Page 50 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

“Korben, you cannot live with that burden.”

“Can’t I?” His chest twisted with pain. “The last thing my mother asked of me before she passed was to protect Clavas. To stay by his side. To ensure that our family remained intact.”

“That was too great a request for one so young.” Rune shook his head. “I, too, lost my mother to the Red Death. I, too, bore the responsibility of my brother, but I learned to separate myself from that weight. We all have our burdens to bear, but you need not own an extra one.”

Rune was sorely mistaken. Clavas was not a burden. He was family.

“It ismyresponsibility to get my brother back. At all costs.”

“Even at the expense of Sah-ah?”

Korben went quiet. That was not an option.

“If you fear your principles may be shaken, you can take Enthara when she is recharged and leave Sah-ah here.”

Korben growled. “Never.”

“My female was excited at seeing another human.” His lips tilted up sadly. “I did not realize how much she missed her own species. It is almost enough to make me steal a ship and try to get her back to earth.”

Korben tilted his head, disbelieving. “Would you?”

“Neh.” Rune dropped his palm flat on the table. “I guess I am selfish.”

“Then so am I. Whether Sah-ah allows me to claim her or not, I want to protect her. I want to make her smile. I want her safe.”

“You love her,” Rune said.

“Love? What is this?”

“It is commitment.” Rune’s jaw clenched. “It is sacrifice and selflessness. It is death and life.”

“These are all creeds we live by when we mate.”

“Yes. But the humans have one word for this action that captures them all.” Rune walked over to Enthara and scanned her. “Love.”

Love. Humans were so strange.

Korben tapped his blue nails on the counter. “How long will it take to build the neural implant?”

“A few hours.”

Impatience made his gut churn. He wanted to speak to Sah-ah and claim her as soon as possible, but it seemed that would not happen tonight. With a sigh, he started walking toward the door. “I will be back to check on Enthara.”

That was all he could do for now as the future was too uncertain. He knew not how he would save Clavas. Or how he would rescue the Healer. Or how he would keep Sah-ah safe now that he suspected her Plutonian ancestry.

But he knew one thing.

The world felt right when Sah-ah was in his arms and, even if he didn’t deserve it, he wanted that peace.

“Korben,” Rune called when he got to the door.

He skidded to a stop and glanced over his shoulder inquiringly.

“Do not break her.”

“I told you I would wait to speak to Sah-ah before I—”

“You willnot.” Rune smirked knowingly. “I see that look in your eyes. It is very clear you want to consume her to the point of unconsciousness. You will mark everything inside her and leave her devastated.” He paused. “Be gentle the first time. You cannot lose yourself.”