Page 37 of Fated to the Alien Protector

I can’t decide if that’s romantic or sad. It does lead me to another question. I turn my head to rest my cheek against my knees so I can look at Rojtar. “You said the soul lights of two fated Tavikhi sear together. What happens when one of those mates is a human? We don’t have soul lights. Actually, I don’t even know what that is.”

“Deep within us is a spark that lies dormant. When our fated mate touches us or us them, it triggers our mating marks to appear and ignites that small spark so that it flares to life. It burns throughout our entire bodies and shines so hot and so brightly to even become visible outside of ourselves during times of high emotion, but only to the person it belongs to.”

I listen with intent fascination.

“The heat of two soul lights from those two mates is what sears it together until they become one soul,” Rojtar says.

“But what about a human mate who doesn’t possess one?” I ask again.

“I have heard the other males with human mates say that because you do not have your own soul light, we share ours with you. From my understanding, this occurs as you fall in love, although I’m not entirely clear on how it truly works.”

I think about all the times I could have sworn a bright light shined out from Rojtar’s eyes and how it makes me feel like I’m being wrapped in a warm hug and gives me such a sense of peace. Does that mean I’m falling in love with him? It doesn’t seem possible to develop such strong feelings for someone in such a short period of time. I’ve never believed such a thing as love at first sight exists.

Then how do you explain what’s been happening to you? The thing is, I can’t.

Chapter 18

Rojtar

While I do not think Abby originally wanted to speak about the mate bond, I am glad for her curiosity in regards to it. Over the last several lunar cycles I have asked many of the mated males what it is like to have a humankeeshla. It is almost like I knew I was waiting to meet Abby. The sorrow I have sensed from her is still present, but it appears to be muted over the last few turns. I have been hopeful that it means her feelings toward me are changing.

Having a human female as a mate is more challenging to navigate than if she’d been Tavikhi. Yet somehow, I know that it is far more rewarding, because as Abby has said, humans do not want to just be given to a male not of her choosing. So for her to choose me, it somehow holds a deeper meaning and makes me think the bond between us will become even stronger if—when—she accepts it.

I like to think that she is developing softer feelings. Her hardness toward me has lessened which I count as a good sign and something I will not take for granted. It also reminds me of the male she spoke of earlier.

“Will you tell me about the male who hurt you? Was he your mate?”

“I thought he was going to be,” Abby says with so much sadness. “But it turns out he already had a mate I didn’t know about.”

Did I truly hear her right? “Do you mean a mated male led you to believe he was unmated and wanted you to be his mate?” Are all humans this dishonorable?

“That’s not even the worst of it, but essentially yes.” She sighs.

There is more? Whatever male hurt her back on their planet is lucky I am unable to travel. If I were, I would track him down and make him regret hurting my female.

“He is an unworthy male who does not deserve a moment’s thought.”

Abby huffs out a bitter laugh. Several strands of hair that have fallen across her cheek lift with the breath of air she breathes out and then settle back down. “If only it were that easy.”

“Why is it not? Do you still carry love for this male?” Is that why she hasn’t accepted me or our mate bond? Her heart still belongs to the dishonorable male?

She swivels her head and stares out at the river and forest. Abby’s arms tighten around her legs and she curls into herself even more deeply. Dread lands in my belly and my chest aches with a pain I have not experienced before this turn. Has my soul light not burned brightly enough to share with her?

“After my mother died, my dad started drinking. The alcohol then turned to drugs. Here I was, still a child and one who’d just lost her mom, having to take care of herself because her father was hardly ever home,” Abby finally says. “I don’t know how much you know about what it was like back on Earth, but I was part of what they call the bottom tier. We barely had any money no matter how hard we worked.”

She stops, but I remain patient and silent until she is ready to resume her story.

“With my dad always gone and using whatever money we did have to pay for his drugs, it was left up to me to make sure I had enough to take care of the rent where we lived as well as keep up with our supply of protein bars. Otherwise, we would not only be homeless, but we’d starve,” Abby’s voice breaks, but she clears her throat and continues. “I was fourteen years old, barely older than Carter is, and working eighteen hours a day. There was hardly even any time to sleep. I asked for help from people I thought were friends, but only a couple of them were willing. But the things they asked for in return—things no one should ask a fourteen-year old child for—were things I wasn’t willing to give. This went on for almost two years, until one day, I met Henry. I knew he came from the upper tier and was only in the bottom tier to monitor the workers at the factory where I worked, but he never made me feel less than. Not once.”

Anger swells within my chest at hearing the name of the male who harmed mykeeshla. There is a tenderness in her voice when she says it that makes my heart ache. I wish it were my name Abby is saying this way, because it would mean she has similar feelings for me that she does for this Henry. There has never been hate inside me until now, not even for the Krijese who were once our enemies.

“He was kind and made me feel special. Like I was the most important person in the world. It didn’t matter that he was so much older than me—my dad’s age, in fact. Henry treated me like I meant something to him and gave me the love I’d been lacking and so desperately wanted.” Abby laughs and it is filled with bitterness. “It wasn’t long before we became intimate. I was only sixteen. A child who equated sex with love. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for Henry if only he’d keep loving me. When my dad found out about our relationship, he was livid. Tried to separate us, but I kept meeting Henry because we were in love and no one was going to keep us apart.”

My vision goes dark at the image she crafts. What sort of male preys on a lonely and innocent kit? Abby once again turns her head to face me.

“You probably think I’m stupid and reckless,” she says.

“I do not think you are either of those things.” My muscles ache with the need to reach out and touch her, but I am unsure if she will welcome it so I do nothing. “I think you were taken advantage of by a male who was not worthy of your tender and young emotions.”

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