“How long until she is done with studying how to make clothing and such and wants to come home?” I glance at him and wish I hadn’t because his eyes are filled with worry.
“I don’t know, and maybe we will have found a solution by then.”
“Maybe. It seems like all we do is try to find solutions, but in the process, we make new problems.”
Hrad smiles. “I think that might be life.”
“It’s exhausting…on the ship it wasn’t like this. There was routine and structure, and things had to be done a certain way.” I press my lips together. The people on Earth made the rules for the ship and the colony, and while they might understand how the ship worked, they understood nothing of living on this world or how a colony, which will gradually lose its technology, would work. Or what it needs. They could only guess.
“Perhaps I am more used to it because my entire life has been about finding food, learning to fight, finding shelter, and moving onto the next place before being found and hunted. The last few months in the colony have been the most peaceful part of my life.” He smiles. “And that’s why I struggled and felt as though I didn’t belong, because I was waiting for trouble to find me.”
“And now that it did?”
“I am ready to go back to the colony and create a home…with you. If that is what you still want.” He holds my gaze, the glow of his markings catches in his eyes, as if no longer sure about the situation between us.
“It is. I told you I want this to be real, and I mean it. We make a good team.” I reach out and place my hand over his. “Once we’re in the air, we can plan our official statement.”
“I’m hoping we can do a bit more than that because I cannot keep this need locked away until after we land. There will be far too many meetings…”
My lips curve. “I can do more than fly. And when we get back, I’m going to request some leave, so that we can enjoy the rest of this rut without thinking about anything else.”
18
HRAD
When we got close to the colony, Alisha was able to call ahead and advise the leaders of the situation. They ended up getting Edilk on the call because he is the unofficial leader of the banished.
No one was happy with the situation with the other tribe, but no one wanted to start a war.
When we left the colony, it was early morning, and no one was there to see us off. When we landed, there were twenty security officers and my brothers.
While the three warriors are volunteers, we are worried about how well they will settle into colony life, especially since they are now required to take orders from Edilk and the human leaders. One of them has a banished brother, so I expect him to settle in the fastest, and to hold the smallest grudge. The other two warriors, I’m not so sure about.
This time the colony leaders were more inclined to listen to our concerns.
They wanted to understand why the mission failed. Although as Alisha said, it hasn’t yet failed as we are still gathering information, and in three months’ time when we go back, we canlearn both from the cameras and from the three women living with the tribe. Perhaps by then the tribe will be more willing to let the human women go.
Especially if they do not take mates.
The sun is rising by the time I follow Alisha to her room. My brothers gave me their congratulations, and Alisha’s father managed to appear happy for her. Though how much of that was forced, and how much does he suspect about what happened? I’m sure that will become clear in the coming days, but for the moment I am not going to worry about it. I have a few days with my mate, and that is all that matters.
Alisha locks the door and leans against it for a moment. “I’m having a shower and then I plan on falling into bed to sleep.” She strips off her shirt and tosses it on the floor. “Are you joining me?”
“If it is an invitation to join you in the shower, yes.”
“It is; that’s why I said I will be sleeping in bed.” She crouches and undoes her boots, pulling them off and setting them to one side, before yanking off her socks and tossing them with her shirt.
Then she is naked before me. It is the first time I have seen her undressed. The curve of her hips and the golden glow of her skin make it hard for me to look away. My meq throbs and my skin aches for her touch. I have been holding back my need for her through all those meetings. Now we are alone, and she is mine.
She already has the water running in the shower by the time I am naked. She turns around, and her gaze sweeps over me. My markings are glowing, and my meq juts toward her. Already the ridges and bumps are more pronounced to make mating more pleasurable for both of us.
She offers me a toothbrush. Then turns around and brushes her own teeth. I can’t resist running my hand over the curve ofher ass. The memory of fucking her in the forest is burned into my mind.
Alisha spits. “Teeth first, then fun.”
“You’re in front of the sink.” And I want to sink into her.
“I was getting a head start.” She steps to the side and then into the shower.
