Page 92 of Stranded with the Alien

Her face burned.

“Look, you keep saving my life, and we’ve done the friends-with-benefits thing, so it’s only natural I have feelings for you. It’s not a big deal.”

Vahn sighed.

“Shall we be honest with each other, human? I am tired of hiding behind words. Do you love me?”

Kara looked away and swallowed hard.

“Yes. I do, okay? But you don’t have to worry about it. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“You are wrong. It means everything.”

She peeked up at his face and his expression set her pulse racing.

“What do you mean?”

“Before, when you asked me to translatekalehsha,you were not far off when you suggested soul-mate.”

She frowned.

“But… you called me that when we barely knew each other. When we were still enemies. The first time you said it you were delirious.”

“It was how I felt about you then, though I scarcely knew it myself. And it is how I feel about you now.”

He let her digest that for a moment.

“So you’re saying you… you love me too?”

He closed his eyes briefly. How to explain without scaring her? What he was about to say would sound demented to a non-Vraxian. He took a breath.

“It is more than that.Kalehshis a love fated by the gods themselves. An entwining of hearts that lasts for eternity. A bond that endures until galaxies crumble and stars fade. The compass of my life points only to you, Kara. I was made to worship you. Protect you. Die for you. That is what it means to be mykalehsha.”

There. I have said it. And now she will laugh.

Kara didn’t know what to think. Vahn’s words were heavy with emotion and yet they made her feel as light as air.

“You think we’re destined to be together forever?” she asked hesitantly.

“Does that seem insane to you?”

“You’re describing us as fated mates. But we wouldn’t even have met if we hadn’t both crashed on this planet. How the hell could the gods have predicted that?”

“They are all-knowing.”

“I don’t believe in that crap.”

“And yet here we are.”

Kara paused. He had a point.

“So you’re saying despite all the gorgeous Vraxian babes who no doubt hurl themselves at you offeringshaa’baaraevery five minutes, you’ve been stuck with a human?”

“If it is any consolation, I do not understand it either,” Vahn offered. “My feelings for you are as incomprehensible as they are uncontrollable. But Vannla fated it so I have no choice but to accept it.”

“Vannla. I’ve heard you mention the name before. Is that one of your gods?”

“Goddess. She is one of the most powerful deities in our culture. A fierce warrior, but also the embodiment of love.”

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