Page 35 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

Unlike the last time I was here, he doesn’t feed himself. Nellora holds the cup to his mouth. She does it with the practiced ease of someone used to the task. I wish there was something I could do. It doesn’t feel right that I just sit here.

“It must be difficult at times.” I’m not sure I should speak about it, but I also think how hard Nellora works should be acknowledged. “Seeing the person you love become so ill.”

She smiles at me, but it’s marked with sorrow. “Deeka tests all of us in some way. But she is always right there by our side. Guiding us. Loving us. It does make the difficult days a little easier to bear.”

I admire how devout the Tavikhi are to their goddess even if I don’t share their same belief. “Whenever you need a break, even if it’s for nothing more than a walk around the village, please tell me. I would be honored to sit with Gitesh for you.”

“Thank you, daughter.”

The flap of the tent lifts and Jodah steps through balancing several bowls on his arm. Nellora quickly rises to take a couple from him. He sits next to me and hands one over. An unfamiliar scent comes from it. It’s meat, but something more. I glance down and study the food. There is a small amount of the meat I smelled, but also with it are long, narrow rectangular pieces of an unidentifiable yellowish object.

“I spoke with the shefira and the other human females,” Jodah says. “Maeve helped me to find a root vegetable, dreri fat, and an herb she said is similar in flavor to what you call salt. The females and I worked together and according to Zara, this is the closest thing to what you said tastes like a french fry.”

What? I jerk my head up to stare at him. “A french fry?”

Jodah nods. “You spoke of these root vegetables before and how much you loved them. I wanted to see if there was something similar that grew here. They may not be the best french fry you have ever tasted, but I hope that you enjoy it.”

My eyes sting with unshed tears and my throat clogs with emotion. The fact that he not only remembered but would do this for me means more than he could ever imagine. Suddenly there’s this explosion of light. It’s so bright I swear it illuminates the whole tent, blinding us all, but neither Jodah, Nellora, nor Gitesh appears affected. It’s as though they aren’t able to see it. Only I can.

“Sage, is all well? Is it the wrong thing? The shefira and others assured me it was.”

I blink away the brightness, black spots dancing in my vision, and try to focus on Jodah. Slowly the blurriness goes away and I can see him clearly, but there is still this warm glow around me. There’s also a strong emotion welling up inside as though it too is ready to burst out of me. Worry is etched on his beautiful face. Unable to help myself, I burst into tears.

Through sobs I manage to choke out words. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you so much.”

He scoots over and wraps his arms around me while I cry. Finally my tears stop and I swipe them away. I lift my head to meet his gaze. He leans down and kisses me sweetly. Far too soon, Jodah draws back and his mouth curls up in the corners. “You have not yet tasted them. They may be terrible and then you will not be thanking me for bringing you something so awful.”

My head rattles. “I don’t have to taste them to know they’re perfect. They’re going to be perfect because you made them.”

Afraid they’ll get too cold, I pick up one of the “french fries” and take a bite. I chew slowly gauging the flavors on my tongue. There’s a hint of sweetness to them and the seasoning isn’t quite salty, but it’s still delicious. It’s been fried to the exact amount of crispiness on the outside to balance out the soft center. It may not be a real fry, but it’s definitely the next best thing.

“Are you too disgusted with the taste that you are trying not to expel it?” Jodah chuckles as does Nellora.

I glance between the two of them. Nellora leans forward as though she can’t wait to hear what I think. My mate, on the other hand, is worrying his lips in an entirely human gesture. I pick up another and pop it in my mouth. “It’s absolutely delicious.Truly, they are wonderful. Thank you again for being so thoughtful.”

“You are welcome.”

We all return to our meals. Jodah accepts my offer to try a “french fry”. I can tell it’s not to his taste, but he does his best to hide it. Nellora helps Gitesh eat in between her own bites. Despite that, the atmosphere is cozy with the small fire burning in the center of the tent and the warmth that is emanating from inside me. While I eat, I try to figure out what is going on. This weirdness is coming from the same place where my heartburn has been settling. Right in the center of my chest. It doesn’t hurt, but I don’t understand what’s causing it.

Conversation varies between when Jodah might be able to return to hunting, London’s progress with developing writing tools for the kits, as well as when the Bohnari might visit next. Apparently they come right at the end of the cold season. I’m curious about the people on the neighboring planet.

Finally, I’ve eaten the last of my pseudo french fries and whatever meat that was served with it. I try not to ask. Nellora moves to rise, but I stop her.

“Please. Stay. I’ll take care of all this.”

She lowers herself and I gather up everyone’s empty bowls, stack them in a single pile, and take them out to elders’ central fire. A large bucket of hot water sits next to it as well as a small basket of the green berries we all use as soap. Jodah comes to a stop next to me.

“I will help.”

“Thank you.”

Together we wash our dishes as well as the rest of the elders’ who bring them to us. I’m happy to do what I can so they’re able to return to the warmth of their homes. It is so sweet to watch them walk back to their tents with their tails entwined. I glance at Jodah’s. The long length of it twitches and my gaze travels from the root of it to the blunt tip. A sudden image of that tail rubbing along certain parts of me makes my clit pulse and throb. I shift at the heat between my thighs.

Remi’s alluded to what the Tavikhi’s tails can do and even though she doesn’t have a mate yet, Zara has made more than one suggestive comment about the naughty tail. My cheeks heat imagining all it can do. And I have the most vivid imagination.

Chapter 17

Jodah

---