Chapter 21

Elian couldn”t breathe.

In front of him, the two Borraq circled each other in the valley. The first light of dawn painted the world in hues of gold and pink, turning the dewy grass at their feet into a carpet of jewels — but there was nothing beautiful about the scene.

Rael and Korvax were going to kill each other.

The world had gone mad. Just a few weeks ago, Elian had been a simple colony worker, training for a life among the stars. He”d planned for a quiet, peaceful life, free of any kind of excitement.

And then his ship had crashed, throwing him into Rael”s arms.

The man was a whirlwind, a storm given flesh. He”d taken Elian prisoner and dragged him across the planet — but in the process, he”d somehow made Elian fall for him.

It was madness. Rael was an alien, a member of a species at war with humanity. His culture was as alien as his appearance, all honor and words that had no direct translation. His moral code was something that Elian could barely wrap his head around, a brutal world of clans and challenges.

But despite all of that, Rael had somehow ignited a spark within Elian. Underneath his fear, underneath his confusion, there was something else.

Something like hope.

And then, just moments ago, that hope had burst into full flame. Rael had come to save him.

Maybe there was some way they could be together after all. Elian had never felt so happy in his entire life.

But now that life was on the brink of being cut short.

Rael and Korvax were like whirlwinds, like wild animals fighting for dominance. Despite the sheer terror of watching the battle, Elian couldn”t tear his eyes away. He”d never seen anything like it. Rael”s muscles rippled underneath his golden skin, moving with a grace that was somehow both feral and human. When his blade flashed in the dawn light, it was as if the metal itself burned with some kind of otherworldly power.

Rael was a warrior. He was something more than human, something from a wilder, older world. In the face of his savage prowess, it was almost hard to believe that Korvax stood a chance.

But the other man was no slouch, either. He might not have Rael”s otherworldly edge, but he was clearly a skilled fighter, his years of experience plain to see. His strikes were fast and precise, aiming for vulnerable spots on Rael”s body. Whenever he managed to land a blow, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed up the mountainside, making Elian flinch in sympathy.

They were both monsters, locked in mortal combat. And Elian was caught in the middle of it.

Elian”s heart hammered in his chest, the thunderous sound threatening to drown out the noise of the battle.

He couldn”t watch. He couldn”t look, he couldn”t see—

With a sickening crack, Rael”s head snapped to the side. A brutal blow sent him staggering, his feet unsteady.

Elian thought he was going to be sick. The world spun around him, a sick carousel. Rael was fighting for him. He”d called Elian his mate — and now he was putting his life on the line for him.

Elian had to do something!

His tied hands clenched into fists, his nails biting into his palms. He wanted to do something, anything to help.

But he couldn”t. He was bound, utterly helpless. The rough rope that tied his hands behind his back might as well have been chains. He was nothing but a spectator, a prisoner forced to watch as the man who”d captured his heart danced with death.

Elian”s throat worked, a strangled sound escaping him. He bit back on it. He needed to stay quiet — he couldn”t risk distracting Rael.

Wait…

The realization hit Elian like a bolt of lightning. He couldn”t risk distracting Rael… but there was someone else he needed to annoy as much as he could.

Drawing a deep breath, Elian raised his voice. ”Hey, scumbag!”

The words burst forth, crude and grating in the crisp mountain air. Korvax didn”t turn, intent on facing Rael, but his eyes narrowed at the interruption.

Elian didn”t let the bounty hunter”s that deter him. ”Yeah, that”s right, I”m talking to you! Did you enjoy your little trip down the mountain last time? Do you want another? Get a little closer, and let me see if I can do that again!”

Rael”s blade flashed in a vicious arc. Korvax parried it — but was it Elian”s imagination, or was his parry just a fraction of a second slower than it could have been?

”You call yourself a warrior?” Elian jeered, his voice dripping with disdain. ”Well, I guess that works — there”s only one eye in warrior, anyway!”

Snarling, Korvax advanced on Rael, clearly irritated. Yes! Elian kept taunting, desperate to keep Korvax”s focus on him. ”How”d it feel to get bested by a human, huh? You”re too scared to fight us on the frontline! Figures, because you”re too pathetic to even best a weakling like me! No wonder you”re clanless!”

That did it. Korvax beat Rael back, his lip curling in a sneer of pure rage, then broke. ”The bounty says alive — or dead!”

He lunged toward Elian, blade raised.

Elian didn”t see the rest of the movement. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the blow—

It never came.

There was a sickening gurgle, followed by a heavy thud.

When he dared to look again, Korvax was on his knees, a crimson stain blooming across his chest. Rael stood over him, his blade dripping, eyes blazing with a feral light.

The bounty hunter made one last feeble attempt to raise his blade, but Rael knocked it aside with contemptuous ease. Then, with a swift, economical motion, he ended Korvax”s life.

Elian shut his eyes.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Elian”s eyes flew open as strong arms encircled him, lifting him from the ground. He found himself pressed against Rael”s powerful chest, the alien”s intoxicating scent enveloping him.

”Rael...” Elian breathed, scarcely able to believe this was real. He was alive. They were both alive.

Rael cradled him close, his fingers deftly undoing the ropes binding Elian. ”You”re safe now, my love. I”ve got you.”

The moment the bonds fell away, Elian flung his arms around Rael”s neck, clinging to him with every ounce of his being. He buried his face in the crook of Rael”s shoulder, shuddering with the force of his relief.

”Rael, Rael...” His name was a prayer, a benediction on Elian”s lips.

Rael held him just as fiercely, one hand cradling the back of Elian”s head. When they finally drew apart, just enough to look into each other”s eyes, Elian saw a whirlwind of emotions in Rael”s blazing gaze.

Anger. Fear. Desperation. And beneath it all, an emotion so profound it stole Elian”s breath away.

”Why?” Rael”s voice was a low rumble, his green eyes colored with anguish. ”Why did you run from me?”

Elian”s heart clenched. He pressed his forehead to Rael”s, struggling to find the words. ”I had to. If I stayed... every Borraq would be against you for sheltering an enemy. I couldn”t let you ruin your life like that.” He trailed off, his throat tight.

Rael”s fingers tightened in Elian”s hair, forcing their gazes to meet again. ”You think I care about the opinions of others?” he growled. ”You are mine, Elian. My mate, my heart, my everything. I will fight the entire planet to keep you safe and by my side. Never doubt that.”

The intensity in Rael”s eyes sent a shiver down Elian”s spine. He saw the truth burning there, bright and undeniable.

Slowly, Rael”s expression softened, the hard lines of his face relaxing into something infinitely tender. ”But I will not have to fight, not for this. My clan... they will see how precious you are. How brave and loyal. They will welcome you, just as I have welcomed you into my heart.”

Elian”s breath caught in his throat. A clan. Somewhere he might finally belong.

A family.

”I want that,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. ”More than anything.”

Rael”s smile was like the rising sun, bright and radiant. ”Then it”s yours, my heart. All of it is yours.”

Their lips met in a searing kiss, all the passion and desperation of the past few days pouring out between them. Elian clung to Rael, drinking him in like a man dying of thirst. He”d thought he”d thrown this away, thrown away the one beautiful thing he”d managed to find in the midst of so much chaos and pain.

But now, with Rael”s arms around him and the heat of his mouth claiming Elian as his own, he knew he”d never let it go again.

When they finally parted, gasping for air, Elian looked up at Rael with shining eyes. ”I love you,” he said simply, the words carrying all the weight of his soul.

Rael”s smile was impossibly tender as he traced the line of Elian”s jaw. ”And I love you, my mate. My Elian.”

He turned to face the rising dawn sun. ”Let”s go home.”