4. Kal’va

Ilay beside the female, watching her sleep and marveling at my fortune. I'd lain in my crypt for Makers alone knew how long, on the edge of death, and when I woke, I woke to her. To Tal'ia.

She was an intruder, yes, but she had broken nothing, harmed nothing, and did not try to force her way through to the Makers who I hoped still lay dreaming at the tomb's heart. I would guard their souls from those who would plunder them, not from respectful and kind hands like hers.

No, Tal'ia was mine now, mine to protect. She lay there, fitting perfectly against me, her wonderful curves pressing against my skin. I gazed down at her, delighting in the strangeness of her body. She was not from any species I recognized, which meant either her homeworld was very far away or enough time had passed for a fresh generation of sapients to reach the stars. Either way, I was grateful for the opportunity to meet her.

Though ‘meet' seemed a weak word for what we'd done. My cock twitched at the memory of our mating, crystals thrumming with anticipation of another. I stroked my hand down Tal'ia's back, wondering how much she could take. As fragile as she looked, she'd embraced all that I'd offered. Would that miracle repeat itself?

I lifted her face to mine for a kiss, her eyes fluttering open as our lips met. Her warm body shifted against mine, drawing me closer, and her soft, hungry moan left no doubt about what she wanted.

"Hey, Talia?" The voice called from the broken gap in the roof of my crypt, a nervous edge to it. It continued with incomprehensible sounds, and I raised my arm, instinct demanding I kill whatever creature dared interrupt us.

But Tal'ia moved faster. In an instant, she put herself between me and the hole. My arm's crystals blazed with lethal energies, but she stood firm, green eyes blazing, naked and small and fierce. Her words still meant nothing to me, but her intent was clear. I would need to kill her to get to whoever had spoken.

Or…it would be trivial to move her out of my way. Strength and speed were on my side. I would not need to hurt her to slay my target. Still, I paused. Tal'ia stood firm, choosing to put her life on the line. Ignoring her wishes would make an enemy of her, and I could not bear that thought.

The killing energies dissipated as I lowered my arm. Tal'ia watched me, brow furrowed and muscles tense. I would have to earn her trust. All it would cost was time. After waiting uncounted thousands of years, that did not concern me. I sat on my hands, trying to communicate that I would not act.

Tal'ia backed away, still watching me with narrowed eyes, but when I made no move to follow, she relaxed slowly. She exchanged words with the speaker above before clambering up the rope ladder and out of my crypt.

I had to force myself to stay still instead of charging to her rescue. Wary of offending my mate, I made myself pause and pay attention instead. The voices above held no anger. Instead, they spoke as friends, as allies. I listened, trying to learn about the strange world I'd woken in.