Page 32 of Rescuing Mara

I hold on to her for a little while longer, but nighttime is falling fast, and I want to move us to the bedroom. So, I reluctantly let go and put her back on her feet, my tail slithering up and circling her waist.

“Time for bed?” she asks.

“Time for bed.”

We walk back in silence. The feast is almost entirely cleared up, and most people have retreated to their rooms. T’Rak is still sitting on the couch we left him on, holding a drink in his hand. When we enter, he dips his chin in acknowledgment, and I touch my mind with his.

“Thank you for waiting for us, my friend.”He does not reply, but I feel his satisfaction in knowing we are all back safely. He downs his drink and puts it on a small table before he rises and walks towards us.

“Time for me to call it a night as well.”

We walk in silence toward our rooms and say our goodnights. I let Marra freshen up first, and by the time I’m done, she’s looking sweet and sleepy. I lay down beside her and pull her into my arms. Sighing she relaxes and melts into me. Before long we are both asleep.

CHAPTER20

O’Rec

The next morning, Queen Rahna waits for us. We are late because I could not keep my hands off my mate. Taking our breakfast to go, we follow her across the bridge to a different part of the capital.

This particular part of the city is new to me. I have mostly confined myself to the diplomatic buildings and the Queen’s Palace. The buildings are low here, with well-kept gardens. Children play in the streets under the watchful eyes of females of every species in the universe.

“Welcome to our Sanctuary,” Queen Rahna says, and I feel Marra’s surprise. “This is where we offer refuge to former slaves that have been saved across the Galaxy.”

“You save them?” Marra asks her.

“Not us; your mate.”

Shock is etched in every line of her face as Marra pivots and turns towards me. “You… You…” she stammers, but she is interrupted by voices shouting my name. A couple of children we found working for a smuggler a few years back.

The more people who come to greet us, the more withdrawn Marra becomes. She is utterly silent by the time Queen Rahna leads us to a small house on the east side of the quarter.

The Queen knocks on the door. “Lisa, can you open the door, please? It’s me, Queen Rahna. I have some visitors who would love to see you.”

The door slowly opens a couple of inches, and dark brown eyes stare at us through the crack—broken and mistrusting eyes. “Who did you bring?” The female speaks softly.

“I brought Prince O’Rec of Arracate, the Warrior that sent you here, and his human mate Marra.” The words barely leave her mouth, or the door flies wide open, and a short, skinny human launches herself at me. Hugging me tight.

“Thank you!” she cries, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you so much.” She hiccups, and I gently peel her off me.

She takes a step back, drying her eyes with the sleeve of her tunic. “Sorry,” she begins. “I’m just… so grateful.” And then she starts crying again.

* * *

Mara

As Queen Rhanacomforts the weeping woman in her arms, I look at O’Rec. His face is soft, and his posture is relaxed. Carefully, I step in beside him, not wanting to spook the woman.

“Sorry,” she sniffs again, then turns her gaze on me. “Your mate is an amazing person. When I met him, he was hurt himself, but nothing could stop him from saving me, saving us.”

“Where… Where did he find you?” I croak somehow I know the tale will break me.

“Slavers kidnaped me then sold me to a Sternotheri commander.” She swallows, obviously uncomfortable telling the story. She takes a breath before straightening her shoulders and looks me straight in the eye. “When he was done with me, he took me to some sort of compound. They put me in the dungeons, but it was more like hell. I… I can’t talk about it, but I was absolutely sure I was going to die there. To live out my life in pain and to die there, broken and alone. But O’Rec and his friend, D’Var, they saved me, they saved all of us. They were terrifying but were the first aliens I encountered that didn’t hurt or rape me.” She smiles softly. “And now I am here. I am free, and even though I still have a long way to go, I am at the perfect place to heal. All thanks to your mate.”

Tears have formed in my eyes during her story. I know where she was. I know the man she speaks of. I have heard the whispers, fuck, I have been there with Ananta.

“Yalix.” I whisper. O’Rec confirms with a nod.

I close my eyes, emotions roaring through my mind, overwhelming all my senses. Clink. Clank. The chains rattle, and the links break. I know how hurt O’Rec was by Ananta’s knives. I can still see it when I close my eyes. He was hurt, and the Sternotheri troops were coming for him, but he stayed to save others. All Ananta cared about was herself. It’s like I have been blind for years, and now I can finally see. She is not my friend; she never was and never will be. Yes, she kept me from a fate like Lisa’s, but I am absolutely sure if someone paid enough, she wouldn’t have hesitated to give me up. I refuse to be tethered to her in any way; O’Rec is what matters. He is all that matters.

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