Page 7 of Fated to the Alien Rebel

Maybe if I say it enough times it will be true.

I dump the gritty remains of the burim-infused water and rinse out the cup I’ve been using to give Jodah the medicine before refilling it. I’ll wait to add the pain relieving powder until he wakes up again and asks for it. I glance back at the sleeping warrior several times as I putter around the tent. With him alert and talking I’m sure the worst of this hellish week is over. As though my body agrees with me, the fatigue I’ve forced away the last seven days rears up stronger than ever.

I’ve done nothing more than catch a few cat naps here and there this past week. The girls—Zara especially—have stopped by constantly trying to get me to come back to my own bed and rest, but I refused. I couldn’t. It might’ve been irrational, but I just knew that if I left Jodah’s side for even a second, he was going to die. The feeling was so strong that I never once left this tent.

The door flap swings open, bringing with it a burst of sunshine, and Kyler steps in. I’ve sensed his concern for me, but he never forced me to leave. Not that he could have, but he didn’t try too hard. Not after the first day.

“Greetings, Sage.” He glances at Jodah. “Any change?”

“Actually, he woke up while you were gone. We talked about what happened and why he was here. It wasn’t for long and he tired soon after, so he’s been resting.”

“That is excellent news.” Kyler cocks his head. “Did you speak of the mating?”

“Yeah.”

The healer closes the distance and rests a hand on my shoulder.

“What is wrong?” Kyler asks as someone who’s gotten to know me pretty well over the last six or seven months. With him being ten years—or cold seasons, as he says—older than me, I’ve kind of come to think of him as a big brother.

I stare at the male who is supposed to be my mate. “He didn’t act like he even cared.”

Kyler blinks his feline-like eyes with their vertical pupils and the inner point of his brow bones shift downward. “What do you mean?”

“He asked how long he’d been here, and if I’d been with him the whole time. When I said yes, he asked me why, so I showed him the marks.” I have to pause, because that stupid burning behind my eyes returns. “All he said was ‘you have my thanks’. That’s it. It felt like that obligatory thanks you say to someone who just gave you the ugliest gift you’ve ever seen, but you don’t want to be a dick.”

Kyler’s gaze shifts over to Jodah. “He has been asleep, healing, for seven turns of the sun. Give him time to become more like himself.”

“Yeah, I’m sure that’s it.” Except I’m not.

The healer turns back to me. “I have not pushed you these past turns, because I understand why you have needed to remain here, but if he has awoken, then he is past the point of worry. Which means I am going to push a little. Please go get some rest and eat. You have done far too little of both since Jodah was brought in it. You cannot do him any service if you also become sick.”

I know Kyler has a point, but the desperation I’ve been consumed with to make sure that the male lying over there stays alive is still gnawing at me.

“Go rest, Sage,” my boss—and friend—says firmly.

My shoulders sag in capitulation and I let out a heavy sigh. “You’ll come get me the moment he wakes up, right?”

“Rest,” Kyler repeats without answering me.

I glare at him, but he’s not even fazed. He only stares more pointedly at me.

“Fine. But only because you asked so nicely.”

He chuckles and gently pushes me toward the door. I cast one more glance back at Jodah like I’m hoping he’ll wake up, but he remains still. His scabbed over chest rises and falls evenly. I’ve run out of excuses.

The sun is high in the sky and nearly blinding as I make my way to the tent I share with Zara. What started out as four women has dwindled to two. The night we moved here, London went to Zander’s tent. Remi was the first to leave after she mated with Zydon. Maeve moved outabout the same time Benham brought Jodah’s injured body back.

She’d come by the healer’s tent and asked me if I’d be upset if she left, especially while I wasn’t staying there. How could I be mad that one of my dearest friends conquered some major personal hurdles and found a guy who loved her with everything he is?

I glance around. In the seven days I sequestered myself in the healer’s tent, the entire village has changed. Human children run around with Tavikhi children, all of them laughing and playing. Human adults walk side-by-side with adult Tavikhi, sharing conversation. It’s almost like I stepped into an alternate universe.

I’m glad the humans are finally becoming a part of the community. Despite moving here for protection, they still kept themselves separate from the tribespeople. It always bothered me how the Tavikhi were being treated by the very people who took advantage of the safety Zander and the other warriors provided.

My tent comes into view, and I push past the door flap and step inside. Someone has stoked the fire pit that sits in the center so it’s cozy and warm in here. Now that I’m so close to my pallet, the fatigue hits hard. I take off my shoes and without even changing out of my clothes, I crawl under my stack of furs. I’m asleep before my head hits the makeshift pillow.

“How long do you think she’s going to sleep?”

“As long as she needs to. My god, the woman hasn’t slept in a week. If I were her, I’d probably wake up three days from now,” a second voice—Zara’s—says.

---