Page 14 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

A small grin curls my lips. “You sound exactly like the healer.”

She returns the smile. “I’ve heard it often enough from Kyler. But I suppose if I am going to become as good as he is, then I should follow his lead.”

“From his praise, you are well on your way.”

Sage’s cheek color darkens. “I’m not so sure about that, but I’m doing my best.”

Silence settles only broken by the crackling fire and the faint voices of tribespeople passing by. Why is it so hard tospeak with her? I do not want this awkwardness to continue.

“I am sorry. About this morning. About last evening. It was never my intention to hurt you, and if you are willing, I would truly like to get to know you as one would their mate.”

Sage blinks as though I have taken her by surprise. Slowly, a tiny smile appears. “I’m willing. And I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have left so abruptly without listening to what you had to say.”

This is good. “I would like to begin again.”

“I’d like that as well.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.” Sage shakes her head. “I can get us both something. We could eat together and talk, if you’re feeling up to it.”

“You do not mind not eating with your tribe sisters?” As much as I would like to spend time with her, I also know how close she is with the shefira and the other human females.

“I don’t mind. We all still eat together, but it sometimes feels a little weird when you’re the only single one surrounded by a bunch of married couples. They never treat me as such, but I tend to feel like the fifth wheel after a while.”

Some of Sage’s words themselves do not translate, but being surrounded by happy mates while being unmated issomething I do understand. So, if she says she does not mind, I will believe her. “I would be most honored to share my meal with you, then.”

“I’ll be right back, if you’re okay being alone for a few minutes?”

I smile. “I will be okay.”

“All right. I won’t be gone long.” Sage hurries out of the tent.

There is a sense of anticipation while I wait for her to return. My soul light continues to lie dormant, but I recall Kyler’s words about the possibility of a bond still growing between my mate and me. If the humans can fall in love with their warriors without possessing a soul light, then why cannot the same happen for Sage and me? I wonder what it feels like to be in love. How much of what Zander and the others feel for their mates is love, and how much is their mate bond? Are they one and the same? These are questions I do not have any answers for, but perhaps the next time the shefir or Benham comes to check on my progress I will ask one of them.

The tent flap opens, and Sage steps in, carrying two bowls and bringing with her the scent of dreri stew. It is one of my favorite things to eat. When my nene was tasked with making that evening’s meal, she would always add a little dash of deti to mine. It gives it a delicious flavor that I crave even still.

“Here you go.” My mate hands one to me.

“My thanks.” I set the warm vessel on my chest and the heat of it soothes some of the ache from my wounds.

“Oh, let me get us some water.” Sage sets her stew down and pours two glasses from the bucket kept on the supply table.

She places it next to me and then sits on the wood stump that is between my platform and the other. We eat in silence for a moment until she glances up. “How is it?”

“I would say it is the best dreri stew I have ever tasted, but that may only be because I have not eaten real food in many days.”

She laughs and the sound of it warms me. “I totally understand what you’re saying. I’m pretty sure if I had some french fries right about now, they would be the best french fries I’ve ever had.”

“What are…french fries?” I take a drink of water and set my vessel back down.

“They’re made from a root vegetable called a potato. Or at least they were, when food was still grown instead of manufactured.” She waves her hand. “Anyway, you would take a potato, cut it into strips, and then deep fry them in a type of cooking oil to make them crispy and a golden color on the outside. Add a little salt—a type of seasoning—and they were one the best things ever.”

Her enthusiasm for this root vegetable is great. “So, yes then, you do understand my feelings about the stew. The only thing it is missing is some deti. It is something my nene would add when I was a kit.”

“I’ll make sure to ask for it the next time.” Sage smiles brightly and there is a slight tingle along the mating marks running down my arms.

It is enough to give me pause. That has not happened before. I search within me for any sign of a light, but all remains dark.

---