Page 7 of Fated to the Alien Hero

My cheeks warm that she could so easily read my mind.

“Are you hurting anywhere?” Sage asks. “Do you need anything for pain?”

I take another quick stock of myself and decide the pain is tolerable right now. The medicine might help numb everything, but it also makes me drowsy, and I don’t want to sleep again just yet. The disgusting taste might also be a factor.

“Not right now, but thanks.”

“Let me know if you change your mind,” Sage says. She and London exchange glances before they focus their attention on me again. “Evren says your name is Astrid?”

“Yes.” Do I volunteer more than that? No, I better not. Keep things simple.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you.” London smiles brightly, but then it fades. “Too bad it’s not under better circumstances. Can you tell us what happened?”

I pause. What did Evren or the others tell them? For a second, panic flares to life. Did they notify those back at the colony? Is Grady going to come marching in here to take me back? Will he manage to kill me next time? I don’t even realize my breathing is erratic until Sage grips my hand.

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe here. No one is going to harm you. Just breathe with me. In and out, nice and slow,” Sage coaches.

“What did you do to her?”

I turn at the sound of the male voice, and at the sight of Evren, relief floods me. In his hands are two steaming rough-hewn bowls. He rushes over and sets them down on the platform next to where I’m lying. Sage releases me and takes a step back with her hands held up. I wish he would hold me, but he only remains close enough for his heat to warm my side. Slowly, I get my breathing under control.

“Peace, Evren,” London says softly without a hint of reprimand. “I only asked what happened.”

“I have told you,” he replies. “Astrid was beaten, and for her safety, we must not let anyone at the human settlement know that she has been found or that she is with us. I brought her here for healing and protection.”

“Yes, you did, but I wanted to hear her explanation.”

Although their voices aren’t raised, I don’t like people arguing. “I was outside the colony filling a bucket of water when my…husband came out of the forest where he’d gone hunting earlier in the day.” Is someone your husband anymore if he tried to kill you? I shake off the thought. It's not the time. “He said I was supposed to have been with him, although that wasn’t true. But I didn’t want to make him angry by arguing, so when he told me to come with him, I did. We walked and walked through the trees until an instinct told me something was wrong and I needed to run. By the time I listened, it was too late.”

One would think the tears would come, but perhaps I’ve cried them all out over the last three years, because my eyes remain dry.

“Were you doing anything or saying anything?” Sage asks.

“You mean, did I give Grady a reason to beat me to the point where I nearly died?”

“No! God, no, sorry, that’s not what I meant.” She wrings her hands in a helpless gesture. “I’m so sorry I made it sound like I was blaming you or that you did something to set him off. I apologize for how that came out. I was just trying to get a picture of what was happening at the time. That’s all.”

Guilt pinches me a little, but I ignore it. “Neither of us were doing anything but walking in silence. That’s how Grady prefers me. Silent.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” London says. “I don’t want to assume, but I take it this isn’t the first time he’s laid hands on you?”

I laugh bitterly. “It’s the closest he’s come to killing me over the last three years.”

Beside me, there’s a deep growling sound. I glance over, surprised, to discover it coming from Evren. The swirling lines that cover his arms and shoulders darken in color. His fists clench at his sides. For a brief second, the old familiar fear hits me and I flinch. Horror crosses his face and he takes several quick steps back.

“Please forgive me,keeshla,” he rasps out. “I would never.”

Helpless, I reach my arm out for him. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you would. It was just a reflex.”

Evren’s gaze bounces from my hand to my face before he finally moves forward and lays his palm within mine. Rather, his palm engulfs mine, it’s so big.He’sso big that for once in my life I feel small beside someone. Both our hands and our eyes remain locked until a cough shakes me out of the near trance I’d been in staring at him. I turn toward Sage and London. Their expressions are unreadable, but it almost feels like there’s a bit of judgment in their eyes.

Oh god, is one of them married to Evren?

I snatch my hand from his. “I’m sorry if I overstepped. Is he either of yours husband?”

Both Sage and London cough and choke. Evren gapes. I feel myself flushing. Why do I always say the wrong thing? London recovers first and clears her throat with a soft shake of her head.

“No, neither of us are Evren’s mate,” she says. “My mate is Zander. He’s the shefir—the leader—of the Tavikhi. I believe you met Jodah when Evren found you. Sage is his mate.”

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