Page 3 of An Alien for the Future

“No, Xarion! I was joking.”

His gaze lifts to my eyes. “I see.”

I think that’s the end of it so I keep on walking. Truth is, I would love it if he dropped it. I know Eleanor and Catherine are navigating this new life just fine. They’ve both got mates. Fated mates, apparently, if I dare believe such a thing is truly possible. It’s great, what they’ve found. I’ve only just found peace, and this is supposed to be a new start. A new home for me where I can live the rest of my days in solitude without some man making my blood pressure skyrocket.

“Donna,” Xarion’s voice cuts through my thoughts and I stiffen a little. “I understand your desire for solitude, but isolation isn’t healthy for humans. You need companionship, connection—”

I stop, this time to scan the bushes around us. “What I need is to find these damn berries you promised. Unless this is just some wild goose chase to get me socializing.”

Xarion’s ears droop slightly. “The zimi berries are quite real, I assure you. They should be on bushes with silver-tipped leaves.”

As we continue our search, Xarion persists. “Have you considered joining one of the communal projects? The Kari are quite interested in Earth agricultural techniques.”

I snort, pushing aside a thorny branch. “Sure. That’s definitely what they’re interested in. I’ll just mosey on down to one of these meetings and show ‘em how to grow corn in soil darker than a moonless night. Maybe I’ll even throw in a lesson on how to make bread from blue grain that tastes like dirt.”

“Your expertise could be valuable.” That’s the thing with Xarion. He doesn’t react to my quips. He gets me. Gets that I’m not being prickly, just being me. Talking to him is like talking to one of my cousins. “The Initiative encourages cross-species collaboration,” he continues, yelping as his suit catches on a thorn.

“Cross-species collaboration,” I mutter. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

Xarion blinks at me. “I don’t understand your implication.”

I sigh, pausing our trek. “Look, Xarion, I appreciate what you’re trying to do. But I didn’t come here to make friends or find a fabled ‘mate’. I came here for peace and quiet.” I frown at him. “Weren’t you the one adamant on not letting Catherine go fulfill her matebond with a Kari? You were so scared it would kill her. Now you’re here trying to convince me to get one.”

Xarion’s nose twitches. “Now that I have seen the positive effects of these bonds, we believe it might be in your best interest finding a Kari mate, after all.”

I give him a dry look. “Mmhm.”

“You do not have to become mates. Companionship is also good.”

“Companionship. Right. You really think those males want to hang out in my kitchen exchanging stories and singing blues while I bake bluebread?” When he doesn’t answer, I give him another dry look. “Don’t think so. It all sounds like bullshit to me.”

He doesn’t argue and I’m glad. Nothing on that flyer New Horizons distributed said anything about getting a mate or socializing. This whole move is supposed to be about me. Healing Donna. This Initiative is for women divorced, widowed, or those who’ve basically had a shit dating life like me. Why would I, when I’ve finally found some peace in life, destroy all that by trying to find a man who will simply come in and destroy it?

For a moment, I think about the quiet nights, the endless alien sky, the memories of Earth that seem to grow more distant each day. But I shake it off. “I’ve got my animals, my farm, and occasionally, an annoying rabbit in a suit. What more could a girl want?”

Xarion opens his mouth to reply, but suddenly his eyes widen. “Ah! There!” He points to a bush just behind me, its leaves tipped with silver just like he said, small purple berries nestled among the foliage.

“Well, I’ll be,” I mutter, reaching for the berries.

“Wait!” Xarion is by my side in a split second, his furry hand grabbing my wrist. “Remember, protective gear. The extract stains quite permanently.”

I look at his white fur against my dark skin and can’t help but chuckle. “Somehow, I don’t think that’ll be much of a problem for me, cotton-tail.”

As I start picking the berries, dropping them into my satchel, Xarion watches in silence.

“You know, Donna,” he says softly, “it’s okay to admit that you miss your home, your people. It doesn’t make you weak.”

I pause, a berry halfway to my bag. For a moment, I consider brushing him off with another sarcastic comment. But something in his tone, in those big red eyes, makes me hesitate. He’s never spoken to me like this before. In the month or two that I’ve been here, he’s always been his businesslike white-rabbit self.

The switch does something. Makes me pause. Raps on a door I’ve had closed for a long time.

“I do miss it,” I whisper. “More than I thought I would. But this is my choice, my new start. I can’t spend all my time looking back.” I give him a soft smile. “Just playing dodgeball.”

Xarion dips his head in a nod, even though he probably has no clue what I mean, but his ears perk up slightly. “That’s a very positive outlook. But it would be good for you, for the Initiative, if you don’t do it alone.”

Back to the darn Initiative. I’d tell him to stuff it, but it’s his job. It’s the whole reason why we met. And truly, I know they have my best interests at heart.

“The more integration—” he continues.

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