Page 22 of Fated to the Alien Healer

I’m slightly irritated that Kyler just assumed this is where I wanted to be without even asking me. I had enough of other people making decisions for me back on Earth to last me a lifetime. Except I’m too tired to argue with him tonight. He pushes aside the flap. I step inside and nearly sob in relief that someone has lit a torch and planted it near the fire pit to give me some light to see.

Everything is exactly how I left it—messy furs, clothes tossed everywhere—which means that I was one of the lucky ones whose stuff wasn’t torched by the Njeri. I almost feel guilty over the fact, but then I was kidnapped, so maybe it’s a fair trade.

“Get some sleep,keeshla,” Kyler says, interrupting my thoughts. “I will see you in the morning.”

He takes a step back and the flap drops.

“Wait.” I move quickly forward to stop it, but he’s already there holding it open again. I worry my bottom lip and fidget with the hem of my shirt. “Will you…will you stay? Please?”

Kyler blinks his feline eyes. My anxiety spikes and I open my mouth to tell him to forget it.

“You honor me with your trust,keeshla,” he says. “Will you be all right for a few moments while I check on the injured warriors? I promise I will return as quickly as I can.”

Of course he would want to look in on those who’d been wounded during the battle.

I nod. “I’ll be fine.”

Kyler hesitates for a second, and the next thing I know, he’s inside my tent with my head cradled between his palms and kissing me. It’s quick and hard, but I feel it all the way to my toes. He ends the kiss and rests his brow bones gently against my forehead. Both of us are breathing hard.

“Iwillreturn.”

“Okay,” I whisper.

As suddenly as he closed the distance between us, Kyler’s gone. The torch flame flickers from the breeze created by the flap closing over the entrance. I stand there for the longest time before finally taking a seat on my furs to wait for him to come back.

Chapter 12

Kyler

My pace quickens as I hurry to the healer’s tent to check on the wounded. Lit torches stand outside the entrance, and I push aside the flap guarding it. When I had left, seven warriors and humans occupied beds within. A quick glance confirms that two beds are now empty.

Sage and Jodah stand near the supply table speaking quietly with each other, but they look over at my arrival. My apprentice approaches with a smile and clasps my hands.

“I knew you guys would find Zara,” she says after a reassuring squeeze and releases her hold on me. “Although you coming back as her mate is something of a shock.”

“It was a surprise to me as well.”

Jodah joins us and fists his chest. “Blessings on your mating.”

“Thank you.” I return the gesture and shift my gaze to the vacant furs. “Did our tribe brothers travel to the lands of Deeka?”

Sage’s expression falls and sorrow crosses her face. “I—we—did everything we could.”

I lay my hand on her shoulder. “Of that I have no doubt. You are a wonderful healer.”

She smiles sadly and nods. “Thank you. The rest are still hanging on. They’ve all woken up and spoken at least once but are still in pain. London and Jodah have been out in the forest replenishing our supplies daily. Unless something drastic happens, I suspect the remaining wounded will make a full recovery.”

It would appear she and her mate have things well in hand. “I will return first thing in the morning. In the meantime, I must get back to Zara’s tent.”

“Go,” she urges. “Everyone is stable. If I need you for something, I’ll send Jodah.”

With a final glance at the sleeping warriors, I exit and quickly make my way back to my mate. Now that we have returned, the village has quieted. People have entered their tents while several warriors and human males appear to be maintaining guard and patrolling. It is clear Zander is taking extra precautions. The Njeri attack had blindsided us. I assume the Krijese traveled back to their village within the hills. My sole attention had been on getting Zara safely to her dwelling to rest.

I reach her tent and slap the door flap. In only a few beats of my heart, it swings open, as though my mate had been standing close by in anticipation of my arrival. She shifts to the side and I step past her and into her dwelling. I sweep my gaze around and take it fully in. When I brought her here earlier, my focus had only been on her, but looking around, I am able to learn a few things about my mate. The primary thing is that she is messy.I turn back toward her. She remains by the entrance, her eyes darting everywhere but on me.

“If you have changed your mind about wanting me to stay, you only have to let me know,” I rush to reassure her. “I will not be upset.”

Zara rattles her head. “No, it’s not that. Sage has told me how meticulous and orderly you are with your medical supplies. I’m going to bet that means your tent is the same. I’m just realizing how chaotic mine probably feels to you and that I should have picked up a little before you came back. I’m sure you think I’m a slob.”

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