Chapter 18

Kyler

Never have I before seen the healing technology that Vornak possesses at work. He has shown and explained his machine to me in the past, but I could not comprehend how it functioned. I still do not, but I am fascinated. I have never questioned the Bohnari’s need for kanet. I was only told that it offered special healing properties that were not available on their own planet and they would be happy to trade whatever it is we wish for it.If they have the kind of machine that can heal broken bones, what use do they have for a simple plant? I find myself curious.

I am grateful for Vornak’s help in healing Zara. Nothing pleases me more than to see her healthy and without pain. Except perhaps to see her own happiness at being whole again. The sounds of the celebration grow louder the closer we get to the village. No doubt the elders have brought out their special brew and the drinking has begun. It will go long into the night as we have much to celebrate.

“Sounds like they started the party without us,” Zara jokes.

“Do not worry keeshla . There will be plenty of time to enjoy the festivities.”

“I’m ready for some of that delicious alcohol.” She makes a noise of delight. “I’ll warn you ahead of time, Johnna, it has a nice kick to it.”

Vornak’s mate laughs. “Thanks for the heads up. If it’s anything like the Xurxell beer Eloise and I used to drink, I’ll make sure to pace myself.”

The guards at the gate greet us with a fist over their chest, but their eyes widen at the sight of us returning with an unfamiliar human female. I fist my chest as well and we walk through the entrance and make our way toward the central fire that burns brightly and is surrounded already by Bohnari, Tavikhi, and humans.

Our presence catches the attention of Zander who breaks away from London to come toward us. She turns her head to watch him and spots us, because she waves with a smile. Zara waves back with her newly repaired arm. The shefir reaches our small party and we come to a stop. He salutes us and then clasps arms with the Bohnari healer.

“Welcome back, Vornak. It is always good to see another of our Bohnari brothers.”

“Thank you, Shefir,” he replies and then places an arm around his female. “This is my mate, J?—”

“Johnna?” Eloise tears away from the group, her eyes shimmering.

“Johnna,” she screams and breaks into a run.

“Oh my god, Eloise.” The two females collide with their arms wrapped tightly around each other. Both of them sob.

Zedam and Vornak go to their mates’ sides while the females celebrate their reunion. Beside me, Zara sniffs. I glance down at her and she swipes away the tears in her eyes. She lifts her gaze to mine and smiles. Human emotions are often confusing.

“Happy tears?”

She nods. “Happy. So, so happy.”

I twine my tail around her waist and we join all of our tribespeople and the Bohnari at the fire. We have much to celebrate this day.

The barest edge of the sun lingers over the hilltop, fighting to remain visible in the sky, but within several beats of my heart, it is defeated and disappears completely, leaving the two moons as champions. As the evening has progressed, the number of tribespeople has dwindled. First with the elders as they made their way to their own tents, followed by the kits whose complaints were audible even as they stepped into their own dwellings.

Zara and all her tribe sisters—as well as several more of the humans—have been celebrating with something they call dancing and Eloise has gifted us with the sound of her voice in what she calls singing. She has attempted to teach Zedam this thing and to the surprise of everyone, he produces a melodious noise that blends perfectly with his keeshla’s . The other humans often join in and it becomes clear that not all of them are as gifted as Eloise and Zedam.

It is a joyous night. The elders’ brew has been passed around many times and its effects are more than obvious. Words are slurred. Laughter is louder. Movement is unsteadier. It has been since before the sun descended that Zander called out the names of all our fallen tribe brothers and sisters and each received their own battle cry from everyone. The sounds echoed for many beats before fading away.

Zara stumbles over to me on the far side of the circle with laughter spilling from her lips. She collides against my chest and wraps her arms around me. With her touching me, our surroundings disappear and it is as if only she and I exist.

“Mmmm, you smell good. Like eulyptus but mished—mixed”—she shakes her head and wrinkles her nose—“with something sweet. It makes me want to lick you to see if you taste as yummy.” As if proving her point, her tongue runs across my flesh.

I should not grow hard that fast, but I do. “And how do I taste?”

Zara lifts only her eyes as she continues licking and nibbling my skin. “Delicious. I bet your cock tastes even better. Less go back to our tent, so I can see.”

Mating fluid erupts from my nodes and a shudder runs down my spine as she rubs herself against me. An image of my mate between my thighs and her mouth on me nearly has me coming in my leg coverings. I must steel myself against the onslaught of pleasure though, because as much I love the idea of Zara pleasuring me in that way, I cannot. Not while she is under the influence of the elders’ brew.

“As much as I want to have my keeshla taste me, it will have to wait for another night. When you are not affected by drink.” No worthy warrior would take advantage of their female while she is in this state.

She blinks multiple times, as though surprised by my rejection, and then stares. “Bryce didn’t care that I was drunk.”

I cock my head and go still. “Who is Bryce?”

“My boyfriend. Ex -boyfriend,” Zara emphasizes. “Although he was a pretty shitty boyfriend.”

“You had a mate?”

She rattles her head. “He wasn’t my mate. Just a guy I dated.”

I do not understand the difference. She must sense my continued confusion even in her altered state because she sighs. “A boyfriend is a guy you like and spend time with in the hopes you both fall in love with each other and then marry—become mates.”

“And you wanted to become mates with this…Bryce?” A pain stabs my heart.

Zara raises and lowers a shoulder. “I thought I did. Before I found out he was a raging cocksucker.”

“He also tastes cocks? Males do this?”

She bursts out laughing. “No, he didn’t taste cocks, although, yes, some males do. A cocksucker just means Bryce was a giant piece of shit.”

Ah, yes excrement is a word I know since she favors using it. If I did not already hate this male for being her ‘boyfriend’, I would hate him for the pain he has obviously caused her. If this Bryce— his name alone makes my blood boil with rage—took advantage of Zara when she had imbibed on human brew, then he is worthless and without honor.

“Did he force you?” A bigger part of me does not want to know the answer, because not being able to avenge my keeshla will eat away at me.

Zara laughs again, but it is filled with bitterness. She also sounds surprisingly alert. “He didn’t have to force me. I stupidly believed all his flattery and smooth words. That should have been my first clue, but I was so lonely I ate up every compliment he gave me.”

This is not a conversation meant to have out in the open. “Will you come with me to my tent and tell me what happened?”

There is a short pause before she nods. “You might as well find out now before I fall too much harder for you and you realize I’m not the kind of mate you want.”

My heart leaps at Zara’s words. Does this mean she is closer to loving me? And have I not shown her enough that she is the perfect mate for me? If she believes I would not want her, no matter what she tells me, then I have done a poor job of showing her my feelings. I will remedy that as soon as possible. After tonight, she will never doubt my love.

I thread my fingers through hers and together we leave the celebration for my dwelling. It is the first time Zara will have entered it. I have not slept there since before she was taken, although I have returned to wash up and put on clean leg coverings. We come to a stop in front of it and I swing the door flap to the side for her to enter. I grab the torch from the ground and bring it—as well as its light—in with me so we are both able to see better.

While she slowly walks around to take in my home, I apply the flame to the wood in the center pit. Once it smolders and catches fire, I stab the torch upright into the ground beside it. I observe Zara, curious to know what her thoughts are. She finally finishes her inspection and turns to me. My tent is much smaller than hers since it has always only housed me, but I have done my best to make it feel welcoming to visitors.

“You have a really nice place,” she says, and the tension I’d been holding eases away knowing that she is pleased with it.

From the wooden beams I have several bundles of dried zambak to give a pleasant fragrance to the air and there are two carved seats. Before he died, Baba crafted a sleeping platform for me that sits a knee’s height off the ground and is covered with many plush furs that once belonged to him and Nene.

“I am glad you like it since I hope that it will become your home.”

Zara wrings her hands together in a nervous gesture I have never witnessed from her before. I close the distance between us and take them between mine, squeezing gently to try and ease her mind. Nothing she tells me will change how I feel. But I do not believe words will reassure her. Only my actions will.

“Come, let us sit and you can tell me your story.” I guide her to the sleeping platform since it is more comfortable than the hard seats.

She sits, scoots all the way back to the middle, and folds her legs. When she pats the empty space in front of her, I move there and mimic her pose. We sit in silence. I can tell Zara is gathering her thoughts so I remain quiet and patient. Trust must be earned and I am willing to give her all the time she needs.