Page 47 of Gravel and Grit

A voice whispered in his mind, noting she had not called him a monster or attacked him or broken down into heartbroken tears of betrayal.

Perhaps, it whispered seductively,perhaps we can win her back.

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MIRA

When she emerged a long while later from the bathroom and made her way to the kitchen, she didn’t even notice the food Zaek had made and set out on the table. Not at first.

She was blown away by what she’d learned, by the incredible, unbelievable things he’d told her. She justthoughtshe had a lot of questions the day before. Now, there were too many spinning around in her mind, and she couldn’t focus long enough to pick one to ask first.

Under the layer of stunned disbelief making her feel like she was in a daze, there was a giddy, effervescent feeling growing in her chest. The idea that there were actual soulmates out there, quantifiable by science, and that hers was Zaek was… insane. And amazing, shocking, so damned heartwarming her inner romantic was squealing with glee, and so many other emotions that it left her feeling overwhelmed.

After realizing, distantly, that he was sitting down waiting for her, she took a seat. Eating mechanically, she let her mind go wild. Questions, speculation, theories, varied emotions, each as intense as the one before, filled her thoughts.

Finally, his last words, the ones that sent her into a tailspin to begin with, rose above everything else.

Blinking, she looked around and became aware they were sitting on the couch watching a documentary about baby seals, of all things. She didn’t even remember what she’d eaten, let alone finishing and following him into

the living room.

Mira gazed down her body, and almost of its own accord, her hand slowly moved to settle over her lower stomach.

The idea of having children had always filled her with a strange mix of dread and longing. She wanted kids, wanted a family more than almost anything else, but the fear that something would happen to her and her husband, and her child would be forced to go through what she’d gone through, was terrifying.

Anyone could die at any time. There were no guarantees in life. She knew that. Everyone else knew that too, and, yet, they had children all the time. But for Mira, that knowledge, and the fear it caused, was crippling. What if she died and her daughter or son wasn’t as lucky as she’d been? What if they suffered the abuses she’d seen others endure?

She couldn’t do that. She just couldn’t. So, slowly, bitterly, she let go of her dream for a family.

But this is different.

Turning her head, she peered up at Zaek’s profile. She traced his alien features from his horns to his wings to his tail lying on the couch between them. She took in his tough grey skin, his claws, his huge size, and the thick muscle that covered every inch of him.

He wasn’t human. He was stronger, tougher. He could protect himself. He could even turn his skin to stone like some kind of exoskeleton. She’d heard the shots, felt the impact as he took heavy fire from the security team at Area 51. And he was still here, unharmed, perfectly fine.

Alive.

He didn’t die.

He’d keptheralive. If he could protect her, he could protect their children.

He’d said the mating fluid he gave her would make her stronger, too. She would heal faster.

They were mates. He’d said that, too. It was such a primal word, but he said it like a human would saymarriageorwife.

The progression of their relationship was really fast, faster than she was completely comfortable with, but she couldn’t deny that, while sudden and unexpected and more than a little unusual, the strongest emotions she felt were a tentative, fragile kind of wonder and excitement.

If they were mates then they would stay together. He wouldn’t leave her

heartbroken and alone on Earth to be killed by the security team while he returned to his planet. Zaek would never do that. She knew he would’ve done something to help ensure her continued safety, even if they weren’t mates and he did leave. But if they were, he would either take her with him or stay here with her.

Did she want to stay here, on Earth? Or did she want to go to his planet with him? That was a big question. A life-changing decision. One that required more information about his world, his society, his culture. Most importantly, though…

“Are your people monogamous? Do you mate for life?”

She held her breath. The answer would change everything.

He startled a little at her question and whipped a wide-eyed look down at her, like she’d either scared the hell out of him or her question threw him for a loop. Both were fair. She’d been a zombie sitting next to him, and from his perspective, both her speaking at all and those questions in particular, came out of left field.

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