Page 50 of Primal Call

Worrack groaned. "See? I told you! Just look at how they look at each other! Human mates always make a Borraq weak, even a big strong one like him."

Soren rolled his eyes, but couldn't suppress a small smile. "I'll never understand it. Urgh."

For a moment, their youthful energy was a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. Then they both straightened up, puffing out their chests as if preparing for something important. "Do you want to… Uh, I mean, I am formally extending an invitation to you to come visit our clan." Worrack said stiffly.

Kyral felt his heart skip a beat. Visit their clan? A place where humans and Borraq lived together in peace? It sounded too good to be true. "Are you really sure your alpha won't mind you inviting a clanless warrior to your land?"

To his surprise, the two young warriors relaxed, laughter bubbling up between them. "Clanless? Who cares about being clanless, when you protected a human?" Worrack said with a broad grin. "Our alpha has a human mate himself."

Kyral stared. He glanced at Jasper, whose eyes were wide with shock and disbelief.

Jasper slowly began to rise to his feet, wincing slightly from his recent injury. Kyral moved to support him, his strong hands steadying Jasper's slender frame.

"I'd like that very much," Jasper said softly, his voice tinged with wonder. "Especially if it's somewhere a little warmer…"

Kyral felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to believe that there might be a place for him — a place for them — beyond the endless struggle and solitude.

Worrack and Soren exchanged knowing looks, their earlier annoyance replaced by genuine delight. "Then let's get going," Soren said, gesturing toward the path ahead. "It's a bit of a journey, but we'll get you there safely."

Kyral nodded, feeling an unexpected surge of gratitude toward these young warriors who had so boldly broken tradition to offer them sanctuary.

As Worrack tended to Soren, securing bandages for him for travel, Kyral and Jasper had a moment of privacy.

"I never knew there were safe places for humans on Vasz," Jasper said quietly, his voice tinged with wonder.

Kyral's heart swelled with emotion he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years. "I didn't either."

Jasper's lips curved into a smile, and Kyral's breath caught in his throat. Despite the lingering pallor from the poison, Jasper's smile was genuine. It lit up his face, transforming him from a weary young man into someone radiant and full of hope.

The sight stirred something primal within Kyral — an instinctual urge to protect his mate, to keep that smile on Jasper's face for the rest of their lives.

Worrack and Soren's bickering faded into background noise as Kyral stepped closer to Jasper. With a tender touch, he cupped Jasper's face in his hands. "The galaxy is full of surprises," he whispered.

As Jasper fit into his arms, Kyral felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over him.

And safe in Jasper's pocket, the gems were pressed between them.

Chapter twenty-one

Jasper was elbow-deep in a pile of herbs, his wavy hair sticking to his forehead with the jungle's humidity. It was a good kind of heat, the kind that seeped into your bones and made you feel alive.

He was definitely getting used to this place.

The Borraq village was a riot of color, a jewel set deep within the heart of the jungle. Every morning, Jasper was woken up by the sight of emerald leaves through his window, the sound of strange birds calling to each other. The air was thick and sweet, heavy with the scent of flowers.

It was a far cry from the sterile, metal hallways of human military bases. Jasper had never felt more at home.

"Jasper, hand me that."

He snapped back to attention and handed over the jar of crushed herbs. The Borraq medic — a stocky woman by the name of Kree — took it with a nod of thanks. She mixed the herbs into a bowl, the vivid reds and greens standing out against her golden fur. "Stir that for me," she commanded.

Jasper obeyed, gripping the thick wooden spoon and setting to work. The mixture gave off a spicy scent, making his nose twitch. "This is the good stuff, right? The really potent healing herbs?"

Kree grunted in confirmation. "These are good for cuts, wounds. You see…"

The Borraq village might be a far cry from any human settlement, but medicine was medicine. Jasper had thrown himself into learning everything he could. He'd peppered everyone with questions until Rael had sent him to Kree as an apprentice, exasperated. But Kree had been a patient teacher, and Jasper had been a diligent student.

He'd learned how to identify the local herbs, which ones were used for healing and which for poisons. He'd learned how to grind them into powders, how to mix them into salves. He'd learned the basics of Borraq physiology, how their body chemistry differed from humans.

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