Page 39 of Alien's Eternal Mate

“I do not know. The device requires an interface the scanner cannot provide. I will have to create a control console just to access the primary functions, and even then it might be months or even years before…”

I laughed, and shook my head.

“It’s going to be an exciting time.”

I kissed Arael again. Our hands lingered together as she parted. Ignio favored me with a smile when I returned to him.

“You have a marriage blessed by the Architects,” he said, using one of the Masari terms for the Precursors.

“Perhaps I do.”

Project Blue Dawn, the Alliance, Earth, aliens…it all seemed so far away. I no longer thought of the Masari as alien.

The realization should have triggered my panic, and forced me to double down on my hard line beliefs. This time, it did not.

My xenophobia, which I used to couch in such logical terms, now seems utterly farcical. I was wrong to work with Earth First and Project Blue Dawn.

Guilt rolled in over my soul like an angry storm cloud. I spent the rest of the day going through the motions while my insides roiled. I’d never really felt that what I did was wrong before that moment.

Now I couldn’t turn my face away from the reality of my deeds.

I excused myself from the workshop and walked home, feeling numb. Masari passing me on the street nodded, and some even smiled. Gro was more popular than I had ever been. Why was that?

Mostly because I haven’t been acting like myself.

The realization hit me like a hammer square in the forehead. I covered my face with my hand—Gro’s hand—and squeezed my eyes shut as I trudged home.

All that time I thought I fought the good fight for Earth First, and really I was on the side of the devils.

These Masari are not so different from humanity. We look different, but on the inside we’re really the same.

How could I have been so blind?

I made it through the door. Arael took one look and realized I was upset. She came over to me and put her arms around my waist, staring up at me.

“What’s wrong?”

I put my hand on her cheek, moisture welling up in the corners of my eyes.

“Arael.”

I gasped out her name like a religious man giving a testimonial.

“You’re a brilliant, clever, strong, and caring woman. And you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen on this or any other world.”

A smile stretched her lips and she caressed my forearm.

“You make my heart soar with your sweet words.”

“That’s my point.” I took her by the arms and looked deep into her twilight gaze. “You’re far too good of a woman for me. I’m a villain, Arael. I thought myself to be on the side of right, but now I realize I’m not a good man, and I never have been.”

She shook her head and put her hands on my face.

“That’s not true. You are a good man. You contribute your own earnings to the Shunned. You work tirelessly to uncover more knowledge to improve our way of life. And…”

Her voice dropped lower, and her eyes grew warm and glassy.

“You treat me with gentle kindness. I’m glad that Gro got hurt. I’m glad that your soul came to dwell in his body. I hated him. But I love you.”

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