Page 38 of Made For The Alien Warrior

“I know.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I tried with them. I really thought I could get over you.” Her lips tugged up in a bitter smile. “But it’s proving more difficult than I’d like.” A tear fell from her cheek. “I don’t want to be like this either, Tiegan. I really don’t. But I can’t help it. You were the one who saved me. Without you, I wouldn’t be alive.”

Tiegan clenched his jaw. His eyes landed on Sim-pony who was trying her best not to look at them.

“I am sorry,” he told Leel, “I belong to another.”

Leel wrapped her arms around his waist. “I know. I’m happy for you. I am.”

Tiegan’s stepped back in surprise. Why was Leel embracing him?

“Leel…” He settled his hands on hers to push her away. At that moment, a faint red cloud flooded his mind. Tiegan sought Sim-pony again and found her scowling at him.

He tried to push Leel off him, but it was too late. Sim-pony had already turned and marched away.

Fifteen

Symphony

Symphony heardgrass and stone crunching behind her and spoke harshly, “I don’t want to talk to you right now, Tiegan.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Adhi said.

Her eyes widened and she whirled around. “Adhi!”

“Should I leave and get Tiegan?” She stuffed a thumb over her shoulder. “Because now that I’ve gotten that neural implant—which felt like someone was drilling into my skull by the way—I can talk to him.”

“No,” Symphony mumbled.

Adhi sat beside her under the shade of a tree that was yellow from root to branches. The sun splayed in front of them. It was so bright that she could barely see the imprint of the twin planet hovering in the distance.

Adhi brushed her hands on her colorful dress. “It looks like aliens have drama too.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You and Tiegan.” Adhi’s brown lips trembled. “And that other girl. It’s like I’m watching a movie. Those cringy ones with the love triangles.”

“It’s not a complicated romance. And there’s no love triangle.”

“Oh no? So it’s just you and Tiegan?”

“No, it’s him and Leel. If anyone’s going to make a movie, it’ll be about them. Tiegan rescued Leel when she first got here. He took her to the camp and kept her safe. It makes sense that they’d fall in love.”

“I don’t think he’s interested in her,” Adhi mused, picking at a blade of orange grass and flicking it between her fingers.

Symphony frowned, refusing to give into the hope. “It doesn’t matter becauseI’mnot interested in anyone up here.”

“Liar.” Adhi bumped her shoulder.

“I’m not lying.”

“You’re such a bad one too.” Adhi rolled her eyes, looking mischievous. “I don’t need to speak alien to know that Tiegan is checking for you. He can barely take his eyes off you. Just now, I had to convince him to give you space.”

“Really?”

Adhi nodded. “He tossed that other girl aside and came charging. Sara and Simone told him you shouldn’t be crowded right now. It took all three of us too keep him back.”

“What about Leel?” Symphony asked. There were only a handful of women on this planet. She didn’t want to make an enemy of anyone.

“Leel went running, so Emma and Kia went after her.” Adhi tapped her chest. “And I got chosen to check on you while Sara and Simone kept an eye on your stubborn alien lover.”