Page 11 of Fated to the Alien Healer

Zara gives me a weak smile. “Yeah, perhaps.”

I help her sit upright and pick up the burim-infused water. “Why don’t you drink this? It will help with your pain.”

She grimaces but finishes the remaining liquid.

“And some of this.” I offer the other vessel.

Zara mumbles something about piss beneath her breath, but she swallows several mouthfuls before passing the container back. “I’m going to drown if you keep giving me all this water.”

I bite back my grin. It is good to hear the spark of annoyance in her voice. It is much better than the pain or uncertainty. This is the Zara I am used to. The one who shows her fire. The one who sets my blood and body aflame.

Chapter 7

Zara

I wasn’t joking when I said I’m going to drown. Already my gut is waterlogged and despite being dehydrated, I suspect I’m going to have to pee shortly. Something I’m not looking forward to, considering I’m currently handicapped. Thank god for Remi, although I doubt she pictured having to help me drop trou when she joined this little rescue mission. I’ve never been particularly shy about being naked in front of girlfriends, but this is pushing the boundaries of friendship.

“I’m sor?—”

Kyler shakes his head and places a finger over my lips, halting my words. “No more apologies, remember?”

I nod, trying—and failing—to ignore the tingle running across my skin at his touch. What would other parts of me feel like if he touched them too? A heat blooms deep within me and I almost cry out from the loss when he lowers his hand.

“Zydon and I are going hunting,” Remi announces. “You good?”

I turn to her. “I’m good.”

She gives me a knowing smirk and walks over to her mate, leaving me alone with mine. She and Zydon disappear into the trees before I remember I’m probably going to need her help before they get back. Shit. The remaining warriors give the two of us a wide berth while they make camp. My stomach rumbles again. Kyler reaches into his satchel and brings out more jerky.

“Thank you.” I hope Remi and Zydon bring back something with a bit more substance. This will do for the moment, but if I’m going to walk the rest of the way back to the village, I need fuel.

I nibble on the meat and wonder where the hell the Zara who stood in front of grouchy Benham only a few months ago and basically told him she was working with him went? Or the Zara who spent an entire year needling Clifton and Priscilla at every opportunity? She needs to make a reappearance. Taking a deep breath, I meet Kyler’s eyes. Not that it’s hard to do considering he hasn’t taken them off me since I came to.

“So…fated mates, huh?” Mentally, I smack my forehead. What a dumbass thing to say. Of course we are, otherwise, his mating marks wouldn’t be present.

One side of his mouth kicks up and my lady parts stand at attention at the dimple that appears. “Fated mates.”

“Cool. Cool.” Another mental smack.Jesus. I take a deep breath. “I mean, wow. You and me? Who’d have thought?”

That’s not any better. Where’s the hole in the ground to swallow me when I need it? Thankfully, Kyler’s smile only widens.

“It would appear Deeka did.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, I guess she did.”

To my surprise, an easy silence falls. “I can’t remember if I’ve even said thank you. For coming after me.”

“What kind of mate would I have been if I had not?”

“Except you didn’t know I was your mate at the time,” I remind Kyler.

His gaze grows distance before he blinks and looks at me. “Deeka knew. No doubt it was she who guided me to you.”

I’ve always believed in a higher power—even if I rejected it after Amelia was gone—so accepting the fact some goddess gave him the push to come after me isn’t difficult. “You’re probably right. Still, thank you for listening to her.”

“Always.”

I adjust my arm within the sling, wincing slightly at the throbbing just beneath the surface. “Do you know this is the first bone I’ve ever broken?”

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