Page 63 of An Alien for the Future

“Lord have mercy.” My whisper is almost silent as my hand finds Tovan’s arm. There must be at least a dozen of them, their low rumbles of conversation drifting through the night air. As soon as our transport stops, their heads turn in unison.

“They’re here for me.” I’m frowning, but it’s in complete disbelief. Meanwhile, Tovan has gone as stiff as a rock.

Xarion sighs. “I will have to speak to New Horizons about dispatching security for any other humans that arrive. We did not prepare for the fact the Kari would react like this.”

“They’re not here to hurt you.” Arnak glances over at me. “They’re just…we’re all just…finding akahlit’s…”

“Life changing,” I whisper. I give him a small smile because I see the desperation in his eyes, too. “You all just want to find love.” I turn my gaze back to the crowd just outside, huffing a soft, sad laugh through my throat. “Unfortunately, I will be disappointing quite a lot of these males today. If all goes well, I’m destined for only one.”

My gaze shifts to Tovan and his throat moves. He lifts a claw, brushing it over my jaw in the barest of touches. As if he’s afraid that if he touches me fully, he won’t be able to let go.

I swallow hard now, taking a deep breath. “Let’s just…let’s just get this over with.”

As we step out of the transport, the crowd of Kari falls silent. I can feel their eyes on me, burning with curiosity, suspicion, and something else I can’t quite name. Something I refuse to acknowledge. Their need.

Instead, my grip on Tovan’s arm tightens as we make our way towards the entrance of the building.

Xarion and Arnak flank us, creating a protective barrier, but as we pass through the crowd, I catch snippets of whispered conversations.

“...the human…”

“...Tovan’s kahl?”

“...impossible…”

I keep my head high, but inside, my heart is pounding so hard I worry everyone can hear it.

The interior of the medical building is a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere outside. It’s clean, sterile, and blessedly quiet. A medic greets us, the same species as Xarion.

“This way, please,” she says, gesturing towards a small examination room.

As I follow her, I suddenly realize that this is it. This tiny room, this simple test—it’s about to change my entire life. The weight of that realization nearly stops me in my tracks.

Tovan must sense my hesitation because he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m here, lira’an,” he whispers, his words meant only for me. But I choke anyway.

“What if I’m not your lira’an?” I’m not crying but I might as well be. My throat is closing up and it’s getting hard to breathe.

“Nonsense.” Tovan grins, hiding whatever emotion is present in his eyes. He dips his head, inhaling my skin before he whispers in my ear. “You’ll always be my lira’an.”

Oh, my heart. I think I’ve more than fallen in love with this male. Wouldn’t it just be my luck for this to all go to shit. I dread it. Lord knows I half expect it to all come crumbling down.

The actual blood draw is quick and painless. As I watch the vial fill with my crimson life essence, I know this tiny sample will determine my future, my fate, my very destiny.

As the medic labels the vial and prepares it for analysis, Xarion clears his throat. “Donna,” he says, his tone so uncharacteristically gentle that I frown at him. “I think it would be best if youdidn’treturn to your farm this dark cycle.”

I blink, surprised. “What? Why not?”

Xarion’s ears twitch slightly. “Given the... current situation, it would be safer for you to remain here. Just until we have the results and can address any…misconceptions.”

“I can’t just stay here. I didn’t bring any clothes. Toiletries. I’m not staying in the hospital with a host of Kari just at the door.”

“I’ve arranged for a private room in a secure lodge,” Xarion continues. “It would be…advisable for you to stay there. Alone.”

The implication hangs heavy in the air. If the test results come back positive, if Tovan and I are truly meant to be…well, we all know what comes next. The rut. The bonding. The irrevocable joining of our lives. But if it doesn’t…

I glance at Tovan, seeing the conflict in his eyes. He wants to protect me, to keep me close, but he also knows that Xarion’s suggestion makes sense.

We’re all adults here. What Xarion suggested…it’s the right thing to do.

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