends a thrill through me—this could be groundbreaking research or complete madness if I get caught here.
“Todd, we might be onto something big.” My excitement bubbles over despite knowing this area is likely off-limits for a reason.
As we draw nearer, something stirs deep within my gut—a sense of being watched wraps around me like a vice. The hairs on my arms stand on end as I scan the area for movement but see only swaying vines.
“Stay close,” I whisper to Todd, edging around what looks like an entrance framed by curling roots and flowers pulsating softly in rhythm with the light of the structure.
Suddenly, silence blankets everything—a thick weight pressing down hard enough to steal my breath away.
I peer inside; the interior glows with otherworldly illumination while tendrils stretch toward me like eager hands waiting to grasp something lost long ago.
Then it hits me: restricted royal territory. My stomach drops at the realization as panic sweeps over me again—this is exactly where I'm not supposed to be. The implications loom large in mymind: discovery here means confrontation with those who guard their secrets fiercely.
“Oh shit.” The words slip from my lips before I can stop them as dread settles in my chest like lead.
The beauty surrounding me turns ominous as urgency kicks in; I can’t stay here any longer without risking everything I've worked for—the chance at making a name for myself could evaporate in an instant if they catch me lurking where I'm not welcome.
“This isn't just unregistered. It's royal territory,” I say hurriedly under my breath as Todd hovers beside me uncertainly.
