Page 54 of My Alien Pirate

Sara's eyes were already starting to droop, exhaustion clearly taking over. "Stay?" she asked, her fingers tightening weakly around mine.

"Of course," I assured her. "I'll be right here."

As Sara drifted back to sleep, I felt Zharrox move closer, one of his tentacles wrapping gently around my waist. The contact sent a surge of warmth through our growing bond.

"You should rest too," he said softly. "You've been here for hours."

I leaned back against him, drawing comfort from his solid presence. "I will. I just want to make sure she's really okay."

Daz made a series of clicking sounds as he examined the displays. "Her vital signs are stabilizing," he reported. "Theneural activity patterns are extremely encouraging. I believe she will make a full recovery."

Relief flooded through me, and I felt Zharrox's answering surge of joy through our bond. He understood how important Sara was to me, how much I needed my friend to be okay.

"Nova," Zharrox said, his voice taking on a more serious tone, "there's something we need to discuss. About our bond."

I turned to face him, noting the mixture of excitement and anxiety in his ridge patterns. "What is it?"

He glanced at Daz, who took the hint and busied himself with his instruments on the other side of the med bay. "Not here," Zharrox said. "Come with me?"

I looked back at Sara's peaceful face, torn between staying with my friend and following my mate. As if sensing my dilemma, Daz spoke up.

"I will monitor her closely," he assured me. "If there's any change, you'll be the first to know."

After a moment's hesitation, I nodded. "Okay," I said, giving Sara's hand one final squeeze before letting go. "Why don't you call Manny and let him know she's awake. He'll want to know."

"Of course," Daz agreed.

36

The Bond Grows

As Zharrox led me from the med bay, I couldn't help but wonder what he needed to tell me about our bond. From the swirling colors in his ridges and the mix of emotions I could feel through our connection, it seemed both exciting and potentially complicated.

"Everything okay?" I asked as we walked, my hand finding his naturally.

He squeezed my fingers gently. "Yes, my little zixxit. Everything is perfect. There's just something important we need to discuss about completing our bond."

The warmth in his voice and the love flowing through our connection reassured me that whatever he needed to tell me, we would face it together. As we headed toward his quarters, I felt that familiar pull in my chest strengthen, drawing me closer to him.

As we entered Zharrox's quarters, I felt a sense of comfort and familiarity wash over me. This space had become a sanctuary forus, a place where we could be ourselves and explore our bond away from the curious eyes of the crew.

Zharrox led me to the large, circular seating area in the center of the main space, which instantly molded to our forms as we sat down. His tentacles wrapping around me gently, drawing me closer to him now evoked feelings of safety and peace rather than fear and I nestled happily into them. I could feel the warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his hearts beating against my chest.

"Nova," he began, his sparkling eyes meeting mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "There's something important I need to tell you about our bond. I spoke to Zalira, the ancient priestess I told you about, and she told me about the final step in our bonding ritual."

I leaned in, intrigued and slightly nervous. "The ceremony? What about it?"

"The bond needs to be completed in a sacred grove called K'thara, near my homeworld," he explained. "It's a place of immense spiritual power, consecrated by centuries of bonding ceremonies. The energies there will solidify our bond and make it eternal."

His words sent a thrill through me, but also a wave of anxiety. "So we have to travel there? How long will that take?"

"Twenty rotations," he said, his tentacles tightening around me as if to reassure me. "It's a significant journey, but it's necessary. The journey itself is a test of our commitment and the strength of our bond."

Twenty rotations. An eternity after everything we'd already been through. But the idea of making our union permanent and sacred was deeply appealing. I tried to smile and be brave. I could tell he was concerned about my reaction to this news. "I guess we'll have to wait twenty rotations then." I shrugged. "Whatever it takes to be together, Zharrox."

A smile played on his lips, and his ridges danced with purple and blue. "I knew you would understand, my love. I hate that it will take so long but there are things we can do in the meantime."

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination and excitement. "Really? What's the next step?"

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