“Only if you didn’t mind?” I duck my head
He tips my chin up. “Keeshla, you honor me.”
“Really?” I grin.
“Yes. For you to claim me in that way makes me proud. My tribe brothers will be envious that my mate wishes to have her own mating marks to acknowledge our connection.”
“You’ll no doubt make sure they all know, too, won’t you?”
“Unless you do not wish for me to tell them,” Katem says.
I swivel my head slowly. “By all means. It’s nice to be envied sometimes.”
“Perhaps after the evening meal we can speak with Jodah about crafting this design you wish to have. There are also many within the village skilled with a needle who may be able to place this tattoo as well.”
“Let’s see what Jodah says first and go from there, but I love how excited you are.”
“I am excited because this is something you have wished for and I am helping to see it accomplished. That is all I want in this life, to provide you with all the things. It is my one desire.”
“You are the kindest, most wonderful person I have ever met.” I lean forward and kiss him, something I’ll never get tired of doing.
Chapter 17
Piper
“The Bohnari are coming,” Alesha says without looking up from the cup she is molding into shape.
I glance over at her from the stool I now need to sit and work at. “What are the Bohnari?”
She shakes her head. “Not what. Who. They are our allies from the planet Bohna. Normally, they come much later in the season to trade, but Eloise reached out to her tribe sister Johnna who is mated to their healer. She is hoping they might be able to help Evren and Astrid discover what is making Niella so sick.”
I feel for the new parents, as well as their baby. Whenever they are able to get her to drink Astrid’s milk, she does nothing but cry and vomit. Katem told me Sage believes Niella might be allergic to it, but he didn’t mention another group of aliens coming to Tavikh.
“They’re able to do that? Figure out what’s wrong with her, I mean? Will they be able to fix the problem if they find one?”
“It is possible. Vornak is their healer. He has much knowledge, but the Bohnari also have a healing machine in their ship. Both Zara and Astrid have been healed of injuries they received within moments from Vornak’s machine, so perhaps whatever is wrong with Niella, he will be able to heal.”
A healing machine? The upper tier has some advance medical technology, but those of us from the bottom tier never had access to it. At best, we were given a few vaccinations a year. Break a bone? The doctors—if we could afford one—gave out pain medicine, set it as best they could, and sent us on our way.
“I hope they’re able to help her. She has to be miserable always feeling so sick.”
Alesha stops what she is doing and turns toward me. “Perhaps they can help you as well.”
My whole body jerks. Has Katem been talking to her about me? Besides Sage and him, I haven’t said anything to anyone about my illness. “What do you mean?”
“Many turns have passed since you started learning from me. In that time you have lost much weight and your skin color has changed. You cough often—although you try to hide it from me—and I have seen the blood. I am not a healer, nor do I know much about humans and their bodies, but I know sickness when I see it.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “It’s that noticeable, huh?”
“Perhaps not to others, but we spend much time together,” Alesha says. Her gaze softens. “Does your mate know?”
“He does.”
She nods. “Good. Katem will ensure you are taken care of.”
If only it were that easy. Still, I know he’ll do his best. “Yes, he will.”
“You should ask the Bohnari healer if you can make use of their healing machine.”
