Page 15 of Protected By the Alien Space Guardian

“When did… yours… stop?” I panted.

He knew what I meant. “It only lasted a few parsecs. It was bad, though.”

If he admitted it was bad, I knew I was in for one hellish ride and just leaned into him, breathing in and out, throwing glances at my arm here or there to make sure it wasn’t on fire or melting to the bone.

The lines kept forming, getting thicker and longer and winding elaborately up and down my forearm, twin lines to his. I didn’t need to look at my side. I was sure the lines there would be the same as his as well.

“Why? What does this mean?” I managed when the pain slowly subsided, leaving only an echo of it behind.

The lines were now thick black tattoos. I would have called them pretty had they not caused so much suffering and still worried me. Raasla didn’t seem worse for the wear from it. Not like this was the alien version of measles or something. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if there would be more and if they would kill me.

“It means you and I are bound now. You are my soulbond, and I am yours.”

Is he kidding me? I wondered, staring up into his face. His very handsome face.

“What?”

“I only discovered it a little while ago, but it seems my ancestors formed soulbonds with their mates. The appearance of soulweb glyphs guided fated couples to one another.”

“What?” I repeated myself. Did he mean he and I were married now?

A rush of what felt like warm oil moved through my veins and heated my tummy before it fluttered delightfully again. As gruff as he could be at times and for as little time as I had known him, the idea appealed to me on a deep, instinctual level.

I held my jubilation back, though, because as much as he was comforting me, he felt stiffer now. As if he didn’t quite like the idea.

Too bad ’cause you’re mine now. That thought came out of nowhere, but its intensity filled me with a whirlwind of emotions. Alongside my undeniable attraction to him, there was also a deep sense of possessiveness and longing that stirred within me.

I wanted him to look at me again the way he had before we had sex. The way he had looked at the silly woman in the mess hall.

“I understand that this notion might not be pleasing to you and probably confusing. It is new to me too,” he said at length.

“I’m not sure yet…” So many things confused me about it. I held my arm up to his. Yep, exactly the same. Mirrored tattoos that… wait. I held my arm differently. Now the lines connected, making a circle. Not a perfect circle, but they connected.

“Why did you come here?” I asked, meaning why had he entered my cabin when he did.

He understood. His eyes took on a faraway look, and his jaw tightened. “It was as if you were calling me. Somehow, I knew you needed me.”

Oh fuck. This whole soulweb thing was taking on a new dimension.

“You knew I needed you?” I repeated.

He nodded. “It was like a drive, an urge. I had to come see you.”

“Wow.” I wasn’t sure what disturbed me more the fact that my subconscience mind seemed to have had decided that I needed him or the fact that we were now somehow connected.

He grunted his agreement, not looking pleased about it at all.

“So now what?”

“I will take you to Astrionis as promised, and from there, I will go to find out what this is.” He indicated our tattoos.

“You will leave me there?” I checked, not liking the idea.

“You will be safe there.”

“What if I have a… tummy ache or something? Will you come flying all the way back?”

It was meant as a joke, but my stomach somersaulted when he stared thoughtfully at me. “This is not your fight.”

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