Chapter 24 Zoey

Harb’k returned to the camp late today along with all the hunters and humans who’d been out to the mutant nest. They looked exhausted, and I got the feeling that things were not going as planned.

Was it Sanctuary that was causing the problem? Or the nest itself?

There were some injuries among the humans, but they were minor, cuts and bruises, a sprained ankle, nothing serious. They were all quiet, probably because they were exhausted from their day, and wolfed down Aanya’s Xarc’n food bar and kraut, the bugpocalyptic take on wieners and kraut, like they hadn’t eaten in ages.

Mo and Kat questioned them as they ate. When I first met this group’s unofficial leader and his wife, I thought them a strange couple. Mo was of Middle Eastern descent and had a perfectly trimmed goatee and short hair. He currently wore a Metallica T-shirt with his cargo pants and combat boots.

His wife, Katarina, looked like a Russian spy right out of an action movie. Her accent didn’t help. They seemed an odd choice to lead a group in this part of America, all things considered, but everyone respected them.

A man named Curtis, whose blond hair was graying at the temples, explained with a noticeable drawl that while they’d done a lot of damage to the nest, the nest was also fighting back.

“That nest is getting mighty desperate. It’s spittin’ out all sorts of weird mutants. Keeping us on our toes.”

“Any we should be watching out for?” Katarina asked.

“Yeah. A red and black flying one.” Curtis reached for one of the cookies and took a bite. “Hey! There’s bacon in this.” He stuffed the rest of the cookie in his mouth and grabbed another. “It’s good.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I made two types. The ones with the piece of food bar at the top are more meat-heavy with chunks of food bars in them, too. They weren’t to my tastes, but Haax’l was my taste-tester, and he loved them.”

“You made them? I’d marry you right here, but Harb’k would probably not appreciate it.”

“Neither would Bessie,” Sam said, grinning.

The table broke out in laughter.

“Bessie was his best dairy cow,” Harb’k murmured from beside me.

I chuckled. Warmth filled my chest as I looked around the table. Had I found a new group?

They passed the tray of cookies around, and Harb’k took two of the extra meaty ones, wolfing them down with an appreciative grunt. “Very good. I understand dessert now.”

Both varieties of Zoey’s Meat Cookies—I did not name them, it just happened—were a hit. Especially the Xarc’n versions. Many Xarc’n hunters were not partial to dessert, but this they enjoyed, probably because there was only a hint of sweetness to them.

It wasn’t until we were walking back to his shuttle that I noticed Harb’k’s limp.

“Your leg!” The side of his calf was raw and peeling.

“It’s nothing. Just a small burn.”

“That’s not small.”

“And it is already healing.” He cupped my face in his palms. “Do not worry. This is a small injury, and I have already decontaminated it. If it makes you happier, you can hold the medical device over it for me. The mated hunters tell me that it feels good to be cared for when they are wounded.”

“I can do that.”

We got back to his shuttle, and he taught me how to use the healing device so I could care for his leg. He dozed off as the device was working, and I watched his features in repose. How had I thought Xarc’n features terrifying? With his eyes closed and his face relaxed, he almost had a boyish charm.

I smoothed the piece of hair off his forehead that had fallen out of the leather ties. And as I did, I realized I was falling for him. And I was falling hard.

The device beeped, jolting me out of my thoughts. I crawled over to look at his calf. The skin was already growing back, and I would never have guessed that he’d gotten the burn just today.

“Wow! That’s remarkable.”

Sure, my cuts and scrapes healed quickly too, but I hadn’t needed to grow back that much skin. And it wasn’t this fast.

While I was inspecting his healing leg, Harb’k was busy inspecting my ass, which was right in front of his face. He grabbed it and gave it a possessive squeeze.

“I have fought the scourge. Now, I will pleasure my female.”

“No.” I didn’t want him to undo all the healing he’d done. “Let me do all the work. You’ve done enough today.”

I pushed him back to lean against the sleeping nook and crawled between his legs. My hands made quick work of the loincloth fastening, and I tossed it over the pilot’s chair. His hard, rigid length bobbed in my hands. I gave it a squeeze before quickly stripping off my clothes too. His golden eyes were stuck on me, drinking me in like I was the only girl on Earth. It was such a turn-on to have a virile warrior under my control. I reached down to touch myself. I was already so wet and slick for him.

He grabbed my hand, brought the digit to his mouth, and suckled it.

Damn! That was so hot.

Then he was urging me to straddle him. Strong hands lifted me up as I reached down to line us up. I moaned as his thick cock parted me, and I slid down his length.

Then, I was riding my purple warrior to the stars.

***

Harb’k stretched and tucked me into his body as the lights of the shuttle dimmed.

I snuggled into his arms, breathing in his masculine scent.

“Little Star?”

It took me a moment to realize he was talking to me. Little Star? I liked that. “Hmm?”

“I’m so glad I found you. You are perfect. I cannot wait to start our family.” He buried his nose into my neck. “Good night.”

His words had me holding my breath and unable to reply.

Everything that had happened in the last few days ran through my head, and I realized what Harb’k had been trying to tell me this entire time. He wanted a family. He wanted what Lok’n had with Mary. He wanted a little miracle like Mina. And it was the one thing I could not give him.

The empty pit in my stomach started to grow, and my heart threatened to break.

I didn’t want to disappoint yet another man, alien or not. According to everything I’d learned about mate bonds, they were permanent. If Harb’k formed one with me, he wouldn’t be able to form another with anyone else. That wouldn’t be fair to him.

I knew how it felt to watch everyone be happy while knowing I’d never experience it. Even Heather had found her forever here. She hadn’t said anything yet, but I’d noticed her belly. She was hiding it behind loose clothes but also placing her hand on it often. I figured she hadn’t announced it yet, so I didn’t pry. I was simultaneously happy for her and envious.

Now that I understood Harb’k wanted a family, I had to leave before it was too late, before he wasted his one and only chance on me. I’d never forgive myself if I destroyed his dream.

I had a sudden thought. What if he was stuck to me now? His arms were draped over me, and I was nestled against his body. I feigned being too hot and rolled away, putting some space between us. He released me easily.

Good. It wasn’t too late.

I knew right then and there what I had to do.

With a heavy heart, I closed my eyes and begged for morning to come.