Page 34 of Fated for the Alien Fighter

Hygienic? No.

Helpful? Also no, but it was tradition at this point.

Taryn clenched his jaw as he watched her make a fool of herself, with her very human habits. Gestures were almost taboo on Quillon, right? She must’ve looked beyond weird, standing there with her finger in her mouth.

She instantly dropped her hand. “So, we sleep inside the ship or…?”

Which wouldn’t have been all that wise, as far as she was concerned. Tight space, with Taryn so close? She’d almost licked his clavicle back there, she wasn’t tempting herself like that again.

And what, exactly, did he mean withhealingher? It most likely involved touching her. Enticing. Too enticing.

It took Taryn a few moments to reply. Finally, he snapped out of whatever reverie had taken hold of him, and inclined his head toward the back of the alcove.

“No, we’ll have adequate lodgings,” he said, and took out Leah’s very human bag from the ship. She didn’t know when he’d deposited her luggage inside of it, but good thing he had, because she’d completely forgotten about it.

leading the way, past the vessel which had saved their lives in the storm. “Kyren would have my horns if he heard I didn’t take care of my Lightmate.”

Leah deflated, the tiniest bit. She had no right to, because she knew this thing with Taryn was doomed, but the innocent part of her didn’t know that. And that part was disappointed that he cared about his Prince’s opinion more than her wellbeing.

As if sensing her thoughts, Taryn turned just as he reached the back wall. “And it gives me great pleasure to provide my Lightmate with all the comforts she requires. There is no greater honor than making her happy and satisfied.”

Leah instantly perked up. Again, she had no business feeling these things, but her human instincts weren’t listening.

Taryn swiped his hand–which had since turned back to its original state, no talons and lava veins in sight–across the wall. It slid to the side.

Leah gasped as soon as she saw the light.

11

LEAH

Leah couldn’t decide if they’d walked into a cozy cabin lodge or a seedy bar, but she liked it. A web of stone beams towered above endless small tables, all of them occupied. Quillons, big and small–though none as imposing as Taryn, her very human brain chimed in–were gathered around, talking loudly or eating plates full of what looked like shards of jewels.

The entire room had a too-warm vibe, as if it welcomed visitors, but everyone kept a close eye on them. Eyes definitely turned toward Leah as Taryn guided her farther inside. Curious and questioning, the gazes took in her gauzy dress and her long, blonde hair, which had successfully escaped its confining bun on the ride here.

Most of them looked at the top of her head–yes, no horns–and her eyes–no slitted pupils, either. Leah wasn’t a fan of the attention, but she didn’t exactly mind it. She stared right back at them.

These Quillons were dressed in beige and brown tunics, all crisp and perfectly pressed, adorned with the most intricate designs around the collar. Leah squinted her eyes–she really did need glasses.

The designs weren’t string embroideries. They were jewels. Glistening, gleaming gems, in all colors and shades. They were even more beautiful than the ones she’d seen in the Capital.

“Those are gorgeous,” she muttered before she could stop herself.

But Taryn and his super senses heard. “Kustume has the best selection of gems in all the Nine galaxies. Perhaps some of them will catch your eye while we’re here.”

“I’m sure a lot of them will.” She kept looking around, amazed by the jewels tucked into every nook and cranny. Some of the glasses had them embedded in the rim, too. “But I can’t take any with me.”

“Why? Not to your liking?”

“Not to my wallet’s liking.” Even after all these months of telling Nana’s doctors and nurses that she had to wait until her next paycheck to pay for this and that, she still blushed when she mentioned she didn’t have enough money.

She shouldn’t, because she was working herself to the bone, day in and day out. But she did.

“Who said anything about yourwa-llet?” Taryn asked, confused, just as they reached what looked like the bar/reception desk.

It was one long slab of rock, perfectly polished and glowing from the inside out, in that weird lava-like substance as the floors and walls in the spaceport. Leah couldn’t stop staring at it until a burly Quillon appeared behind it. He was more wide than tall, with burgundy horns.

Come to think of it, Taryn looked a bit different than the Quillons here. And the ones back in the Capital. Mostly the same features, but his horns were slightly more rounded toward his head, a deeper shade of black, instead of the dark red the others had. His skin was more golden than silver, and he was taller, with corded, defined muscles. The rest of the Quillons had bigger, rougher muscles, with wider shoulders.

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