Hunted by the Alien
Page 24
And even as they got off the shuttle in the bay in the bowels of the ship, the thought that she was going to slip away from him pounded in his head. If it was what she wanted, he would let her go back. But it would kill him because he'd never loved anyone like this.
And as they stepped into their cabin, he knew that he could not keep his feelings to himself any longer. He needed to tell her what was in his heart.
He set their bags down and took hold of her arm. He looked into her eyes, and spoke.
"I love you. I want to spend my life with you and I want you to be my mate." The words came out in a rush, and he could have kicked himself for it. A woman was meant to be wooed, but he didn't have the heart of someone who used pretty words to say how they felt. His heart was a warrior's heart and he could only tell her what was in it plainly.
Her lower lip trembled as she looked up at him. He'd said it wrong. What he'd told her was supposed to make her happy, not sad.
"I love you too. And I want to spend my life with you. I have never met anyone like you and I can't imagine my life without you."
Relief swept through Rone. He hadn't messed this up. She loved him and she wanted to spend her life with him. All that remained to making her his mate was to bind himself to her.
He took a step back from her, and pulled his blade out of the sheath at his back. There was no fear on her face when he stood before her blade in hand, simply a puzzled look.
"What are you doing?" There was curiosity only in her voice, and he knew that she trusted him without a single doubt. She knew that he would never do anything to harm her, and it made his heart glad to know it. But she was not from his planet, she did not know the ways of his people. So before they embarked on a life together, he needed to tell her what that meant.
"When my people find their mate, it is for life. We believe that we have one chosen mate, that we are destined to be together. You are mine. I love you and will always love you. When I bind myself to you, it will be for the rest of my life. If that is something that you are unsure about, we can wait."
The smile on her face was replaced by a serious look. He held his breath as he waited for what she would have to say.
"Thank you for telling me what I can expect from this. And I am sure this is what I want. I love you and I want to spend my life with you. I am walking away from everything I have ever known and I'm doing it because I have spent my life searching for something. I have been searching for you."
He was humbled by her words, and so he did what the warriors on his planet had been doing since the beginning of time. He carefully, slowly, deliberately moved his blade so that he was holding it out in front of him, parallel to the floor. He moved to stand in front of her, knelt down and put his blade on the floor at her feet and bowed his head. Then he spoke the words that would bind him to her for the rest of his life.
"In the name of Thonax I pledge myself to you. I offer my blade to you so you will know that you will always be protected. I offer my heart to you so you know that you will always be loved. I offer my body to you so you will always have comfort. I offer my soul to you so that our lives will be intertwined until death."
He heard her sniff, and he looked up at her to see tears falling down her cheeks.
"What am I supposed to say back?" Her voice was a whisper as she came to kneel on the floor so that they faced each other.
"All you have to do is accept what I am offering you."
She took a deep breath, and blew it out slowly. She put her hand over his heart and looked into his eyes.
"I accept your blade knowing you will always protect me, and I will do my best to protect you. I accept your heart and offer mine in return so you will know that I will always love you. I accept your body and offer mine in return so you too can have comfort. And I accept your soul and offer mine in return so our lives can be intertwined." She looked up at him as if unsure about herself. "Did I do it right?"
It was a little different than what a Thonaxian woman would say, but it didn't matter to him. He hadn't picked a Thonaxian woman, he'd picked her.
"You did it right." He got to his feet and pulled her up with him. "There is only one more thing we need to do."
He drew her over to the large bed, and pulled her to him. He lowered his mouth and kissed her. She clung to him and something settled inside him. She was the woman Thonax had chosen for him and he would spend the rest of his life being thankful that Angis had insisted he take her bounty.
Epilogue
Wow.
When a Thonaxian committed himself, he did a thorough job of it.
A satisfied smile spread across Cheria's face as she snuggled up against Rone. As she lay there in his arms, she waited for doubts to creep in, for the feeling that maybe this was mistake. But the only things she felt was happiness and love. She'd made the right decision.
The faint sound of the computer chiming came to her and she frowned over at where it sat in its case with their other bags.
"Do you think we should answer it?" She looked up at Rone and he sighed.
"It is most likely Landis and we should see what he wants."
Rone shifted and got out of bed. Cheria watched in appreciation in the way his muscles flex and bunched under his skin. He was built like a warrior and the best part was that he was all hers.
He came back to the bed with the chiming computer in his hand and opened it as he sat down. Cheria sat up, pulling the covers up so she was discretely covered.
Landis' face appeared on the screen and his eyes widened.
"Uh, Rone? You might want to move the computer because I'm seeing way more of you than I ever wanted to see."
Cheria laughed as Rone's skin darkened and she lifted the computer while he arranged the sheet so that he was covered.
"How are you, Landis?"
"I'm well. I'm sending you a video file that you'll find interesting. And I wanted to say goodbye and good luck. I'm sure you will be happy together. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
Cheria swallowed hard for a second. She was going to miss him.
"I hope so. Thank you so much for everything you did to help us."
"Yes, thank you." Rone spoke from beside her as he put his arm around her. "We will keep in touch with you."
"See that you do. Bye for now."
Landis' face winked out and the screen went blank as the call ended.
"Do you want to look at the video he sent?"
Cheria nodded and Rone opened his message program and there was a message from Landis with an attachment. All the message said was "closure."
They opened the video, and it was a news report.
Shock has rippled through Tusko M'Kedi today at the death of one of its more prominent citizens. Well known business man and political hopeful, Remington Hane, was found dead in his home in the early hours of this morning. No official cause of death has been released, but preliminary reports are suggesting suicide.
The video ended there, and Cheria sank back into the pillows. She wasn't sure how she should feel. After everything that had happened, after everything that she and Rone had gone through because of Remy, she should feel glad that he was dead, that he'd gotten what was coming to him. But a part of her remembered that he hadn't always been a monster to her. He had helped her at a time in her life when she'd been young and vulnerable. When the world around her had viewed her as just another low life, not worth much and ultimately disposable. Even then he may have been using her, but no matter what his reasons, he had set her on a path that would eventually lead her to this moment and this man.
Rone closed the computer and shifted it off the bed, setting it on the bedside table.
"How do you feel?" He moved so that he was holding her, and she rested her head against his bare chest.
"I'm not sure. It all seems like such a waste. He could have done a lot of good, but he chose a different path. Up until recently he was always good to me. He was like a father to me when I needed one. I know tha
t he is responsible for a lot of misery and suffering. I know that he won't be able to cause any more now, but I can't hate him. Is that wrong?"
She felt his arms tighten around her.
"No, it is not wrong. Nothing you feel is wrong."
She lay there for a long time, safe in his arms with his heart beating under her ear. And Landis was right in the brief message he'd sent with the video. Knowing that Remy was gone, whether by his own hand or by that of someone else, did offer closure to her.
"It's a relief that it's finally all over. I feel like that part of my life had to end so that I can move forward. And I'm grateful that I have you to move forward with." She moved up and leaned in to kiss him. "I love you and I'm thankful that you were the bounty hunter sent to bring me in."
"As am I." He rolled her so that she was on the bed and he was over her. He kissed her deeply and thoroughly and being with him like this felt so right.
She smiled up at him as he leaned up to look at her.
"How long is it going to take to get to your planet?" She reached up and caressed his face.
"It will take at least a week." He leaned down again and pressed soft kisses on her neck. She gasped as a shiver went through her.
"What are we going to do with all that time?" Her voice was breathless as he moved his mouth slowly down her body. He looked up at her with his love shining for her in his darkening silver eyes.
"I am sure we will think of something."
Author’s Note
I hope you enjoyed Rone and Cheria’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did please consider leaving a review. Reviews let other readers like you know if they would enjoy this book.
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If you liked this book, you may like my other books. There is a list on the next page along with links to buy them if you want something to read while you wait for the next Alien Protector story.
Also by Dena Christy
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