Chapter 25
Haley
At Draggar’s statement, the tall aliens standing in a clump around the fire go completely still and their whispered conversations come to a sudden halt. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
I really hope it’s good.
I don’t know how to feel about Draggar introducing me as his spirit mate. I was just starting to warm up to the idea myself, and now, his entire tribe knows. This is like meeting the parents. . . except, I’m meeting the entire tribe. I’m at a loss for what to say in a situation like this and the tension in the air is beginning to feel overwhelming.
I nervously flutter my fingers to them in a wave and say, “Hi!”
They react to my greeting without moving a single muscle or uttering a word. Every single tall alien is still frozen stiff with their glacial silver eyes glued to me. I feel like a bug under a microscope with every minute detail being silently studied and catalogued.
Talk about awkward.
The weird guy standing a few feet in front of us wearing what looks almost like a blue toga moves his eyes down my body, and I grow nervous when I realize that unlike the curious, almost analytical way the other aliens are studying me, his perusal feels different. Almost lascivious. If we were on Earth, I’d think he was some dirty old man mentally undressing me, but these guys are supposed to be different, aren’t they? I mean, Draggar has spoken often about how much his tribe values honor.
Next to me, Draggar stiffens at the man’s perusal and a soft growl rumbles through his chest. Toga Guy’s eyes widen and for a moment, it looks like he’s almost afraid, but then a mocking smile spreads across his face. The expression on his face is exactly the same as every other bully I’ve ever met, and I learned a long time ago that the best way to deal with them is to ignore them.
I squeeze Draggar’s hand and the nervous, possessive energy I can feel from him immediately calms and he pulls his gaze away from Toga Guy to stare down at me, a soft smile making the dimple beside his mouth appear.
When we first walked up, there were a few children running around the village center playing a game that looked very similar tag. Now, the small group of young boys comes running through the clearing where we’re all gathered. The little boy in the lead looks like he is about six years old, his skin a brighter hue – almost aqua – than the color most of the adult Laediriian sport and his hair lays in pale silver waves along his wide brow. He’s adorable. They all are.
As soon as the little boy notices me, he skids to a stop. “It’s an alien!” He shrieks, his silver eyes wide with terror.
The boys turn around as one entity and run to the back of the small gathered group and cower behind the adults. They peek out to stare at me in what looks like a mixture of fear and curiosity and my heart sinks.
Jeez, now I’m scaring kids.
This is not off to a good start. Well, at least it can’t get any worse.
At least, I hope not.
I’ve never liked being the center of attention, and this is eerily similar to a nightmare I used to have when I was in high school. Of course, I was naked in the middle of the school cafeteria in that dream, and it didn’t involve aliens. But the sharp rush of embarrassment and self-consciousness that rushes through me right now is exactly the same feeling I always had in that dream.
I nervously shift my feet as the aliens continue to stare, and I glance up at Draggar.
He smiles warmly at me and pulls me closer to his side like he wants to wrap his whole body around me to protect me. And just like that, the uncertainty I was feeling begins to dissipate. This alien – this man – has a way of making everything okay, and I don’t know how he does it. If I wasn’t already falling for him, then the way he holds me right now and the warm happiness on his face that I know is just for me would definitely do it.
The tension bracketing my body relaxes, and I turn back to study the aliens gathered in front of me a little closer.
They’re all male, just like Draggar said. I still can’t believe their species doesn’t have any females at all. It’s truly amazing they’ve managed to reproduce and survive this long.
Each one is tall with the same muscular physique that Draggar has. Although, I think my guy is bigger and stronger, but then again, maybe I could be a little biased. The gathered aliens all have the same broad foreheads, wide mouths, metallic skin that almost glitters in the light, and ridges that I now know serve as protection for their vital organs. Beneath their thick skin, bulging muscles envelope their towering frames.
These guys were designed to be warriors, and it’s clear by the swords on their backs that their muscles aren’t just for show.
I notice several of the alien men are more of a silver color with steely gray hair and deep wrinkles lining their skin, and I assume they’re the senior citizens of the tribe. But even most of the senior citizens in the tribe display reams of muscles that would make any bodybuilder back on Earth green with envy.
And they are all wearing the long loincloths that I’ve come to realize must be normal attire for Laediriians. Every single one. There are so many eight packs on display that I have a strong urge to look away in awkward embarrassment, but I can’t.
The silence stretches on and just when I start to wonder if the sight of me has made the entire tribe lose the ability to speak, it’s finally broken by an imposing, regal looking older alien who strides towards us forcing Blue Toga Guy to move out of the way or risk being trampled.
Blue Toga Guy reluctantly takes a few steps to the side. For a split second, a disdainful look of contempt flashes on his face before he replaces it with a smarmy sneer aimed at the imposing guy. Obviously, there’s no love lost between them.
The new guy comes to a stop just in front of us. A long sword is strapped to his back and knives stick out of a belt on his loincloth as if he’s prepared for a battle right here in the middle of what seems like a peaceful village, and I wonder if he’s expecting trouble. Lines radiate out from his eyes and deep grooves bracket his wide mouth on either side, leading me to believe he smiles a lot, but when I meet his eyes, I swear I see a hint of sadness before it’s quickly masked.
Based on the deference the other aliens show him and the respect in their gazes, I assume this guy is the chief of the tribe.
Every time I’ve heard Draggar mention Chief Daggir, his voice has been warm with affection and respect, and it’s clear he cares a lot for the other man.
The chief eyes Draggar up and down, warmth and affection in his silver gaze. Then he places his fist against his chest with his shoulders held straight and stiff as if he is at attention.
Draggar mimics his action, and I quickly realize it’s some sort of greeting.
“Greetings, Warrior Draggar.” The alien turns his shrewd gaze to me, scrutinizing me from the top of my head to the bottoms of the boots Draggar made me. “And his mate, Haley. I am Chief Daggir.”
I return his greeting with a friendly smile on my face.
Chief Daggir looks over his shoulder, and calls out to one of the gathered aliens, this one a lanky teen standing close to the table and benches laid out near the fire pit. “Merix, please add a seat for Haley.” The teen hustles away and returns with a large wooden chair that he situates at the head of the table.
Then Chief Daggir waves us forward, and it’s like a spell has been broken. Everyone rushes around to take their places on the benches squished together shoulder to shoulder. Even Vrenner is here, and I see him give Draggar and I a subtle nod as he takes a seat just a few places away.
One of the aliens who had been standing near the fire pit brings over a large clay pot and sits it down in the middle of the table, while another adds a large platter piled high with what looks like the flatbread I enjoyed earlier today with Draggar.
The scintillating aroma emanating from the thick, hearty stew as bowls are passed around makes my stomach growl loudly, and I try to smile innocently as some of the men glance worriedly at me. It doesn’t seem like that long ago that I ate, but I guess I worked up an appetite.
That thought makes me glance over to where Draggar is seated to my left, and I realize he’s watching me. Gold flecks have begun to crowd out the normal icy color of his pupils, and his gaze leaves a warm trail behind as it caresses my face. I can feel the steady thrum of arousal begin to flow through my veins and I wonder for the hundredth time how he can turn me on with just a look.
It is then that I realize Chief Daggir has been studying both of us, and my face flushes with embarrassment to be caught ogling Draggar in front of him.
He chuckles, his eye crinkling at the corners. “Ah, the amoris bond. It is a gift for the mates who experience it. I did not think to ever see the bond in person.”
As soon as the food has been distributed and the cooks have taken their places at the table and everyone has begun to eat, the chief clears his throat and says, “You have much to tell us, son.”
Chief Daggir’s words startle me.
I didn’t realize the chief was Draggar’s father. But as I stare at them, comparing their features, I realize there is a strong resemblance there that I hadn’t noticed before. They both have chins that are just a little too obstinate and pointy, faces that are broad and rugged, and the same silver eyes that are similar in shape with the top lid being slightly hooded. Even the variation in the blue-green shades of their skin is nearly a carbon copy.
I dig into the rich stew in front of me as Draggar tells his father and the other assembled tribe members about stumbling upon me in the jungle and his fight with the tiniio. Actually, he calls it our fight, and he beams with pride as he tells them about me taking on the dinosaur with nothing but a rock and what he calls a small twig.
Some of the tribe members have been eyeing me with something that looks an awful lot like suspicion, but after that, they look at me with respect and awe in their eyes.
The few children and teens that I’ve seen have settled at one end of the table, and they listen in rapt attention with their faces glazed over with excitement as the man next to me speaks. It’s clear that he is a well-respected member of his tribe, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guy to rescue me from the tiniio.
I still don’t know what to think about this whole mate business or what exactly my feelings are for Draggar. Maybe it’s love, I don’t know. But I definitely care for him more than any other man I’ve ever met and I already can’t imagine my life without him in it. And I’m starting to think that it is love.
As Draggar speaks, he takes care not to mention that he was shot with a poisoned arrow by a rival tribe, and I quickly realize that he probably wants to discuss that information with his father first, instead of blurting it out to the whole tribe. Instead, he mentions briefly that he was ill for a short time after crossing over to the other tribe’s territory, and that I cared for him.
Once he has finished his recitation of the last few days, the chief turns his gaze to me and asks, “Haley, tell us, from where do you hail? How did you find your way to our planet?”
I tell them, with Draggar translating for the tribe members who don’t have translator chips, about the Zyfeliks and being stolen from my home, how scared I was, and that the gray aliens were going to sell me. Some of the men gasp and I even notice a couple of them place their hands on their swords as if they’re ready to take on the beings who took me and that warms my heart.
I continue and relate how the Zyfeliks’ ship was pursued by the space cops – they look a little confused during that part – and that they dumped the cargo hold I was kept in, and it crash landed onto this planet.
Then, I take a deep breath and share a questioning look with Draggar. He gives me an encouraging nod to continue. So, I do, and I tell them about the others.
“The thing is, when the ship crashed on your planet, I wasn’t alone.” I wait a moment as Draggar translates for me, and during that time, I take a peek at his father.
The older alien’s brow ridges are drawn together in a harsh line over his eyes, and he looks at me solemnly, waiting patiently for me to continue.
“Other humans were abducted from Earth. They were dumped on this planet with me, and they survived the crash, too.” As soon as Draggar finishes translating my words, there are shouts and exclamations and questions from the gathered tribe members.
A couple of them even stand up from the table and look as if they want to immediately leave and travel to the crash site. As I sit there and watch the commotion, I start to wonder if maybe it was a mistake to tell the tribe about my friends.
“Silence!” Chief Daggir’s loud voice roars out a command, and everyone immediately goes quiet.
He stares at them for a moment, his steely gaze raking over each one of the men. Then, he turns to me, the expression on his face gentling, and gestures. “Please continue, Haley.”
“We’re not used to a planet like Laedirissae. On Earth, if we get hungry, we go to a store and we buy food. We don’t have to hunt for it or even cook it if we don’t want to. We don’t have to worry about the dangers that your planet has.”
I’ve never liked having to ask for anything, and I feel like asking a whole tribe of strangers to take in a bunch of humans is a pretty big ask. I don’t know how they’ll react. Maybe they’ll immediately say no or maybe they’ll expect something in return.
Draggar senses my hesitancy, and he takes my hand in his. I take another deep breath and try to draw on his strength. If he thinks his tribe will help us, then I will trust that they will.
“My friends didn’t have much food or water when I left them, and they’ll probably run out soon. That’s if they haven’t already. Would the Anuriix tribe be willing to help us?”
There is a long moment of silence after Draggar translates my question, and I begin to wonder if he was wrong and I’m going to be immediately tossed out on my ass.
The aliens are all quiet and staring expectantly at Chief Daggir, waiting for his decision.
Tension settles like a blanket over everyone as the chief looks around the table at his gathered tribe, meeting each of their gazes. Even the youngest member of the tribe, a small toddler, seems to sense the unease and he begins to grow fussy in the arms of the large warrior holding him until the man settles him down with a shushing whisper.
Worry setlles over me and burns in my stomach like acid, threatening to make me upchuck the stew I just finished eating. I realize I’m clutching hard at Draggar’s hand like it’s a lifeline, and it honestly feels like it is.
Just as I’m about to give up hope entirely, Chief Daggir clears his throat before turning to face me. If it wasn’t for the kindness in his eyes and the slight upturn to the corners of his wide mouth, I would fear him. Even though he is a large, intimidating alien with a wicked looking sword, I have a feeling he’s a wise and caring leader, too.
As he smiles gently at me, I can feel a small kernel of optimism begin to grow inside my chest.
“Haley. . .” The chief glances over at Draggar, whose hand hasn’t left mine, and continues, “The Anuriix tribe will be honored to assist you and the other humans.”
I let out a burst of air that I didn’t realize I was holding as relief floods over me. My smile is so wide that my face feels like it’s going to crack open, and I look over to see Draggar wearing a matching expression. His hard face is wreathed by a grin so joyful that it makes my heart ache in happiness.
Excitement descends as plans are quickly made, with many of the gathered males calling out suggestions. The storm cloud that we saw the day before dropped a lot of rain in the Anuriix territory and the chief warns us that the waterways are swollen from the rain and our trip to my friends will take longer than normal. It’s decided that Draggar will choose the warriors who will accompany us to the crash site.
Chief Daggir instructs Vrenner to quickly repair as many translator chips as he can and offer them to any tribe members who wish to receive one and that he can accompany us to recover any materials from the ship that might be useful to the tribe. Vrenner swiftly scrambles back to his workshop to begin work on the translators, with one of the younger aliens by his side to assist him.
After I share the details about Emily’s condition, the tribe’s medic, a tall man named Warrix offers to accompany us in case she still needs treatment, and he quickly disappears to gather the supplies he will need.
Once Draggar has rattled off a list of three other aliens, nearly everyone else disperses, either to gather supplies and prepare for our departure in the morning or to their huts. I imagine the gossip will be hot in the village tonight, and that I and the other humans will be the topic of conversation.
Even Blue Toga Guy, who sat near the chief, silently watching everything, his cold eyes raking over me, leaves to go do who knows what.
Draggar and I are left sitting at the table with his father, while two older, silver skinned aliens chat companionably as they clean the dinner dishes. Their quiet whispers reach me, and I can just barely hear them as they excitedly discuss the alien. I chuckle to myself at the thought that I’m the alien, but I guess they’re correct since I’m on their planet.
Chief Daggir clears his throat. When he speaks, his voice contains a thread of steel that wasn’t present earlier. “Would you care to explain what you were doing on Tussoll territory, son?”