Page 17 of Fated to the Alien Hero (Warriors of Tavikh #7)

Evren

My spirit is light as I hurry back to where Astrid waits. While she and I chose the location where we’d like to put down roots, the shefira had sent word to Katem, Rojtar, and Zydon asking for their assistance in getting my keeshla’s and my dwelling up. Between the four of us, it should not take long.

Once our tent is up, Astrid and I can bring my belongings over. Then, on the next turn, if she wishes to go back to the human settlement for her own belongings, I will take her so she no longer has to borrow from the other females if she does not want to.I have also already asked some of the other tribespeople who are skilled in making coverings to craft several new items for my mate. That way she has things she can call her own. They will be my mating gift to her along with the luani fur.

I am almost where I left Astrid. Except she is no longer there. Did she go to the healer’s tent? The Bohnari healer said she was perfectly well, and even she said she felt better than she had before. I scan the area. Perhaps she went to visit some of the elders, since we will living nearby.

Something catches my eye. Marks on the ground that should not be there. Or at least ones I do not believe should be. I kneel down and study what appears to be that marking of a human foot covering. Several of them, in fact. Most of them are small, but the ones that have caught my attention are much larger. While there are many human males who live in the village with their human mates, I have not witnessed any of them moving around this area. That does not mean they have not, but my gut is warning me that something is wrong. Astrid would not have left here without reason.

“Is all well, Evren?”

My three tribe brothers approach carrying the building supplies, including Zydon, who is one of our best trackers.

“Astrid is missing. She wanted to remain here while I spoke with the shefira, but she is gone. There are also several large human foot covering prints.” Perhaps I am overreacting.

“Do you think she might have gone with any of the other females for something? Maybe Sage to get something for pain?” Katem asks.

“Astrid has already been to the Bohnari ship and seen their healer. She said she no longer hurt anywhere.”

“Rojtar and Katem, search the village. Evren and I will search the hills just to be certain.” Of the four of us, Zydon is the eldest. He is also the shefir’s brother.

The two other warriors nod and take off. Zydon turns to me. “Come, let us see if we can find your keeshla .”

We race toward the narrow, overgrown path that some of the elders used to use to travel through the hillside when they were younger, but has since been mostly abandoned. Zydon leads the way and barely makes it a short distance up before he stops and studies the ground. He glances up at me.

“There are signs of a struggle. See these foot covering prints here? They are scraped across the ground like the person was dragged some of the way. Add that to the bari that is crooked and broken.”

He stands and together we keep moving up the path, our steps quick but precise. I scan both sides of the trail, desperately searching for anything that might indicate Astrid came this way, whether voluntarily or by force. Off to one side, through a narrow gap between the trees, there is a flicker of movement and then a cry of pain. I veer off the path and run toward the noise. Zydon is right behind me.

I do not even bother to be quiet. Not when I recognized the sound as Astrid. We burst into a clearing and a vicious roar erupts from deep inside my chest. I charge the male standing over my mate, who lies still on the ground at his feet. My shoulder connects with his gut and we both fall to the ground. I straddle his chest and pound my fist into his face time and time again until blood covers it. Even then, I do not stop. Zydon grabs my arm.

“Cease, Evren. See to your mate. I will deal with this worthless male.”

His words slowly penetrate my mind and I stare down at this despicable human who dared touch Astrid. I stand and spit on his body. Quickly, I make my way to my mate, trusting Zydon to take care of Grady. I kneel at her side.

“Astrid. Keeshla . You are safe now.”

“Evren?” She winces and cradles the side of her face that is already becoming discolored.

“I am here.”

“Grady?” Astrid gasps.

“Zydon is guarding him. He will never hurt you again. I am sorry he was able to do so this time. Please, forgive me for not protecting you.”

She grabs my arm and tries to stand. I help her up and her gaze lands on her former mate who groans in agony while he remains lying on the ground. She turns to me.

“Did you do that to him?”

“Yes.” Is she upset that I defended her?

Astrid wraps her arms around me and lays her uninjured cheek against my chest. “Thank you.”

“Is this the alien you’ve been fucking?”

We both face Grady who’s finally sitting up with his legs stretched out in front of him and blood dripping off him onto his chest covering. Zydon stands over him, but the human male’s full attention is on Astrid and me. Hatred burns from his eyes. It is no less than the hatred I feel toward him for what he did to my mate.

“That’s none of your business, Grady. What I do is none of your concern any more,” Astrid says.

“You’re my wife ,” he spits out.

She shakes her head. “Not anymore I’m not. You lost the privilege to call me your wife when you tried to kill me .” Her voice is raised by the time she finishes speaking.

“There’s no divorce here, Astrid. We said vows in front of witnesses. According to the law, you are mine.”

“That was back on Earth. There are new laws here on Tavikh. Or at least there will be.”“It’s all your fault,” Grady snaps at Astrid. “All of this is your fault. If you’d only been a better wife, then?—”

“No,” she yells. “If only you’d been a better husband. I was the best wife I could be. Everything you asked of me, I did. I may not have been great at it, but I tried. I tried so hard to please you, but nothing I did was good enough. You punished me for it too. Any mistake I made, you hit me. Mistakes you made and then blamed on me, you hit me. That doesn’t make me a bad wife. It makes you a shitbag husband. No, it makes you a shitbag human being.”

If I did not already love my Astrid, I would now. She is stunning in her fury.

“For three years, I’ve put up with your abuse. You’re lucky Evren didn’t kill you. He had every justification to do so. And do you know what?” she walks forward and does not stop until she stands over him. “I would have cheered. I would have said a prayer of thanks to every deity that would listen to it. I would have been glad for it, and I don’t even care if that makes me a bad person.”

“You bitch.”

I take a step forward to correct his behavior, but Astrid holds up an arm. I halt.

“Go ahead and call me names if it makes you feel better. Nothing you say can hurt me anymore. Do you know why?” She continues without waiting for him to answer. “Because you’re a nobody. I’ve found a man who truly loves me and who has shown me what that’s supposed to be like. You never loved me. Only what you could get from me. You’re nothing to me. Less than nothing, in fact. And if you ever touch me again, I will make sure it’s the last thing you ever do. Understand?”

Astrid turns her back on the worthless male and loops her arm around mine. “Let’s go home.”

“What about him?” I gesture behind us.

“Leave him. He’ll either go to the Krijese village or he won’t,” she says and leads me away. “I don’t think he’ll bother us again. Not after this.”

I am not sure I agree with her, but until I know for certain his fate, I will not let her out of my sight again. Moments later, Zydon joins us. We have nearly reached the path when a roar of rage sounds behind us. I turn and push Astrid behind me, prepared to defend her. Except, there is no need.

Grady stands frozen with his mouth in a round shape and his eyes wide. He glances down at Zydon’s sword that runs through him. Blood leaks from the wound that is no doubt fatal. Perhaps we could get him to the Bohnari ship, but unless Astrid chooses that for him, I will leave him here to die. It is no less than he deserves.

Grady stumbles backward and Zydon pulls his blade out so the other male does not take it with him. The human collapses onto his knees and slowly falls onto his side. He takes short, gasping breaths and holds his hand over his chest as though that will seal the injury.

“Astrid,” he begs in a voice barely above a whisper. “Help me, please. Don’t leave me here to die.”

She remains silent for several moments and I wonder if she will have mercy on him. Finally she speaks. “You mean, the way you left me to die? The way you would have killed me just now if Evren hadn’t found me for the second time?”

“I’m sor—sorry.” He chokes and blood spills from his lips. “I’m?—”

We stand there, waiting, but there’s nothing else. No words. No movement. Zydon squats down and lays his hand on the human’s chest. Several beats pass before he glances up at us and shakes his head. He stands and walks toward us.

“He is with whatever god or goddess he worships.”

Astrid lifts her gaze to me. “Can we go home? Please?”

“Of course.”

At last, the three of us leave the male behind. There is nothing we can do for him, and he does not deserve a warrior’s life celebration. We have almost reached the village when Katem and Rojtar appear. Their gazes land on Astrid and the discoloration on her face before they turn questioning glances to me.

“Her former mate took her, but he is no longer going to bother her. I am going to take her to the Bohnari ship for healing again.”

Katem shakes his head. “I am sorry, but they have already left. Eloise and Zedam went with them to visit after Alik spoke with the shefir about whatever business they had. Something to do with the humans back on Earth.”

I use one of Zara’s favorite curse words, but Astrid squeezes my arm. “It’s fine. I’m fine. It’s just a bruise.”

While I want to argue with her, I do not. “You will tell me if you need to see Sage or Kyler, please?”

“I will, I promise.”

“Come, then, let us return.” Although it is late, I do not want to spend another turn without my keeshla at my side. “We still need to construct our home.”

“Most of the hunters are back,” Rojtar says. “We will ask them all to assist. It will take us no time to have your new dwelling ready.”

I fist my chest. “Thank you, brother.”

Finally, we enter the village from the path and a crowd has gathered. Sage rushes forward as does Abby, Rojtar’s mate. Remi’s gaze is locked on Zydon and she scans him as though searching for any wounds. He crosses over to her and his tail wraps around her waist.

“God, Astrid, are you okay?” Sage asks. “Where all are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Truly. There’s nothing more than my face and that will heal in about a week, I’m guessing.”

“Do you need anything?”

My mate shakes her head. “I just want to rest.”

Zander comes forward and bows his head. “I am sorry you were not safe here. I increased scouts around the village after the Njeri attack, but it was not enough.”

“It’s not your fault,” Astrid tells him. “The only person I blame is no longer around.”

“Shefir,” I speak up. “We would like to make our home on this spot and had been about to construct our tent when Astrid was taken.”

“Say no more,” Zander says. “It will be taken care of right now.”

“You have our thanks.” I turn to my keeshla . “Come. Let us go rest by the fire until they are finished. Then we will sleep in our new home.”

Astrid nods and I guide her toward the elder’s central fire to wait.