Page 40 of Fated to the Alien Hero

“I love you. I know you said not to say it back until I could say it without any hesitation or doubt. And I know you might think that I’m only saying it because of Grady and everything that happened today, but I’m not.” I think I’ve known almost from the beginning. “From the moment you rescued me and I heard your voice for the first time, I knew there was something special about you. I didn’t even need to see your face. Every word you spoke to me was soothing. Calming. Then, I saw your soul light. Of course, I didn’t know what it was at the time, but it changed me.Youchanged me. Love changed me. I don’t want to go another minute without telling you I love you.”

I kiss him softly, pouring every ounce of love I have into it. From now through eternity, I don’t ever want Evren to doubt my feelings. He deserves to know he’s loved and I’ll spend the rest of my life showing him. We break apart and I brush thelong strands of his golden hair off his brow bones and tuck them behind his ear. I trail my finger along the bluntly pointed end and he groans.

“Did I hurt you?” I take my hand away.

Evren shakes his head. “Not in the way you think. I had no idea my ears were so sensitive. No one has touched them like that before.”

Knowing that shouldn’t be so sexy and yet it is. “I’m glad I’m the first.”

“As am I.”

A throat clears behind us and we turn. London is there with Zander.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she says. “We wanted to let you know your tent is finished and ready for you whenever you’d like to go inside.”

I climb off Evren’s lap and we both stand up. “Thank you, London. You have no idea how grateful I am for everything you’ve all done for me since I got here.”

“You’re one of us now, Astrid. We look out for each other. No questions asked. It’s what family does. Enjoy your new home.” She and Zander leave us with a nod.

Tears threaten to fall again, but I sniff them back. Evren takes my hand.

“Are you ready to go?” he asks.

“I am.”

We walk toward our spot and sure enough there is a brand new tent sitting there. Everyone has left, but there’s a lit torch staked in the ground out front that Evren picks up. He swings back to door flap and gestures for me to go in first. Just like London said, there are two trunks against one of the walls, a table with a giant clay bowl already filled with water, and two chairs.

My gaze drifts to the bed of furs. Lying on top is a neatly folded purple and black one that appears huge. I turn to Evren.

“Is that the…luani from the day you found me?”

He stabs the torch into the dirt next to the small central fire pit and crosses over to pick it up. “Yes. I was the warrior who dealt the final blow, which means that I am awarded the fur. I am now passing it to you as a mating gift. It is the finest thing I own and I want you to have it. The cold season is difficult for humans and this will keep you warm.”

My arms go out automatically when Evren offers it to me. He lays it over my outstretched forearms and I nearly drop the thing, it’s so heavy. I can’t even imagine how I’ll feel wrapped within it.

“You’re amazing, do you know that? Thank you. This is the best gift I’ve ever received.” I glance away a bit self-consciously. “I actually studied this thing back on Earth called love languages. There are those who think it’s silly, but there are people—people like me—who considering receiving gifts the same as being told I love you by the person who gives the gift.”

“Then I will give you as many gifts as you would like so you will never forget how much I love you.” Evren palms my cheek.

I hug the luani fur tightly against my chest and lay my free hand over his. “Just in case I don’t say it often enough, I want to find out what your love language is, too. Soyounever forget.”

“These love languages are another thing you can teach me along with this calendar of yours. I have not forgotten about it.”

“Deal.”

“Good. Now, let us rearrange everything how we like it,” Evren says. “Over the next couple of turns, I will make a chest for your things as well. I will also take you to the human settlement so you can bring back whatever belongings you wish to have here.”

The thought of going back to the colony is a nauseating one, but they need to know about Grady. It’s only right to tell them. Plus, I do have several sentimental items from home I want. Like the gold locket I got for my sixteenth birthday that contains a picture of my parents and me. There’s also the quilt that has been passed down throughout our family for at least five generations. I’ve kept it in the protective covering, but if Evren and I have children, it’s a tradition I’d like to continue. Which makes me realize kids are something we’ve never talked about.

“Can I ask you something first that feels a little inappropriate given the current circumstances?”

“Of course, my Astrid. You can ask me anything.”

“Do you want children?”

“If Deeka blesses us with kits, I will be the happiest of males. But whether we have them or not does not affect how I feel about you. I love you whether you decide you would like to add to our family or not,” Evren says. “If, and when, you are ready to have kits, I will love them as fiercely as I love you.”

Immense relief fills me. “I want kids…eventually. But I also wouldn’t mind just you and me for a while, too. We’re both still young and I honestly don’t know if I’m ready to take care of a baby.”

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