Page 14 of Fated to the Alien Healer

My gaze sharpens. “It is not weakness to take something for the pain. There is no need to suffer just to appear strong.”

She laughs. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big baby and don’t deal well with pain. I promise if it gets to be more than I can handle, I’ll swallow more of that nasty shit you call medicine.”

Taking her at her word, I lower my arm. We sit together in silence, observing the others. Zara opens her mouth and emits a sound. She lays her hand across her face to muffle it. “Sorry, I’m just a little tired. Who knew getting abducted was so exhausting?”

There is obvious humor in her tone, but beneath it I sense something deeper. Something more painful. It reminds me that I have not asked of any injuries that are not obvious. Shame fills me that I have not been a better healer or mate.

“The Njeri did not hurt you…” my voice trails off, unsure of how to ask the question that has been haunting me since we found Zara.

She turns her head toward me with a crease between her furry brows. I glance quickly down and back up. Her eyes widen and she rattles her head. “No, they didn’t hurt me like that.”

My body sags with relief and the tension bleeds from my clenched fists. “I am glad you did not suffer in that way. Death would have been too swift for them if they had.”

A moment of silence settles between us.

“Someone hurt my sister like that a long time ago,” Zara says so quietly I almost miss it. “I wish the guy who did it was dead instead of her.”

I turn. She is staring straight ahead, and her eyes shimmer with unshed tears. In a blink, they disappear and she faces me. One side of her mouth curls up slightly, but it is not with humor. “Do you know, other than Maeve, you’re the first person I’ve ever told that to?”

With great caution, I thread my fingers through hers. Warmth fills me that she does not withdraw. “You honor me with your trust, and I am sorry for the loss of your sister.”

Zara shrugs. “It was a long time ago.”

Gently, I squeeze her hand. “Time does not matter when it comes to grief. My family, including a brother, has been gone for many seasons, and I still mourn their passing. It often hurts to think of them, but I also work to remember all the good things about them. I know they would want that, and although I did not know your sister, I believe that if she is anything like you, she would want that as well.”

Zara stares into my eyes and then leans forward to press a soft kiss against my lips. “Thank you for that. You’re right. Amelia wouldn’t want me to wallow in grief for too long. Up until that day, she was always positive and cheerful. She was my best friend.”

“She sounds like a wonderful sister.”

“Yeah, she was the best.”

There is a comfort in sitting quietly with someone that I have never experienced until this moment. Zara continues letting me hold her hand until finally, she shifts.

“I think I could use some of that pain medicine now,” she admits.

“Of course.” Once I have poured burim root into some water, I pass it over.

She drinks it and makes a sound of distaste when finished. “Good god, that stuff is awful. I don’t know how you guys can handle it.”

I chuckle. “It is certainly not the most tasteful.”

“’Not the most tasteful’? Are you kidding? It tastes like shit rolled in shit covered in more shit.” Zara exaggerates a shudder and gags.

“Since I do not know what excrement tastes like, I will have to take your word for it.” Do humans eat excrement?

She laughs loudly and covers her mouth, unsuccessfully holding back the sound. “Saying something tastes like shit is just an expression. I don’t actually know what it tastes like.”

“That is good to hear. I wondered what sort of planet you came from where people ate waste.”

“I mean, I’m sure there are humans that do eat it, but I’m definitely not one of them.” Zara’s humor is evident.

There is a sense of pride that I am able to make her laugh, even if it at a misunderstanding of her culture. Her smile is beautiful and I would love to see more of it. Especially as it feels as though I am seeing the real one. She smiles often in the village, but this one makes her entire being glow.

“The meat is ready,” Katem calls out from next to the fire where Evren and Kala are removing the dreri from it.

“Come, let us eat.” I stand and reach down to help my mate to her feet.

“Thanks.” She releases me and brushes the dirt off the back of her leg coverings.

---