Page 26 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

“Can I ask you a question?”

I chuckle. “Since when have you ever asked if you could ask?”

“When I want you to give it some serious consideration,” Zara says with equal seriousness.

“Ask away.”

“Who’s more concerned about Jodah’s soul whatever turning on? You or him? If it never lights up, will it make you any less mated than you already are?”

Jodah’s called me his mate on more than one occasion. Is it me that’s more worried it won’t ever turn on? Am I still searching for that fairy tale?Or maybe it’s my fault it hasn’t turned on. Even though I don’t believe in Deeka—or any higher power for that matter—maybe she doesn’t find me a worthy mate for Jodah. Maybe being a murderer gets me disqualified.

“You know, it’s not very nice of you to make me do so much self-reflection this early in the morning.” I grumble.

Zara laughs and looks at the non-existent watch on her wrist. “You know it’s half-way to the midday meal, right?”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever.”

There’s a smack on the hide door flap. Since her pallet is closest, she gets up and opens it. The slight gruff voice of Jodah reaches me.

“Greetings, Zara. I am looking for Sage.”

I scramble to my feet, and she moves out of the way. My pulse kicks up, and that funny sensation inside me flares again at the sight of him standing there. The softly blowing wind makes his long, golden hair twirl and hismating marks appear to darken in the sunlight. The wound left by the luani is healed, but some scabbing remains.

“Hi.” I’m far too breathless for having done nothing but walk the few steps from my pallet to here.

“Greetings, Sage.” Jodah’s gaze skims over the shirt I’m wearing and with only a single glance from his dilated pupils my nipples harden. “You look lovely.”

My cheeks heat at the simple compliment and that thing in my chest brightens. Behind me, Zara coughs out a barely audible “told you so”, but I ignore her.

“Thank you.”

“I was hoping you would walk with me down to the river to search for stones.”

“I’d love to. Let me get my blanket.” I close the flap and rush over to my pallet for the discarded fur.

“Have fun,” Zara calls out.

With my blanket around me, I step outside. The cold wind blows, and that light scent of mint and sweet smoke mixed with the musky fragrance of male hits me. Like I’ve done nearly each time we’ve walked together, I loop my arm around Jodah’s elbow and snuggle into his side. I love touching him, and since he hasn’t discouraged it, I’ll keep holding on. We stride through the village in the direction of the river.

The other women and I stopped washing in the water a few weeks ago. It’s too damn cold. Now, we have to carrybuckets back to our tents and warm them over our fires. On a few occasions, we’ve been able to fill a couple enormous basins and take a real bath and wash our hair, but we have to share the water. We’ve taken to drawing lengths of sinew to see who gets to use it first. It’s not ideal, but it’s our only option until the warm season returns.

“How did your sparring go this morning?” I forced myself to not go and check on him every five minutes.

“It did not go as well as I had hoped, but only because it has been so many turns of the sun since I have been in the training arena. I fatigued far too quickly, but I know that my strength will return. I must learn to practice patience. Something I do not always do well with.”

I squeeze Jodah’s arm in sympathy. “I’m not great at being patient either, so I understand the frustration. But you’re right. You’ll get your strength back.”

“Your confidence means a lot.”

We finally arrive at the shore. Thin chunks of ice float down river. I shudder thinking about getting in the water.

“What sort of stones are you looking for?” I release Jodah’s arm and scan the water’s edge.

“Light colored ones with smooth edges are the best. None any bigger than a ketri kit.”

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a baby ketri. The ones I haveseen are small, but that doesn’t mean some aren’t smaller. I make a circle with my fingers of each hand somy fingertips barely touch each other. “How’s this for size?”

Jodah glances at me and nods. “That is perfect.”

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