Page 8 of Fated to the Alien Hero (Warriors of Tavikh #7)

Astrid

I wish it were that simple. Everything inside me wants to just forget Grady ever existed, and that I’m free to do whatever I want. Especially after he tried to kill me. But my conscience won’t let me. I repeated vows of ’til death do us part. Not that I want to die, but what kind of person does it make me if I kiss Evren again or do more than that with him? An adulteress, that’s what.This version of Grady destroyed any feelings I might have had for him, but I am still his wife.A part of me hopes that one day he’ll change. Go back to being the man I fell in love with when I was eighteen. The man who treated me like I was his everything.

“We’re not on Earth any longer, and there is no such thing as a divorce on Tavikh. We need lawyers and a judge to dissolve the marriage. It’s not just something we can say is over. There is paperwork to fill out.” I’m not sure Grady would even allow me to divorce him. Not if it was my decision first. What if he refuses to let me go and no one does anything to stop him?

“There are many people in the human settlement. We will just find these…” he trails off as I shake my head.

“Even if anyone back at the colony were a lawyer or a judge, I still don’t believe a divorce would be legal.”

“And you will not try?” Evren asks with a hint of disappointment.

His question makes me pause. It’s not like me to give up, even at the risk of failing. Especially on something important to me. What’s more important than being free? Staying alive, I suppose. If Grady finds out he failed, will he try again? Will the Tavikhi—will Evren —be able to protect me?

Then again, do I want to spend the rest of my days looking over my shoulder, waiting for Grady to show up? I release a heavy breath. “You’re right. I should at least try.”

“I believe everything will work out. We must trust Deeka and the path she has laid before us.”

“Deeka? Isn’t that the goddess you mentioned before? The one you said chose me as your mate?” My mom was more spiritual than religious, but she always acknowledged the fact there is some higher power leading us through life.

“Yes, she guides us and provides all the things we need.”

“Hopefully she’ll provide it this time.”

“I know she is not who you pray to, but she has never once let me down,” Evren says with conviction. Almost enough that I might start to believe him.

Slowly, I shift my gaze from him and stare out at our surroundings. Maybe because there isn’t the weight of Grady’s judgment and disdain pressing down on me, but somehow the river and forest outside the Tavikhi village feels different than the ones outside the colony. Not just their visual differences either. Or maybe I’m the one who’s different. Maybe I’m just seeing them differently because, for the first time in longer than I can remember, I feel at ease.

It takes me a moment longer to realize something else. Grady’s voice isn’t there. Yes, the nightmares kept me awake, but not once since I’ve woken have I heard him inside my head. There’s been no expectations of me beyond healing.

“You have grown quiet,” Evren interrupts my inner thoughts. “Is all well?”

“Yeah.” I slowly turn my head toward him. “Yeah, I think it is. Or at least, it will be.”

“I am glad.” He gestures toward the forest. “Do you know, I cannot remember the last time I did nothing but sit and rest and appreciate the beauty of Tavikh?”

“Me, either. Most of the trees that used to populate Earth have been torn down to make way for more buildings. There are still lakes and rivers, but they’re dirty, and all the aquatic animals that used to inhabit them have died.”

“That is infinitely sad. I could not imagine living in a place that does not have fiku trees or fresh, clean water from which to drink.”

“Huh.” It comes out as a small chuckle. “I actually just wondered the other day what you called that type of tree. Fiku?”

“Yes. And look.” He points at something on the opposite bank.

“What am I looking at?”

“There. See?”

Another second passes before at last, I do see. Three small rodents of some kind amble out of the forest toward the water. They’re similar to an Earth squirrel maybe, and almost the same color as the yellow-ish grass, if not for the dark stripe that runs along their backs. Their tiny black eyes are alert and scan for danger. I want to scratch them between their ears and pet their short bushy tails. Two are bigger than the third and I wonder if the smallest is a baby and the others its parents. They stop at the water’s edge, and I practically coo as they dip their little heads and drink. They’re so adorable.

“What are they?”

“Ketri. Two adults and their kit,” Evren confirms my suspicion.

Ketri .Where have I heard that word before? It’s not a human one to my knowledge, which means I had to have heard a Tavikhi say it, but I can’t place when. Not that it matters. Storing the question in the back of my brain for later, I return my attention back to the cute family. The biggest one—the father, maybe—chitters at the baby, and the sound makes me laugh.

“I wonder what he or she is saying?”

“Perhaps he is warning him not to fall in,” Evren says.

The little ketri tips forward like his head’s too heavy and dunks himself. He scrambles backward, dragging himself away from the water’s edge with an indignant screech. The two of them chitter loudly and rapidly back and forth while the baby shakes like a wet dog.

I burst out laughing and the delightful scene and all three ketri perk up, highly alert for danger before rushing back into the darkness of the forest. My laughter grinds to a halt at their disappearance and disappointment replaces it.

“Dang it. I scared them away.”

“Not to worry. They will be back, keeshla .”

“I know, I’d just been hoping to enjoy them a little longer. I’m always so busy with chores and such that I never get time to do anything like sit, rest, and enjoy nature. Which probably makes me sound like a whiny baby who wants to be lazy all day.”

“Those do not sound like words that are coming from you but from someone else,” Evren notes without a hint of judgment.

I shrug a bit self-consciously. “Maybe.”

Thankfully, he doesn’t say anything else or indicate in any way he’s disappointed I’m repeating something Grady has said countless times. I adjust my arm. It’s starting to ache within my sling, and I realize it’s been a while since I took any pain medicine. I probably should get some before the throbbing gets any worse.

“Do you think we could go back to the healer’s tent? My arm’s sore, and I’d like something to take the edge off.”

One would think I’d told Evren I was dying with the way he jumps to his feet and gapes at me with apologies spilling from his lips. “Please forgive me, keeshla . I should have made sure you were taken care of better before bringing you down here. Come, I will get you some burim root. Do I need to carry you?”

I stand with a burst of laughter. “Relax, Evren. I’m okay, and you have taken perfectly good care of me. Truly. I’m able to walk on my own, but I appreciate the offer.”

He doesn’t fully look like he believes me, but at least he’s slowly calming down and not appearing so frantic. The hand he places on my lower back burns through my shirt. I don’t just feel his touch in that one spot, either. It courses through my entire body in a way I’ve never felt until him. Once again that guilt rises up inside that I’m not doing more to discourage his interest. God, I’m such a tease and a hypocrite. Maybe Grady was right.

It isn’t long before Evren and I reach the healer’s tent. Another lavender alien is inside and glances up at our arrival.

“Greetings. You must be Astrid. I am Kyler, Zara’s mate, and one of the healers.” His voice holds a note of gentleness and kindness.

Of all the Tavikhi males I’ve seen so far, this guy is definitely the oldest. Much older than Zara. His skin has some soft gray patches, and his hair is a different shade of the yellowish gold than Evren and his friends. Still, this Kyler looks like he’d be able to take one of those lion things.

“Hi. Nice to meet you.”

“You as well.”

“Astrid needs something for her pain,” Evren says before I can.

“Of course.” Kyler gestures to my recently vacated bed. “If you would like to have a seat, I will get it.”

To my surprise, Evren helps me up onto the platform while the healer pours what I’m assuming is that bitter powder into a cup and adds water. He swirls it around and brings it over.

“My mate says it tastes like shit, but it really does work well for pain,” Kyler says.

I’d already brought it up to my mouth and nearly spit out the drink I just took trying not to laugh.“She’s certainly not wrong about its taste, but like you said, it does work.”

Doing my best to ignore the flavor, I swallow every last drop of water in the cup. I can’t hold back the grimace of disgust when I’m finished though. I pass it back to him. “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome.” He glances at my arm. “Do you need your sling adjusted? It appears a bit loose.”

I look down. “Whatever you think.”

Carefully, Kyler fixes the sling.

“Oh, wow, that feels so much better.”

“That is good.” He nods and shifts his gaze to Evren. “I heard from Zedam that the Bohnari may be returning a little earlier than expected. Johnna misses Eloise, and Vornak is working to convince Alik they should visit us for a quick visit.”

“Who are the Bohnari?”

“They are another race of people who live on the neighboring planet of Bohna. We have been trading with them since before I was born,” Evren explains. “They usually only come at the tail end of the cold season and then mid-way through the warm season. When they were recently here, it was discovered that our tribe sister, Eloise, who crash-landed on Tavikh and mated one of our warriors, had a tribe sister who crashed on Bohna and mated the Bohnari healer.”

“Wow. I guess they were both lucky.” I couldn’t imagine crash landing on an alien planet. At least I came here knowing what this place was, even if it didn’t turn out to be exactly the way Grady had described it.

“Yes, they were,” Kyler confirms. “The Bohnari are also far more technologically advanced than us and have several machines on their ship they call a med pod. When they return, I am sure Vornak will allow us to use it to repair your arm.”

“Zara mentioned something about that when she was here earlier.” I’m not opposed to the idea either. Not that this is the first bone I have ever had broken, but knowing it can be repaired in the matter of minutes compared to months? Who wouldn’t want that?

“When they arrive, I will ask,” Kyler says.

“Thank you, I appreciate it.”

He dips his head in acknowledgment. “Is there anything else I can get you, while I am here?”

“I don’t believe so, but thank you. In fact, I’m actually feeling a bit worn out.” I’m sure the last hour or so being up and moving around with Evren didn’t help. Not that I haven’t enjoyed my time with him, but it was only just yesterday that I nearly died.

Kyler’s gaze shifts between Evren and me. “I shall leave you to rest then. Do not hesitate to ask for me or Sage if there is anything you need before one of us is back to check on you.”

“Thank you.”

The healer walks outside, giving me a brief glimpse of the bright, sunny day before the door flap closes. We’re enclosed back in the dimness that’s only illuminated by a hole above us and the fire that burns in a deep pit in the ground. Carefully, I lie back on the padded ramp that supports my head and back.

“Are you cold? Do you need a fur?” Evren asks, hovering over me like a mother hen. Or a devoted mate .

“No, I’m okay. Just a little sleepy.”

“Do you wish for me to stay while you rest?”

I think about it for a minute. As much as I don’t want to be alone, in case the nightmares return, I also don’t want to take Evren away from whatever important things he might need to do. Plus, I need to learn how to not be afraid.

Knowing I shouldn’t, I reach for his hand.“Thank you, but go take care of whatever you need to take care of. I’ll be fine.”

He squeezes my fingers lightly and releases me. “If you are sure, then I will let you sleep. Send someone for me if you need anything at all. Please.”

“I will.”

Evren stares at me for several more seconds before finally nodding shallowly and walking away. I don’t take my eyes off him or the tail that swishes almost anxiously behind him until he ducks out through the doorway. The flap closes to seal me alone inside with nothing but my thoughts.