Page 26 of Fated to the Alien Healer

“Really?” I know relations between the Tavikhi and the humans that opted to stay back in the settlement after the Krijese attack that brought London, me, and the rest of my friends here have improved slightly over the last nearly five months, I just hadn’t realized they’d improvedthatmuch.

“I think Gary and Adam finally accepted the fact that things would be better for them if they were on good terms with the people who could actually protect them if the Njeri decide to invade them,” Eloise points out. “Look what happened here with a village full of trained warriors. The humans at the settlement wouldn’t stand a chance. Although, if I’m being honest, I’m kind of surprised they didn’t start there, all things considered.”

We reach the riverbank and come to a stop.

“Everybody there is lucky. The only reason I can think they started here was because itwasharder. I mean, if they could take out the Tavikhi warriors, then raiding the human settlement after that would be a cake walk.” It’s the only thingthat makes sense. “Handicap our village so we have to use all our resources to protect ourselves and then go for the weak ones.”

Eloise nods. “You might be right. I just hope that doesn’t mean the Njeri are regrouping and planning to try again.”

“Let’s hope.” I sigh and then grin. “Well, I guess you’re the lucky one who gets to help me get naked.”

She laughs. “Yay, me.”

“Didn’t think this all the way through when I mentioned needing a bath, did you?” I hold up my broken arm.

“I did not, but don’t say I’m not a good friend who helps someone out in need.” Eloise walks over and together we somehow manage to get me out of my clothes.

She hands me the berries we use as soap, and I pad out into the water. “Motherfucker, it’s cold.”

“Don’t be such a baby,” she calls out.

I give her the finger as I wade farther into the deeper area. All she does is chuckle. Once I’m submerged up to my chest, I quickly wash my entire body as best I can. When I’m done, I do it again until I finally feel human. Now comes the hard part. I hold my broken arm up in the air and dunk my entire body. In seconds, I come up sputtering and swiping hair out of my face.

“Fuuuuuuuck.”

“Need some help out there?” Eloise hollers and it’s clear she’s trying not to laugh.

“I hate you right now.”

“You love me,” she sing-songs.

With a disgruntled huff, I make my way back to shore. “I can’t wash my hair.”

“Come on, let’s get you dressed, and then you can lie down.”

With her help, I manage to get my clean clothes on and positioned on my back so I can tilt my head into the water. Eloise quickly lathers up the soap and threads her fingers through the wet strands. To my surprise, she gives an amazing head massage. I peer up at her.

“You’re good at this.”

A flash of sadness crosses her face. “I had to help my friend Johnna wash her hair back on our ship after she broke her wrist.”

The terraforming ship Eloise worked on had been attacked by space pirates, and she and her friends managed to make it off the thing in escape pods before it exploded. The aftershocks sent the pods in different directions, so she has no idea what happened to her crewmates, or if they’re even alive.

I reach up and lay my hand on top of hers. I don’t want to offer false words of hope, because we have no way of knowing Johnna’s all right. I squeeze Eloise’s hand in support. “I pray she was as lucky as you.”

She offers me a small smile and finishes washing my hair in silence. Once it’s rinsed out, she squeezes as much moisture out of it as she can and helps me to my feet. I manage to get my arm back in the sling with only the slightest bit of help. I’m sure I’m going to have to have Kyler adjust the splint again. It’ll be worth it though to feel clean.

We walk back toward the village where there’s a ton of commotion. Eloise and I glance at each other before we take off jogging toward the central fire where we can already see tribespeople gathering. But they’re not alone. Fear shoots through me and my steps stutter until I realize no alarms are being sounded. In fact, Zander steps forward and clasps arms with a stranger.

An extremely beautiful male stranger wearing a tight-fitting, black sleeveless shirt that accentuates a muscular build to rival most of the Tavikhi and matching pants that mold just a little too well to his…oh wow. I almost choke. His copper skin shimmers in the sunlight and his short, teal hair has the perfectly tousled look as though someone weaved their fingers through it to muss itjust enough.

I squint. Are those horns peeking through, too?

Oh my God, they are. Well, hello, new mister alien man.

Chapter 14

Kyler

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