Page 11 of Fated to the Alien Hero (Warriors of Tavikh #7)
Evren
The more I dwell on it, the more I understand why Astrid would think I would say she imagined seeing my soul light. It is because of the human male, Grady. He is the one who has made my keeshla have fears and doubts. This is one more reason for my hatred of him to grow.
“Would you like to have a date with me?”
The human courting ritual of dating is apparently important to the females, so I will do this thing with mine.
Astrid draws back and stares. “You mean, like a date date?”
“Are there different kinds?” I have only ever heard of the walking one.
“I suppose there are, but what kind of date are you talking about? I didn’t know Tavikhi knew what dating is.”
“There is only one date we have been taught, but I am willing to do another kind if you prefer.” Spending time with Astrid is the most important thing.
“What is this date you’ve been taught?” she asks in a wary tone.
“A walking one.”
“A…walking one?”
I nod. “Yes. Where we walk around the village with no destination in mind and no other purpose except to walk. And date.”
A slow smile curls her lips. “I see. Then, yes, I think I would like to have a date with you.”
“I am so glad.”
We stand, but before we can walk away from the fire, there are raised voices. I glance in the direction they are coming from and go rigid. One of the human leaders from the settlement is heading this way flanked by two warriors. His wide gaze is locked on the female at my side. I sense the moment Astrid realizes. She attempts to hide behind me, and through the hand I still hold, I feel her entire body tremble, and a soft whimper spills from her lips. I tighten my hold on her in reassurance.
“Oh my god, Astrid,” he calls out and quickens his pace.
He reaches us far too soon, but even in the time it has taken him, Zander and Benham stand before us with arms crossed, blocking his view of my mate. He attempts to lean sideways to see her, but Zander sidesteps into his line of sight.
“Greetings, Gary of the human settlement. Is there something I may help you with?” the shefir asks in a neutral tone.
“I came to ask for your help in finding one of our missing people, but it appears she’s already been found. We’ve been so worried when Grady came back from hunting and said a wild animal attacked and dragged Astrid off. He said she was dead, but I was hoping we might still be able to locate her.”
“Is that the story the dishonorable male told you?” I snap, my anger getting the best of me.
The human leader takes a step back with wide eyes. “I’m sorry?”
Zander raises his hand, and I stand down.
“Why is this Grady not with you seeking our assistance with finding the female?” he asks the human male.
The question appears to startle him. “He insisted she was dead.”
“How would he know? If she was dragged away by one of the forest creatures, why would he assume she was dead and not, instead, go search for her?”
Gary’s mouth opens and closes several times before he finally shakes his head. “I don’t know. He just came back to the settlement distraught and repeating over and over that Astrid was dead.”
“Perhaps it is because he wished it to be so,” Zander says.
The human leader’s gaze narrows. “I saw what she looked like just now. Are you saying Grady did that to her?”
He asks it in a way that shows he does not believe it.
“The shefir does not lie,” I growl, unable to stop myself.
My mate has not stopped trembling. It is killing me to know the fear she has at being found here, and there is nothing I can do about it now. Her secret is out. But I will not let this male or the one called Grady take Astrid from me.
“I didn’t mean to suggest he was,” the human leader says. “I just can’t believe that Grady would do such a thing.”
“Then you’re a blind fucking idiot,” a female voice calls out from nearby.Zara approaches our group, her expression fierce and angry. “That man has been beating her since before they even got to this planet, and you’re telling me you never noticed something might be wrong?”
She comes to a stop next to Benham. Her pose mimics his. More people, humans and Tavikhi, have gathered around nearby.
“You can’t stand there and tell me that not one single person in that entire settlement couldn’t see what was happening right under their nose?” She scoffs. “That’s a load of bullshit.”
Gary glances away from Zara and won’t meet her gaze. His cheeks turn the same color I have seen on the females. “There were never any bruises.”
“None that were visible,” Astrid interrupts quietly and moves from behind me to stand at my side. “Everyone knew, though.”
Zander, Benham, and Zara all turn and, as my mate moves several steps closer to Gary, they part so she can be seen by him. She releases my hand and does not stop until she stands directly in front of him. This is something she must do on her own, no matter how I wish to protect her.
“Everyone knew, didn’t they, Gary?” she asks him in a much stronger voice this time. “Or at least strongly suspected. Yet no one stepped forward to help me. Nobody came and checked to make sure I was okay when I didn’t leave my tent for days. Everyone avoided not only me, but Grady because they knew. You all just lived in your willful ignorance, because it was convenient and easier to deal with than actually doing something to stop him.”
The human leader has the decency to appear ashamed. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry, Astrid.”
His apology means less than nothing to me, but it is not my choice whether to forgive him or not for allowing my mate to be abused.
“I want a divorce. Or an annulment,” she announces. “Whatever it takes to dissolve my marriage to Grady.”
“That takes lawyers and a legal system. We don’t have that here.”
Astrid raises and lowers her good shoulder and stands more upright. “Then you better create one. You and Adam are supposed to be the leaders of the colony. Which means you need to fucking lead, Gary.”
“Fuck, yeah,” Zara whispers under her breath.
I have never been more proud in my entire existence.
“I’ll see what I can figure out,” he finally says.
Zander shifts. “You will not see, you will do. Yet another female has been dishonored by one of your own. What kind of leader does it make you when you allow abusers to remain unpunished?”
“I didn’t ask for this role,” Gary whines.
“Yet it is yours,” Zander points out. “You enjoy the privileges you feel it offers, but do not want the responsibilities that come with it.”
The male has no response for that, because the shefir is right. Gary’s gaze drifts to Astrid. “I’ll talk to Adam, and we’ll set some rules in place for this sort of thing. It may take a few days.”
“How will you punish the other male?” I finally ask, unable to remain silent. “The one who beat Astrid until she nearly died?”
“I don’t know yet. It’s not like we’re set up for any kind of jail.”
“Can I offer a suggestion?” London comes forward and joins us. “Some of you know I came from the bottom tier, but only a select few know why I came to Tavikh, because it was no one else’s business. I made one bad decision in desperation, got caught, and was forced to choose my punishment. My two choices were to either go to jail or come here. Jail may not be a current option, but sending someone away is.”
Gary’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open. “You mean like banishing him from the settlement? Where would he go? There are dangerous animals out there as well as dangerous aliens. He could die out there alone.”
“You mean the way Astrid could have, if Evren and the others hadn’t found her?” Zara’s question drips with sarcasm.
I stare at the shefira. She has offered an excellent suggestion. If this Grady dies, it is no less than he deserves.
“Perhaps he does not have to be alone,” Zander adds. “I cannot speak for Kala and whether he would agree or not, but it is possible you can send him to the Krijese village. He may be allowed to join them and contribute to their tribe.”
All color drains from Gary’s face. “You want me to exile Grady and force him to live with the Krijese? They’ve murdered our people.”
“One of your people would have murdered me,” Astrid tells him.
“Possibly murdered Abby, as well,” London points out.
My heart skips a beat at my keeshla calling them Gary’s people. Almost like they are no longer hers, because the Tavikhi are her people now.
“He is not being forced to live anywhere, but you would ensure he is no longer welcome to remain in the settlement,” Zander clarifies.
The human leader does not say anything. He only continues to stand in apparent shock. Grady should count himself lucky that exile would be the extent of his punishment. If it were up to me, it would be much harsher. At last, Gary’s shoulders sag.
“Fine. I’ll talk to Adam, and you talk to the Krijese,” Gary finally says. “Grady will be forced to leave, but he can decide if he goes to their village or not.”
“Grady and anyone else found abusing their wives,” Zara says with one of the furry lines above her eye raised. “Or doing other things that might warrant being sent to the Krijese?”
The human leader swallows, but eventually nods. “Yes. Everyone will be aware of what punishment will be handed down if they do anything that warrants banishment.”
“I’d recommend you come up with a list of crimes as well as the punishment for each of them,” London suggests. “You know, so no one can say they didn’t know.”
Gary sighs. “It’ll get done.”
“Excellent.” The shefira nods once.
“In the meantime, I will send word to Kala,” Zander announces. “If he is agreeable to adding the male to his village, I will let you know.”
The male nods and casts a quick glance in Astrid’s direction before making his way toward the main gate. No one moves until he is gone from sight and then everyone moves at once.
“Oh god, I think I’m going to throw up,” my mate says and she stumbles backward only for me to catch her.
She turns in my arms and clutches tightly to me with ragged breaths as much as her bound limb will let her. I wrap my tail around her waist and stroke her back. Zander speaks to Katem, who nods and takes off. No doubt to the Krijese village.
“You were a badass, Astrid,” Zara says. “You should be proud of what you just did. It couldn’t have been easy.”
My mate lifts her gaze to the other female. “That was terrifying.”
“It was courageous.” London corrects her. “You stood up for yourself and for every other woman who might be enduring the same thing you did back at the settlement. They’re lucky to have you on their side.”
“Thank you,” Astrid replies. “For what you and your husband—your mate—did for me.”
“I didn’t do anything that one of these other women wouldn’t have done,” the shefira says. “You’re Evren’s keeshla , which makes you part of our tribe. Part of our family. We protect our family.”
“You know him best,” Zara speaks up. “Do you think the shitbag will go to the Krijese village if they’ll accept him?”
Astrid hesitates before answering with a slow shake of her head. “No.”