Page 28 of His to Protect
Chapter 18
Jessica
Ican’t open my eyes, but I’m awake. I cannot breathe, but I don’t suffocate. It feels like I’m floating, but I can’t move. And everything is so silent. Not a single sound. Only the beats of my heart. I should freak out but instead, I feel so peaceful and relaxed, not a worry in the world. It’s like time does not have a meaning anymore and I’m trapped in this eternal peace. I think of the life growing inside me and it makes my heart jump with joy. I am happy. I haven’t been this happy in as long as I can remember. Not so happy on Earth, certainly not on this damned planet. Except for Ka’el. He’s been kind and gentle and sweet. And now us having a baby. It’s freaking unbelievable. I thought I’d never have children and now I’m pregnant with a gorgeous, blue alien. God’s ways are mysterious.
“Jessica, wake up,” I barely hear a voice calling for me. It sounds familiar. It’s Ka’el’s. His voice becomes louder and louder and I’m able to open my eyes. He’s here and hovers over me, his hand gently caressing my forehead.
“Welcome back, my human. I’m glad you’re awake,” he tells me and kisses my head. I don’t say anything but smile at him, enjoying the soft touch of his lips. He’s here, and it’s all that matters right now. I thought he was dead, and I’d never see him again.
“I’m glad you’re here, Ka’el. What happened?” I ask and cuddle next to him. I’m naked, my body covered in a gross slime. I wrap my arms over my body, my skin covered in goosebumps from the cold. “I’m so cold,” I tell him.
“Catleya, bring Jessica something to wear,” he tells the alien female who is at the far end of the bed I’m lying in. Immediately, she leaves the room to fetch a garment for me.
“I thought you died there when those aliens dragged me,” I tell him and look into his big eyes. “When that one shot you with the laser, your gaze was fixed, and you didn’t move. My heart broke into a million pieces.”
“They can’t get rid of me so easily. I’m sorry you went through this,” he says, his kahuni flickering. I can feel mine doing the same thing. It was strange at the beginning but now I’ve got used to it and I kind of enjoy its regular humming underneath my forehead. And it mostly does it when Ka’el is near me. He told me the kahuni flickers when it found its mate. That means Ka’el is my mate. I blush a little at the thought and smile, my cheek pressed against Ka’el’s arm.
I sit up on the bed and turn my head toward Ka’el. A sudden feeling of fear runs through me. My heart races like it wants to jump out of me, my hairs sticking out. I’m afraid I’ll lose him again. I’m afraid I’ll be taken and dragged again. It’s become a constant of my life on Valkrya. “I’m scared, Ka’el. Are we safe?”
“Don’t worry, Jessica. You’ll be all right now and I promise you I’ll protect you with my life. Veekhal is dead and I’ve taken control of the spaceship,” he says and comes closer to me, hugging me with his muscular body. The drums of my heart slow down as if my heart knows I’m safe in his arms.
“Are you sure? Promise me you’ll never leave again,” I say and rest my head on his chest. “Not now. Not ever.”
“I’ll never leave you or our child, Jessica,” he whispers. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been and the gift you offer me is something I’ve never even dreamt of.”
“You know?” I smile and kiss his bare chest.
“Yes, and I couldn’t be happier,” he says, a tear running down his face.
“You’re crying,” I say and wipe the tear away.
“Yes. I’m crying because I’m happy. Now I understand. Emotions don’t make you weaker, Jessica. They strengthen you,” he tells me and leans in to kiss me. He’s become such an exceptional kisser. In fact, he acts more human than most humans I’ve met. He is sweet and caring; he protects me and is not afraid to show his weak points to me.
Catleya returns with a long, flowing dress that’s embroidered in golden thread. It looks so regal and sophisticated. “I’ve brought you this. I hope it suits your taste,” she says and hands me over the dress.
“Thank you. It’s wonderful,” I reply. I take it and lay it on the bed, next to me. “I need to clean myself of this disgusting slime.”
“The slime is from the stasis chamber. I apologize. It was me who put you in stasis, but it was for good reasons. The offspring you carry is a hybrid and in stasis I’m better able to monitor it. You are the first non Valkryan female to carry the pregnancy for so long. Our race is a hybrid race too, and it seems humans and Valkryans share common DNA. No other race was a suitable match but yours,” Catleya says.
“I understand. Can you monitor the pregnancy if I’m not in stasis?” I ask Catleya.
“I believe I can. While you were in stasis, I performed some more tests and it appears everything is ok and there are no problems. I’m optimistic you’ll carry it to full term.”
“Oh, that’s great. Can you show me somewhere to clean up?” I ask the alien female. I’m relieved that all is good with my baby. It’s so interesting what she said about our races sharing DNA. I think I know why. I think this is why the Maya civilization disappeared. Ancient Valkryans must have kidnapped them and mated humans. Catleya said they’re a HYBRID race. Wow. Jessica, baby, you just uncovered the truth. Strangely, the thing I wanted the most means nothing to me now. All I care about is Ka’el and my unborn baby. I don’t know how us together is gonna happen, but there’s gotta be a way. I have no idea if I’ll ever be accepted on Valkrya as more than a walking womb and I’m afraid they’ll take away my child for experiments. More things to worry about.
“Sure. Follow me,” Catleya says and walks away. I follow her and she leads me to a gamma rays cleaning booth. I step inside, allowing the rays to clean my filth. It’s a great sensation, the rays passing over my skin tingle.
I return to Ka’el, wearing the dress Catleya has brought. It’s pretty, and it fits me perfectly. I feel beautiful. I haven’t felt beautiful in a long time. “Do you like it?” I say to Ka’el.
“I adore it. You look so beautiful in it.”
“Thank you,” I blush.
Sometimes it feels unreal that he’s so sweet. I’m afraid it will all come falling apart and I’ll be once more dragged and taken prisoner by the brutes. Shit! Emma! What happened to her? All this joy of reuniting with Ka’el, finding out about my baby, and us being together left little time to think about her. I have to find her. Oh, God! I hope she’s ok. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to her.
“Ka’el, I need to know what happened to Emma. We were separated and I don’t know if she’s still alive. Do you know where she is?” My stomach turns at the thought that she might be hurt, or worse, raped or even dead. She was so scared when they took me and I left her crying. I promised I would make things right and get us out of here. It’s all my fault for all of this. I took her with me even though she was reluctant to go to the pyramid. “Oh, please Ka’el. We have to find her. She’s my best friend.”
“I don’t know anything, Jessica, but I can ask Catleya. I’m sure she knows about the human female.” Ka’el takes me in his arms and I rest my head on his chest. My eyes fill with tears because I fear the worst.
