Chapter 13

chapters, but before she knew it, she was halfway through the book, her mind fully immersed in the world of wizards and magic. It was the escape she so desperately needed-the perfect distraction from the grim reality of her situation.

But even as she read, there was a part of her mind that kept wandering back to Tharx. The question nagged at her: Why did he have all these books? Why the comics, the classic literature, the magazines, and the Harry Potter series? Was it merely a collection he had amassed over the years as a conqueror, or was there something more to it?

She glanced up at the shelves surrounding her, wondering if he had read any of these books. Had he been curious about Earth, about humans, or had it all simply been a part of his empire-building? It was strange to think that someone as cold and distant as Tharx could appreciate stories-human stories, no less.

As she turned another page, her thoughts drifted back to him. He was a puzzle, one she couldn't quite solve. Every time she thought she understood him, something shifted, and she was left questioning everything again. The way he lingered near her quarters, the way his eyes flickered with something deeper whenever they spoke-it was like he was fighting an internal battle she couldn't see.

Aeliana sighed, leaning back in the chair, the book still resting in her lap. She didn't know what to think anymore. About Tharx, about her captivity, about the strange pull she felt toward him. Everything was so confusing, so tangled. She should hate him for what he had done to her, for taking her from her world, her family, her life. But every day, that hatred seemed to soften, replaced by something far more complicated.

And now, here she was, sitting in his personal library, reading Harry Potter while surrounded by the greatest works of literature from both Earth and beyond.

She closed the book gently, staring out at the dark, alien skyline beyond the window. The light from the city below flickered like distant stars, casting strange shadows across the room.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Aeliana felt a sense of peace. But that peace came with questions she didn't yet have answers to.

What did Tharx truly want from her?

And why couldn't she stop thinking about him?