Page 50 of Her Alien Savior
“The main notice said arrive on the second Dan Star, but that’s probably because that’s when they will have their strongest defense, and possibly you show late and be forced to withdraw, but after the notice they cite the contract and it’s not on, but by, do you hear what I’m saying?” he asked excitedly.
“And how do you plan on us leaving tomorrow?”
“On my shuttle.”
“Your shuttle?”
He shrugged. “I figure out how things are built, and I replicate it. I already said, I’m not trapped here.”
I glanced down at my mate and smiled at her peaceful face as it burrowed into my shoulder. Leaving while she’s acclimating to my mark wasn’t ideal, and I may put her into distress, waking her early if she senses I am in danger. I’d seen a mate lose their mark waking too early from their claiming ceremony when another warrior challenged the claim. It was my first lesson in control, how patience was mightier than unfettered emotion. Elder (Tak) had said to me then, learn here that if he had been more honorable, he could have thought clearly of accepting a challenge too soon. The warrior won his duel, but lost his mate. It was more important to protect his honor to his mate than to protect his pride, yet he chose poorly.
I would not make the same mistake.
“I will leave tomorrow, but I will not go to the council until she wakes.”
“How long is she supposed to be asleep?”
“She is not necia, I have no way of knowing how long it will take her body to accept my mark. A typical mating takes a few days.”
“For a necia with healing glands...” he remarked rubbing his face with exhaustion. Then he asked something I didn’t have the hearts to think about, “And if she isn’t awake by the second Dan Star? You do realize humans need water and food within a few days, right?”
“She’ll need my blood throughout her sleep, it’ll provide what she needs to stay healthy.” I ignored his first question, that was so many risings from now, and I was sure she’d wake before then. And if she didn’t... I would be forced to make a choice between staying by her side, or letting my tribe die.
The seventh rising passed, as I held my mate to me. Her human canines pulled from her gums as she sucked on the puncture that I pierced into my own neck for her to drink from. My blood will nourish her until she wakes, but this was more risings than any other mating I’d witnessed in my own tribe. I plucked the small teeth from my skin like slivers and stared at them with concern. Easing my arm from around her, she whimpered as I withdrew, but I had to see for myself if any other teeth were loose. With two fingers I lifted her lips up, and sighed in relief as I saw two sharpened tips poking from where her old teeth were. She was growing in new fangs, stronger and when I saw them retract, I knew they would be the same as mine when they were fully grown.
This change would help her feed from my blood, and I was thankful her body was accepting my mark. We were becoming one, and that filled me with a kind of happiness I didn’t know was possible.
There were so many long risings, one after the other, monotonous tasks of patrolling the universe far and wide while staying out of trouble. I wasn’t stupid. I knew the Galactic Authority was assigning my ship to tasks that kept me busy. A few times, I knew they purposefully sent my ship on dangerous missions no other ship would take because if I were gone, it would be one less thing to worry about. They stopped giving me those kinds of missions when they realized all it did was help restore my honor among my tribe.
And yet, here I was staring at the most perfect being I’d ever laid my eyes upon. She has claimed me and taken my mark. Gently, I brushed her brown-golden strands off her forehead, and behind her small ears. A few more clumps of hair tugged free from the movement, and I saw new silver hair that sparkled in the light fill in. Her mane was changing, and I smiled. My Riley was blessed by the goddess, I thought, as I gathered her up in my arms once more.
“Pulsunne, you must wake soon. If I don’t go to the council, my tribe is at risk, and we will not have a home to return to.”
She moaned and snuggled into my chest, and I held her tightly while kissing the top of her head.
My mate’s brother is more troubled as the risings pass. Dark circles tell me he has not been resting, as his mind spins with worry.
“Vox,” he preferred to call me by my first name, and I did not mind. He paced the room of our temporary chambers within the research center. With a groan he rubbed at his face, as if that would remove the weariness there. “We can’t wait much longer. Tomquin is satisfied with how Riley is taking to your mark, but you need to do what you promised to protect her. We need to register her as marked and a citizen of the Galactic Authority, then get her on the next ship off Trillume. There’s an outlaw ship orbiting, right now.”
I sighed and lifted my slumbering mate up in my arms. “One more rising, and we will leave.” A Dan Star had already passed, and there have been enough changes that the mark should keep. Our bond is strong, I thought. “You must thank your mate for helping us.”
Nate sighed. “She hasn’t accepted me.”
“She will see your honor, given time.”
He scoffed, and then chuckled. This was his defense against the fragility of his human heart, I surmised. Hiding behind his teeth, not so different to a warrior in battle. This duel was one from within. “It’s been years. I’ve been here for years.” Nate shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, I’ll do whatever she needs me to do to help lift the weight of the universe from her shoulders.”
“Yes,” I agreed, as I would do the same for Riley. “Sometimes that is all we can do. Tomorrow we will go.”
I won’t die, Pulsunne. I have too much to live for with you beside me, but I must fight for our future.
Chapter twenty-one
Riley
Hunger.Mybellyached,and I tasted metal and sugar in my mouth that made my very ears pound and throb. Liquid dribbled down my chin, and I licked around the corners of my lips to capture it with need. My tongue followed the fluid to its source, and sucked on it with vigor as it filled my mouth with sweet nectar that soothed my throat, warming my gut. I moaned and my tongue butted up against thick prongs that sunk into where the drink was coming from. In my shock, my eyes flew open, and I stared into the deep amber eyes of Direl, who watched me with a relief.
“It pleases me that you’ve woken, Pulsunne,” he said while pulling me up to press his forehead to mine.
