Page 64 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Rune said something that caused Korben to scowl. Sara glanced at Ga Eun again. Looking to her new friend as a translator was getting annoying already. For that reason alone, she was sort of looking forward to communicating with Korben. It was time to learn the truth, no matter how hard that truth was.

Ga Eun smiled patiently. “Rune said that if you can put up with Korben, you can put up with anything.”

Sara laughed.

Ga Eun tilted her head and listened some more. “Rune said that he already fixed Korben’s interface, so your mate can understand you.” She looked Sara fully in the eyes and whispered, “Is there anything you want to say to him?”

Sara glanced at Korben, noting the way his jaw ticked.

He’d chosen her.

He’d mated her.

But he loved his species. She could tell. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to believe that he would have shown her his good side just to get her to breed his babies. Or to fatten her up before he handed her over to be slaughtered.

“Sara?” Ga Eun placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Sara sucked in a deep breath and shook her head. She had nothing to say to Korben. She just hoped that, when they could talk and all their cards were on the table, she wasn’t left with a broken heart and regrets. Because she would not be able to survive it.

Twenty-Six

Korben

Sah-ah’sscream of pain made his heras squeeze like a vise. He shot Rune a dark look. “If she screams one more time, Rune, your head will—”

“Korben, it’s okay,” Sah-ah said breathlessly. Her words were sweet to his ears. He’d grown used to the delicate tremor of her voice, but actually being able to make sense of what she said…

“I’m done.” Rune backed away and lifted both hands. “Denizi, Korben. I will never do this again with someone breathing down my neck.”

He dropped to one knee in front of Sah-ah. “My heras, are you okay?”

“I’m good,” she said in a shaky voice.

His fingers grazed her dark cheek and over one of her springy curls. “Can you understand me?”

She nodded.

He helped her to stand. “Lean on me if you need to.”

Sah-ah pushed away from him to stand on her own. Just then, Ga Eun entered the lab with Kenzi on her hip. Having been aware that Sah-ah would feel immense pain, she’d suggested they move to the end of the spaceship so as not to scare the brood.

“Here. I brought you some water.” Ga Eun offered a golden cup to Sah-ah.

His mate drank thirstily and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Thanks.”

He grabbed her elbow. “Do you need to rest?”

She carefully avoided his eyes and shook her head. Korben frowned. Though he’d tried his best to postpone their mating, his connection to Sah-ah was so strong that he’d claimed her before they’d exchanged one full sentence.

They were already bonded, and communication would only strengthen that tie. So why was there a new distance between them?

Ga Eun cleared her throat. “There’s a gorgeous waterfall near here. Why don’t you two head there and talk in private?”

“Sah-ah?” Korben asked, leaving the decision up to her.

“I just… need to change first.”

Change? He gazed at her crumpled tunic before realizing that she was referring to her lack of undergarments.