Alien Bond

by Tracy Lauren

  Reluctantly Gile and I both rise from our seats at the table.

  “I should be going,” he says finally, rocking on his heels and wearing that boyish grin of his.

  “Yeah, I’m sure you have a lot of work to do. Hopefully you can still grab a couple hours of sleep.”

  “All will be well. Thank you again, Mel. I had fun with you this evening.”

  “I had fun too,” I agree as we slowly inch toward the door.

  “Good night, or good morning, depending on how you look at it,” Gile says, making my own smile broaden.

  There’s an awkward pause where I wonder if I should kiss him goodbye, something friendly maybe? A peck on the cheek? But he reaches for the door.

  “Oh! Gile, before you go, I’ve been meaning to ask. You had offered to give me a shooting lesson a few weeks ago, I thought maybe I could take you up on that sometime?”

  “Actually, it would be better for Mire to give you your lesson.”

  His response leaves me taken aback. Not that this was a date, but it started to feel like something close to one and I thought that maybe, just maybe, we might do this again.

  “Oh, yeah. Sure. That sounds good,” I tell him, having zero intention of ever following up.

  “How about later today?” Gile asks, throwing me for a loop once more.

  “Today? Yeah, I think that should be—oh! Wait. Sorry, I can’t today. We have to finish up with all those preserves we’re making before the fruit goes bad and we can’t use them. It’s supposed to be an all-day affair.” I frown, feeling disappointed.

  “Tomorrow then?” Gile’s persistence surprises me. Maybe there is a bit of a spark between us after all, I think to myself.

  “That sounds perfect,” I say, smiling up at him, and the grin he gives me in return is pure, panty-melting bliss.

  The second he’s gone I throw myself on my bed and hug my pillow. My cheeks ache from smiling so hard. It’s a wonderful feeling.

  Chapter 7

  Mire

  There’s a tapping on my forehead and I flinch.

  “Wake up.” Gile’s voice pulls me from my slumber and I open my eyes. My brother’s face is only inches from my own and I jolt, nearly sliding out of my seat.

  “What is the time?” I ask, coming to my senses. I must have fallen asleep on the bridge while waiting for Gile to return.

  “It is morning,” he says proudly.

  “When did you get back?”

  “Only just now.” His smile is cocky.

  “Did you mate with Mel?” I question, jumping to my feet.

  “Mire, brother! You surprise me. Of course we have not mated yet. We spent the night talking.”

  “All night?” I question, feeling envious.

  “All night,” he agrees, looking sated.

  “About what?”

  “Many things. Happiness, family. Chips called Bugles that one can fit on their fingers. Did you know that Mel had a mate when she was on Earth?”

  “What? Of course I didn’t know that! Why didn’t you start with telling me she had a mate?” I demand, not knowing what to make of the Bugles.

  “She had a mate. But you will not believe this—he left her for another.”

  I stiffen at Gile’s words, then reach over to smack him on the side of the head. “Why would you tell me something so serious as if it were nothing more than idle gossip? This is Mel we are talking about! If we hope to be hers, her pain is our pain! Besides, I thought you were not allowed to tell me anything!”

  “I was not allowed to tell you things that were discussed in group, but last night was not group. I believe we are safe. So, you admit it then? You would like to pursue Mel?”

  I turn away from my brother and shut down the conn. “I let you go yesterday, did I not?”

  “You did, but I am glad you speak the words today. Spending last night with Mel was…”

  I wait to hear my brother’s description of the female we hope to bond with.

  “Amazing. She is funny, intelligent, loving. Everything we could ask for in a mate.”

  “I want time alone with her.”

  “It is already planned,” my brother says, smiling proudly and delivering a slap to my shoulder. “She will come tomorrow. I promised you would give her lessons in firing the charger you gifted her for Christmas.”

  I nod, solemn and appreciative…and nervous. Very nervous.

  “You and Mel will love one another. I am sure of it,” Gile says in an effort to ease my concerns.

  “I wish to know more about her,” I insist. “Tell me more about these Bugles.”

  Chapter 8

  Mel

  I spend most of the remainder of the morning sleeping, and other than finishing up my work in the pantry, I avoid the courtyard. I’m not quite ready to share the details of my time with Gile with the whole village. Still, once dinnertime rolls around, I know what I’ll be in for.

  I make my way to the long table, keeping my eyes on my plate as I take my seat. I hardly have the chance to take a bite before April and Reagan fence me in.

  “So, you get the chance to play out any of those nasty alien fantasies you’ve been having?” Reagan asks, her brow cocked and a lopsided grin brightening her features.

  “Would you lower your voice? Someone’s going to hear you and not understand that you’re joking.”

  “Am I joking?” she teases.

  Dani and Lo arrive then, sitting across from us. They don’t say anything, but still, they stare at me with cheesy grins.

  “Guys, nothing happened! I swear.”

  “Not yet at least,” April puts in.

  “We were just talking,” I reiterate. “Gile had questions about human stuff. A lot of what we discussed in group didn’t make sense to him. I helped fill in the blanks.”

  “Did he fill anything of yours in return?” Reagan quips, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

  “Oh my God, you’re set on embarrassing me, aren’t you?” I ask, laughing.

  “Uh oh, speak of the devil,” April says suddenly. I look to the gates as two gorgeous, golden-skinned, alien hunks stride into the courtyard. But they certainly don’t look like devils to me. No, Gile and Mire look more like angels with the late afternoon sun reflecting off their golden skin. The second they round the corner their eyes are on me and my heart skips a beat, leaving me feeling nervous and excited at the same time.

  Gile smiles brightly when he sees me, but his brother’s expression isn’t so welcoming. Mire’s jaw is firm and his eyes betray nothing of what the larger alien might be thinking, though I venture to guess it isn’t good.

  “Looks like some is jealous,” Reagan whispers discreetly, while focusing on her plate.

  My heart sinks a little at the thought. Could Mire be upset with me over the time I spent with his brother? I know the pair rely on one another quite a bit and I’d hate for Mire to get the impression that I’m trying to steal Gile away or monopolize his time. I resolve to bring it up tomorrow at our shooting lesson, not wanting any negative feelings to linger—particularly because I like Gile so much. I desperately want Mire and me to get along too.

  I pick at my food as the others talk, but my attention is on the Sovolians. They make their way to the barbeque pit, joining the Grey King and the other Vendari. Gorrard is there too, and though he laughs and jokes with Gile and Mire, the pair continue to cast their glances in my direction.

  “Another one bites the dust,” Gabby mummers.

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Reagan demands, dropping her utensil. It clatters against her plate. Their interaction brings me out of my thoughts.

  “This is like some cult shit going on here,” Gabby complains. “And I’m not the only one who sees it.”

  “Tranquila, Gabby!” Lo interjects.

  “You’re going to tell me to calm down?” Gabby scoffs.

  “I’m sorry, did I miss something? What’s the problem here?” I ask, but Gabby just rolls her eyes.

  “N
ot a damned thing. Or at least nothing new. Just do me a favor, huh? If the aliens start serving Kool-Aid later, you can tell them that I pass,” she says, pushing away from the table.

  “Sit down,” Lo urges. “Finish your dinner.”

  “I’ve lost my appetite,” Gabby responds flatly. She turns then, leaving her food and the rest of the table behind as she stalks toward her room.

  “You could at least do your own damn dish,” Reagan calls after her. Gabby spins back around and Reagan is on her feet in a flash.

  Then the whole table is up, trying to keep the two women from facing off. Lo grabs onto Gabby and I step in front of Reagan.

  Suddenly Allison is there. “It’s getting late,” she says coldly.

  “Dinner just started,” Reagan counters.

  Allison shoots a steely glance at Reagan and holds firm. “I said it’s getting late. Go to bed.” Her eyes wash over us. “All of you.”

  “Come on,” Lo urges Gabby and the two turn, walking off together.

  I relax a bit and take a step back, only to bump into a rock-hard wall. When I look however, I see that Gile and Mire are standing at my back, their bronze veins pulsing over golden skin. When did they get here? I’m about to speak to them when Reagan starts running her mouth again.

  “Why don’t you mind your fucking business, Allison?” Along the corridor wall I can hear Da’vi, the Nh’Rudi, clicking in the back of his throat. It sets me on edge.

  “This is my fucking business, Reagan,” she replies, as cool and calm as ever.

  “Right, like you give a shit about what goes on here. About what goes on with any of us,” Reagan counters and Allison bristles.

  “Okay! We are all done,” I say, pulling Reagan away—and squeezing through the Sovolians to do so. Halfway to my room Kate stops us.

  I feel bad for Kate. She works so hard searching for more humans and helping to make sure our community is safe. But all that work has kept her disconnected from the people here. In the beginning we all used to be closer. Now it feels as if we’re drifting apart.

  “Is everything okay?” she questions, falling in beside us.

  “Fucking peachy,” Reagan answers, rolling her eyes. She isn’t mad at Kate, I don’t think. More likely she’s still reeling from arguing with the others.

  “Maybe I can join you guys for some ceata?’ Kate offers as we get to my door. But Reagan cuts her eyes to the other women. Nearly all of those who were rescued with me are watching our interaction with Kate with intense scrutiny.

  “No,” Reagan says, regret plainly written on her face. “They’re going to start believing Gabby’s conspiracy theories if they see you come in here with us. Leaders can’t take sides.”

  “I don’t care what they think,” Kate counters.

  “You should,” Reagan tells her. “It’s fine, enjoy the rest of your night. Mel and I have some gossiping to do anyway.”

  Kate still looks unsure, maybe even a little hurt too, and I shoot her an apologetic glance as I follow Reagan into my room.

  “Did I miss something? That went from zero to sixty in like two seconds,” I ask Reagan once the door shuts.

  “You heard Gabby in group yesterday. She had a bug up her ass because Gile joined us and it got even worse after he spent the night in here with you.”

  “We were just talking!” I assure her.

  “Doesn’t matter. In Gabby’s mind the two of you were plotting to turn the women here into the alien version of Stepford Wives.”

  “That’s absurd.”

  “No shit. But it’s still what she thinks. All through dinner last night she was talking trash to the new girls, making little comments to scare them and put doubts in their heads about this place and about these guys. She thinks they had something to do with Val’s disappearance. Hell, she blames everything on the Vendari, even her own damned abduction.”

  I take a deep breath and try to give Gabby the benefit of the doubt. “She’s gone through a major trauma, she’s scared, and doesn’t know who to trust.”

  Reagan raises her arms and looks around the room. “Hello! You just described every single person here. But that bitch is the only one trying to mind fuck the rest of us.”

  “Reagan, you don’t have to be so defensive. People will see the truth for themselves and if they don’t, we have to let them take their own journey.”

  “Well, if she doesn’t want to be here, then she should leave.”

  “It isn’t that easy, where would she go?” I pour ceata and pass it to Reagan. She stares down into her mug.

  “It would be easy though, wouldn’t it? To just leave. I mean…there’s so many planets out there.”

  “We can’t exile her!”

  “Huh? Oh, I know. I just mean there’s a lot out there for a person…if they were looking for something more, that is.”

  Reagan’s tone has changed, sounding more reflective now than angry. She doesn’t meet my gaze. A realization dawns on me, something I hadn’t considered before now. There is a whole galaxy out there, filled with worlds and people. We’ve had safety and a home here in Beacon, but that doesn’t mean we have to remain here forever. Maybe there is something more out there… And the way Reagan says it, well, it makes me wonder if she’s been thinking about this for a while now.

  I look at my friend as she hangs her head. “Are we still talking about Gabby?”

  Chapter 9

  Mel

  Yesterday left me spinning. I’m troubled by the thought of Reagan leaving the safety of Beacon. If she does, will I be losing her as a friend? Hell, will I ever see her again? But right now Gabby is the bigger problem. Somehow I hadn’t realized how suspicious of the aliens she had become. From what I hear, she even has something of a following. I hate that it’s gotten this far out of hand and in some ways I even feel a little responsible for it. I wish Gabby would have shared more with us in group so we could have helped her. I think back on all the things she’s brought up and comb my memories in search of an opportunity I might have missed. I even wonder if I should go to Kate and fill her in. But it hasn’t gotten there yet and hopefully it never will.

  I walk the path toward the shipyard and try to let go of the drama in the village—or at least other people’s drama. Lord knows I have plenty of my own to deal with. And that’s what this shooting lesson is all about really. While I know I’m safe here in Beacon, I still have lingering fears from my abduction. I want to conquer those and learn how to feel safe again. And let’s not forget the pressing drive I have to find something that makes me feel happy and complete in this new life. Maybe I could find that in weapons and training, like Allison and V have?

  “Who knows,” I sigh. At the very least I’ll be able to creep on a sexy golden alien or two.

  “Knock knock!” I call into the open hatch of the ship.

  “Mel? Come in!” Gile answers me from somewhere deep inside. I can hear him hurrying to meet me and as I cross the threshold I see my crush. His face lights up with a broad grin.

  “I am happy you came,” Gile tells me.

  “Me too.”

  We stand there awkwardly for a moment and I find myself feeling like a girl again. Gary and I got married so young, I never really had the chance to play the field or experience the rush of flirting with someone new. In a lot of ways coming to Elysia has given me a fresh start—and in some respects I’m actually really excited about it. Now if only I could stop overthinking things.

  “Please come in, Mire is on the bridge.”

  The mention of Gile’s aloof brother leaves me wanting to make a good impression. If by chance anything progresses with Gile and myself, I want nothing more than to have a good relationship with Mire. Too bad he seems like such a tough nut to crack.

  “Mel is here!” Gile announces as we step into the heart of the ship. I take a look at the high-tech and futuristic room around me and suddenly I’m in awe. This is the first time I’ve been on a ship since we were brought to Elysia and the sight of the i
nner workings is sobering. It reminds me just how amazing my journey has been. A few months ago I would have thought a person was insane if they believed in aliens and now here I am on a faraway planet surrounded by them.

  “Wow, it’s beautiful in here,” I tell them, admiring the lights playing across all the intricate control panels. When I look up I see that Gile and Mire seem intensely focused on me and their scrutiny makes me suddenly self-conscious. “Sorry, I’ve just never seen this part of a ship before,” I say, blushing. “I’ve really only seen cargo holds and stuff. This all looks like something out of a science fiction movie. It’s unreal.”

  “Mel’s planet had not yet achieved intersolar travel,” Gile informs Mire.

  Mire shoots his brother a stony glare. “I am already aware of this.”

  Oh boy, this guy is going to be a tough nut, I think to myself.

  “If you like, Mire could take you out of atmosphere and give you a flight lesson,” Gile offers.

  The prospect excites me. “That sounds really cool! I mean, I wouldn’t want to be a bother though,” I tell them, studying Mire’s reaction…or the lack thereof.

  “It would be no bother, Mire is an excellent pilot,” Gile supplies easily, while the more stoic brother stares at me with an unreadable expression. I offer him a polite, albeit unsure, smile.

  “Mire has an excellent mind for mechanics as well. If you ever need anything fixed, come to him,” Gile boasts.

  “You’re being awfully generous with your brother, Gile. I’m sure Mire is a busy guy.”

  Still, Mire adds nothing to the conversation and I shift awkwardly on my feet, worrying that he might hate me.

  “Mire is also highly talented at—”

  “Stsst.” Mire makes a strange cutting noise with his tongue and gives Gile a meaningful look.

  “Uh…how about I let you two get to know each other while I grab a pot of ceata? Back soon!” the excitable Gile says before clapping his hands together and vanishing from the room. I watch him leave with wide eyes, wanting to either call him back or offer to lend a hand, but I know I should be making an effort with Mire.