Page 78 of Kissed By the Alien
“He verbally abused me. And physically.” She stops talking again.
I’ve seen this situation before. Once, on Zyan. A male abused his pleasure mate. It angered him that he could not find his sholani and instead of appreciating the companionship his pleasure mate provided, he took out his anger on her.
“You are a strong female, but even the strongest of people can fall into traps they don’t know how to escape.”
Lexi takes a deep breath, then releases it slowly. “I thought of telling my father, but I feared I’d never find another guy who’d like me. I had little confidence in myself back then. Viv told my father about how Devlin had been treating me. Then Devlin…”
“He hurt you again?”
She shakes her head. “My father called me into his office, told me he took care of Devlin, that I’d never see him again, and to choose better next time.”
“I didn’t ask him what he did to Devlin. But I saw several bodyguards coming back with dirt and mud on their shoes early that morning.”
“You think he killed him. Or ordered his men to?”
“I don’t know. He’s a Fixer. Hefixesproblems. And Devlin was a huge problem.”
It’s possible I haven’t accurately assessed her father. A man who would kill to protect his youngling would not knowingly put that youngling in danger.
“I was furious with my Dad for interfering, and with Viv for betraying my trust, but mostly myself. What happened to Devlin was my fault. If I’d broken things off, been strong enough to stand up to him, then he’d still be alive.”
“And perhaps you’d be dead. Your father eliminated the threat. It’s what any warrior would do.” What I did with Virtue.
“Then you believe me about my father? That he wouldn’t kidnap me?” When I don’t answer, she steps in close to me. “Please, you need to trust me on this. My dad’s capable of a lot of things, but not this. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
My eyes follow the knotted bedsheets leading to my window. “I think you enjoy danger, female.”
“I enjoy freedom.”
“The two are tied together for you, it appears. This is not how it should be.”
“Working on it, Warrior.” Her smile returns, perhaps because she sees I will not make decisions for her. “I guess we’re both working on it, in our own ways.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m trying to gain physical freedom on a world that makes being a woman dangerous. You, on the other hand, are seeking mental freedom. Narzan.”
Immediately, my muscles tense and my horns rise, though not to their full height. My sholani could insult me, tell me she hates me, and forbid me to go near her, and still my horns would never threaten her. But this is a topic I will not discuss.
“You know nothing of Narzan.”
“I know you felt responsible for him your entire life.”
“Who told you this?” I don’t have to think about it long. “Hunzu.”
“He told me about your childhood. And about Narzan’s death.”
“He wasn’t there. He doesn’t know the details.”
“But is he right? Are you blaming yourself for something that was unavoidable?”
“It was avoidable. That’s what everyone does not understand.”
“Then help me understand. Whatever you’re going through, you shouldn’t have to do so alone.”
“Like you’re doing now, Lexi? If you’d come to me, told me you wished to go home, then I would have escorted you. I still will, if you ask.”
With no hesitation, she steps closer to me. “Will you escort me?”
