Page 62 of Alien's Eternal Mate

Pageus arched his brows.

“You have an excellent chance. I’ve seen many duels in my time as war chief of the Starlost tribe, Gro. I have seen fantastically gifted warriors fall to mere novices. I’ve seen technically sound fighters be overwhelmed by larger, stronger, and faster opponents.”

He heaved a sigh.

“Everyone who enters a duel has a chance of victory.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, I guess.”

I waited for his laughter to die down before continuing.

“But realistically, isn’t there anything you can tell me that will be of actual help?”

“Yes. Don’t lose.”

He clapped me on the arm. I watched him go, then sighed. I looked around at the Masari. Everyone seemed to know their place, to know their role in the defense. I saw no need to be present.

“I think I’ll just go home for a while,” I muttered, moving away from the chaos. When I reached the house I shared with Arael, I found her standing at the door, her eyes haunted with worry.

“Is it true?” she asked breathlessly. “Are you the new Peace Chief? Are you really going to duel Grhoma Jark?”

I didn’t want her to worry, but I could not face her lavender gaze and lie.

“It’s true. All of it.”

She nodded, and tried to smile, though her eyes grew glassy with oncoming tears.

“Then you’d better come in and eat something. You don’t want to have a duel on an empty…”

She buried her face in her hands. I went to her, putting my arms around her and holding her close.

“It’s all right, Arael. It’s all going to be all right.”

“No, it’s not! Jark is a monster. Why? Why did you have to accept the chieftainship? Could you not have refused?”

“Then someone else would have had to face him. At least I have a better chance of beating him than most.”

She buried her face in my chest and groaned.

“Just because you are physically larger than him does not mean you are equal. You’ve only been in this body for a year. Jark has spent his entire life training, fighting, and preparing for duels just like this one.”

“Indeed, and he has been training to fight one of his own kind. My alien brain will throw him off and give me a distinct advantage.”

“You are trying to reassure me. Please, don’t face him!” She put her smooth hands against my cheeks. My heart ached. I wanted to do as she asked, but I could not.

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t. We can run away, just the two of us. We can find another tribe to join--”

“And if we do as you say, what then?” I shook my head sadly. “We might find safety of the most temporary kind. But what if Jark comes to the new tribe? Will we flee again? Sooner or later, there will be no place to run.”

She balled up her fists and pounded me in the chest.

“Damn you! Must you always be so logical?”

“Not always. You make me want to forget all about logic and just feel.”

Her face twisted into an inscrutable mask. Arael took my hand, and then led me into the house.

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