Page 42 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

What?It takes me a second to understand. Is he angry forme, not atme?

“Not all of them.” I pause, still unsure if I’m right. “But yes, sometimes, some of them do.”

“Then I am glad you killed this male.”

I blink. He’s glad? Slowly, the tension eases from his body and he moves closer until he’s seated directly in front of me. It occurs to me just then that we’re both still naked. Jodah reaches out and cups the side of my face, his fingers threading through my hair. “Any male who would dare to hurt a female is nothing more than a coward and deserves his fate. I am only sorry that the memories haunt your sleep.”

I stare at him a moment longer and then I scramble to my knees and throw my arms around him. “You have no idea how scared I’ve been that when you found out you would hate me.”

He embraces me and holds me tightly against his chest. It feels so good to have finally let it all out. I squeeze him tighter, never wanting to let him go.

“My strong warrior mate. I could never hate you.”

I lose track of how long we remain this way, but eventually my knees ache and I shift my weight. As though sensing my discomfort, Jodah draws me back to his furs and we lie next to each other. He strokes my face and pushes my hair over my shoulder.“Is this the thing that brought you to our planet? Killing this male? Is this also why you have nearly made yourself sick working to heal both me and the kit?”

“Yes. After it happened and I ran, I commed my best friend. She managed to hide me until the next ship bound for Tavikh was ready to leave. Then, when it landed on Earth, she was able to help me sneak onto the ship without anyone noticing. Of course, being a stowaway meant Ididn’t have access to any of the personally assigned rooms since they were all coded to an individual’s biometrics.” A fact neither of us knew about until the ship had taken off and I’d tried to get into one of them. “I ended up hiding out in the cargo hold for the entire trip, which gave me a lot of alone time to let the guilt of what I’d done consume me. I killed someone, Jodah. It didn’t matter that he would have done far worse to me.”

He leans in and kisses my forehead. “My mate is a fighter. A warrior. You do not understand the strength you have. To have not only endured what you did, but to also survive and thrive. How did you manage to care for yourself during the trip?”

I bark out a harsh laugh. “It wasn’t easy. I had to find ways to sneak into the cafeteria for food and hope no one else would be in there. Showering and using the toilet were the two hardest things. But I did it. I have no idea how, but I made it here without anyone discovering me. Although I’m still waiting for the day someone does.”

“Does the shefira, or your other tribe sisters know of this?”

I rattle my head and fear seizes my chest. “No. I’ve been too scared to tell them. What if they hate me?”

“My beautiful, strongkeeshla.” Jodah smiles softly. “Do you truly believe your tribe sisters would find fault in what you did? I may not know them well, but none of them strike me as a female who would not also fiercely defend themselves against a male who attacked them. To death, if they were forced to.”

Could he be right? I’ve lived in fear since that first morning when I introduced myself to London and the other women after they’d made their own little camp near my tent within the human settlement. I’d kept mostly to myself the entire six months after I arrived, because it was easier. Safer. I would have remained friendly, but aloof with them as well if the Krijese hadn’t attacked the next night and the five of us hadn’t escaped together. Of course, not until after one of the bastards grabbed me. Now that I think about it, if Remi had been as skilled with her wooden staff back then as she is now, I bet she would have killed him to protect me.

The knot of uncertainty slowly unfurls in my chest. Maybe Jodah is right. Maybe my friends wouldn’t hate me. Hell, Remi and Zara might even cheer me. I let loose a small, relieved laugh. Despite not having any guarantees, all the weight I’ve been carrying lifts off my shoulders. I lean forward and kiss him.

“Thank you. For everything.”That glowing light becomes blinding. I swear a feminine voice whispers in my ear and a ghostly touch glides across every inch of my skin at once and the purest emotion fills my heart to overflowing that there’s no mistaking what it is. I bite my tongue to keep the words from spilling out. I’m not sure I’m ready to say them. More important, I don’t think Jodah’s ready to hear them. Not yet.

“You do not ever need to thank me. You are mykeeshla.” He says it so confidently, as though there has never been a single doubt. “Now rest. You have not slept nearly enoughthe last few turns of the sun. I do not want you becoming ill.”

I nod. Not only because he’s right, but also because fatigue has hit me hard. I scoot closer, burrowing against his heat, and my lips curl in satisfaction when he wraps his arms and tail around me and tugs me even tighter against him. Even if I can’t say it out loud, I can at least admit it to myself.

I love you.

Chapter 21

Jodah

Long after Sage had fallen asleep, rage had burned through my body at the thought of some worthless male hurting her. It nearly overshadowed our beautiful mating. My heart is so full but also aches that she thought I would judge her harshly for defending herself. Once again, mykeeshlahas proven she is a fighter. Not only for others when she fought so hard to keep Sorin and me alive, but also for herself. It does not matter that guilt drove her. She still battled against it.

Sage continues to sleep. After her nightmare, she remained peacefully wrapped within my arms the rest of the night as though she trusted me to protect her. A warm glow had emanated from her. Almost like she was surrounded by sunlight. Her body burned with heat, but she did notappear affected by it. Neither had I. Her breathing remained soft and shallow.

Sounds of the village rising for the day filter in through my tent. Voices are present, but I cannot make out any of the words. I can smell the central fire and the morning meal.I need to go to the training arena, and Sage needs to eat to keep her strength, but I do not want to wake my mate. She needs to rest more, just as I told her last night. And the moment she awakens she will want to return to the healer’s tent to check on Sorin. I suspect Kala and he will be leaving soon, which will cause Sage sorrow. Her heart is tender.

She shifts in my arms and her leg brushes against my cock that has been hard since I had woken. I bite back the groan, not wanting to disturb her. Memories return of the two of us. Of our mating. Of the way mykeeshlafelt beneath me. How her cunt gripped me when I entered her. The sweet sounds she made echo in my ears and her scent still lingers in the air just beneath the odor of the burning fiku wood in the fire pit that needs stoked. My mating marks tingle and there is a slight pinch near my hip where the marks remain broken.

Sage’s breathing changes and I glance down. Her eyes flutter before slowly opening. Even in the pale light, it is obvious her cheeks change color. I do not believe this color signifies attraction although they are the same shade.

“Good morning,keeshla.”

“Good morning.”

“Did you get enough rest?” If it were up to me she would get more.

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