by Tarkin, Mika
“Come on, come on,” Marko chanted. She pushed herself harder, rocked faster, and focused her attention on the growing heat in her stomach until there was no more containing it and it swept through her body, leaving her soft and warm. She tried to keep going, but her muscles were spent and her breath was long gone. Marko rested a hand on her hip and they rolled onto their sides, giggling and kissing like they were still just greenhorns sneaking around in the barracks.
***
Naeesha slept through the circles. It was bad form, but she was exhausted and news had been light for the last few weeks and she trusted Marko to tell her anything she needed to hear, and to say anything that she needed to say.
Sleeping through dinner, on the other hand, was not an option. She climbed out of bed and dressed herself as she heard the crowd move towards the dining hall. She stepped out into the falling night and joined the procession, looking for Marko in the crowd.
She never found him. It wasn’t a big deal. Their tribe was over two-thousand strong now. It wasn’t always possible to find one face in the crowd. She got her dinner and looked for a place to sit.
In the end, she had dinner with a few of the birthparents of the kids in her hunting class. They were always eager to hear how things were going along, and to learn of any behavior that needed to be addressed. Mostly, they talked about where they thought the tribe would be moving next. It was getting to be the end of the season, and there was talk of finding a new place to spend the summer.
As dinner wrapped up, she realized why she hadn’t been able to find Marko or Rakkan. They were preparing for a ceremony to name a new elder to the tribe. A few times in the last year, they’d mysteriously disappeared during dinner, and it was always before a naming ceremony. She wondered who it would be for this time.
Probably one of the members who had joined after the cleansing of the capital. The tribe had hundreds of new members, many of them well deserving of the title. It was strictly honorary - any authority that a member had within the tribe was bestowed by the continuing trust of the members, not by honorific. It didn’t so much convey authority as it signified it. Elders were the members of the tribe whose work was invaluable and whose wisdom was indispensable. The most succinct definition was probably to say that just as every adult was a parent to the the children, the elders were parents to the entire tribe.
The tribe hushed as all of the tribe’s elders joined at the front of the dining hall and linked arms.
Rakkan stepped forward and spoke. There was a brief exchange of words that was customary to start the ceremony. He’d finish talking and then the person closest to the new elder would step forward to personally invite the honoree to join their ranks.She watched carefully, waiting to see who would step forward as Rakkan finished his speech.
“As you are all well aware,” he said, “a member must be with the tribe for one year before being welcomed as elder. In the last year, we have been blessed with many new members who have already proven themselves as worthy of this station. It is our distinct pleasure on this evening to welcome the first of that cohort to the front of the tribe.”
Naeesha wondered who it was. It must have been someone who’d joined just before her. Her first year with the tribe would be marked by the first day of summer, only a few weeks away.
And then Marko stepped forward. And called her name.
Confused, she stood and walked to the front of the hall. Marko smiled at her and gave her a hug.
“The Halian year is twenty days shorter than hours,” he whispered.
She stood by his side and turned around to face her family.
Thanks for reading!
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Read the other books in this series:
Alien Outcast
An outcast alien prince with one chance at redemption. A courageous scientist searching for the truth. Two dying worlds. One impossible choice..
With otherworldly good looks and a body like no one on Earth, Emir seems too good to be true. What Veralynn doesn't know is that he's the shape shifting alien heir to the throne of Alderoc. At least, he was. Emir lost his crown, and now he's come to Earth in search of an ancient artifact that could save his doomed planet. After years of searching, he meets Veralynn, a brilliant scientists and his only hope at completing his mission.
Quick wit, heavenly curves, and an unshakable spirit. Nobody in the galaxy makes him feel like she does. But Emir can't afford to let his feelings stop him from doing what he has to do. Alderoc is dying. And even though his family banished him from his homeworld, he still has a duty to his people.
For the last three decades, Emir has been trying to finish his business on Earth and get home as fast as possible. Now that he's at his journey's end, why is it that he just wants to spend a little longer on Earth with Veralynn?
But when another member of Emir's race arrives on Earth with evil intent, humanity's fate falls into Emir and Veralynn's hands. Even if they can stop the alien menace, there's still an impossible choice to be made. Will Emir return home to save his people, or will he choose to remain on Earth with the woman who's won his heart?
Alien Rebel
A rebel leader. An alien king. Two lonely hearts. One unlikely alliance. No second chances.
Handsome and charming Tariq is the reluctant king of an alien planet called Alderoc. He’s never thought of himself as much of a leader, but he’s always done his best to keep his people safe.
When a threat arises from inside his high council, the only way to protect his people will be to turn against them. Defeat won’t just cost him his crown and his life - it will mean an end to the entire empire.
Yasha is the fierce and beloved leader of a ragtag group of rebels who are fighting for the rights of all humans on Alderoc. When a mysterious force begins to destroy the world they call home, she finds herself in the middle of a much bigger struggle. To succeed, she’ll have to convince Tariq - her old enemy - to join her forces and fight by her side Failure is not an option. They either save Alderoc, or they die trying.
See all my books here!
FAQ
Where’s the epilogue?!
I didn’t write one for this book! I’m not sure who’s story I want to do next. I’m working on a standalone project right now (out soon *wink wink*), and might start a whole new series after that. Don’t worry - I want to come back to Alderoc soon. Those of you who read Alien Rebel know that Marko’s story is far from over, and I’m thinking about doing a book with Tariq and Emir’s mother, because she’s awesome but also died before any of these stories. So, we’ll see.
What’s this about a new book?
I’ve got a standalone YA book coming out really soon. You can expect something similar to the Alderoc books, just slightly less sexy. I’ll probably be publishing it under a new pen name, so be sure to sign up for my mailing list if you want to read it.
What can we expect with this new series?
More sizzle, to be sure. The romance plots in the Alderoc books were all sort of background. Look for them to come to the forefront of future books. As far as the settings go, I want to push for some more alien worlds - so either futuristic (oooh, or alternate history) Earth, or whole new planets.
The books have been getting longer…
That’s not a question, but it’s a good observation. My background when I started the Alderoc books was 100% short stories. Writing novels is a really different process, and I’m still learning a bunch with every book. Figuring out how to tell a story over 70,000 words instead of 45,000 has been a big part of that.<
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How can readers support your writing?
Aw shucks, so sweet of you to ask, hypothetical reader. There are two big things you can do to help me (or any other indie author that you fancy). First, leave reviews. Taking one minute to say why you liked the book. It helps me pay the bills, and it does wonders for my feelings. You care about my feelings, don’t you? Second, join my mailing list, or follow me on Amazon, then buy or borrow the book soon after release. This helps my books launch strong, which is probably the number one factor in their overall performance.
And seriously, thank you for reading and supporting indie writers. You’re the best.