I shake my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. Trust him? The thought is so absurd it’s almost comical. Here I am, being chased across an alien planet like some exotic trophy. And for what? To be nothing more than a living incubator for a species on the brink of extinction?

And yet… I can’t deny the fleeting sense of security I feel under Krakenos’s watch.

I grit my teeth, trying to push away these traitorous thoughts. I can’t afford to lower my guard for even a second. Who knows what other horrors this alien world has in store?

As I force my way through a particularly nasty thicket, sharp leaves leaving angry red scratches on my arms, I realize how much easier this would all be if I just accepted Krakenos’s protection…

“No,” I snarl out loud, startling a nearby creature that scurries away.

I can only rely on myself. I have to stay laser-focused on escaping, on finding my way back home.

But even as I press on, determined to put as much distance between myself and Krakenos as possible, I can’t shake this feeling. Like I’m caught in the opening act of something far bigger than myself.

As if fate itself conspired to put me here—right in Krakenos’s path.

I stifle a gasp as a guttural rumble echoes through the swamp, unlike anything I’ve ever heard. My muscles tense, and I strain my ears, hardly daring to breathe. The sound fades, but my heart keeps pounding.

Vornas. His smooth, growling voice echoes through my mind. Is he out there, toying with me? I can picture his smug feline face, relishing in my fear.

“Stay focused, Mia,” I mutter, trying to shake off the dread that’s settled deep in my bones.

I force my feet forward, each step a battle against the swamp’s clutching grasp. My lungs burn, my muscles ache. Mud squelches beneath my feet, threatening to suck me in with every step. The air is thick with humidity, and with every passing moment, the enormity of facing this alien wilderness alone settles deeper into my gut.

Then, out of nowhere, the light around me begins to change. The artificial sun, which had been beating down mercilessly just moments ago, quickly dims.

It’s not the gradual twilight I’m used to back home; within minutes, inky blackness swallows the biome whole. I freeze, my eyes straining to adjust to the abrupt darkness. The sudden shutdown is just another jarring reminder of how alien and controlled this place is.

An unsettling quiet descends, punctuated by occasional chirps and rustles that set my nerves on edge. I squint into the darkness, my imagination populating the shadows with nightmarish creatures waiting to pounce.

A thick tangle of trees catches my eye, their gnarled trunks and interwoven branches forming a natural barrier. It’s not much, but right now, any semblance of shelter is welcome. I stumble toward it, desperation fueling my steps.

Somehow I reach it unharmed, and as I settle against the rough bark, wincing as it digs into my back through my thin clothes, a wave of homesickness comes over me.

I close my eyes, picturing my cramped apartment back in Texas. The creaky mattress, the faded posters on the walls, even the perpetually dripping faucet I always meant to fix—I would kill just to return to that place.

But when I open my eyes, reality crashes back with the harsh light of a camera drone. Its unblinking lens hovers a few feet from my face, a silent voyeur to my misery. I can imagine countless alien eyes glued to their screens, drinking in my fear with glee.

A bitter laugh escapes my lips. “This is your life now, Mia,” I whisper to myself, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.

I draw my knees to my chest, trying to make myself as small as possible. Tomorrow will bring fresh horrors, I’m sure. But for now, I allow myself this moment of relative safety, praying that exhaustion will claim me before the swamp’s terrors do.

As I adjust my position against the rough bark, trying to find a comfortable spot, a slight movement catches my eye—and it’s not a drone this time. I squint harder, my heart leaping into my throat as a familiar silhouette emerges from the shadows.

“Krakenos,” I breathe, the name escaping my lips in a mix of relief and frustration.

Part of me is annoyed that he hasn’t given up on me, that he’s still following me through this hellish landscape like some oversized, scaly puppy.

But another part—a part I’m not quite ready to acknowledge—feels oddly reassured by his presence. It’s as if some distant corner of my mind is beginning to trust him, despite every logical reason not to.

I lean back against the tree, my thoughts racing. Here I am, trapped in some violent intergalactic game, being pursued by alien warriors who see me as nothing more than a prize to be won.

And yet, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to Krakenos than meets the eye.

Why him? Why do I feel this strange pull toward him, even as every instinct screams at me to run?

Exhaustion sets in, my eyelids growing heavy as I fight to stay awake. I know I need to remain vigilant, to be ready for whatever dangers might lurk in the darkness. But my body is betraying me, the events of the day finally wearing me down. Every blink lasts a little longer, every breath grows a little deeper.

As I drift off, my thoughts linger on Krakenos. His promise to protect me, his mysterious demeanor, the way he makes me feel both scared and safe at the same time…

It’s a dizzying contradiction that I can’t quite wrap my exhausted mind around. It’s all so confusing, so overwhelming. I don’t know what to make of him, or of the strange attraction I feel growing inside me, like a seed taking root despite my best efforts to weed it out.

Is it just a product of my isolation and fear?

Am I losing my damned mind?

Or is there something more to this connection?

Just before sleep pulls me under, I take one last glance at Krakenos, a dark guard lurking in the shadows. Towering and formidable, I find a strange comfort in his stubborn vigilance.

Maybe he really does want to help me, I think, before slipping into the welcoming embrace of sleep, too tired to fight it any longer.

And for the first time since I was abducted, I fall asleep with a tiny sliver of comfort, hoping against hope that I’ve made the right call in trusting him, even if only a little.

Chapter 6

Krakenos

The swamp awakens as the artificial sun reignites, its humid air clinging to my skin like a second layer. I slice through the murky waters, following Mia’s trail with unwavering focus. A familiar tug pulls at my chest, urging me closer to her, but I resist. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.

“Patience,” I murmur, the word barely audible above the ambient sounds of the swamp.

As heir to the Aquarian throne, I’m accustomed to swift action and decisive leadership. This forced inaction grates against my very nature.

Yet, I endure it, for her.

I glide through the swamp, my senses hyper-aware of my surroundings. Vornas’s cunning matches his ferocity, and I know he’s out there, plotting his next move.

The Saberkai king didn’t rise to power by chance. His hunting prowess is legendary, even in this unfamiliar terrain. I can easily imagine his striped form slinking through the shadows, golden eyes gleaming with predatory intent.

I work tirelessly to remain undetected by Mia while anticipating her path. My gaze sweeps the area, searching for signs of Vornas’s handiwork. There—a barely perceptible disturbance in the vegetation. Only a trained eye would spot it.

With practiced precision, I disarm the trap, marveling at how quickly Vornas has adapted his techniques to this new environment. One by one, I neutralize his snares, always staying one step ahead of Mia’s progress.

My jaw clenches as I think of Vornas’s treachery. The water around me seems to pulse with my anger, and I allow myself a moment to imagine exacting my revenge.

But not yet. Mia’s safety comes first.