Page 33 of Alien Jeopardy (Mated & Afraid #1)

CHAPTER

THIRTY-TWO

Ka-Rexsh

The first tray of the box is full of extremely rare, extremely expensive medication designed to help repair the integumentary and skeletal systems on a cellular level. They aren’t Draegon-made, but a product of Arco research, which Ellison apparently doesn’t have programmed into her translator.

As soon as I explain to her what it does, I immediately tear open a packet and drink the gel-like substance within.

It’s going to hurt, but I’d rather heal fast and painfully than not be able to fly or protect my mate.

The second tray is full of carrier knives, designed to deliver potent poisons.

The third tray held the comms tablet Ellison’s hugging to her chest, along with a charging device.

The bottom and largest section of the box contains an ancient-looking water purifier, a fire starter, a length of rope, and a length of thick-gauged wire.

“That looks like the stuff they’d give competitors on one of the off-grid shows,” Ellison says. “I don’t know how we’re supposed to use any of it with all this water.”

I don’t mention that I have other ways of starting a fire because this very well may be a wiser way to keep my woman warm and fed than to put all my cards on the table in front of an entity as unpredictable as Ken.

“I am sure we will find out, hyrulis,” I tell her. The name is perfect for her, and I don’t think I could stop using it even if she hated it. “Are you hurt?” I hold out a packet of the gel to her, but she shakes her head.

“Not even for the cut on your hand?” It was bleeding freely enough to have left a stain on the steering mechanism for the boat’s motor.

“It’s not that bad. I’d rather save it in case something worse happens,” she says slowly.

“Show me,” I demand.

Frowning, she holds her hand out to me, slowly uncurling her fingers. A gash runs across her palm, but she’s right—it’s not deep, and it’s not bleeding anymore.

I hate it all the same.

I hate that she mutilated herself to save me.

“I want you to take the medicine anyway.” I clear my throat, trying to cut the growl out of my voice. “To prevent infection.”

“That’s not a bad idea. But what if something worse happens? Like a compound fracture?”

My translator provides an image of a bone jutting through her delicate skin, and I snarl in response.

Ellison blinks.

“Congratulations, players,” Ken’s voice interrupts the apology I was about to form. “You have each conquered the first real challenge of Mated and Afraid , though your completion didn’t come without a cost, did it? Looking at you, Selene!”

“Oh no,” Ellison says on an exhalation. “Poor Selene. I hope she’s okay.”

I rip open the packet of medicine for Ellison, and she takes it absently, still listening to the AI she’s named Ken.

“Prince Pol certainly has his hands full with that one, doesn’t he, folks?

All of you have found your comms tablets, and somehow even the evolutionarily stunted humans have figured out how to work them.

Truly a surprise around every corner here on Mated and Afraid —too stupid to protect their planet from themselves, but smart enough to work technology. A conundrum of the worst sort.”

I arch an eyebrow at Ellison, curious if what it says is true. Did they destroy their planet?

She gives me a grim nod in response, and I frown. I knew the humans had barbaric traditions, but I did not know they were actively killing their planet.

How bizarre.

“You will have tonight to recover from today’s fun, so I suggest you all find a secure location to sleep, eat, and rest up for tomorrow’s adventure.

Those of you who are still in heat, you may want to reconsider holding out.

Those of you who have mated, you will receive a bonus prize when you settle in your campsite. Congratulations again, and good luck!”

With that, the voice fades away, replaced by the water lapping at the metal sides of the boat.

“It’s lower now,” I observe. The trees, which were nearly completely submerged, now poke from the flood like strange markers on our watery road.

“Much lower,” she agrees. “Do you think Selene is okay? And her Draegon… what’s his name… Pol is a prince?”

“It is strange that he is here.” It’s not really an answer and she tilts her head, waiting for one.

“Yes. He is a prince, one of the heirs. He left our home world long ago.” I fall silent. Pol’s story is not mine to tell.

That, and refusing to speak ill of the mad king is an old habit learned through pain.

It won’t be easy to break, I fear, not even on Sueva.

“If anyone can take care of the human woman, it is Pol,” I tell her, and I mean it. “He was a mercenary, an assassin. He is formidable, and if she chose him as her mate, then he will not rest until she is safe and healthy.”

“He doesn’t sound that different from you.” Ellison’s voice is soft.

I scoff. “He is a prince. Of royal blood. He was raised with a sword in his hand and the constant threat of violence from the rest of his family. I am glad we will not have to fight him.”

“You could beat him.”

A laugh trickles out of me at that, but it’s not mean. “That is kind of you.”

There’s a stubborn set to her jaw, and fire in her eyes. “I mean it, Rex. You went after that awful snake. You fought it even though it…” She motions to my wing. “It hurt you, and you didn’t give up.”

“I did not have many options but to fight the serpent,” I tell her wryly. “You are the one that saved me.”

“You would have done the same for me.”

I nod. “I would have. I would have done the same for you without a second thought.”

The boat rocks slightly as she sits next to me.

I don’t move, afraid to ask for too much, to overwhelm her, when I can sense her emotions are unstable.

“The medicine helped,” she says.

Her cheek lands on my shoulder, and I can’t resist touching her again. My arm wraps around her shoulders, pulling her close to me.

“I am glad, hyrulis,” I murmur.

Her breath is warm, and it gradually evens out as she relaxes against me.

“I’m glad you’re my partner for this,” she says, glancing up at me. A lock of her damp red-brown hair falls into her face, and I tuck it behind her ear.

“I am pleased to hear you say that,” I tell her. I am, too, the comment leaving me warm all over, distracting me from the pain of the medicine rebuilding my wing and my ribs.

We stay like that for a long while, drifting among the flooded alien pines.