Page 4

He chuckles, a low, rumbling sound that does nothing to calm my nerves.

The tunnel slopes upward, getting steeper and steeper until we’re practically vertical.

My stomach bottoms out as I press back into the seat, my body screaming that this is all wrong.

Humans aren’t supposed to go this fast, this high.

My breaths come in short, panicked gasps.

“Trust me to take care of you, Ms. Christian,” he says, his voice steady, almost soothing.

“Trust you? You just tried to give me a heart attack!”

“Tried? I’d say I succeeded.” He smirks, and I want to strangle him. My fingers itch to slap that smug look off his face, but I’m too busy trying not to hyperventilate.

The car levels out suddenly, and I dare to open my eyes. The sky stretches endlessly around us, painted in hues of pink, orange, and gold as the sun dips below the horizon. Clouds drift lazily below, and it feels like we’re floating.

“Have you ever seen a sunset at 30,000 feet, Ms. Christian?” Raekon asks, his voice softer now.

“I can’t say that I have,” I mutter, still clutching the seat like it’s the only thing keeping me from falling into the abyss.

“Then open your eyes,” he says. “It’s something you won’t regret witnessing.”

“No, no, I’m good. No thanks,” I say, squeezing my eyes shut tighter. My heart is still racing, and my palms are slick with sweat. This is not how I imagined my evening going.

His fingers brush against my forehead, gently pushing my bangs aside. A breath comes out as a gasp when I feel his touch, warm and surprisingly gentle. I open my eyes, and there he is, his scaled face framed by the glowing sunset. His red eyes meet mine, and I forget to be scared.

“I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” he says.

I relax, just a little, until his fingers move down to cup my chin. He tilts my face toward his, his gaze intense, almost predatory.

“Except, perhaps, for me, ” he adds, a wicked grin spreading across his sharp features.

My stomach does another flip, but this time, it’s not from fear.

Oh no. This is something else entirely. My pulse quickens, and my cheeks burn as I realize just how dangerous this situation is.

Not because we’re flying in a car-turned-spaceship, but because of the man—no, the alien —sitting next to me.

I fear him, and I know I’m right to. And yet, I kind of want Raekon to happen to me. Maybe more than just kind of.

The car dives sharply, and my stomach lurches as we plummet toward the ocean.

I shriek, gripping the edge of my seat so hard my fingers go numb.

The water rushes up to meet us, and I brace for the impact, my breath caught in my throat.

But instead of a violent splash, there’s just a faint shudder as Taylor glides smoothly beneath the waves.

I stare out the window, my mouth hanging open.

The ocean swirls around us, a living, breathing thing, but the car—no, the ship —moves effortlessly through it.

The water is so clear I can see schools of fish darting past, their scales shimmering in the dim light. And then, looming ahead, is the base.

"Veritas Base Alpha," Raekon says proudly.

It’s massive, a sprawling, translucent dome that glows faintly from within. The structure looks like something out of a sci-fi movie, all sleek curves and glowing lines. My heart pounds as we approach, the sheer scale of it making me feel impossibly small.

“Welcome to the heart of Project Veritas,” Raekon says, his voice brimming with pride. “This is where we safeguard the Sacred Timeline.”

I blink, turning to him. “The what ?” Then I clamp a hand over my mouth, my face heating up. “I’m sorry, Sir. I forgot I wasn’t supposed to ask questions.”

He arches a brow ridge, his red eyes narrowing slightly. I swallow hard, bracing for a reprimand. But then he smirks, a flash of sharp teeth.

“I think I can let this infraction go without disciplining you. This time.”

Is he joking? I can’t tell. His tone is light, but there’s an edge to it that makes my skin prickle.

We glide into a docking bay, the water parting as a force field engulfs us. My eyes dart to the shimmering barrier, my mind racing. What if it fails? What if it collapses and the ocean comes crashing in? My breath quickens, and I can feel panic rising in my chest.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see other Vakutan moving about. They’re huge, their scales gleaming under the artificial light. One pauses to nod politely in our direction, and I swallow hard. There are more of them? How many aliens are walking around on Earth without anyone noticing?

“Oh yes, there are many Vakutan on Earth,” Raekon says, as if reading my thoughts. His calm tone does nothing to ease my nerves.

I turn to him, my voice trembling. “What if the force field fails?”

“It won’t,” he replies simply, as if that’s all the reassurance I need.

“But what if it does ?” I press, my hands clenching into fists.

He shifts in his seat, his gaze locking onto mine. His massive hand reaches out, cupping my cheek. His scales are warm against my skin, and I forget to breathe.

“It won’t,” he says firmly. “There are sixteen layers of fields that can’t even be seen with the naked eye beyond those on the visual spectrum. But, in the case that the field did fail—which has lower odds than you growing a second head—I would save you.”

I stare at him, my heart pounding. His confidence is overwhelming. But then reality crashes back in, and I feel a surge of frustration. How can he be so calm about this? How can I trust him when I barely know him?

He releases my cheek and takes my hand, leading me out of the car.

My legs feel like jelly as I step onto the docking bay floor, the air cool and tinged with the faint scent of salt.

The other Vakutan barely glance at us, too busy with their tasks.

One of them looks up from the flying saucer he’s working on and nods.

“Welcome to Project Veritas,” he says, his voice deep and resonant.

I don’t respond. I can’t. My mind is spinning, trying to process everything I’m seeing. The base, the Vakutan, the sheer scale of it all. Raekon’s hand tightens around mine, pulling me forward, and I stumble after him, my thoughts a chaotic whirlwind.

What have I gotten myself into?