Chapter 9

Aeliana was jolted awake by the hiss of her cell door opening. She blinked in the dim light, her heart pounding as she pushed herself up from the small, uncomfortable cot that had become her world. The air was cold as ever, and the faint hum of alien machinery droned in the background. She had grown used to the isolation, the stifling silence that had settled over her since she'd been brought here. But the sound of that door opening sent a rush of fear and anticipation through her.

She knew who it would be before she saw him.

King Tharx stepped into the cell, his tall, imposing figure framed by the light from the corridor beyond. His armor gleamed faintly in the low light, his presence as overwhelming as ever. Aeliana sat up fully now, instinctively pulling her knees closer to her chest. She had seen him only a few times since her arrival on this strange world, and each time, his cold detachment had left her feeling even more isolated. He had claimed her, but since then, he had kept his distance, watching her from afar.

Now, he was here. And for reasons she couldn't understand, his sudden appearance sent a tremor through her.

"Get up," Tharx's deep voice rumbled, not a command laced with cruelty, but one heavy with authority. He spoke as though there was no question she would obey.

Aeliana swallowed hard, her throat dry. Slowly, she rose to her feet, her legs unsteady as she met his gaze. His eyes-those strange, glowing eyes-fixed on her with an intensity that made her stomach twist. She couldn't read him, couldn't decipher the cold expression that masked whatever lay beneath.

"I have decided," Tharx said, his voice low but firm, "that you will no longer remain in this cell."

Aeliana's breath hitched. She wasn't sure what to make of his words. Was this another trick? Another cold calculation on his part? She waited, her pulse quickening, unsure if she should feel relieved or terrified.

"You will be moved to more appropriate quarters," he continued, stepping further into the cell. His presence seemed to fill the small space, leaving little room for the air to breathe. "A room in my personal wing."

Aeliana blinked, trying to process what he was saying. "Your personal wing?"

Tharx inclined his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "You are no longer to be confined like a prisoner. However, know this-while you may leave this cell, you are not to leave the fortress. If you attempt to do so, you will be found and brought back. You will not like what happens if you disobey."

His words hung in the air, a clear warning. Aeliana felt her throat tighten, but she forced herself to nod. What choice did she have? She was still trapped in this world, still bound by the chains of his power, even if those chains had shifted from the walls of this cell to the walls of his fortress.

Tharx regarded her for a long moment, as though weighing her response. Then, with a sharp gesture, he motioned toward the door. "Come."

Aeliana hesitated for only a second before stepping forward, her bare feet cold against the metallic floor as she followed him out of the cell. The corridor beyond was dimly lit, the same alien design of pulsing veins and organic walls that made her skin crawl. Tharx moved ahead of her, his long strides silent and purposeful, his black armor gleaming under the strange light.

As they walked, Aeliana felt the weight of the fortress pressing down on her. The walls were tall, twisted, and every inch of the place felt like a labyrinth designed to keep her trapped, even if her prison cell was behind her. The air was heavy with the scent of something metallic, sharp, and unfamiliar. She had never felt more out of place.

They passed a few guards, their tall, armored forms watching her closely as she trailed behind Tharx. Aeliana avoided their gazes, her heart racing as she tried to keep pace with the alien king. She couldn't help but wonder what they thought of her-this human, this weak creature in the presence of their ruler. The air between them was thick with suspicion, but no one dared question Tharx's decision to move her.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of walking through the cold, winding corridors, Tharx stopped in front of a door. It slid open silently, revealing a room beyond-vast and shockingly beautiful.

Aeliana stepped into the room, her breath catching in her throat as she took in her new surroundings. The walls were made of the same strange, organic material as the rest of the fortress, but here, they pulsed with soft, warm light. The floors were smooth and dark, a strange iridescence flickering beneath the surface like water. A large, intricately designed bed sat against one wall, draped in shimmering fabrics of deep blues and greens that seemed to move and shift under the light.

To the side, a low seating area was arranged around a wide window that overlooked the alien city. Through the glass, she could see the skyline of Tharx's world, jagged towers reaching toward the swirling, green-tinged sky. It was breathtaking in its alien beauty, and for a moment, Aeliana forgot where she was.

She turned back to Tharx, who stood at the threshold, watching her with those unreadable eyes. He had said little during the walk here, but now, as she looked at him, she saw something in his expression she hadn't noticed before-something distant, but not entirely cold. It was as though he was watching her reaction, waiting to see how she would respond.

"This will be your room from now on," he said, his voice steady. "You will be allowed to move freely within this wing of the fortress, but you are not to go beyond its boundaries without permission."

Aeliana nodded, still trying to process everything. It was more than she had expected. This room-this space-was a world away from the dark, cramped cell she had been living in. But there was something unnerving about it, too. Why had he moved her here? What had changed?

Tharx lingered in the doorway, his tall frame blocking most of the light from the corridor. His gaze remained fixed on her, studying her in a way that made her skin prickle.

"Why are you doing this?" Aeliana asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. She hadn't meant to ask, but the question had been burning in her mind since he first appeared in her cell.

Tharx's expression didn't change, but she thought she saw the faintest flicker of something-something almost imperceptible-pass over his features.

"You are mine," he said simply, as though that explained everything. "And I do not wish for you to remain in a cage."

Aeliana's heart fluttered at the bluntness of his words. There was no tenderness, no affection-just cold, possessive certainty. She was his. And whatever that meant, it was enough for him to move her from one gilded cage to another.

Without another word, Tharx turned and walked away, leaving Aeliana standing alone in the beautiful, alien room. The door slid shut behind him with a quiet hiss, sealing her inside her new world.

She stood there for a long time, staring at the place where he had been. Her thoughts churned in her mind, a swirl of confusion, fear, and something else-something she couldn't quite name. Tharx was a puzzle, a riddle wrapped in layers of cold detachment and hidden motives. He had claimed her, but why? What did he want from her?

Aeliana moved to the window, her hands resting on the cool surface of the glass as she looked out at the alien city beyond. The skyline shimmered under the strange green light, its twisted, jagged towers standing like sentinels against the darkening sky.

She had been given more freedom, but she was still a prisoner here. She was still his.

And yet, as the hours passed and the stars began to appear in the alien sky, Aeliana couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing. Tharx was keeping his distance, yes, but there was a reason he hadn't cast her aside. There was something between them, something unspoken and fragile.

And Aeliana couldn't help but wonder how long it would remain unspoken.