Page 34 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

“But you could have died.” Her voice rises and wetness fills her eyes.

“The Tavikhi do not fear death. We will reside in the lands of Deeka with our ancestors and bask in the goddess’ embrace.” It is what we have been taught since we werekits. “If it was my time to meet her, I would have done so as a warrior.”

“And what about me?” Sage’s words are harsh as the water spills down her cheeks. “You would have left me. Everybody always leaves. Maybe that sounds selfish, but I don’t care.”

I cradle her face and swipe the wetness away. “It is not selfish to wish for someone to stay. Especially when that someone is your mate. But it would have done neither of us any good had you made yourself sick.”

Sage doesn’t speak for a moment and then she throws her arms tightly around me and presses her cheek to my skin. “I’m sorry.”

I return her embrace and that same heat from before sinks into my skin and climbs up to my chest to settle. It is not a sensation I have ever felt before. It is a heat that glows but does not burn. Together we stand until the water leaking out of her eyes dries up. She draws back and wipes her hands across her cheeks.

There are colored splotches dotting her skin and her nose, but my mate is still beautiful. She sniffles and smooths down the chest covering she wears. I do not rush her. Finally, her gaze meets mine.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

I lean down and mouth touch with her. “I am your mate. You took care of me, and now it is my turn to do the same for you.”

Chapter 16

Sage

There’s no way I can explain what drove me so hard to keep him and Sorin alive without telling Jodah about Mr. Griffith. I hadn’t lied when I said everyone leaves me. My parents may not have physically left, but they certainly did emotionally. Every boyfriend I ever had—not that there were many—was the one who broke things off. The only friend who stuck around over the years was Makayla and even now, she’s gone, leaving me with no one. With not a single person who cared about me. Not until London, Zara, Remi, and Maeve.

Not until Jodah.

What if telling him changes the way he looks at me? No one has treated me the way Jodah does. Like he’s proud of me. As though I’m important.

We finally make it through the snow to his parents’ tent. Smoke rises from the venting hole at the top and the scent of cooked meat and something else comes from the elders’ central fire that sits within the horseshoe shape created by each of their homes.

During the warm season, most of them eat at the main central fire with the rest of the tribe, but Jodah explained that they tend to remain here during the cold season. Their bones are getting too old to walk the length of the village twice. I like it back here though. It’s peaceful. And the remaining elders are so kind.

Nellora steps out and rushes forward with her arms outstretched and her tail swinging wildly. She comes to me first, to my surprise, and embraces me, something she must have picked up from us humans. Hugs don’t seem to be a thing for the Tavikhi. “I am so happy that you have returned. Did Jodah tell you we have a surprise for you?”

I laugh lightly and squeeze her back. “He might have mentioned something about it.”

She releases me and clasps my arms. “We very much hope you like it.”

“I’m sure it’s going to be wonderful.” Whatever it is, it has her so excited. Which means, even if I hate it, I will never let her know. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her feelings—or Jodah’s. They have been far too kind to me.

Nellora lets go and embraces her son. Jodah is at least six inches taller than his mother. They look so sweet together. An image of what our children might look like next to us enters my mind. Zara and I briefly talked about thepossibility of the Tavikhi and us humans having kids, but up until this second, it had been an abstract thought.

Will they have my red hair? Or maybe a strawberry blonde that’s a combination of ours. And what about a tail? Will they be as tall as their father or closer to a human’s height? Of course, that means Jodah and I have to have sex first.

Great. Now I’m going to be thinking about having sex with my mate while having dinner with his parents.

Nellora leads us into the tent.

Gitesh lies in his furs like he had the last time I was here. Except he doesn’t smile at our arrival. In fact, his gaze appears unfocused and there’s a blank stare on his face. Like he’s not even aware of our presence.

I glance at Jodah. He studies his father before turning to Nellora, whose head shake is barely noticeable. Sorrow is etched in every facet of her face. This must be what Jodah meant when he said his father was ill. It isn’t just him missing a leg.

“Come and sit. We will eat,” Nellora says breaking up the tense silence and gestures toward the fur she has laid out for us.

“Is there anything I can help with?” It’s obvious she does so much for Gitesh, but who takes care of her?

She clasps my hands. “Only enjoy your surprise.”

I nod and after a brief hesitation, settle onto the ground with my legs tucked in beside me. Jodah exits the tent leaving me with Nellora and Gitesh. She pours severalwooden cups full of water and passes one to me and sets a second at my side. She takes a third to her husband.

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