Page 21 of Songbird (A Space Pearl’s Treat #1)

Jala’s words pierced my heart like a thousand needles, sending it into erratic spasms of pain. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment, but at some point, the charade between Tarrick and I had become something real, something tangible, something I didn’t want to lose.

Tarrick’s grip on my hand tightened, his body tensing beside me. His gaze bore into his sister-in-law, his features hardening as if morphing into stone. I couldn’t discern whether he agreed with her. His thoughts were a mystery, one I desperately wanted to solve.

“Wouldn’t it look strange if we broke up all of a sudden? Like we lied about the mating after all?” I asked, wondering if anyone else noticed the tremor in my voice.

“It will,” Tarrick agreed with a grunt. “Once a Stranac finds his true mate. They mate for life.”

A fissure of relief ran through me, although I couldn’t tell if Tarrick felt the same.

“True.” Thankfully, Jala seemed oblivious to my upset.

“I’ve been thinking about that. Izzy is human, not Stranac.

Still, we’ll need to take some time to make it believable.

” Her golden eyes settled on me. “Claiming you as his mate means Tarrick will abide by your wishes, even if those wishes are that you two are apart. Tarrick still handles much of his family’s holdings as part of his cover and will need to return to work.

You, of course, won’t go with him. We can claim you didn’t want to give up singing at Space Pearls , and honestly, some of the places he visits aren’t quite safe for a human.

After some time, you can claim Tarrick stayed gone longer than promised, pretend to feel abandoned, and end things.

Tarrick will stay away because of your wishes, and because of his heartbreak return to his playboy ways.

” A sly smile curved her lips. “I’ve been reading about Earth relationships lately. ”

Well, she certainly hadn’t been reading romance novels. Not the kind with happily ever after. Maybe I should suggest she read Bridgerton ?

I didn’t want Tarrick to leave. The connection between us was undeniable, filling me with a warmth and joy I had never known before. I was in love with him. I knew that as surely as I knew my own name.

But what if Tarrick didn’t reciprocate my feelings?

My heart stuttered at the thought. Our time together never felt pretend to me.

Every touch, every word exchanged between us felt sincere and true.

I had let go of any pretenses long ago, but had he done the same?

Uncertainty gnawed at me, and I knew there was only one way to find the answers.

I shifted on the sofa, turning to gaze at Tarrick when the swish of the door opening stole the moment.

“You’ll be happy to know that Kayzon’s ship has left the Ardeese Valout with an escort from an Alliance warship,” Praxxan told us, settling into the chair opposite Jala.

“Thank the goddess,” Jala groaned. We were just going over plans for Tarrick and Izzy’s breakup ."

Praxxan’s eyes narrowed for a moment as he glanced at Tarrick. For his part, my pretend mate sat relatively motionless, his eyes focused on my hand he still held.

“Perhaps Izzy and Tarrick need to figure this out without our input. They will know what feels right for them,” Praxxan suggested, the gaze he set on Jala so full of affection that the green-eyed monster reared its ugly head.

God, how I wanted Tarrick to look at me like that. .. and sometimes, I thought he had.

“I’m afraid time is of the essence.” Jala’s gaze bounced between her mate and his brother. “Siemba comm’d before Ambassador Mukhal’s arrival. He needs Tarrick’s help to infiltrate a human slave hold in the Akruvara system.”

Tarrick’s head snapped up at her words, something that looked like a flash of excitement crossing his features. “Why didn’t he comm me?”

Jala smiled, her eyebrows waggling. “He said he tried... all last night. I suspect you were otherwise occupied.”

Tarrick’s gaze bounced to me, full of memory and something else... regret?

My heart constricted as though a python had squirmed into my chest, slowly squeezing the organ.

I couldn’t ask him to stay, even though the thought of Tarrick leaving felt like suffocating.

I knew what it felt like to be rescued from a fate worse than death.

Rescuing humans from slavery was more important than any heartbreak I might suffer.

Tarrick’s expression was unreadable, his mind likely swirling with thoughts about the mission and the rush of being a spy once again.

The thrill of danger and adventure surely overshadowed any feelings he had for me.

As I watched him, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of hurt, stinging like hot, sticky slime on my skin.

As wonderful and real as it seemed, our relationship had only been a facade for him while I naively let myself fall hook, line, and sinker.

And yet, despite it all, I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with him.

How could I? He had risked himself to protect me from Kayzon, and for that, I would forever be grateful and, most likely, forever in love.

I schooled my features into a pleasant smile. God knows it wouldn’t be the first time I’d smiled through heartbreak, and probably not the last.

“It will take over a week to travel to the Akruvara system. You know the space winds in that sector are awful at this time of year,” Praxxan said. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was trying to talk Tarrick out of leaving.

“More reason that he needs to leave immediately. I’ll instruct the dock to prepare Tarrick’s ship,” Jala said, snatching her datapad off a nearby table. “You can leave within the hour.”

“Did Seimba say how long the mission would take?” Tarrick’s voice was tight.

“No, but this works out perfectly,” Jala chirped as her fingers flew over the handheld screen.

“Izzy can tell everyone we don’t expect you to be gone long, and when you are, it will make her story of feeling abandoned more believable.

” Jala finished on the datapad, dumped it back on the tabletop, and stood, stopping to ruffle Tarrick’s mane on the way to the kitchen.

“As much as we love having you around, you should stay away at least a rotation.”

A year. The idea of not seeing Tarrick for a year made me want to scream. I didn’t want this. I wanted Tarrick.

“How many humans?” Tarrick’s gaze bounced between Jala and Praxxan. There was something in his voice... a hesitation that gave me a fissure of hope.

“Siemba said at least a dozen, maybe more.”

A dozen human slaves. Maybe more.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing larger with each passing second.

Emotions churned within me, a mixture of love and fear and heartache.

I knew what needed to be done, even though it tore me apart inside.

I couldn’t allow him to stay, not when the lives of so many were at risk.

I couldn’t put my broken heart over the safety and freedom of others. No matter how much I loved him.

I reached out, laying a hand on Tarrick’s arm, hoping he didn’t feel the tremor running through me. When the chocolate brown eyes met mine, I made myself smile like all the other times when my mother made me smile when I felt like screaming inside.

“You should go,” I said softly, keeping my voice low so it wouldn’t break. “They need you.”

Tarrick’s eyes widened, and he sucked in a quick breath. “Do you mean that?”

“I do,” I said, some part of me drawing strength from knowing his absence in my life served a greater good. “You saved me. Now you need to go save others.”

I stood, and Tarrick followed, his gaze never leaving my face.

I would never again love anyone the way I loved him, and for that, I allowed myself one last comfort.

Resting my hands atop his shoulders, I rose on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his cheek.

Tarrick’s eyes shimmered when I drew away.

I shifted my gaze to Jala, then onto Praxxan, knowing I could no longer look at my mate without completely falling apart.

“I’ll never be able to thank you two enough for what you did for me. ”

“We will keep you safe,” Jala promised.

“We will,” Praxxan echoed, something like sadness etched across his features. “You have my vow.” The last words seemed directed more at Tarren than me.

I blinked back the hot wash of tears before issuing a nod of farewell and turning toward the door. “It’s getting time for rehearsal,” I announced, feigning excitement. “I’ve got some new songs I want to add to the repertoire.” I turned for the door, but Tarrick’s voice stopped me.

“Izzy.” There was such longing in his tone. I turned to face him, hesitant to hope. His tail, that had always been so active, lay limply at his side.

Tarrick raised his hand, one thick finger trailing along my cheek, as always, careful not to let the sharp point of his claw touch my skin. The first time he’d touched me had been like this, but now it meant so much more.

“I’ll miss you.” His voice was thick, accompanied by a wry smile.

I forced another smile, my eyes hot. “I’ll miss you too.”

Then Tarrick’s arms were around me, and I let myself melt against him. One last time. One last touch that would have to last me a lifetime.

“Goodbye, my Izzy.” He murmured near my ear, his warm breath touching my face with its spicy, sweet scent.

“Please be safe.” It was all I could mutter. I pulled myself from his arms, practically running for the door.

A swish and I was all alone, the silence of the corridor seeming to taunt me. I staggered and leaned against the wall, my body racked with sobs as the weight of a broken heart consumed me. Every breath was a struggle, every thought a sharp stab of agony trying to swallow me whole.

Strangely, my mind flickered to all the songs about lost love I knew. Songs written to commemorate feeling exactly how I felt right now. How the hell did people write songs about being brokenhearted? How did anyone survive it?

How would I?