Starlit Throne - Chapter 7: Neon Jungle
Second Version - English
Rating: M/E
Genres: Romantasy | Sci-Fi | Slow Burn | Space Opera | Fated Mates
Summary:
Cassia Harper thought her biggest struggles were making rent, keeping up with Brighton’s fashion scene, and selling enough handmade crafts to help her family. But when a mysterious, brooding soldier-for-hire with pointed ears crashes into her life, everything changes.
Her past isn’t what she thought. The father she barely remembers wasn’t just some distant traveler and the pin she wears every day? Not just an antique!
Now, with assassins on her trail and a protector who refuses to claim her (even though the tension between them is scorching), Cassia has to decide: will she run from her destiny or rise to it?
Expect:
🔥 Slow-burn with intense tension (and several many very hot payoffs 😏)
🐺 Cosmic pointed-eared protector (who knows she’s his mate but refuses to act on it... at first)
👑 Galactic politics
🌌 A space opera filled with action, smut & drama
🛸 Brighton, UK meets the stars
The ship landed like a breath, settling into the soft earth. Steam rose around the landing gear, ghostly and strange in the blue light. Cassia and Dain emerged like specters, made unreal by the bioluminescence. Vines shimmered gold, massive mushrooms pulsed in soft blue light, and strange flowers opened and closed as they passed. A sweet scent hung in the air, and Cassia's eyes lit with wonder as she touched a leaf that changed color beneath her fingers. "We should be safe here for now," Dain said, his ears twitching. "The atmospheric conditions will mask our ship's signature."
Cassia took a step away from the ship, her hand still lingering on the side of its hull as if hesitant to leave the safety it represented. She glanced back at Dain, who was crouched, adjusting something on a piece of tactical gear, his sharp features illuminated in the jungle's glow.
"You think Vertex won't track us here?" Her voice was quiet, tinged with both hope and doubt.
"They'll try," Dain replied, his eyes scanning the dense flora that surrounded them. "But the interference from this atmosphere gives us an advantage."
"Advantage," Cassia echoed, letting out a breath. "I'll take what I can get."
Dain rose to his full height, an imposing figure even in this alien forest. He moved toward her, his steps deliberate and soundless.
"We need to keep moving," he said, his gaze never resting in one place for more than a moment.
Cassia nodded, trying to match his calm but knowing she was failing. Her heart still pounded from their escape, and the vivid world around them felt like something out of a dream. As they moved further into the jungle, she couldn't help but steal glances at the mesmerizing sights.
The jungle was alive in ways Cassia had never imagined. Gigantic leaves arched over their heads, shimmering as if spun from precious metal. They moved like creatures themselves, swaying gently without any breeze. Cassia reached out to touch one, and it rippled under her fingers, shifting from gold to a deep bronze. She laughed, the sound bright and startling in the otherwise quiet surroundings.
"Focus," Dain said, a hint of dry humor in his voice despite the seriousness of his words.
Cassia smiled at him, her fear momentarily forgotten. "I'm focusing," she replied. "Just not on the same thing you are."
Dain's mouth twitched in the closest thing to a smile she had ever seen from him. It was an expression that vanished as quickly as it came, replaced by his usual vigilance.
The jungle's vastness seemed to absorb all sound, wrapping them in an eerie stillness. When noise did reach their ears, it was strange and distant: a series of clicks that echoed like ghostly drums, a haunting wail from some unseen creature, and low, resonant calls that could have been animals or the wind itself.
Dain stopped abruptly, his body tense, head tilting as he listened. Cassia held her breath, her own instincts warning her to stay still. After a moment, Dain relaxed, his rigid posture softening.
"Just the wildlife," he murmured, half to himself.
Cassia exhaled slowly, trying to match his composure. "Good," she said, a little too brightly. "I didn't bring the right shoes for combat."
Dain gave her an amused glance. "Next time, pack more practically."
"I wasn't exactly given time to pack anything," Cassia replied, rolling her eyes. Her expression turned more serious. "This place... it's like nothing I've ever seen."
Dain nodded, scanning the surroundings again. "The bioluminescence is remarkable," he admitted. "It might even confuse thermal sensors."
They continued forward, weaving through towering mushrooms that cast gentle blue light onto their path. Smaller, glowing insects darted around them, blinking on and off like tiny, living stars. As the forest grew denser, they had to duck beneath luminescent vines that dangled in elaborate patterns, each movement making the jungle seem even more alive.
Cassia paused to inspect a cluster of flowers. Their petals opened in spirals, glowing brightly until they detected her presence, then snapping shut like timid creatures. She leaned in, inhaling their sweet, unfamiliar scent.
"What do you think it is?" she asked, not entirely sure she wanted the scientific answer.
"The perfume?" Dain replied, with an arched eyebrow. "Possibly an airborne irritant. Don't inhale too deeply."
"You're a regular tour guide, you know that?" Cassia said, smirking.
This time, Dain allowed the smile to reach his eyes. "It's easy to forget what we're running from," he said softly, "in a place like this."
Cassia hesitated, caught by the warmth in his usually reserved tone. The jungle surrounded them with its surreal beauty, making the world beyond seem distant and unreal. For a moment, she could almost believe they were safe.
But she knew better than to trust in momentary peace. Dain's hand brushed her shoulder, guiding her onward. They moved deeper into the heart of the glowing forest, their path lit by the shifting lights of an alien world.
Cassia marveled at the way Dain navigated the jungle. He seemed part of it, weaving gracefully between the glowing trees, his movements synchronized with the shifting light. Her own steps felt clumsy in comparison, but she kept pace, watching as he moved confidently among the strange flora. She activated her Gragaruam bracelet to scan their surroundings, the metallic band glowing softly as it projected holographic readouts.
The light from the bracelet mingled with the bioluminescence, creating a swirling pattern of colors that danced across the leaves. Cassia watched the data scroll past, identifying each plant and creature they passed. It was reassuring to have something familiar in this alien landscape, even if her grasp of the technology was rudimentary at best.
"It's amazing," she said, watching as the Gragaruam highlighted a cluster of spiny shrubs. "Everything here is so different from home."
Dain slowed, glancing back at her. "Different," he agreed, the word carrying layers of meaning.
Cassia knew he meant more than just the flora. She could see it in the way he moved, more relaxed than she'd ever known him to be, his usual caution tempered by the wonder of their surroundings. It was contagious, this loosening of their usual fears, and she found herself smiling as she kept up with his pace.
The holographic projections shifted with each step, the bracelet calculating the safety of their path. Cassia watched as new data scrolled into view, translating the unknown into something tangible.
"Are you scanning for Vertex?" Dain asked, his voice dry.
"Is that what you're doing?" she replied, her tone teasing. "Maybe I should leave that to the expert."
He gave her a look that was almost playful. "I'd be offended if I thought you meant it."
The jungle opened up around them, the dense growth giving way to a broader clearing. Cassia and Dain slowed their pace, taking in the view. The ground beneath them glowed softly, lighting up with their footsteps like a living carpet of stars. Cassia laughed at the sight, the sound echoing like a joyful creature.
Dain watched her, his usual stiffness softening. "Your bracelet will have a hard time keeping up," he said, but there was no reprimand in his voice.
"I think it's keeping pace just fine," she replied, enjoying the easy banter between them.
They moved toward the center of the clearing, where a series of pools glimmered in the dim light. The water's surface shimmered with delicate blue-green hues, each pool a miniature universe unto itself. Strange, translucent creatures swam in intricate patterns, leaving glowing trails behind them.
Cassia knelt beside one of the pools, her Gragaruam scanning the water. Tiny organisms leaped from the surface like glowing sparks, lighting up the air before disappearing into the shadows. She watched, fascinated, as the bracelet's projections confirmed the absence of danger.
"It's saying these are safe to touch," she told Dain, her excitement barely contained.
"Safe," Dain echoed, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "If you trust alien technology."
Cassia shot him a grin. "I'll take my chances."
She dipped her fingers into the cool liquid, watching as the water clung to her skin in droplets that continued to glow. The sensation was both familiar and alien, the light dancing across her hands like something alive. She held her fingers up, marveling at the way the droplets seemed to pulse in time with her heartbeat.
Dain crouched beside her, their shoulders touching. The contact was electric, more unexpected than anything the jungle had shown them. Cassia felt her pulse quicken, a different kind of wonder taking hold.
"You should try it," she said, her voice softer than she intended.
Dain watched the glowing water, his military training at odds with his curiosity. "I think it's best I remain dry," he replied, but there was warmth in his refusal.
They lingered beside the pools, the jungle surrounding them in its surreal embrace. The canopy above was a cathedral of light, the leaves filtering the dim sun into beams that crisscrossed the space. It felt sacred, this moment of peace between them, the weight of their circumstances briefly forgotten.
Cassia found herself leaning into Dain's presence, the tension that had defined their flight easing with each passing second. He seemed to sense it, his usual distance narrowing as he turned his focus entirely to her.
"It feels like we're the only ones in the universe," she said, the words more true than she'd expected.
Dain didn't reply, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. His disciplined nature softened, revealing something more vulnerable beneath. The stillness stretched between them, filled with unspoken thoughts and a connection that defied the chaos of their lives.
The jungle pulsed gently in response to their presence, the light shifting and dancing like a living entity. It surrounded them with its magic, a silent witness to the changes in their hearts.
Twilight turned the jungle into a sea of light. Cassia and Dain sat beneath a massive tree, its roots forming a natural shelter around them. The ground glowed with an ethereal blue-green luminescence, shadows leaping in patterns like schools of fish. They shared rations from their packs, the Gragaruam projecting a map onto the trunk. Cassia watched the readouts absently, her attention more on Dain than their surroundings. "I know this isn't your idea of a relaxing getaway," she said, trying for humor. "Think you'll survive the boredom?"
Dain's lips twitched, a rare show of amusement. "I've endured worse," he replied, glancing at the bracelet's projections. "This time, it appears we have potable water nearby."
"Luxury accommodations, then," Cassia said, breaking open a ration pack and sniffing its contents with a dramatic grimace. "And gourmet meals."
They settled into a companionable silence, the alien night folding around them. The jungle's bioluminescence intensified, bathing them in shifting colors that made their world seem both intimate and infinite. Cassia watched Dain out of the corner of her eye, the quiet between them deepening as the minutes stretched on.
"It doesn't feel real," she said finally, her voice cutting through the hum of the jungle.
Dain looked at her, a question in his silver-grey eyes.
"This place," Cassia continued. "And us in it. Like we've stepped into someone else's story."
His gaze lingered on her, and she saw the flicker of something behind his usual reserve. Curiosity, perhaps, or something even rarer.
"Why did you take this job, Dain?" Cassia asked, the question emerging with more urgency than she'd intended. "Why me?"
He hesitated, and she thought for a moment he wouldn't answer.
"You offered the best pay," he said finally, his voice neutral. But Cassia noticed the way his hands stilled, and she knew there was more beneath the surface.
"You're not as hard to read as you think," she said, a hint of challenge in her tone.
Dain raised an eyebrow, a silent dare for her to continue.
"Maybe it's time I started offering a little less," Cassia mused, leaning back against the tree. "See who's really interested in sticking around."
"Your uncle's forces might not be swayed by reduced compensation," Dain said dryly. "Or by family loyalty."
Cassia flinched at his words, but she nodded. "They'd probably be surprised I'm still alive," she admitted. "Sometimes, I am too."
Her candidness seemed to disarm him, and she watched as his rigid posture relaxed ever so slightly. The Gragaruam continued to cast its map across the tree, the readings flickering like distant stars.
Cassia tilted her head, trying to catch Dain's eye. "What about you? Do you surprise yourself, Dain?"
His expression shifted, closing off, then opening again. It was like watching a door she hadn't realized was there creak open.
"Rarely," he said, a roughness to his voice. "But it has happened."
Cassia smiled, a slow, genuine curve of her lips. The light made everything feel suspended in time, and she sensed the change between them, a thread of something that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
"You once said you'd been to more planets than you could count," she said. "What's the most beautiful place you've seen?"
Dain met her gaze, his eyes reflecting the jungle's colors. He hesitated again, the pause more loaded this time, as if choosing his words with the care of a man diffusing a bomb.
"There was one," he began, the clipped precision of his speech softening. "Entirely covered in water. The inhabitants built their cities on rafts and coral."
Cassia listened, leaning forward. The way he spoke, it was as if she were watching him transform, shedding the shell of the soldier, becoming someone she might actually know.
"Every surface shimmered," Dain continued, "reflecting the sun and sea. At night, the light danced across the waves, turning the ocean into a sky full of stars."
"It sounds like a dream," Cassia said, her voice almost a whisper.
"It was," he replied, and the rawness in his tone made the space between them hum.
They sat in silence, the air between them changed. Cassia felt her heart beating in time with the jungle's pulse, felt the connection drawing her closer to him.
Dain's hand moved, reaching toward her face with an intensity that made everything else fade away. Cassia leaned into the gesture, her breath catching in her throat.
But at the last moment, he pulled back, standing abruptly. The motion was so sudden that it broke the spell, leaving Cassia disoriented and vulnerable.
"I can't," he said, his voice rough and conflicted. "My duty is to protect you, not..." He trailed off, unable or unwilling to finish the thought.
Cassia sat very still, the disappointment crashing over her like a physical blow. She'd been so sure of his feelings, so sure of the shift between them, and now the distance seemed greater than ever.
Dain stood there, fists clenched, the struggle clear in every line of his body. His eyes lingered on her lips, a silent testament to the things he couldn't say.
The awkward tension settled like a heavy fog, suffocating and undeniable. They were both prisoners of it, and neither knew how to break free.
The explosion shattered the night, a sudden, violent roar that lit the sky and shook the ground beneath them. Cassia and Dain sprang to their feet, the urgency of the moment replacing the awkwardness that had hung between them. Their weapons were ready, instincts honed by months on the run kicking in.
"Vertex?" Cassia asked, her voice sharp with alarm.
Dain's ears twitched, catching distant sounds. "No," he said, listening to the growing cacophony of battle. "Something bigger."
A series of rapid explosions followed, lighting the horizon like a deadly fireworks show. The brief peace of the jungle was gone, replaced by the chaos of conflict. Cassia's heart pounded in her chest, fear and adrenaline driving her forward.
"We need to move," Dain said, already in motion.
The jungle had transformed again, the ethereal glow now interspersed with flashes of destruction. The ground shook as another explosion went off, and Cassia stumbled, her balance lost in the tumult.
Dain caught her, his grip firm and steady. "This way," he urged, pulling her into the cover of the dense foliage.
Cassia's mind raced, her thoughts a jumble of panic and strategy. She activated the Gragaruam, the bracelet's light flickering against the bioluminescence as it struggled to keep up with the rapid changes.
"Are we under attack?" Cassia's voice trembled with the weight of the unknown.
Dain's lupine features became more pronounced, his eyes sharp and focused. "Not yet," he said, "but we're too close."
The bracelet beeped urgently, displaying heat signatures of multiple combatants several kilometers away. Cassia felt a surge of relief mixed with dread. They weren't the target—at least, not yet.
"Out here," Dain muttered, more to himself than to her. "Rebel activity."
Cassia's mind snapped to attention. "My uncle's men?" she asked, horror dawning in her eyes.
Dain nodded grimly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "We need to see what's happening," he said. "And decide if we're still safe here."
Another explosion rocked the jungle, the sound followed by a burst of weapons fire. Cassia and Dain moved swiftly, using the glowing plants as cover. The underbrush provided some shelter from the chaos, but every explosion felt like it was drawing closer.
"We can't run blind," Dain said, his voice taut with urgency. "We need eyes on this."
Cassia knew he was right, but every instinct screamed at her to flee. She pushed down the panic, focusing on the Gragaruam's readouts as they advanced toward the disturbance.
The noise grew louder, a terrifying symphony of war. Cassia's heart raced as they reached the edge of a ridge, the glowing jungle spread out below them like a battlefield lit by fire and light.
"There," Dain said, pointing to a hidden structure built into the side of a mountain. "A rebel base."
Cassia followed his gaze, her stomach twisting as she saw the scale of the attack. Sleek black ships hovered above, raining energy blasts onto the defenders. Even from a distance, she could see the insignia—her uncle's elite guard.
The scene was devastating, the rebel forces overwhelmed by the superior technology of their attackers. Cassia watched in horror as rebels fell under the assault, their return fire seemingly ineffective.
"We have to help them," she said, already moving forward.
Dain caught her arm, conflict clear on his face. "It could be a trap," he warned, his grip tightening.
Cassia looked at him, her expression a mixture of determination and desperation. "It could be our only chance," she replied, pulling away.
Dain hesitated, the weight of their choices hanging heavily between them. His duty was to protect her, but she could see the struggle in his eyes, the part of him that knew she was right.
He glanced back at the battle, the ships strafing the ground with merciless precision. The decision tore at him, ripping through his careful plans and forcing him into the unknown.
Cassia watched, her heart in her throat, as Dain's resolve hardened. His features became more feral, a sign of his commitment to whatever lay ahead.
"Together," he said, his voice firm.
They prepared to intervene, the battle raging below them and the consequences of their decision looming like a shadow. It was a moment of truth, a reckoning that would change everything.
The Gragaruam beeped a final warning, its readouts a chaotic blur as they made their choice. The jungle lit up with another explosion, but this time, Cassia and Dain didn't hesitate. They moved as one, the weight of the universe be damned.