Page 26 of Fated to the Alien Hero

I knew remaining hidden was too good to be true, but I’d hoped for a little longer. The sick twisting inside my stomach keeps going, and I’m still not sure I won’t vomit up the meal I just ate. Gary’s going back to the colony, and Grady will know he failed to kill me.

“Astrid,” Evren says quietly, his voice rumbling through me in an oddly soothing way. There’s been something about it—from the first words he spoke when he found me—that settles the unease inside me.

I lift my gaze to meet his, surprised I’m still within his embrace. A weight around my waist registers, and I realize it’s his tail. There is so much tenderness in the eyes that should appear alien, with their vertical pupils surrounded by yellow, but don’t. Like his voice, the way Evren looks at me calms the panic that pounds in the center of my chest.

“I’m okay,” I tell him although he hadn’t really asked a question. “Or at least I will be.”

“You are sure?”

“Yeah.” I have to be.

“Perhaps we should have our date another time,” Evren says.

I almost agree, but Grady has been ruining things for me for years. I finally have a chance at happiness—real happiness—with a guy who claims I’m his fated mate and supposedly already loves me because of his soul light thing. Am I really going to let that…shitbag ruin one more thing?

“No. We’re having it now.”

“Good for you,” Zara cheers.She appears sheepish at our stare. “I guess I’ll be going now. Have fun, you two.”

“Same with us,” London says and takes her husband’s hand.

The three of them, plus the massive warrior Benham, walk away. One by one, the rest of the tribe that had gathered either to gawk or for a show of support disperse, and soon it’s only Evren and me left.

I glance up at him. “Where would you like this walking date to take us?”

He studies me for a moment, and I get the sense he’s judging whether to suggest again we cancel, until finally he makes his decision. “I thought there was no purpose or destination in mind during this kind of date except to walk?”

His confusion makes me chuckle. “I suppose we could just walk aimlessly around the village, but wouldn’t it be better to go some place specific? Maybe a place I haven’t seen so I can appreciate Tavikh more?”

“We have walked to the training arena and through most of the village, as well as the river, already. There is one place I believe you might like, but it resides slightly outside our border.”

“Is it safe?” Not that I don’t think Evren can protect me, but the thought of leaving the security of the village and all the people in it makes me a bit nervous.

He cradles my cheek. “I vow no harm will come to you where we are going.”

That settles that, I guess. “Okay, let’s go.”

With my hand warmly ensconced within his, Evren and I take off toward the rear of the village, and past where all the elders have their tents together in their own small community. He points out the bizele crop that will be ready to harvest closer toward the end of the summer—or warm season as the Tavikhi call it.

“Those are the peach-flavored fruits you told me about?”

“Yes. When we return, we can stop at the food stores and try some that have been dried and preserved.”

I’m curious to see if they really do taste like a peach. “I’d like that.”

We stroll beyond the perimeter and alongside the river that twists and turns at the base of the mountainous hills that run outward from both sides of the village, as far as I can see. The forest on the opposite bank ends, and it is nothing but a large field of the knee-high skewered cotton balls-looking grass.Another family of those alien chipmunk things scurry away from the riverbank at our approach.

“I keep managing to scare them away.” It’s not fair, although I can understand why.

“There will be many more ketri sightings, I am sure.” He says it with a hint of amusement.

That’s when I remember where I heard the word before. It was the day Evren rescued me and carried me back to the village for the healer. I dart a glance at him out of the corner of my eye and admire his thick, muscular biceps and broad shoulders. My gaze travels downward and lands on the lines of his abdominal muscles. Especially the diagonal one along his hip that’s just visible over the top of his low-slung hide pants.

My mouth waters at the sight. Evren is muscular and built, but also lean. Lord, is he tall, too. All Tavikhi are, but I don’t care about the rest of them. Only him.

“I’ve always loved the colors here. They’re so different from Earth, and yet, it’s still beautiful.”

“Jodah has spoken of some of the color differences between our two planets. He and Sage play something they call a color game,” he tells me.

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