Page 29 of Fated to the Alien Healer

She moves in front of me and to my surprise, takes my hand and leads me to her pallet. “I feel like we should be sitting for this conversation.”

Together, we take a seat on her furs, once again facing each other. Zara does not loosen her hold on my hand and for that I am grateful. She gives me her strength.

“Tell me about Syler.”

Chapter 15

Zara

If anyone else would have said the things to me that Kyler did and made me feel the way he had, I would have kicked them in the balls. But beneath his apology I had felt his deep pain. Something caused him to act like a jealous jerk.

Amelia always said I could hold a grudge better than anyone, but this is my mate. My husband. The person I am going to spend the rest of my life with. Having an open line of communication is important. Even when I’m angry. But mostly, really hurt.

Kyler sighs heavily. “Syler was much younger than me. For the longest time, my nene and baba believed I would be their only kit. Until I was not. As he grew older, it became obvious there was something different about him. He was always angry. Cruel. To the rest of the tribe, he hid it behind smiles and laughter. He was sly in that way.”

I’ve known those kinds of people. The ones who have a public persona in vast contrast to their private self.

“As I said before, healing became my passion,” Kyler continues. “I trained as a warrior because I had to, not because I wanted to. Of all the males in the village, I have always been one of the leanest. I do not have the strength and power the warriors and hunters do. Syler did. In fact, he was one of the strongest males in the village and never let me forget it.”

Already I don’t like this guy. “He sounds like a giant tool.”

Kyler cocks his head. “Is that another human figure of speech?”

I chuckle. “It’s a derogatory name for someone. Basically, he sounds like a shithead.”

“Ah, yes. Excrement is a proper enough description. Sylerwasa ‘shithead’.”

I press my lips together, trying not to laugh, because as hilarious as it is to hear Kyler call his brother that, this is a serious conversation that holds a lot of hurts. “Go on.”

He pauses a second and glances away before meeting my eyes. “There was a female once.”

“A female?” I croak.

“Yes. She was ten warm seasons younger than me, and we became friends. She had an interest in plants and roots. As we grew older, I had great hopes that one day she would be my mate,” he says slowly as though softening the blow.

“I see.” How I manage to sound normal is beyond me. Suddenly Kyler’s possessiveness and jealousy doesn’t seem so petty anymore. “What happened? I mean, obviously you two weren’t fated mates.”

“My brother.”

Ouch. “Was she his mate, then?”

He shakes his head. “No, but he knew how I felt about her. Soon, he began spending time with her, especially after I became the village healer. I grew busier and he took advantage of the fact. He would also remind her how much older I was than both of them and that if I hadn’t found a mate yet, it must be because Deeka did not find me worthy. It was not long before she looked at him the way I, no doubt, looked at her. As though she wished for nothing more than to be his mate.”

What a dick. “He tried to make you jealous.”

“That is it,” Kyler says, “I was not. I was hurt and angry, but I was not jealous. Not like I was today when you looked at Alik the way Mera looked at Syler.”

I wince, because Ihadogled the Bohnari. He is absolutely gorgeous, and I’m not dead. Of course, that doesn’t mean I want to get into a relationship with the dude, but I can see how that makes my mate feel. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you or make you feel like I was in any way interested in him, because I’mnot.”

“Humans do not feel the mate bond like Tavikhi do, so I can understand if you might experience a want for another male.” Kyler hisses in pain and rubs his side where I’d pinched him as hard as I could. “Why did you do that?”

“Because I don’t like the fact you made an assumption that just because I think a guy is hot that I want to have sex with him. I can see an attractive man and not want to fuck him or be his wife, thank you very much. Especially when I already have a mate. Just because I’m human, doesn’t mean I’m a disloyal bitch.”

Kyler shakes his head. “I do not think you are disloyal.”

“Sure could have fooled me.I may not have a soul light, but that doesn’t mean I can’t feel a bond with someone—withyou. It’s called love, you big jerk.”

He blinks rapidly and draws back a fraction. “Are you saying you love me?”

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