Page 47 of You're Not My King!

It felt like I was there for hours, hunched over that table, back twinging and eyes starting to cross, but it was probably only twenty minutes or so. I was tired, and debating giving Na’lor a headache tonic, ’cause it had to be similar, right?

I groaned, resting my cheek in my hand, and flicked to the next page, reading the chaotic script aloud because nothing was sinking in anymore. “Ja’nyp, an unassuming plant, only grows underwater. See specific location: on the bed of the western spring.” That was the pool the clan often fetched drinking water from. It wasn’t far from camp. In fact, it was the place we’d stopped when I’d first met Vo’ak—my hot, mysterious stranger in the forest on a see-through horse.

I snorted and carried on. “Hard to spot as they blend in with the greenish-pink rocks… Yada, yada. Uses: the berries, which are pink in color with wine-toned leaves, can be consumed to—” I squinted, doing a double take. “Mask the bond between mates.”

No. Freaking. Way.

I perked up, no longerweary or slouching. “Only to be taken in the event of mate death or in hostile situations. Eaten directly, the berries will temporarily sever a mating bond. They dampen the symptoms—heightened arousal, possessive instincts and separation illness—while also masking the couple’s claimed scent. Berries can be crushed with other ingredients for permanent effects.”

Scrambling, I reached for a scrap of paper and a pencil, furiously and messily scribbling down a rough sketch of the small plant with its flared leaves and jewel-like berries, as well as a description of its color, and exactly where to find it.

That was it.

My ticket the hell out of here. And to think, it had been hiding so close the whole time.

All I had to do was shepherd Nie’tr and Ik’lyu together for long enough that I could slip away to the spring, eat the berries to dumb down my scent, then hide on a ship. Easy peasy. After that, I was stumped, but I’d figure it out. Maybe I could convince one of those over-friendly shark people to drop me off on their way home? That sounded plausible. All I needed was a map or something to find my way back to the trading post, and maybe a weapon just in case. I could start gathering essentials now, keep them hidden until the time was right.

Heart pounding—with giddiness or apprehension, I didn’t know—I tucked the page away for safekeeping, and dove back into finding a remedy for fang-ache. Now that the odds of leaving were in my favor, I had a little more gas in the tank. I just had to be patient and wait for the perfect opening.

I could do that.

As long as Vo’ak didn’t give me more reasons to stay.

No. I couldn’t let my guard slip. Not now. Sure, I was kinda growing fond of the dude—he was good with his dick and insatiable, too, now that we’d broken that barrier—and he was treating me better than I probably deserved, but it didn’t matter. I had to go home, to make amends with my family, and live my life how I wanted to live it.

Back when I had lain on the floor of Zack’s apartment, beaten and bloody, I used to cling to happy memories of my childhood, knowing I could die any day, but at least I had those to keep me company. I had always promised myself I’d do everything I could to return to that if I ever managed to get out of the situation I had caused. Back to the life I’d had before I’d made one dumb decision, before I’d fucked up and ruined the only good thing I had. I couldn’t exactly break that promise this early, could I?

Besides… changing course now would be too much work.

As promised, Fiona had convinced Vo’ak to let me tag along on her medi-crate drop-off at the neighboring clan. It wasn’t the place Johnny and Beatrice were stationed, but the opposite side, and a fraction of the distance—a few hours round trip. The big idiot had still grumbled, then shot two loads all over my face for good measure, but he’d agreed, and that was definitely a major boost in trust. He had sent Nie’tr with us as an escort, just in case, but it was progress.

The journey there was quick and uneventful. I spent most of the time willing my clumsy ass not to trip and fall flat on my face, while also being fed chunks of dried meat by Nie’tr—thinking, not for the first time, that he’d make someone a really attentive mate. It felt good to get out of the camp, even if it meant traipsing through the woods again and failing to shrug off the reminder of what those creepy trees could do. An involuntary shiver racked through me. I swore one or two of them had even tried flirting with me as I passed, but I chalked it up to my overactive imagination.

Thankfully, we’d reached the site before my legs had started to wobble. It was smaller than ours, more like a glade than a village, with treehouses as well as huts, but it made sense since there were fewer aliens. I knew that, because all of them were lined up from edge to edge of the camp to greet me. There were a lot of head dips and enthusiastic handshakes, as well as more than one Ly’zrd telling me how amazing Vo’ak was as Great Leader, and what a great choice of mate he’d made.

I had to agree on one of those counts, but I wouldn’t disclose which.

“Hey, why do they look familiar?” I lightly nudged Fiona, gesturing to the two aliens standing at the front of the crowd. The younger, bubblier one, seemed extra ecstatic to see me, doing a sort of clapping dance whenever he noticed my eyes were on him.

Fiona’s brow furrowed in concentration, giving them a once-over before exclaiming in recognition. “Ah, Del-taar and Ee-ganas.” She gave them a kind wave, which they both happily returned. “They act as the escorts for the humans at the trading post. You’ve probably seen them there.”

Oh, I remembered now.

Wonder where those other three humans ended up.

“Glad I made an impression.” I snorted, sending an acknowledging smile and half-wave. I felt a bit like a movie star. Who would have guessed it? ‘Reuben Carter, an alien paparazzo’s wet dream.’

“That one there”—she discreetly pointed to the more reserved, older alien searching the crowd—“is Ee-ganas, Ok’tna’s lover. There’s a rumor that they’re mates, but neither of them are ready to give up spreading their bounty across the land, if you catch my drift.”

I gasped dramatically, clutching at my imaginary pearls. “Fiona, you gossip.”

She shrugged. “An old dear like me has to find entertainment somehow. And hey, no judgment.” She jabbed her elbow deliberately into my side and winked. “I wouldn’t exactly mind either of them sowing their seeds on my turf.”

I stumbled over nothing, my chin just about hitting the sand. I stared at the back of her headas she giggled wickedly to herself and sashayed away.

She was definitely like my grandma.

“Try to keep up, slowpoke,” she called back, beckoning me to hurry up. “I want to get home before dark.”

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