Page 24 of Charmed by the Alien Warrior (Spirit Mates of the Laediriian Exiles #2)

Mara

Together, we step through the open gates, and a heaviness unlike anything I’ve felt before settles over me.

The village is shrouded in the dimming light, its ruins casting long shadows over the uneven, rocky ground. Vines with purple heart-shaped leaves have overtaken the crumbling stone structures, twisting through cracks in the walls and covering most of what remains of the small huts that once housed the members of the tribe.

According to Sorrin, the tribe that lived here wasn’t a big one, certainly never as large as the Anuriix were in the early days of their arrival on Laedirissae, but they chose to settle in this prime location in the foothills of the mountain with a wide, clear lake not too far from here. I can still see signs of the bustling village it must have once been, but now it sits empty and dead like a Wild West ghost town.

Although, strangely, it doesn’t feel completely dead. I didn’t want to mention it to Sorrin, but on the way here, I swear I could feel eyes on me. Watching. But that’s just probably the result of my hypervigilance from being on a dinosaur planet, I guess.

A shout breaks the silence, and Sorrin and I turn to see a familiar figure step out from behind a vine-covered wall.

“You made it!” Vrenner crosses the ground between us in quick strides, his fangs flashing in a relieved smile. His face is line with exhaustion, and his usual distracted air is gone.

Behind him, I see the others emerge from the shadows. Enosir, Yarik, Warrix, and finally at the end, Isabella. A delighted shout escapes her, and before I know it, she’s rushing toward me, an elated smile stretching across her face. I barely have time to release Sorrin’s hand before Isabella is on me, her arms pulling me into a fierce hug.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.” Tears streak down her face, and to my surprise, I realize I’m crying, too. Relief mingles with a bittersweet joy, and I’m just so happy to see her. To see all of them.

Over Isabella’s shoulder, I spot Sorrin greeting the other warriors, the broad, familiar grin that I’ve come to love about him stretches wide across his face as he bumps forearms with each of them. His laughter carries across the stone-paved clearing as he responds to something Enosir says. But even as he jokes with his friends, his gaze keeps drifting back to me. I can feel him in my chest, glowing warm with love and happiness.

I catch the other warriors exchanging amused glances, their knowing looks making me wonder if we’re really that obvious.

Isabella steps back, her warm brown eyes sweeping over me, concern drawing her brows together. “What happened when that big guy took you? Are you okay? Where did he take you? Did he—?”

I cut her off with a small smile. “I’m okay, really. But there’s so much to tell you.” I glance toward Sorrin. “We both have a lot to share.”

Warrix steps closer, his sharp gaze running over us as if checking for hidden wounds. “You two look like you’ve had a tough journey.”

Sorrin nods. “We have.” A soft chuckle escapes his mouth. He shifts his gaze to me, and the look is so full of heat that my toes curl inside my shoes. “But it was worth every step.”

Isabella catches the exchange, her eyes darting between us with a glint of curiosity. She leans closer, lowering her voice to a playful whisper. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that hand-holding action earlier.”

Her teasing grin makes me laugh, and for the first time in a while, I feel at ease—surrounded by friends, with Sorrin by my side. My amoris.

And I’ve come to realize that I’ve found my place here—with him.

Vrenner clears his throat, nodding towards the far end of the village. “The eponirs are loose, grazing on whatever they can find. We’ve set up a temporary shelter in what’s left of the old chief’s hut. It’s in better shape than the other huts and should give us a bit of cover from the elements and… anything else.”

Sorrin’s eyes narrow at his words. “Anything else?”

Vrenner hesitates before explaining, “We’ve had some supplies go missing. It’s probably just hungry beasts.” He glances at Isabella and me, concern etched on his face.

I roll my eyes. These guys—always trying to protect us, even when we don’t need it.

We make our way through the village, passing the crumbling remains of huts. In the fading light, the shadows stretch deep and long, adding an eerie air to the stillness in the village. But walking with these people—my tribe, my family—eases the desolation that clings to this place.

Sorrin falls into step beside me, his large hand in mine. I can feel his warmth and confidence radiating through our bond, echoing in my chest.

Isabella walks on my other side, her eyes flicking to our joined hands. With a grin, she sings under her breath, “Another one bites the dust.”

I laugh before asking her, “Have you seen any sign of the other women?”

Her teasing smile fades. “Not yet. But Vrenner thinks they’re close. The devices on the Ancestors’ Ship showed evidence of another ship entering the atmosphere at the same time as ours and that it crashed somewhere near here.”

Inside the old chief’s hut, a small fire crackles in a stone fire pit, its smoke rising through a gaping hole in the roof. The flames cast a warm orange glow over the weathered walls, pushing back the chill that seeps into the space. The scent of roasting meat fills the air, making my stomach growl.

We gather around the fire, each of us claiming a spot on worn furs that have been arranged in a loose circle. I settle beside Sorrin, and his hand immediately finds mine. His thumb traces a slow circle on the back of my hand that somehow soothes and excites me at the same time.

For a moment, I let my eyes close as I take in the warmth of the cheery fire, the sound of laughter and conversation around me, and the steady, comforting presence of the man beside me. I feel like I can finally take a deep breath again, something I don’t think I’ve done in years. That ever-present feeling of dread that has followed me around is gone, and instead, it’s been replaced with hope.

As we pass around waterskins and tear into chunks of the tender, flavorful meat, Sorrin and I take turns recounting the events of the past few days. I fill them in on everything I learned in the Tussoll village, while he details the battle at the Ancestors’ Ship, recounting every arrogant boast Sevvern made before his death.

The fire crackles as we speak and the flames dance across the faces of our friends as they listen intently, their eyes wide with shock.

When I finish, Vrenner leans forward, a grim look on his face. “So, it’s true. Haavor has joined forces with the Pugj to eliminate our tribe and any others who will stand up to them. All so the Pugj can control the planet without interference, while Haavor believes they will let him play king of the remaining Laediriians…” His voice trails off and he shakes his head in sadness.

“And they know there are females on Laedirissae,” Sorrin finishes for him. “They plan to use the females to entice warriors to join their cause.”

A heavy silence settles, and then the others begin to speak, detailing their journey to the village. After the ambush by the Pugj, their trip was relatively uneventful, though not without moments of tension.

“It’s strange, though,” Yarik, who has mostly been quiet until now, speaks up, his brow ridge drawn low over his eyes. “There seemed to be Pugj fighters and warriors everywhere, more than we’ve ever seen in one area. We managed to evade them, but just barely.”

“Were they searching for something? Maybe us?” I wonder.

Before anyone can answer, the sound of shuffling footsteps at the doorway makes me jump, my heart pounding in my chest. Sorrin rises and pulls a long knife out all in one smooth motion as the other warriors stand and brandish various weapons.

“They were looking for us,” A hoarse voice speaks from the shadows outside the hut.

A figure steps into the light, its frame hunched under the weight of exhaustion and her eyes darting around anxiously as they land on each big warrior and their deadly weapons. Another figure, this one shorter, but with shoulders pulled back in defiance is right behind her. In their hands, they each hold makeshift spears carved out of thick sticks and topped with sharp metal pieces that look so similar to the ones we made after we crashed on this planet.

The firelight dances over their faces, revealing startlingly familiar features. Rounded ears, smooth ridge-less skin, and blunt teeth.

The realization slams into me with the force of a thunderclap. They’re human . I’ve grown so used to the seamless way the Laediriians’ language melds with my understanding that I didn’t even notice it at first, but she was speaking English.

It has to be them—unless there are more humans wandering around this planet than we realized. I almost can’t believe my eyes, but they’re actually here. And they appear to be unharmed. Well, for the most part.

For a moment, I can only stare. Disbelief wars with relief as I take them in. The two women look like they’ve been through hell and back again. Dark circles bruise the skin beneath their eyes, their faces are drawn and weary, and their clothes are torn and caked with dirt. But it’s their eyes that stop me—the same familiar spark of defiance that I see every time I look at my friends.

The taller one shifts, her gaze scanning each of us, lingering on the weapons that are drawn and ready. She raises her hands in a cautious gesture of surrender, the spear in her hand held loosely as if she wants to make sure the guys know she isn’t a threat.

She studies me and Isabella. “We’re not here to fight. We heard you speaking, and then, we saw you. You’re human. Like us, right?” There’s an unmistakable question in her voice, as if she’s having a difficult time believing we’re real.

Before either of us can answer, she continues, “But you’re not scared of them. Why?” Her eyes narrow as she nods toward the Laediriian warriors.

Isabella and I share a look, then I clear my throat and answer. “We’re humans, like you.” I glance at the warriors who have by now sheathed their weapons, but still stand alert, watching and listening. “And they’re not a threat to us. They’re our friends. Our tribe.”

And I realize that I’m telling the truth. These alien warriors have become our tribe. My tribe.

The two women remain rooted in place, their gazes darting between us and the warriors. The disbelief on their faces mirrors the same distrust I felt when I first arrived here. For a long moment, no one speaks. The silence stretches between us, tense and uncertain, and I can feel the weight of so many unasked questions pressing down on all of us.

Then the quiet is broken by the unmistakable growl of a stomach. The shorter woman’s hand flies to her midsection, and even from this distance, I can see her cheeks turn crimson even as her gaze flickers to the platter of leftover meat near the fire. The hunger in her eyes—in both of their eyes—is unmistakable.

Sorrin moves slowly, settling back down onto the fur beside me. He nods to the other warriors, who slowly lower their guard and reclaim their spots around the fire.

“Come,” he says, his voice low and inviting. “Join us.” His smile is warm, easing the tension just a bit.

The two women exchange wary glances before stepping closer, drawn toward the warmth of the fire and the smell of food. We hand them waterskins and chunks of roasted meat, which they take eagerly. They devour each bite as if it’s the first meal they’ve had in days. And based on their appearance, it very well could be.

I go around and introduce everyone sitting at the fire. The warriors respond with a nod and a hand to their chests in a respectful greeting. The two women seem mesmerized, watching each one with curiosity as if they’re trying to make sense of our strange group.

After a moment, Isabella speaks up, her voice gentle. “What are your names?”

The taller woman swallows her last bite, then wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “I’m Leah,” she says, nodding toward her companion. “And this is Cassandra.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “We’re very happy to meet you both.”

Their eyes shift between us, and slowly, the guarded edges of their expressions soften, replaced by wary hope.