Page 78 of Made For The Alien Warrior

“Perhaps it would be more akin to a skin grafting procedure. A small shaving ofshotarofrom the next of kin may be implanted and grown inside Tiegan’s body.”

“But I have no next of kin,” Tiegan growled.

“You do,” the voice said somberly. “Healer, prepare for theshotaroexchange.”

Thirty

Symphony

“Who are you?”Tiegan croaked. Symphony heard the uncertainty and hope ringing through those words.

No matter how intimidating and quiet Tiegan was, she knew that he carried deep wounds from his father’s abandonment. Trapped inside that big alien was a sensitive child.

She wanted to run into the water and wrap him in her arms, if only to remind him that he wasn’t alone. If only to declare that she would never abandon him. If only to scream how much she cared.

When she took a step forward to give in to the impulse, Rune stopped her with a hand on her arm. “You cannot.”

“Let me go.”

His hold was firm. “It is dangerous to enter the sacred damas.”

“Iwoke upin there,” she said, whirling on him. “That’s the first place I entered when I got on this planet.”

“And we do not know why.” Rune’s purple eyes held steady on her face. “In the past, those who enter the sacred damas without the Healer’s consent would perish immediately. He is the only one with the power to wield the energy in the damas.”

She gritted her teeth. These Plutonians had so many rules. Couldn’t Rune see that Tiegan’s heart was breaking? Her neural connector was snapping with his anxiety and anger. His despair tugged on the pain points of her heart.

Sometimes, it was best to give people their space. And other times, a hug was the only speech they needed to hear. Though it physically hurt her to remain standing at the shoreline, Symphony listened to Rune’s caution.

“Do not ignore me.” Tiegan’s voice was rising with passion. “Who are you to offer yourshotaro?”

Symphony glanced at the tall Plutonian. He had gone stock-still. His purple eyes glistened as if he were holding back tears.

“Enough chatter,” the Healer said. “You do not have time to waste. The faster we complete the exchange, the better.”

“Do you need my help?” Rune asked.

“Neh.”

Rune dipped his chin.

“Sim-pony, you may go with him.”

“I’m staying right here,” she responded firmly.

“Let her stay,” Tiegan said. “I need her.”

The Healer’s eyes narrowed in her direction. “If you carry on the way you did before, I will have you escorted out again. I cannot concentrate if you are making noise.”

She dipped her chin.

The tall alien glanced at her. “He will be fine.”

“You never answered his question.” She lifted her chin, staring suspiciously at him. “And you never answered any of mine either.”

While they were in the room together, she’d plagued him with questions about who he was, where he was from and why he’d been at the landing point.

“You didn’t even tell me your name,” she accused. “And now we’re just supposed to trust you?”