Page 44 of Alien Prince's Fated Mate

“Welcome.” The wing master’s dark eyes sparkled with mischief. “I owe you both a debt. My charges have never had such entertaining playthings before.”

I exchanged a confused glance with Tharon. His fingers tightened at my waist.

The wing master tapped the wooden table beside her. Metal glinted among the scattered feathers and leather straps. My breath caught as I recognized twisted pieces of the Temple’sdrones - wings crumpled, sensors crushed, circuitry spilling out like metallic entrails.

“The metal birds you brought with you?” The falcon master’s weathered face split in a grin. “My aravela love to snatch them from the sky. Such sport they’ve had, tearing them apart mid-flight.”

A soft chirp drew my attention to one of the cages. An aravela preened its iridescent feathers, talons still wrapped around a mangled piece of drone casing.

“Beautiful,” I breathed, reaching toward the cage. The bird stretched its neck, investigating my fingers through the bars.

“They know their own worth.” The wing master’s apprentice adjusted her studded gauntlet before opening the cage. “This one has carried messages to Zashi before. She knows the way.”

My fingers tingled where they brushed the metallic feathers. So different from the cold systems of the Temple, yet still a marvel of design. The swift-wing preened under my attention, showing off how her scales caught the light.

“She likes you.” Tharon’s hand settled at the small of my back, spreading warmth through my body. When I glanced up, his eyes held gentle amusement at my fascination.

“The message.” The wing master held out a small leather case. “Be brief.”

I caught my lower lip between my teeth. The words wouldn’t come. How could I explain everything that had happened? The Temple, the pod, the choice ahead of us...

Tharon’s finger brushed my lip, startling me from my thoughts. “Stop that. You’ll hurt yourself.”

I released my lip, surprised by the gentle rebuke in his tone. His touch lingered for a moment before dropping away.

“Start with telling them you’re safe,” he said. “That’s what they’ll want to know first.”

“Safe?” I blinked up at him. “Why would they be worried about me?”

His expression softened, though a hint of exasperation remained. “Because they care about you.”

The thought struck me oddly. In the Temple, connections between acolytes were discouraged. Friendship was a foreign concept, a weakness to be purged.

“I hate asking them for help.” My fingers traced the edge of the crystal case. “They’ve already risked so much.”

“You need their knowledge of Terr.” Tharon’s hand covered mine, stilling my nervous movement. “The real city, not just what you saw through the distorted mirror of the Temple. They can help us find a better way.”

He was right. My understanding of Terr came from data feeds and neural links. I knew its infrastructure, its power grid, its maintenance tunnels. But I didn’t know its people, its daily rhythms, its hidden places where rebels might gather.

“Here.” Tharon took the case from my trembling fingers. “Let me help.”

He drew out a thin stylus and began writing in precise, elegant script. Just a few lines, enough to let them know I lived and needed their aid. Not enough to endanger them if the message was intercepted.

The aravela chirped softly, as if approving his efficiency. I watched his hands move across the surface, grateful for his help when words failed me.

Moments later, the bird launched into the darkening sky, her scaled wings flashing silver against purple clouds. I tracked her flight until she vanished among the stars.

“Come.” Tharon’s hand found mine. “You need rest in a proper bed.”

I let him guide me from the tent, the camp spreading out before us, fires dotting the gathering dark like earthbound stars.Snippets of conversation and laughter drifted on the evening breeze:

“...new ore deposits in the eastern caves...”

“...trading caravan due within the week...”

“...such strange eyes the prince’s woman has...”

My steps faltered at that last comment. Tharon’s grip tightened on my hand.

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