Chapter 03: A Dangerous Gamble
Roxie couldn’t shake the feeling that the palace was watching her. It wasn’t just the guards, standing stiffly at the doors or lurking in the hallway. It was the sheer weight of the place itself, the thick stone walls that seemed to reverberate with secrets and tension. Even though the grand sitting room was luxurious, with its golden tapestries and plush seating, Roxie couldn’t help but feel a little like a fly in a very elaborate trap.
She’d been left alone in the room for hours after Dorian’s departure, and while she’d tried to occupy herself—skimming through a few of the many books on the shelves and pacing around the space—nothing seemed to distract her from the pressing thought: I need to leave.
Not only was she a prisoner in some strange, royal palace on another world, but now there was an imminent threat to the palace, and she was stuck in the middle of it. She had to do something. She wasn’t about to sit around and wait for someone to tell her what to do next, especially when that someone was the royally insufferable Prince Dorian.
She was just about to stand up and make another attempt at exploring the palace when the doors swung open once more. This time, Dorian entered, flanked by two of his guards. There was an intensity in his eyes—something beyond just the usual royal composure—and his presence alone was enough to freeze her in place.
“You didn’t follow my orders, did you?” His voice was cool, but there was something in it that made Roxie feel a little uneasy.
“Follow your orders?” Roxie raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “You’ve been gone for hours, and I’m supposed to just… wait? I don’t think so.”
Dorian’s lips tightened into a thin line. “You don’t understand the gravity of the situation,” he said, his tone colder than she’d expected. “We’re under attack. You’re in danger, and I need you to stay put.”
Roxie stood up, her fists clenched. “I don’t need your protection, thank you very much. I need you to help me get back to Earth.”
“You don’t understand,” Dorian repeated, though there was a touch of frustration now in his voice. “This isn’t just some random group attacking us. It’s a faction from the outer system—bounty hunters, smugglers, the worst kind of people. They’re coming for something that’s worth far more than your teleportation device. And you’ve drawn their attention.”
Roxie’s pulse quickened. “I’m sorry, what? They’re coming for me?“
Dorian nodded, his face grave. “Your sudden arrival here wasn’t random. There’s something about your device that makes it—valuable. And I need you to trust me when I say they won’t stop until they have it. Until they have you.”
Roxie felt her breath catch. This wasn’t just some bizarre accident. She wasn’t just some lost traveler in a strange place. She had become a target.
Before she could say anything else, one of the guards spoke up, his voice low but urgent. “Your Highness, we’ve received confirmation. The ship is just outside the atmosphere. They’ll be here any minute.”
Dorian’s eyes flickered briefly to the guard, and then back to Roxie. He took a slow breath, his expression unreadable. “I need to get you out of here.”
Roxie’s heart pounded in her chest. “How?”
“You’ll come with me. We’ll get you to a secure location while I handle the situation. You have no idea what’s coming.”
Roxie frowned. “And where exactly are we going?”
He hesitated before answering, his voice low. “The palace’s underground escape tunnels. They were designed in case of emergencies. I’ll protect you while we make our way through, but you need to stay close.”
Roxie swallowed hard. She didn’t know if she was more terrified of the impending danger or the idea of trusting the prince she’d just met. He might be royally composed, but that didn’t mean she could trust him. She had no idea what his agenda was or if she was simply a pawn in his game.
But her instincts told her to go with him. She had no other choice.
“Fine,” she said, her voice sharp. “But we’re not doing this alone. I can help. If I can’t get back home, at least I can make sure we don’t end up dead.”
Dorian stared at her for a moment before giving a curt nod. “Fine. But no heroics.”
He turned and made his way toward the door, signaling for the guards to follow. Roxie was right behind him, her mind spinning. They had no time to waste. As she walked beside Dorian, she couldn’t ignore the tight, controlled energy radiating from him. It wasn’t just royal confidence—it was something else, something darker.
They moved quickly through the corridors, passing under towering columns and ornate statues. The palace was quiet now, the usual hum of life replaced by the tension in the air. As they approached a hidden door in the wall, Roxie’s mind raced. She had no idea what kind of danger lay ahead, or what these bounty hunters wanted with her device.
Dorian turned to her, his gaze flicking over her for a brief moment. “I’m not sure who these people are, but they’ve been after this technology for months. I need you to stay out of sight while I take care of things.”
“Take care of things?” Roxie repeated, raising an eyebrow. “And you think I’ll just sit here while you handle it all?”
Dorian’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “I’m starting to think you’re not someone who follows orders well.”
Roxie smirked back, the first hint of humor she’d felt since her arrival. “You’re starting to understand me, Your Highness.”
Before Dorian could respond, a series of loud thuds echoed through the palace. The sound was unmistakable: the intruders had arrived.
“Now, no more talking,” Dorian said. His expression darkened, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “Stay close. And don’t make a sound.”
With that, they ducked into the darkened corridor, the door closing softly behind them.
As they moved through the shadows, the tension thickened, and Roxie’s thoughts raced. There was so much she didn’t understand about this place and the people after her device. But one thing was for sure: she wasn’t about to let herself be a pawn in someone else’s game.
The real question was whether she and Dorian could make it out alive, let alone work together to get her back to Earth.
