It’s a foreign feeling, one that has never before rippled through my fins, yet it doesn’t chafe as I might have expected.

I meet Mia’s gaze, acutely aware of how this moment has shifted the dynamic between us. “Thank you, Mia,” I say, my voice filled with a sincerity that surprises even me. “I am in your debt.”

The words feel strange on my tongue, but I mean them with every scale on my skin. She has done me a great service, and I am honor-bound to repay it.

I watch Mia’s every movement, acutely aware of the tension in her body. She gives a nonchalant shrug, but her eyes tell a different story. They dart over me, assessing, calculating. Her back foot shifts slightly, toes digging into the earth. It’s a subtle tell, but to my trained senses, it screams of readiness—readiness to bolt at the slightest provocation. The air between us crackles with unspoken wariness as I hold perfectly still, unwilling to shatter this fragile moment of truce.

I incline my head toward Mia, unable to suppress a small smile. “Your resourcefulness is truly impressive. Few could have dismantled that trap with such finesse.”

Mia shifts her weight, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her revealing skirt. “Life’s taught me to think on my feet,” she replies, her tone guarded yet tinged with unmistakable pride.

I nod, and my gaze softens as I regard her. “Survival skills are invaluable, no matter the environment. You’ve clearly honed yours to perfection.”

As I speak, I notice Mia’s shoulders relax slightly, though wariness still radiates from her like heat from sun-baked stones. Sensing her unease, I take a deliberate step back, giving her more space. “I assure you, I intend no harm,” I say, turning my palms upward in a gesture of peace. “My sole concern is your safety.”

Mia’s eyes lock onto mine, scrutinizing every nuance of my expression. The intensity of her gaze sends an unexpected thrill through me. Finally, she gives a small, tight nod. “I should get moving,” she says, her voice firm despite the uncertainty in her expression. “You can head the same way if you want, just… keep your distance.”

Her words catch me off guard, and I struggle to mask my surprise. “As you wish,” I reply, my voice steady despite the conflicting emotions roiling within me.

With a final, curt nod, Mia turns and strides away, her movements measured and alert as I trail behind her, my mind racing with possibilities now that she’s shown me some consideration.

Still, I must be patient.

She is worth waiting for.

Chapter 7

Mia

I can’t shake thoughts of him as I slog through this dense, murky swamp.

Krakenos.

His name alone brings to my mind images of some ancient warrior king, the kind whose legacy echoes through time. What was his life like back on his distant planet?

Was he really some Atlantean-like ruler, commanding vast underwater realms and shaping his people’s destiny?

It’s easy to picture him in a grand, otherworldly city beneath the waves, surrounded by technology I can’t even begin to comprehend.

God, his life must’ve been so… purposeful. Each day probably brought new challenges, opportunities to lead and inspire. It’s a far cry from the aimless existence I was yanked out of.

A pang of sympathy hits me. Here he is, trapped in this game, so far from home. All that drive, that importance, stripped away in an instant as he’s forced to fight other aliens for some sick intergalactic reality show just so he can get back to his people.

But what am I fighting for, besides basic survival? What’s my greater purpose in all this mess?

The realization hits me like a punch to the gut. I don’t have an answer. I’m just… existing. Trying not to die. There’s no higher calling, no meaningful goal. Just me, stumbling through each hellish day in this nightmare.

Lost in this gloomy spiral, I don’t notice a hidden thicket until it’s too late. In a heartbeat, I’m entangled in a mass of hostile vines, just like the ones that nearly killed me when I first landed in this godforsaken place. Within seconds, my arms and legs are bound tight, and panic sets in as I realize how utterly trapped I am.

I thrash wildly, trying to break free, but that only makes it worse. The vines tighten their grip like boa constrictors, squeezing tighter and tighter until I can barely breathe.

A sudden, searing pain rips through my inner thigh, making me cry out. I look down to see a thorny vine has slashed deep, leaving a gash that’s already pouring blood.

Oh God, oh God…

These things are going to tear me apart.

I strain against the vines with everything I’ve got, but it’s useless—they’re too strong, wrapped too tightly around me. I can’t even wiggle my fingers. A scream of frustration and terror tears from my throat as the reality of my situation sinks in.

Then, like an avenging sea god, Krakenos is there. His black eyes burn with a fiery intensity, and before I can even process what’s happening, he’s drawn a wicked-looking blade from his belt and starts hacking at my bonds.

I watch in stunned amazement as he cuts through the vines like they’re made of paper. Each strike is precise and powerful, his alien muscles rippling beneath that blue skin.

It’s… impressive, to say the least. A small part of me hates needing to be rescued, but there’s no denying the truth—without him, I would’ve been dead in minutes.

The moment the last vine falls away, Krakenos scoops me up like I weigh nothing and moves forward. With a startled yelp, I instinctively try to push away, but it’s like trying to move a mountain. Heat floods my cheeks as I’m pressed against the solid wall of his chest, my heart racing for reasons I don’t want to examine too closely.

“You don’t have to carry me,” I mutter, hating how my voice wavers. “I can walk.”

He doesn’t even acknowledge my weak objection, just keeps moving through the swamp with infuriating ease.

I want to be angry, I really do, but exhaustion is creeping in, and the warmth radiating from his body is like a comforting blanket.

Despite everything, my muscles relax as I sink into his hold. It’s maddening how safe I feel, cradled against his chest like this. I shouldn’t trust him, not for a second, but right now, with pain and fatigue clouding my thoughts, I can’t help but take in this fleeting moment of peace.

After what feels like both an eternity and no time at all, Krakenos stops in a small clearing. He lowers me onto a patch of soft moss with surprising gentleness, his touch almost reverent. It throws me off-balance, this unexpected tenderness from someone so imposing.

I try to sit up, but white-hot pain lances through my thigh, and a strangled gasp escapes me as I collapse back onto the moss. My stomach churns at the thought of looking at the wound. The throbbing ache is taking over my entire leg, and I feel blood, warm and sticky, against my bare skin.

Krakenos kneels beside me, his alien features set in an expression I can’t quite read. Those impossibly black eyes of his scan my injury, giving nothing away. I search his face desperately for any hint, any clue about how bad it might be, but he’s maddeningly impassive.

Without a word, he begins gathering leaves and moss from around us. His large hands work with surprising dexterity, crushing the vegetation into a thick, green paste.

I watch, mesmerized despite myself, as he carefully applies the makeshift medicine to my wound. His touch is feather-light, almost clinical in its precision. The coolness of the paste does wonders on the angry heat of the gash, and I watch Krakenos in silence, my heart racing.

This massive warrior, tending to me with unexpected tenderness, seems at odds with his fearsome reputation.

Tears prick at my eyes, not from pain, but from a sudden wave of guilt and shame.

I’ve judged him so harshly, never looking beyond the surface. He isn’t some mindless beast, but an intelligent, compassionate being caring for me despite my constant rejection.

Studying his face, I see beyond the alien features, making note of the faint lines around his eyes and mouth, the slight furrow in his brow. They speak of a lifetime of hardship and responsibility, and I wonder about the burdens placed on him.

As he works, I notice how carefully he handles me, as if I’m something precious. The realization sends a shiver through me, intensifying my awareness of his cool, smooth fingers against my feverish skin.

My face heats up as I become increasingly aware of his eyes on me, taking in every inch of my exposed skin. His gaze feels like a physical caress, and I squirm under the intensity of it. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to cover as much as I can, suddenly feeling exposed.