Page 20 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

“Ah, yes, this purple and black you speak of. That must make me appealing as well, since I am similar colors.”

She makes a sound from her nose. “You certainly don’t lack for confidence, do you?”

I actually think about her question, because up until recently, I am not sure I have possessed much confidence. Certainly not when it came to being worthy of having a mate. But now that I have been given one, perhaps that has been the change inside me.

“There have only been a few species I have seen before the humans arrived on our planet. Of all of us, I believe the Tavikhi to be the most appealing. Perhaps because they are my own people.”

“If the rest look anything like the Krijese, then I agree with you about the Tavikhi being the most attractive.” Sage grins up at me.

We walk near the central fire that is being tended to by one of the younger warriors. He glances at us as we pass and there is a flash of what I suspect is envy across his face. It is the same expression I had worn more than once since Zander mated with our shefira. I am sorry for him and his lack of a mate, but I am also glad that I am the recipient of such a look. It is not something I ever thought would happen.

“The Njeri and the Bohnari differ in appearance from the Krijese most definitely.”

“I know the Bohnari are the people living on the neighboring planet of Bohna, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the Njeri.”

A human couple strides past us and nods in greeting, which I return. Their gazes dart to the mating marks and then to Sage before they are no longer in our line of sight.

“The Njeri live about seven turns of the sun from us, past the ujera, which is a massive body of water that can only be seen from atop the highest hilltop over there.” I point in its direction and realize how fatigued I have grown with this walk. It is the farthest I have gone since getting injured. “They are not close allies, but they leave us in peace. I only saw them once when I was a kit even younger than Talek.”

“I hadn’t realized there was another tribe of people besides the Krijese that lived on Tavikh,” Sage says.

“The planet is vast. It is possible more exist that have not traveled the distance to our village.”

She nods and her hair brushes across my flesh, teasing with its softness. “I’m not sure why I’m so surprised. Earth is massive, and there are countries—large collections of villages—that are so far away I have never traveled to them. It makes sense that there could be far more tribes that live here than just the Tavikhi and Krijese.”

Our pace has slowed and I spot my tent. I must have instinctively been bringing us back here as weariness is taking over.

“As much as I have been enjoying our walk, I believe I am going to need to rest for a short time.” It is a weakness I have trouble admitting.

“I’m sorry.” Sage strokes my arm lightly, but the sensation brings my cock to alertness despite my body’s fatigue. “You should have said something.”

We come to a stop in front of my dwelling. I turn and face her, bringing my hand up to cup her cheek. “I was not ready to end our time together quite yet.”

She leans into my caress with a soft sigh. “I wasn’t either. But I also want you to take care of yourself…for me.”

I bend and brush my lips across hers for another bout of mouth touching. “I will do it…for you.”

“Thank you.”

For several more beats of my heart, I stare down at this mate of mine. Sage holds my gaze and there is a small piece inside me that shifts a fraction. There is no light and for once, I am not concerned. Perhaps I do not need a soul light to bond with her. Kyler may be right. Perhaps love can grow between us. I caress my mate’s cheek one last time and duck into my tent to rest.

Chapter 10

Sage

It’s ridiculous how giddy I am for the evening meal and the possibility of seeing Jodah again. I left him at his tent hours ago, and he’d missed the midday meal. A voice kept telling me to go check on him, but he’d been exhausted, so I resisted. Instead, I tried to pass the time in the healer’s tent doing inventory. Again. Even though I’d just done it and, other than Jodah, we haven’t had any patients in a few days. I also practiced my stitching on a few scraps of hide, trying to get good enough that I can possibly keep any scarring to a minimum for any future injured warriors.

“Why don’t you just go get him, instead of pacing?” Zara asks as she cleans up from the ashes and smoke of the forge.

I stop in front of my pallet where I’d folded the dhembe fur I forgot to give back. “He might still be resting.”

She cocks her head and side-eyes me. “You’re just making up an excuse. I thought things went well with you guys this morning? Why are you being so skittish now?”

“I don’t know.” I throw up my hands in frustration. “Everything was perfect earlier. But what if when we see each other again, it’s not how I remembered it being between us? Walking and talking with him felt so easy. All the awkwardness was gone. I’m worried we’ll be weird around each other again.”

Zara grips my shoulders. “You’ve been walking and talking inside the healer’s tent for the past week with no problem, right? It’s not going to be weird or awkward. It’s going to be wonderful.”

I sigh heavily. “You’re right, it’s going to be fine.”

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