Page 24 of Fated to the Alien Protector

I stand and reach out a hand for my mate, hopeful she takes it despite the blood that covers it. My heart skips a beat and my skin once again tingles when she lays her tiny fingers within my palm. She uses her free arm to keep her chest covering from falling off as she rises to her feet. With great reluctance, I release her. Not caring if I cause Lewis more pain, I yank the male’s covering from his body. He cries out, but I ignore it.

With the cloth in my grasp, I turn to Abby and offer it to her. I understand the humans are much more modest with their nakedness than Tavikhi are.

“For you to put on.”

She takes it from me and our fingers touch. That same jolt hits me and my hand twitches. She must feel it too, because hers also jerks slightly. I shift my gaze away to give her privacy and stare down at Lewis. Several beats pass before he opens the only eye he is able to. I wait until his sight locks onto me. From the way it widens and fear crosses his face, I know he sees me. I squat down again. He tracks my every move.

“It is only because of Abby that you are still alive.” My voice is low and deadly, but there is no misunderstanding me. “This is the only warning you will receive. If you so much as try to harm her again—in fact, if you ever comenearher again—not even she will be able to save you. I swear to the goddess above, I will kill you and feed your body to a luani. If you do not believe me, ask Abby. I do not make any promises I do not keep. Is that understood?”

Lewis nods, but it is not enough. I want to hear him say the words.

“I will ask you again. Is that understood?”

He swallows and chokes out, “Yes.”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I understand,” he scratches out through a rough voice.

I glare down at him a moment longer until I slowly push myself upright and turn to Abby. As much as I do not like seeing her wearing the worthless male’s chest covering and getting his scent on her, I liked seeing her in a torn covering less.

“He did not hurt you?” Making sure she was unharmed should have been the first thing I asked and guilt squeezes me.

She shakes her head. “You got here before he could.”

That is good. “Are you well enough to travel back to the village?”

“Yeah.”

I locate Abby’s spear partially hidden under a trendafili bush and pick it up. A quick glance over my shoulder finds her walking toward me. I hand over the weapon and she takes it.

“Come then.”

She hesitates for a beat. “I need to get the rabbits.”

I stare in confusion.

“Um, I think you call them leburin.” Abby points in the opposite direction of the village. “There’s a bundle not far from here that I caught today.”

Ah. “We will get these leburin, then.”

I let her guide the way until we find the bodies. She picks them up and I quickly count their numbers. It would appear she had an excellent day of hunting on her own. A mixture of guilt and anger fills me that I was not here to protect her.

“I am sorry.” The words are inadequate.

The furry lines across Abby’s brow shift. “For what?”

“For not being with you today. For allowing harm to come to you.” I turn my gaze toward where we left Lewis. “He should not have been able to hurt you.”

“It’s not your fault.”

It is kind of her to say, but the blame still lies on my shoulders. I will not argue with her though. Instead, I nod and start off for the village again. Abby’s footsteps follow and I slow my pace until she walks beside me. We pass where the unworthy male had been lying, but he is no longer there. It is probably best the coward scurried away. I do not ever want to set my sights on him again.

We do not travel far before I can feel the intensity of every glance she casts my way. I shift my gaze to meet hers.

“How did you find me?” she asks. “I’ve been out here for hours.”

“I tracked you.” Abby did nothing to hide her trail, which was easy to discover.

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