Captured By The Alien Barbarian: A Sci-fi Alien Romance series (Planet Atraxis Warriors)

Chapter 8

Hanging out with Taccit turns out to be way more enlightening than I ever imagined. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m actually enjoying his company—you know, when he isn’t bossing me around like a caveman.

And who’d have guessed? Taccit’s got needy days too! No kidding, I’ve never seen anyone so keen on physical contact as him. He seems completely oblivious to how often he reaches for me or brushes against my arm. It’s kind of cute, actually.

I’m so used to being underestimated and belittled by men, treated like some sort of inconvenience. And then there’s Taccit. He treats me like an equal—like I’m actually one of the rare twin suns that shine in his universe. From what I’ve seen, underneath that tough-guy exterior, he’s just a big ol’ softie. Perhaps the strong and possibly dangerous guy really just needs someone to love him. All his actions seem to revolve around making me happy—at least when my safety’s not on the line.

After he listens so patiently to me going on and on about leaving my family behind and feeling so isolated, it only seems fair to ask about his own family.

And that’s where things get awkward. The way he says, “You deserve to know the truth,” really gives me the creeps. It’s not like he killed his family... right?

“It’s been cycles since I last saw my tribe. After my sire’s death... I...”

He turns away, shoulders rising and falling as he takes deep breaths. He clenches his fists, making the muscles in his arms ripple. He’s all tension, just waiting to snap.

“My sire used to take me hunting when I was a youngling,” he continues. “One time, I wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying. I was more interested in playing than what he was trying to teach. So, when he left, I didn’t care about being quiet. I just kept playing, imagining crowds cheering me on, pretending to vanquish all who dared defy me.”

Taccit’s voice is dripping with sorrow, and I can’t help but focus on his words. It sounds like even little alien boys have their heroic fantasies, but I can sense this story doesn’t have a happy ending.

“Suddenly a beast was upon me. I don’t know where it came from, but it charged at me, slamming me to the ground. The pain... I still remember the pain. It was unbearable.”

“Oh, Taccit.” I move closer to him, wanting to comfort him. The memories clearly still haunt him. But he shakes his head and pulls his arm away from my touch.

“My sire saved me. He chased off the creature, but in doing so, he was severely injured.” Taccit’s gaze flicks to mine as he continues his tale. “I ran home. I barely remembered the way, and I think I got lost a few times. By the time my tribe found him...”

His head droops, and his long, straight black hair falls around his face, hiding it from view. No one should bear this kind of guilt. I can’t imagine how long Taccit has been carrying this burden, but it’s clearly weighing him down heavily.

“It wasn’t your fault. You were just a child.”

Creating a deliberate barrier between us, Taccit retreats several steps.

“You don’t understand,” he says with a curled lip, as though he’s tasted something particularly disgusting. It seems not to be directed at me, but at himself. He starts pacing back and forth. “I used the medicine on him, and he hated me for it. I can still remember his shouts, screaming at me to get away...”

He’s right; I don’t understand. Why would a father scold his son for using life-saving treatment? And how old was he when this happened? Could his memory be distorted, influenced by his trauma?

Taccit is in quite an unpredictable mood, and I have to remind myself that I’m not exactly buddy-buddy with this guy. I don’t know what kind of reaction he will have when he’s this charged up. A part of me wants to trust him, and maybe even does trust him a bit...

“Maybe your sire wanted you to run from the beast, not him?” I ask tentatively, trying not to poke the bear too much.

Taccit pauses in his pacing. He blinks long and slow, as if it’s the first time he’s ever considered that his father might have been trying to protect him.

He closes his eyes, and there is so much pain there that I can’t help but step towards him. Instead of letting me embrace him, Taccit steps out of reach. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him actively move away from me, and I’m a little surprised at how hurt I am by his actions. Only a day or so ago, I was trying to avoid him, but now I am actively trying to comfort him. When exactly did I go from hating this guy to caring for him?

“I left him alone. I abandoned him.”

I shake my head vehemently. “You didn’t abandon him, Taccit. You said that you went to your tribe for help. You did everything you could to save him.”

“I doubt my elders saw it that way,” he says as he pushes a hand through his hair. His fingers snag in a knot, and he starts to yank on it with a frustrated growl.

“I took everything from them. My father was a chieftain. Without him, there was chaos. I couldn’t be there when they looked at me that way, so I left and...”

“Hey! Hey, it’s okay,” I rush forward and pull his hand away from his hair before he rips it from his scalp. He’s reluctant to let go, but slowly allows me to guide his movements.

I rub my hands over his biceps, feeling the muscles flexing beneath my soothing caress.

“You can’t always tell what other people are thinking or feeling. You described your father—sire—as hating you for using medicine on him. But no father could hate their youngling for trying to save them. I believe he just wanted you to get to safety.”

“Ariana...” Taccit says. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his firm chest. His forehead bends down and presses against mine, the pressure almost painful. I would complain, but the shaking of his body has me holding my tongue.

“Did your elders ever tell you what they thought? Did you ever actually ask them?”

Taccit shakes his head. “They didn’t need to. I can see it on their faces.”

“Ask them if you ever get a chance,” I advise, as a shudder runs through his body. I wrap my arms around his waist, tenderly caressing the bare skin of his back. “You might be in for a surprise. They might have a completely different perspective on things now that the dust and everyone’s emotions have had time to settle a bit.”

My hands slip to Taccit’s defined jaw, guiding him to look at me. “The worst-case scenario is that you find out you’re right after all. Then you can come home to me, and we’ll get through it together.”

He cups his hand over mine, pressing his cheek into my palm. “The elders warned us about using the medicine—only in extreme cases. My father was, in fact, most vocal about it. He thought we should just destroy the amount that my tribe had.”

He gives me a pleading look, desperate for me to understand.

A chill washes over me. I start thinking that my injuries are just figments of my imagination, that my leg hasn’t been as mangled as I thought. It’s easy to question yourself when you look down and see little more than a few half-healed scratches.

“You used the medicine on me, didn’t you? I was hurt pretty bad, wasn’t I? But you patched me. You healed me.”

He nods. “Forgive me, mate. You were dying. I had to do something. I couldn’t bear to lose you, especially not after I just found you.”

I try to pull away, but his grip on me tightens. He looks absolutely devastated, which makes it impossible for me to get mad.

“But what does the medicine do, Taccit? Besides healing, I mean.”

“I don’t know,” he says, his voice hoarse. “The elders wouldn’t say. All I know is that it’s forbidden.”

* * *

Our little chatdoesn’t exactly put me in the mood for more exploring. Sure, Taccit saved my life, but at what price? The fact that he doesn’t know the full effects of the stuff he used is even scarier.

As we walk, I inconspicuously pat myself down, trying to make sure everything is in tip-top shape physically speaking. As far as I can tell, everything is where it’s supposed to be and doing what it should. I seem fine—better than fine, even. But a low level of anxiety grips me, as if at any moment I might suddenly just... die.

I start to feel tired after just a few hours of walking—and a busy few hours at that. I stumble, more focused on how I feel than where I’m going. Taccit is right there to catch me, quickly lifting me up in his arms as though we’re newlyweds.

“I’m too heavy,” I say.

Taccit just snorts. “You weigh less than a drear, little Nika.”

I have no clue what a drear is. I can only hope it’s a flattering comparison. He’s not comparing me to some alien equivalent of a blubbery seal, is he?

Seeing my disbelief, he demonstrates my weightlessness by bouncing me up and down a bit, flexing his muscles all the while.

“I can walk,” I say, squirming in his grip. His hold tightens, with his claws digging through my clothes and scraping my thigh and ribs. When he doesn’t set me down, I wriggle some more. My body is pressed against his, and I find myself strangely drawn to his touch.

“I like having you close,” he says.

I can’t help but smile up at him, overcome with the weirdest urge to reach out and caress him right back. Just a little touch, like tucking some of his black hair behind his pointed ears.

Taccit deftly ducks through the cave’s entrance, and once inside, he carefully sets me down. He keeps an arm wrapped around my waist for support until I regain my balance.

My hand flies up to cover my mouth in a feeble attempt to stifle a yawn.

“Get some rest.” Taccit nudges me towards the bed with a gentle push. “I will join you soon.”

I instantly dig my heels into the ground, my eyes widening in surprise at his words.

“No. Nope. Not happening.” I whirl around to confront Taccit, crossing my arms over my chest and fixing him with the best glare I can muster. “We’re not sleeping together!”

Taccit returns my stare and, in an amusing mirror image, also crosses his arms. The only difference between us is the way his bulging muscles threaten to distract me from my indignation. “We are mates, little Nika. This is what mates do.”

“We aren’t... I don’t want to share a bed!” I can’t deny the possibility that we might be mates—or could become mates, at least. I’m aware that many alien species place high value on the concept of mates, and I don’t want to hurt Taccit by rejecting him outright. But just because I might find him ever-so-slightly attractive doesn’t mean I’m ready to hop into bed with the guy! It was difficult enough with my late husband—we had known each other for several months before getting married, after all. I am just not the kind of gal who can leap straight into sex with someone.

Taccit bares his teeth in a sudden snarl, startling me into taking a few steps back and creating some space between us. He instantly reins himself in, his eyes filling with regret.

“I cannot protect you if you sleep closer to the entrance.” His voice remains calm and steady, betraying none of the frustration I can see in his face.

He advances toward me, and I scramble backward to avoid being steamrolled by the larger male. My retreat is cut short when my back slaps against the cave wall. Undeterred, Taccit continues to close the gap, crowding close. His hand is firmly planted on the wall beside my head, effectively caging me in.

As I gasp for air, I begrudgingly admit to myself that my body’s responses are not purely driven by fear. I am hyper-aware of his body and its proximity, the waves of heat emanating from him setting my own temperature soaring. My nipples harden, scraping against the slightly rough fabric of his shirt.

Taccit leans in further, his head hovering mere inches from mine. He tilts his head to the side, his breath skimming my ear and neck. I shiver involuntarily as a delicious sensation courses through me, traveling from my neck straight down to my core. My thighs instinctively press together as my clit begins to pulse in time with my racing heart.

With a long, unmistakable sniff, Taccit seems to sense my state. A tidal wave of embarrassment crashes over me as I realize he can no doubt smell my arousal, even if I try to deny it.

“Why do you deny us? I know just how much you long for us to be close, for our bodies to join together in ecstasy,” he says in a deep voice that has a profound effect on me. My arousal intensifies in response to his words and the vivid imagery they provoke.

“I don’t want you getting the wrong idea,” I say. “I’m just not comfortable sleeping with you. Yet.”

Taccit narrows his eyes at me, casting a slow, deliberate gaze over my body. His attention leaves a trail of tingles in its wake, and I have to fight the urge to squirm beneath his scrutiny. A part of me yearns to reach out and just latch onto him like a koala. My knees feel wobbly and I long for his strength.

Taccit lets out a long, ragged breath. He whispers, his breath brushing over my lips and combining with my own. “You are being a naughty girl, Nika, trying to deny us. For punishment, you will feel the same denial that I have. By the time I am done with you, you will be begging.”

I shake my head, wanting to reject his words. I will not beg for him. I simply refuse. His lips brush so lightly against my ear that it feels like my skin is being tickled by a feather. Darn it, doesn’t that send a shiver down my spine! I bite my lip, trying to distract myself from his devilish antics, but the sting only makes me think of how Taccit kissed me earlier. With thoughts of kissing, I become even more aware of how his lips caress my jaw and continue their journey down my neck.

His sharp teeth graze the oh-so-sensitive part where my neck meets my shoulder. But then his tongue soothes the spot, and I can’t help but moan. Despite my desire to stay strong, I find myself tilting my head, practically guiding him to my weak spots.

“You are my mate, my little Nika. If I want to pleasure you all night long, then I shall. The only words I want to hear from your lips are my name as you cry out your release.”

I clench my jaw, outraged by his audacity. I will not beg for him. I’ll stand firm. I’ll tell him he can’t make me do it. Of course, my traitorous mouth seems to have other plans as the words slip past my lips. “Make me.”

Oh. Well, that wasn’t what I had planned at all. But I can’t stop my body from reacting like a heat-seeking missile to the tantalizing mental images. My body is thrumming.

Taccit doesn’t give me a chance to change my mind or correct myself. His lips slam down harder on mine than I expect. His tongue makes a daring invasion, plunging deep into my mouth.

His hand snakes up and wraps around my neck, guiding my head back so that he can take control. He is dominating in his possession. But I’m not going to let him have all the fun. My tongue challenges his to a duel, stroking just as fervently against his.

Taccit pulls back, and I can’t stop the whimper at the loss. We are both panting heavily.

With impossibly quick movements, his claws rend through the shirt I wear. The fabric slides from my body, pooling at my feet.

He looks down at me with heavy-lidded eyes. I expect him to rush me, but his hand gently strokes my hip. A small act, a simple caress, but it means all the more to me that he doesn’t push me beyond my limits.

His voice is rough as sandpaper when he next speaks, demanding, “Who do you belong to?”

I glare back at him, wanting nothing more than to wipe that smug grin off his face. “No one. I am my own woman.”

I gasp when he picks me up. With a few powerful strides, he sits down on the bed, gracefully lying me across his lap. I can feel his arousal, straining against the confines of his leather pants, pressing firmly into my stomach.

My surprise quickly turns to shock as his tail wraps around my wrists, holding me firmly in place.

Here I am, completely exposed to this beast who could do anything his wicked heart desires.

I squirm, then yelp as his hand harshly connects with my backside. An electrifying sting spreads throughout my body, an unexpected thrill that I never would have thought I’d respond to.

“Who do you belong to, Ariana?” His hand strikes again, eliciting another cry from me, before soothing the affected area as his palm tenderly caresses the mark.

“No one.”

Taccit lets out a dark chuckle that echoes off the cave walls. And for a fleeting moment, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve pushed him too far.

A stray finger nonchalantly saunters along my slit, and I hiss a little at the intimate touch.

“You are wet. Your body knows who it belongs to.”

Another slide of that pesky digit across my all-too-receptive flesh makes me tilt my hips, practically inviting more.

“No.” I inwardly scold myself. I refuse to beg him! No one owns me, thank you very much!

Another hard slap on my thigh makes me question my own resolve, especially when followed by a gentle caress. The heat builds and I writhe against him.

His finger slips into my folds, probing at my entrance. I feel so empty. I need him. Taccit hums as his finger ventures deeper. It feels like an invasion. Just one finger, and it already feels like he fills me up. Then, that devious digit curls. I have to bite my lip to stop myself from moaning out loud.

“Please.” The hushed plea escapes my lips.

“Who do you belong to, my little Nika?” he says.

My head shakes vigorously. I can’t say it. How can I possibly admit it when I can’t even form coherent sentences?

His finger withdraws. I can’t help but whine at the sudden emptiness.

“Please, Taccit,” I thrust my bottom in the air, wiggling it, seeking his touch. I know he isn’t immune either, as his not-so-little buddy pulses beneath.

His fingers linger at my entrance, just probing. Never going deep enough to provide relief.

Meanwhile, he strokes my clit with slow, languid strokes.

He teases me so expertly that I feel wound tight, ready to explode. I simply can’t take it anymore!

“Tell me what I want to hear, Ariana.”

“You!” The confession jumps out; I practically shout it.

His fingers dive back in with a vengeance, scissoring and stretching me into a state of pure bliss.

“That’s right, Nika. You belong to me. You are my prisoner.”

He curls his fingers, rubbing at my most sensitive spot. I shatter. White light explodes behind my eyelids. Everything within me clenches and squeezes around him as I ride out my climax. He continues his relentless thrusts, plunging in and out of my tight folds until my body finally goes limp and sags over his.

As I return to my senses, I find myself lovingly cradled in his arms. My cheek snuggles against his chest, and he gently strokes my back with a calming touch.

I feel the tell-tale prickle behind my eyes. I try my best to hide my imminent tears as if I have something in my eye.

Taccit’s green hand tenderly sweeps my hair away from my face. “Nika?”

“I’m fine!” I snap back, maybe just a tad too defensively.

For what feels like an eternity, he looks down at me, scrutinizing my every feature as I studiously try to avoid his all-knowing gaze.

Finally, with a world-weary sigh, he guides me to lie back in the furs. “Get some rest, little Nika. You will need your strength for what I have in mind.”

Great, now he’s planning something, and I have that to worry about!

As he struts across the room, he makes no effort to hide the tent in his trousers.

I’m left staring at him, mouth agape. This infuriating male runs hot and cold. One moment he’s the sweetest guy, and the next he’s bossing me around.

With a huff, I drag the covers up to my chin. I watch through half-lidded eyes as he pulls some extra blankets from a chest and lays them out near the entrance, realizing that he’s making himself a makeshift bed.

“What about you?” I say.

“Get your rest, my little Nika. You need it.”

It’s only as I lie alone in the darkness that I realize tears are falling.

He gave me probably one of the best orgasms of my life, if not the best. And then I ran from him, like some pathetic damsel in distress. This isn’t me. I am stronger than this. Aren’t I?

Sleep slowly claims me, but it’s not all that restful. My mind is filled with dreams of my husband dying, leaving me alone and lost in the wilderness. I try to plant row after row of dying seedlings, but I’m too weak to do anything for myself anymore. Walter appears and just laughs at me endlessly. And just when I think the nightmares can’t get worse, Taccit appears. I call out to him, but he just turns away from me. He doesn’t want me either.

It’s in my dreams that I beg Taccit. I plead with him to stay with me, to not leave me like everyone else has.

* * *

Walter towers above me.I plead for more time to repay my loan. Just a bit more time. He laughs and shoves me to the ground. His hands roughly bind my wrists with a coarse rope. I cry out as the bindings dig into my flesh. And then he strolls away, leaving me as a sacrifice for the circling wolves.

I jolt awake, my heart pounding in my chest.

I shove the fur blankets off my legs, feeling clammy and overheated. Visions and faces flit in my half-lucid state, just out of reach, dissipating as I transition from dreams to reality.

I groan and rub my face. How many times do I have to wake up to nightmares? I’m getting really tired of it. I’m so tired just in general. I need more sleep than I used to.

Just to make matters worse, each time I wake up screaming, Taccit is by my side in an instant. He gathers me in his arms, just holding me until my fears subside. Then he tucks me in as if I were made of glass before retreating back to his own makeshift bed.

And I lie there, left wanting to ask him to join me.

Only this time when I wake up, he doesn’t come.

“Taccit?” I call out for the alien. All I receive is silence.

I slip off the bed and search our lodgings, even poking my head out of the cave, but he’s nowhere to be found. A twinge of disappointment claws at my heart.

I am, however, thankful that he took the wolf creatures—the drolvden—with him.

They seemed friendly enough once he introduced us, but I couldn’t help feeling uneasy at the way they stealthily trailed us yesterday. It triggered memories of being stalked in the forest. I appreciate their company, but the thought of being left alone with them unnerves me.

A small bowl of fruit sits on the table, carefully sliced and arranged in an artful display on a wooden platter. I nibble on it half-heartedly, my appetite faltering after the onslaught of nightmares.

I glance around my new home, trying to figure out what I can do. Only... there’s nothing for me to do here. Nada. Zip. Zilch. I’m not one for sitting around twiddling my thumbs, so I quickly fall victim to a raging case of cabin fever.

Taccit must have gone on a cleaning spree while I slept—the place is spotless! Every item has been meticulously organized. Even his bedding is neatly folded and stowed against a wall near the entrance. I feel a pang of guilt at the sight of the extra blankets.

Taccit and me? We’re like two magnets. Insanely attracted to each other, sure, but also a bit clueless about the other one. I didn’t know my late husband very well when we got hitched, and I’m not eager to repeat that history. Not if I can help it. Luck was on my side last time. Though Taccit’s rugged good looks are tantalizing, I know that attraction alone isn’t the key to a healthy relationship. I pace around the confines of the room, unable to contain my energy. Everything I lay eyes on reminds me of him. Heck, even taking a breath floods my nostrils with his spicy scent. It seeps into me, making it feel like my blood is fizzing beneath the surface.

I need to do something.

I need to get out of here.

I’m halfway to the door when I remember Taccit’s dire warnings about venturing out of the cave without him. He mentioned monsters lurking about—most of which wouldn’t hesitate to attack and eat a small human. At first, I scoff at his words, but then concede—the one time I left the safety of the colony, I found trouble.

Maybe a visit to the garden would be okay, though. Right? If anything gets too sketchy, I can always retreat back to the cave and wait for Taccit to come home. Run and hide is an effective strategy, I tell myself.

I scan the room. Taccit hung my bow on the wall with care, not realizing it could also be folded up and tucked away. In its own way, it’s kinda sweet seeing it displayed like a treasured piece alongside his axe.

My gaze lingers on the metal ring attached to the rock wall just above the bed. I grimace at the memory, teeth clenched tight.

Yeah, not staying here any longer than I need to.

Swiftly, I grab the bow and my last arrow off the wall and fling open the wooden door to the cave. A crisp gust of wind batters me. The temperature has plummeted quite a bit in recent days. I shiver involuntarily, sensing that winter will soon blanket the land.

Taccit calls it the bitter season. It makes me wonder what he calls summer. Sweaty season? Even before leaving Earth, we were warned that the planet had polarized weather—too hot and too cold. I didn’t think it would matter. The chance at a better life was more important to me. Now that I’m here... I’m going to need warmer clothes.

And more clothes if I want to actually work in the soil and do gardening. I’m not exactly neat.

I can’t help but rub at the ache in my chest, longing to assuage it. My heart was set on planting something before the first snowfall this year—I even labored tirelessly for it in the mines—but it all amounted to nothing in the end.

Following the sound of rushing water, I stumble upon a small clearing. It can’t be that far from the garden. I’m sure I’ll be fine here. There is a modest waterfall tumbling over a rocky ledge. Though the water flows relentlessly, the chilly mist it produces leads me to back away from its icy reach.

I’m simply gobsmacked at the sheer beauty of this place. If you catch the angle just right, the rays from our twin suns create rainbows so mesmerizing, you’d think a unicorn had galloped by. Water droplets gather on leaves, looking like nature’s own collection of dazzling diamonds. I’ve been living on this planet for a while now, but only just realized that stopping to smell the roses—or, you know, observe a leaf—might actually be worth my time. In fleeting moments like this, I don’t really mind that I left Earth, and my family, behind. The grime and looming threat of poverty had weighed heavily on me, so it’s nice to feel hope poking its head up now that I’m surrounded by beauty. Life here isn’t quite what I imagined, but it’s not too bad either. I reckon even the highest tier members would never get their eyes on a view this stunning, and here I am, about to enjoy it for the rest of my days.

A warm smile creeps across my face as I busy myself firing my one and only arrow again and again. The closest tree trunk takes quite the beating, the white bark splitting and peeling back after the repeated strikes. Dark sap starts to ooze out, trickling down the trunk in a suspiciously creepy manner.

I can only hope that this tree doesn’t mean anything special to Taccit. I can’t help but imagine him popping up, livid because I’ve inadvertently wounded his favorite tree.

My bow skills have come a long way, but my arrow inventory has not. I really miss having more ammo. I really hate having to walk to collect my one arrow each and every time I make a shot. It’s worse when I miss my target and it flies endlessly into the brush. I wonder if Taccit knows how to make more, and if he’d be willing to teach me. I hate relying on others.

I’m so focused on practicing my aim that when some nearby bushes rustle, I practically jump ten feet off the ground. I swing my bow to aim at the noise, hating how my hands start to shake. But I stand my ground—it could just be a small creature, right? I refuse to be driven from my home.

Home? When did this cave become home?

I snap back to reality as the bushes shake and whatever is hiding inside takes another step closer. It doesn’t try to hide its presence, so I deduce it must be a large predator. Fantastic.

My breathing turns shallow, small pants that risk leaving me light-headed.

Taccit appears, looking as stunned as I do when he stops just a few feet in front of me, mid-step. All I can muster is, “What the bloody hell?”

Blood streams down one of his arms in rivulets, dripping nonchalantly from his hand. It’s smeared across his chest like he’d given a bear a hug, and there’s even a handprint slapped onto one of his pecs, leaving a red trail.

Taccit recovers more quickly than I do. Lifting his wounded arm, he points at me with a bloodied finger and says, “Mate, you have a tendency to point your weapons at me. Will you please lower it before one of us gets hurt?”

“I...” My gaze shifts from the gore to my bow, realizing that I haven’t lowered it at all. So much for my ability to protect myself when my first instinct is just to freeze up like a rabbit.

“Sorry.” I blink a few times, struggling to process everything in front of me. My brain is suddenly a sloth, trying to work its way through a muddy situation. I feel as if I stare at Taccit for ages in wide-eyed disbelief while my brain yells at me to do something. Anything.

“Nika?”

And then, as if someone hits the fast-forward button, all the panic and adrenaline crashes into me with force. My heart pounds against my chest as if it wants to break free, and I gasp for air as if I am drowning. My body buzzes with a prickly, nerve-jangling energy.

“Oh my God.” I say. “You’re hurt!”

I lurch towards him, dropping my bow in the process. My hands shake as I reach out, torn between wanting to help and fearing I’ll only make it worse since I am not exactly a trauma surgeon. Not going to lie, I have never seen someone so grievously injured.

Taccit’s eyes soften. “Relax, my Nika. I am fine.”

“How?” I say. “How is this fine? There’s so much blood!”

My hands gingerly clutch his elbow as I hold him steady to inspect the damage. Despite the crimson mess, there’s only one visible wound. His skin blisters around a long gash. Not as deep as I feared, but definitely angry and painful.

What could have possibly made that wound? It’s not just slashed into his skin, but burnt it in the process.

“Taccit, have you been shot?” The words feel numb on my lips. “Did someone shoot you with a laser pistol?”

This is one of those times that I wish my friend Stacy was here. She’s good with medicine and healing, and all that. Me? I’m lucky that I haven’t passed out, to be honest. Everyone has fight or flight tendencies, and mine lean towards faint when it comes to blood.

He raises an eyebrow, more intrigued than concerned. “Is that what that weapon was? I have never come across such a weapon before. I will have to be wary of it in the future.”

Yep, okay. Taccit just makes that statement like he’s remembering he doesn’t like the taste of vinegar, not like it’s something that could kill him with one shot. Literally. Mental note: avoid laser pistols in the future. Pretty solid plan, that.

I feel a mix of nausea and disbelief at the thought of Taccit getting shot. He had no idea what he was up against and doesn’t grasp just how lucky he is to be standing here.

Taccit chuckles and shrugs as if there is no wound on his arm at all, like it must not hurt like hell.

“It’s barely a scratch. I already used the medicine. I did not mean to scare you. It should be healed completely by tonight. Here, I have something for you.”

He extracts a bag from one of his back belt loops and dangles it in front of me with a touch of pride.

I gawk at the bag, recognizing the silvery sparkle of the fabric and the unmistakable logo.

“Are those?” I say, choking back tears. Even covered in a bloody handprint, I clutch it like a cherished teddy bear. “They’re seeds!”

Taccit shifts his weight from one foot to the other, looking every bit like a young boy who wants to be praised. Underneath his hopeful expression, I see a trace of fear in his eyes.

“Is this what you wanted? Did I get it right?”

“How in the world did you get these?” I crane my neck to look up at him, still dumbfounded.

He stands tall, proud. “The human settlement. I knew you missed your garden. I scoured the area to find these and though I attempted to gather more, I was spotted by a member of your tribe. I would have stayed to fight, but I don’t know who you consider a friend so...” He trails off.

With trembling hands, I pull open the drawstring and nearly fumble the bag in the process. Taccit reaches out and holds the bottom of the bag, making it less awkward for me to peer inside. And what do I find? Adorable little plastic-sealed pouches filled with rare seeds imported from the motherland herself, Earth.

“Taccit... I...” I say, tears welling up. I slap my hands over my mouth, unsuccessfully stifling a sob.

Taccit’s brows raise, and he looks momentarily panicked. “Did I do something wrong?”

I shove the bag aside and throw myself into his arms. My face gets smushed against his chest, probably slathering me in his dried blood. But who cares at this point? My arms snake around his waist, squeezing the life out of him. I cling like I’ve never clung before.

The last time I held onto someone this fiercely was my little sister on the day I left Earth. I loved her with everything I had. Dare I say... am I falling head over heels for Taccit too? No one has ever managed to worm their way into my heart like this. No one has ever cared so much for my happiness. My late-husband? Yeah, gifts weren’t his thing. In fact, making an effort to make me happy in general was like pulling teeth. Our marriage? Think business transaction, not one of friendship or love.

Taccit’s hands start gently taming my hair before giving my back a reassuring rub. “Nika? Talk to me, please.”

Suddenly, the absurdity of my life hits me, and laughter bubbles up, taking over.

“I’m okay. I swear, I’m okay.” I ease back just enough to lock eyes with his worried yet oh-so-gorgeous gaze. I gently cradle his cheeks in my hands, holding his attention. “Next time, don’t go acting like a fool. Rushing in like that... you could have died, Taccit. No gift is worth your life.”

On impulse, I give him a quick peck of a kiss.

Taccit’s eyes almost pop out of their sockets before a sly, devilish smirk overtakes his kissable lips. Uh-oh. I may have just given him some wild ideas.

“Oh, my mate. Your affection was worth every bit of being a fool.”