by Selena Kitt
“I cannot help you.” He picked up his scabbard from the tabletop and slid the sword inside it. Then he regarded her with a set look on his face that irritated Marissa. “The forest is large. You will wait until the human comes. He will return you to your home.”
“What human?”
“He calls himself ‘doctor’.”
“Doctor?” Marissa parroted in confusion. Then it clicked. Of course. He was the one who’d left her the watch that brought her here after all. “Dr. Hausten?”
“Yes.” He clamped his hand around the scabbard as he approached her. “You will wait for him.”
“Aizak, I can’t. Dr. Hausten is missing where I’m from. He’s been gone for a while now and I don’t know when he’ll back... or if he’d ever come back here.”
“Human—” he began, his tone sounding like he was ready to deny her again.
“Please, Aizak.” She drew closer to him. She wanted to touch him but the intensity of his gaze kept her from doing so. “I need your help. We don’t know when Dr. Hausten is going to return, but searching for the watch while we wait wouldn’t hurt.” She paused then continued in a softer voice. “I get to leave sooner if we find it. Then you’ll no longer have a troublesome human bothering you.”
He stayed quiet for a moment before he turned his head. She followed his gaze and saw the sisters waiting, their features solemn and uncertain.
“They have prepared your bath,” he said. She bit in her lips then opened her mouth to ask him if he still disagreed to help her, but he answered her unasked question. “Yes, I will help you.”
Relief swept through her. She moved to hug him but thought against it.
“Thank you,” Marissa said before she went to the sisters to wash her of the day’s activities.
Chapter Eight
Aizak
“Be careful.”
Aizak clamped his hand on Marissa’s forearm and tugged her away from the flower she reached to touch.
“Holy crap!” she said when the yellow center of the deceptively pretty, blue ikaikoe flower parted to reveal jagged teeth. Her disturbed look amused him out of his persistent sour mood for a moment and the softness of her skin urged him to maintain contact with her.
“Always be aware.” He relinquished her arm and made sure she stayed behind him. The cluster of flowers snapped their teeth as he used his scabbard to part and peer through between them.
“They don’t like that. Do they eat you?”
“No. Their bite is poisonous.”
She peered around him tentatively. “Like deadly poisonous?”
“It weakens you. Then the boils come.” He grimaced. “Those are unpleasant.”
She shared in his grimace. “Yikes. This forest is filled with way too many weird sh—stuff.”
“It is dangerous. As I have warned you before.”
“Yeah, well, I can handle a bit of danger if it’s for a good cause. I need to find that watch.” She pursed her lips and Aizak fought the urge to pull her against him and kiss her. His mood went down another notch. Scowling, he carried on walking as he scoured the floor.
For the past days, he tortured himself by holding her body against his as he flew them to the area he’d found her in search of her ‘watch’. Never mind the agony he already endured at nights having her in his bed and not touching her. Often, he wondered why he did this to himself. Why didn’t he relent? Why didn’t he take her, or at least sate himself in one of the many willing Ekali women?
The answer was always the same: it was not the right time. He was reluctant to be involved with the human woman for fear of neglecting his duties as leader even if she was his fated mate. Not now when the Oidien he’d sought for so long was within his grasp.
Determined to no longer keep his people hidden away in fear, he’d extinguished those giant, blood-thirsty creatures. All but one. The one who had wreaked havoc many moons ago and took the life of his father, his mother, his brother and many more who were dear to him and to those of the Ekali. His search for the monster a few days ago had been futile, but he would find it soon and find victory and justice in its death.
So he would continue to ignore her pull on him. It was for the best. Perhaps the gods had chosen incorrectly. She would have wanted to stay if she were meant to be his. In time, the doctor will come and take her back to wherever she came from and he would be at peace.
His mood plummeted to new depths at this thought, and he took out his discontent on the remaining bunch of ikaikoe flowers by shoving them aside more forcefully than needed. When he saw nothing like what she had described hidden among the plants, he pulled back and continued forward.
Chapter Nine
Marissa
Marissa frowned at Aizak’s back as she trod behind him in the forest. She tried not to let his change in demeanor bother her, but it did nevertheless. Where was the man who had kissed her and held her with breathtaking passion a few days ago? Well, she assumed ‘days’ had passed with the way the sky changed from light to dark.
At the moment, the sky was a dusky orange which meant that it would be time for them to return soon. She never knew how much time passed when she and Aizak were out searching for the watch but she often felt like it was too soon before he was carrying her back to the dwellings. She had a suspicion he did this on purpose so he wouldn’t have to spend time with her. Why he didn’t want to be in her presence, she didn’t know. But that didn’t stop her overactive imagination from providing possible reasons like: he’s interested in someone else or he finds me annoying or maybe even he’s thought about it and actually hates humans.
Those are all silly thoughts, she told herself. She shouldn’t care what this man thought about her because he was not an important part of her life. Even if she felt this deep connection to him, even when her body literally ached for his touch whenever she slept beside him. She was going home soon and all this weird nonsense would be put behind her.
She shifted her gaze away from Aizak’s strong back and eyed the ground. They’d been searching for the watch for some time now and she was beginning to doubt she’d ever find it. Maybe Aizak was right. She’d have to wait for Dr. Hausten to come back. But when would that be? The idea of suffering her unrelenting attraction to Aizak without any reprieve did not sit well at all with Marissa. As she began to worry on this possibility, she noticed a sudden glimmer.
“What was that?” she said, forgetting Aizak’s warning from a moment ago and immediately heading toward the thick bushes where she’d seen the strange light. The glimmer shone again and Aizak tugged her out of the way to investigate it himself.
“Stay here,” he said and disappeared into the bushes. Marissa fidgeted where she stood as she tried to peer through the bushes and see what was happening. She heard Aizak grunt and utter something in his alien language irritatedly.
“What’s wrong?” she called, stepping forward. Aizak’s sudden reappearance startled her. The squirming tiny creature clutching her watch in his hands surprised her even more.
“Your watch?” The creature’s small furry frame and round amber eyes reminded her of a pygmy marmoset. Its adorableness melted Marissa’s heart. Then it hissed and bit at Aizak when he wrested the watch from its pink paws and handed it to her.
“It’s broken,” Marissa murmured as she investigated the watch. The bands were still intact, but the face was shattered, a chunk of the glass missing. She was still going to try, though, so she bit her bottom lip, gazing at Aizak longingly. It was probably the last time she was ever going to see him. A heavy sense of disappointment overcame her at the thought.
The creature hopped from Aizak’s hand and scurried away. Aizak stepped forward as though he knew she was about to leave and was ready to stop it, but she took a step back. She was going to do it. She swept her thumb over the face like she did when she was last on Earth and she closed her eyes and waited.
And waited...
Aizak gripped her upper arms, forcing her to open her eyes. In
the gloom from the darkening sky, his silver eyes seemed brighter.
“You tried to leave.” His voice was matter of fact and accusatory.
“Yes.”
“No,” he growled and his grip tightened on her. “You are my fated mate.” He pulled her closer, sliding his hands down her arm to grip her hips. Marissa shivered with anticipation, her skin tingling from the path his hands had travelled. “Mine.”
His lips were on hers before she could truly process what he’d said about her being his mate. She had no chance to think anyway when she was pressed against him, the heat of his body soaking through her clothes to her skin. His tongue sought entry into her mouth and she gave in willingly, desperately. She whimpered and wrapped her hands around his neck, forced up on the tips of her toes so could reciprocate the fierceness of her need for him.
That ever present heat that simmered low in her belly whenever she was in his presence burned hotter as they kissed. His hands roamed her sides then cupped her round backside. She felt his length thickening, growing harder, and she dropped a hand to touch him there, loving the sound of his groan when she did so.
She wanted him right then, right now and she didn’t care that they were out in the open or in the middle of a darkening forest. Even if it meant being fucked against a tree or amid the dried leaves of the forest floor, she just wanted this gorgeous, powerful alien man deep inside her.
But then there was a sound. A loud, heavy thumping that vibrated the ground and shook the leaves of the trees around them. Something extremely large barreled toward them and Marissa jerked away from the kiss and let out a startled cry when Aizak abruptly launched into the air with her. He made a sudden shift in direction as though he was dodging and when Marissa twisted to look down, her stomach lurched with terror at the giant, monstrous being beneath them.
Its red eyes glowed, and its wide mouth gaped open, revealing double rows of terrible jagged, sharp teeth. It stretched its four arms in an attempt to capture them but Aizak was fast and nimble, flying higher, out of its reach. Marissa’s heart slammed in her chest as though it fought for its own escape. But Aizak held her body to him tight and despite the fear coursing along her spine, she felt safe and protected in his arms.
He returned her to his home and when he spoke to the sisters, their faces became worried yet determined.
“Where are you going?” Marissa asked a lot shriller than she intended when Aizak made to leave. “Are you going after that beast?”
“Yes,” he said. “It is the last Oidien and I am going to kill it.”
She opened her mouth, ready to beg him not to go because regardless of his obvious power and skill, she was not prepared for the thought of him dying. She was his fated mate, he’d said, and though she didn’t know what that meant, she felt she understood on some level. The words made sense. They had a powerful and inexplicable connection. Losing him would crush her.
Yet she remained quiet. Nothing she said would stop him tonight. The pain, anger and determination in his eyes said as much. There was a deeper reason for him to kill this monster beyond the warrior instinct to conquer.
“Come back,” she said quietly, touching his arm.
Ashtaii and Danaii enveloped her in a comforting embrace as she watched him leave.
Chapter Ten
Aizak
Leaving Marissa behind was the hardest thing he’d ever done, but Aizak knew he had to do it. Even if she was his fated mate, he was still the leader and protector of his tribe, and the son of the warrior felled by the Oidien still alive and inhabiting his forest.
Outside, he gathered his men then took to the night skies with them in tow. The familiar sensation of anticipation and bloodlust formed in his chest and tightened his body. The fear was there too. Not fear of dying, but of how many of his men he’d have to lose to rid the forest of the last of the night beasts. Their size was formidable and their ability to camouflage with darkness insidious.
“Where is it?” said Dyen when Aizak slowed to hover over the area he’d last seen the creature. Dyen held his swords in both hands, his eyes sharp and searching among the thick darkness beneath them.
“We must go lower and then it will show itself.” Using their energy source as light was not ideal. Though it took little of their energy to form the light, they needed every bit of strength to fight the Oidien beast.
“And then we will kill it,” said Dyen, smirking. For the first time in a long while, Aizak felt like they’d returned to the days before he was appointed Nii of the tribe, when they were close friends, ready to conquer together.
Aizak returned the smirk. With a quick signal to his men, they dropped lower, past the thin layer of fog above the tops of the trees. The Oidien did not appear even when their feet finally touched the ground.
Swords out, Aizak and his men pushed forward with caution. Ostensibly out of patience, Dyen clanged his swords together, disturbing the quiet.
“Come out and show yourself, coward!”
Aizak scowled at him, ready to reprimand him for his carelessness when the loud growl of the Oidien stole his attention. A few of his men cried out in surprise as the monster moved with terrifying speed belying its size and captured them in its large fists.
Aizak flew forward, hate and outrage fueling his blood at the sight of his men being eaten by the monster. He dodged and weaved, avoiding the violent swings of the monster’s four arms. The roar of the monster, the battle cries of his men and the clanging of their swords against its tough skin filled his ears. A sword to the back of the neck, he chanted in his head as sought an opening. That was all it took to vanquish these hateful beasts for the rest of their skin was near impenetrable. A sword to the back of the neck and his people would forever be free from fear.
As if sensing Aizak’s intentions, the Oidien swept away the rest of the men and turned its attention onto Aizak. He dodged and weaved, avoiding the violent swings of the monster’s four arms. The cool night air did little to soothe his heated skin and he grew infuriated with each swing of his sword, each swipe that seemed ineffective against the hulking, ugly creature.
“Aizak!” shouted Dyen. Aizak turned in the direction of call and narrowly avoided an unsuspecting attack by one of the creature’s arms. Dyen, however, was not as lucky as the creature took a swift turn and lunged at the warrior. The Oidien squeezed Dyen tight in its fist and his agonized cry heightened Aizak’s rage, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. No matter how far they’d grown apart, Dyen was still an Ekali. He was still his cousin, his family. He was not willing to lose him too.
His sword clenched tight, Aizak flew upwards in a blind rage, navigating away from the Oidiens arms and landed on the monster’s shoulder. As it flung Dyen away and tried to grab for him, Aizak sank his sword as deep as he could into the fleshy, vulnerable space at the back of its neck.
The monster thrashed, its pained wail deafening. As it fell forward, Aizak leaped away, breathing deeply, overcome with a raw sense of justice and satisfaction. The Oidien’s gigantic body fell to the ground with a thud that shook the ground of the forest far and wide. On the ground, his men roared with victory. But Aizak looked to the heavens instead. May the gods grant his father and mother and brother their deserved rest for he had finally vanquished the beast that had taken their lives.
Chapter Eleven
Aizak
With such a tremendous victory, a celebratory feast was held among his people. Food and drink were quickly prepared and those who were capable brought out their instruments and made music.
“You did well, brother,” said Aizak quietly as he held Dyen’s hand. Elders puttered around them in Dyen’s dwelling as they whipped up concoctions to ease the pain and help the warrior heal.
“Nii,” croaked Dyen as he squeezed Aizak’s hand. Then he shut his eyes and his hand grew limp as he drifted off into unconsciousness. Aizak rose to his feet from Dyen’s bed, moving out of the way so the elders could do their work.
He was saddened by Dy
en’s injury and the loss of a number of his men, but nothing could still the triumph in his heart that Dyen had lived and the Oidiens were no more. His people’s future was now brighter, stronger. They could progress without the threat of extinction looming over them.
The music and the laughter was much more pronounced when he left Dyen’s dwelling. Many had pooled their energy source and formed a loose ring around the large, glowing light. They came up to him and bowed low in great admiration and respect. Though Aizak acknowledged them, his attention was drawn to the group of women dancing and laughing around the light.
Marissa was among them, garbed in one of the festival dresses. The light illuminated her fair skin as she danced, her dark hair and the skirt of her dress whipping around her as she moved with the music.
Watching her, Aizak remembered the kiss they’d shared before the Oidien had interrupted them. Despite his decision to focus on the needs of his people, his plans had disintegrated the moment he’d witnessed her attempt to leave. Nearly losing her had shifted something in him, made him realize that he was wrong. The gods had not chosen incorrectly after all. She was his fated and he could never let her leave his side.