23. Chapter 23

Zil and the captain barge out of the kitchen, heading down the corridor to the training field. I suppose this is better than if they were going to fight in the kitchen and be throwing carrots and potatoes at each other.

I grab Zil's arm, whispering to him, "Are you sure about it? Is there no other way to solve that?"

There is a deep frown on his face, which screams that I should have kept quiet.

"I don't think so. Don't worry, I'll protect you."

My heart squeezes. Now, I don't know whether they are fighting because of their ego or because... Zil really wants to protect me, and... maybe he considers me his mate and he isn't role-playing it.

So... I want him to be fine, too. I know beings still fight a lot out there in space, but between uzains? Because of me?

Zil is still heading down the corridor. The captain is a few steps ahead, all flexed and ready to fight. I hate this...

As soon as we get into the training field, there are already uzains around. They are looking at me. Maybe they all think that I'm the reason for what's happening.

But that's not my fault. I have never wanted to be here. I didn't ask to be here, and I didn't care who my mate was. I don't even want a mate.

The captain doesn't want me as his mate anyway, he just wants to take me away from Zil. Why must this fight happen? Because Zil won't cave into the captain's words? Because I refused to do as I'm told? To leave Zil?

I can almost see how Zil grabbed me and gave me more pleasure than I could imagine. He also fought to reduce the whipping I took.

Fuck... I hate this.

The training field seems to be even larger, and I'm so tiny here. I wish I could do something to stop the fight, but I doubt...

The uzain behind me clears his throat. "Here, come with me."

"But I don't..."

He lifts his brows. "Just come. What are you going to do otherwise? Be the one fighting?"

"I don't understand—"

He gestures to the stairs that lead to the spectators' stands upstairs. "I'll try to answer your question, but don't stay here. They are going to solve it the way uzains solve issues when it comes to mates. Maybe humans don't do that, but that's how things work here."

Before these uzains will grab me and make me go with them, I follow, knowing better than to try to fight these males who are all stronger than me. They have strong hands and will bruise me.

Upstairs, there are uzains there too. The one bringing me upstairs brings me to the center and sits me down. It feels like everyone is watching me. Maybe I understand the fishballs in curry sauces now.

Wait... if the captain and Zil are going to fight over who will get to be my mate or own me, does that mean these uzains can also join if they want to get me?

Am I a prize, like a trophy or something for them to fight for? I'm a fucking human, not an item...

There is a loud crank, yanking my mind to the training field downstairs.

Zil and the captain are slashing at each other with the training battleaxes, which look heavy and dangerous.

I shiver when the weapons clash with each other. What if Zil gets hurt? I wince when the fight keeps going. The other uzains are all quiet, letting the fight unfold.

The uzain next to me says, "Looks like they really want you."

"I... Why are you telling me that? I don't even know this is a thing."

"Well, this doesn't happen a lot. At least not on a spaceship. I mean, we've never had females on the ship, so... There has been nothing to fight for."

I hiss at him, ignoring how rude I may seem. These uzains are the rude ones when they treat me like an object. "What if I don't agree with the result? I'm not going to just accept whoever wins to be my mate. None of you, or them, cares about what I think about it. Does that even make sense?"

He lifts his brows at me. "What do you mean? You don't want to be a mate to the strongest uzain who can protect you?"

Oh... Is that the thought? "What does that even have to do with my decision? If I'm looking for a mate, I want to be with someone I love and feel something for."

The uzain watches me with a light frown, seemingly confused. "So... You're saying you don't want them to be fighting?"

Geez! These uzains are so dumb. "Yes. I thought I made it clear and—"

A cheer erupts from the training field. I stand and go to the dwarf wall of the balcony at once.

Zil is standing. The captain's weapon is on the floor, and he is holding his shoulder. My heart races at once. Does this mean Zil has won? And therefore, the uzains are cheering?

Zil is watching the captain with his battleaxe resting on his shoulder. He looks around and says, with his voice echoing in the training field. "So, anyone else is here to challenge me? We'll be done with this stupid stuff once and for all. Hazel is my mate, and no one gets to take her away from me."

He... There is a surge of heat in my stomach. I think I'm shaking, but I'm trying not to. He told everyone that I'm his mate...

I don't know how to feel. I suppose that's what he has to do if he is going to keep doing this pretending thing. But... It feels right. I... Maybe I like to hear that.

There seems to be a buzz in me that is pulling at him. I want his arms around me.

Is that... Maybe I do want to be the mate to the strongest uzain who can protect me.

But... It has nothing to do with how well he can fight. Zil...

No uzain says a thing. The captain remains on the floor. He is facing away from me, so I can't see how he looks, but I doubt he is happy.

If Zil lost, I'll still feel the same for him. He tried and he never hurt me.

But... What does that mean?

What if he is still pretending to be my mate? And... What about letting me go back to my own life?

If I become his mate, does that mean I'll have to travel with him? His fleet probably gets into fights with others, too.

That's not what I've signed up for, but what if—

There is another round of cheer and the uzain to my side nudges for me to get moving.

I scowl at him. "What? The fight is over. I know that."

"Hey, it is time for you to go with the coach now."

I hiss at him even though I'm not opposed to staying with Zil. "Are you suggesting that just because Zil can smack the captain's ass, I'm his mate now?"

"Well, for us, yes. You're his mate now."

"What if I don't want to?"

The uzains around me fall into silence at once. They also stop moving, everyone watching me, seemingly confused. Maybe I'm really supposed to be Zil's mate now... These uzains are crazy.

The one who has been by my side and answering my questions says, "I don't understand. Do you mean you don't want Zil as your mate?"

Before the captain takes this as a chance to keep fighting, and before the uzains downstairs will hear this, I sigh. "Okay... I'm just asking. I'm a human, so..."

"Ah, I see." Not only him, it feels like the whole balcony of uzains let out a breath.

Maybe I should keep my question for Zil, that's going to be better than asking a crowd of uzains who clearly don't understand or even see the problem.

The crowd of uzains happily hoard behind me as I go down the stairs. I'm not new to beings looking at me when I work in a stall in a space station, but the way these look at me... I'm a bit too much the center of attention and I don't like it.

Zil grins when he sees me, and he spreads an arm to the side. His other hand is still holding the battleaxe. He is so handsome with that pose. There isn't a doubt that he can protect me.

I wrap my arms around him, and he holds me. He is such a huge uzain who I can bury my face in his chest. His warmth envelops me, and I try to focus on that instead of the cheering uzains, who are obviously watching.

I murmur, hoping Zil will be the only one who can hear me. "Am I doing the right thing? I like you, but everyone's watching."

He chuckles and strokes my back. "Don't worry, everything's fine."

I hope it is. When I came to Zil's side, I didn't look at the captain. Maybe I should worry about that later. Now... I don't know what to do next. Do I let go of Zil? Do I keep hugging him? What am I supposed to do?

He kisses my forehead. "Relax and enjoy this. I know humans do things a bit differently, but for me, you're my mate."

My heart skips a beat at that. Is he... still pretending for the others' eyes? Or...

I glance at him. The way he looks at me... The intensity in his eyes set me on fire. I want him. There seems to be something in me that's humming, drawing me closer and closer to him.

If he will keep holding me, I don't mind standing here with him. He is sweaty from the fight, but I like how he smells; hard work and strength. Those aren't something I'll complain about.

He pats my back. "Here, let's move on to something better."

Oh... Is that what I'm thinking?