Page 41 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
She stands there now, eyes wide as if sensing something dangerous in the air—something potent thrumming between us that she can’t name yet. And then our gazes lock across the swamp.
The moment stretches taut between us—a heartbeat of uncertainty laced with recognition and something else I dare not name.
And just like that, she bolts.
“Carys!” The word erupts from my throat before I can stop it, panic flooding me as she disappears deeper into the tangled underbrush. A flash of determination lights her face—an urgency that propels her forward even as branches whip against her skin.
I curse under my breath, heart racing as I push off the ground and follow her into the underbrush. She’s quick, but the swamp’s muck slows her down. I close the distance between us in seconds, my long legs carrying me over the soft terrain with ease.
“Carys!” My voice roars through the trees like a wild animal, but she doesn’t look back.
She swings her satchel wildly, and I dodge just in time to avoid a heavy thud against my side.
“Get away from me!” she screams, eyes flashing with defiance.
“Why do you think you can just run?” I catch up, tackling her to the ground before she can flee again. The moss cushions our fall, but it’s still a jarring crash that sends ripples through my focus.
"Get off, you bastard alien!"
We roll together—her body thrashing beneath mine as I struggle to pin her arms down. “You ran from me!” I shout, breathless.
“You kept me prisoner!” she snaps back, fire in her amber eyes that sends heat spiraling through my core.
“I kept you alive!” My grip tightens around her wrists, feeling the strength of her struggle pulse beneath my fingers. The wildness of this moment electrifies the air between us, filling it with something raw and real.
“Alive? Being a prisoner?” She jerks against me, twisting her body to free herself from my hold. The scent of damp earth mingles with a hint of sweat and passionfruit hand sanitizer—a reminder of who she is beneath all that fury.
Her frustration fuels me; I don’t want to hurt her, but I need to stop this reckless energy surging between us. “You’re making it worse!” I hiss, rolling to keep her pinned down while attempting to keep myself steady against her writhing form.
“I don’t care!” she snarls through gritted teeth, fierce and relentless. Each word is a dagger aimed straight at my resolve.
“You should care,” I bite back, barely able to contain myself as our bodies tangle deeper into the mossy ground.
Her eyes narrow dangerously—defiance morphing into determination—and she swings again, trying to land another blow with that damned satchel. My instincts kick in; I capture it mid-air and wrench it away before tossing it aside.
The wild energy between us shifts—the air thickening with unspoken tension as we both breathe heavily now, wrestling on the ground like two beasts vying for dominance.
Her struggles are fierce; muscles taut beneath my hands as we grapple for control. But there’s an urgency swirling around us—something beyond anger or fear or stubbornness that draws me closer rather than pushing me away.
“I’m not your enemy,” I say urgently, grounding myself against her thrashing body while trying to keep some semblance of calm amidst this chaos.
“You don’t get to decide that!” Her voice rings sharp in the night air.
Before either of us can fully comprehend the implications of our actions—or allow the tempest of anger to reclaim its rightful throne—I lean down, closing the distance that feels both electric and inevitable, and press my lips against hers.
The kiss ignites a wildfire within me—every lingering concern, every nagging doubt dissipates into a haze of intense longing and desire as our mouths connect in a raw, fervent embrace. Her initial surprise transforms quickly into a heat that envelops us both; her lips part slightly, as if caught in a conflict between the instinct to push away and the overwhelming urge to pull closer, to bridge the chasm that has long existed between us.
In this moment, I find clarity. I don't care what choice she makes in the face of this unexpected connection. I’ve already made my decision, and it is resolute. No more resisting the pull of this bond. No more fighting against the inevitable tides of fate. No more entanglement in the stifling politics of the court that have constrained me for far too long.
She's my fucking mate, and in this chaotic dance of emotions, that is all that truly matters.
CHAPTER 33
CARYS
Ikiss him back. Hard.
Desperation surges between us, and the world dissolves into a chaotic blur of heat and longing. My body crashes against his like thunder rumbling in the storm, each clash igniting something primal deep within me.
