Chapter 23
Alanna
Egypt had to be her favorite stop on the world tour so far. Not because of the beautiful culture or amazing people or even the ancient history spread out before them, but because the aliens had heard about ‘aliens’ and they found it hysterical.
“So, you mean to tell me,” Survii said to her in the shadow of the Dendera Temple to Hathor, after having just finished admiring the ancient artwork carved on the walls, struggling to contain his laughter while Atem and Havali belly laughed behind him, “that there are people who believe that aliens traveled an unimaginable distance thousands of years ago to pile stones in your desert then just left? And that’s more believable than ancient humans piling stones in the desert? ”
Alanna was biting her lips to avoid laughing with him. “I never said I agreed.”
“Why would we do that?” He asked, throwing back his head with a loud guffaw. “What possible reason could there be to make pyramid structures in the desert that match the stars and then just leave? What could any alien race gain from that?”
“Aliens be doing alien things for alien reasons,” she shrugged sagely.
He laughed harder. “I’m not saying there aren’t species that have been traveling the stars since these ancient humans existed, I’m just saying I can’t imagine them reacting so… oddly.”
Alanna laughed along with him, continuing around the beautifully carved and painted columns.
Atem and Peony were talking to their guide while the others meandered around.
The chance to explore the ancient remains of their most distant ancestors like this was precious.
And to share it with visitors from the stars made it somehow more meaningful.
“Humans are fascinated with you guys though,” she said, resisting the urge to run her fingers over the stone.
She wanted to touch the artwork, to be connected to the ancients in that way, but she also didn’t want to disturb the site.
“We always have been. Even the people who built this temple would stare up at the sky and wonder what waited beyond the stars. Are you telling me that your people didn’t do the same? ”
Survii chuckled as he followed. Staring at her and not the artwork. “No. My people looked up at the stars and bragged they would be the first to touch them. We’re a competitive species.”
“I’ve noticed,” she snickered, walking around a column. Blocking the others from seeing her and Survii as he followed her around.
Since their discussion in England, he had been talking to her more.
She had expected flirting, touching, even seduction, but they just talked.
About everything. When they weren’t working on the trade agreements or protectorate rights, they were talking about their childhoods.
Their thoughts on various topics. Exchanging stories.
Survii was a great conversationalist. He never let an awkward moment linger, but he also wasn’t afraid to let comfortable silence continue. And when he was talking to her, she could always tell she had his full attention.
And that was really the best part of talking to him.
Alanna was used to people tuning her out – especially when she started in with her weirdness.
But regardless of how many times she brought up auras or her dreams or anything that would normally make people give her that polite smile that she knew meant they weren’t really listening to her, he never turned his eyes away.
All three of them remained firmly on her, no matter how many times she brought up strange topics or lapsed into long silences that she didn’t realize were happening.
His attention was unwavering, and she really appreciated that about him. She wasn’t used to being the sole focus of a person and it was wonderful.
Even now, when he stood in a temple built by long dead humans to ancient gods that had withstood multiple millennia passing, he still focused completely on her. Like she was the most interesting, or most important, thing in this room.
“What’s with the alien overlord thing?” He asked, stepping in just a bit closer than would have been polite for conversation.
“Alien overlord thing?”
“I saw it as I was looking through your subnet. Internet. Right? People kept saying that they, for one, welcomed their new alien overlords. What is that about?”
She snickered at the idea of him finding meme culture. “It’s an old joke. One that got popular again after I first warned everyone we were coming. It’s a way of welcoming you, I guess.”
“Your people have strange senses of humor if that’s the joke they make while simultaneously doing everything in their power to ensure their sovereignty in our talks.”
“We’re an odd bunch, I agree.”
“And there’s so many of you.” She jumped when he softly took hold of her waist. Walking her just a bit closer.
Almost completely closing the distance between them.
“I’ve never seen so many beautiful females in my life.
You humans really are… adorable. It’s almost disappointing that your leadership is predominantly male. ”
She gave him a look that made him snicker.
“Don’t get jealous, vi Vitralai. I’m only making an observation. You’re still the most beautiful of them all.”
“I bet you’ve told all your females that,” she couldn’t help but say. Knowing she was fishing for information but unable to stop herself.
“I have, actually,” he smirked. “I’ve said it to every female that I’ve ever considered mine. Which is, admittedly, a very small number. A single number. Just you.”
She chuckled, putting her hand on his belly to push him away, but there was no force behind the shove, and she found herself just stroking his abdomen through the shirt. His abs were so hard, and they clenched as her fingers moved down the ridges.
“No one else means anything to me but you,” Survii promised, putting his hand over hers, keeping her from pulling her hand away. “The moment I saw you, they were nothing but distant memories. You’re the only female I’ve ever claimed as mine.”
Alanna shivered. Not just because of the words, but because she believed him.
There was such sincerity in his voice, in the ringing of his aura, that she knew it to be something he genuinely meant.
“You really never believed you’d be mated?” She asked on a whisper as, from beyond the column, she heard the laughter and chatter of the others. It couldn’t touch them. It was like they were in a bubble all on their own.
He actually paused, giving it some thought before answering. “I really never did. Some part of me knew it was a possibility, but it was never something I seriously considered. It was never something I thought I’d want.”
“Why not?”
“I couldn’t imagine myself being with only one person for the rest of my life.
I couldn’t imagine that someone could keep me entertained for that long.
That anyone could hold my attention forever.
I’ve never been like that. Stable. Content with things as they are.
I’ve always wanted a new adventure. Change.
Excitement. It’s why I worked so hard to become a ranked voice, so I could be an ambassador and see far off places and worlds. ”
“And you don’t think you’re going to get bored with me?”
He inclined his head. “A fair question. Alanna, you know how sometimes you just zone out and find yourself lost in whatever sensation is going on?”
“Yeah?” She said slowly. “What about it?”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “When you do that… you’re fascinating.
I can stare at you for marks on end. Just the look in your eyes when you’re consumed with sensation.
That soft smile you get when you’re enjoying it.
Or that little furrow you get between your brow tufts when you’re not, but you just can’t stop. ”
Alanna laughed, feeling her face heat as she turned her eyes away. “That’s interesting to you? Come on. You’ve seen more alien worlds than I even know exist, yet a space case is all it takes to keep you focused?”
“Space case?”
“Yeah. It’s an Earth phrase. It refers to people like me, who aren’t always grounded in reality. We’re up there floating in space. Metaphorically.”
“I can make that a reality,” he said, grinning. “I see how much fun you’re having exploring your own planet. I could give you every planet. Every comet. Every star. There’s so much out there for you to lose yourself in, and I want to show it all to you.”
“But how? How is my zoning out interesting to you? How can that possibly hold your attention?” She pressed the question desperately. Needing to know. Needing to understand. Needing to believe.
“I supposed, it’s because I can’t do it,” he admitted slowly.
“The sheer joy you find in the softness of a piece of fabric or the sound of a song you’ve heard a hundred times before, it’s incredible.
And when you get like that, when you lose yourself in those moments, for a short time as you let me witness it, I can understand what you’re doing.
I can be satisfied with something so small. That’s why.”
She let out a long, shuddering breath and he leaned down closer, putting his lips by her ear. Teasing her with the promise of an embrace.
“I want to see more. I want to show you everything. Big and small. Every amazing thing this universe has to offer. I want you on my ship, in my den, traveling the universe with me. Experiencing everything in that way only you can. I want to join you for that ride and experience it through your eyes.”
“You don’t really want that,” she breathed. Not really calling him a liar, but more expressing her disbelief that anyone would want that.
“Test me,” he begged. “Let me into your world, Alanna. Let me see the universe through your eyes. No matter how strange others find it. No matter how little or silly they might think it is. Let me experience what you do. I want to know. Show me.”
She shivered, opening her mouth to give in-
-when suddenly, with a grunt, Survii was gone. Atem stood in his place, snarling. Survii glared as he picked himself off the ground where he landed after Atem punched him. He wiped at his bleeding lip even as he grinned at his Dominani.
“You do not touch my sister,” Atem growled, pushing Alanna behind him.
“Hey, it’s okay,” she said quickly, grabbing his arm. She knew she had no hope of holding him back if he was determined to hurt Survii, but she did it anyway.
“She has given you her answer. Accept it,” he growled as the others ran around the column, no doubt following him after he had charged after her.
Including their human guides – all high-ranking members of the Egyptian government.
And they were now giving the angry, snarling, violent aliens wary looks.
They couldn’t understand their words – they were speaking Domtri – but the anger on Atem’s face needed no translation.
And it made them uneasy because, regardless of how nicely they approached them, there was no forgetting that the aliens were a much more advanced, much stronger, much bigger species.
They were a potential threat. An unknown beast with sharp teeth that had promised not to bite. Seeing the reality of their power was unnerving, especially with a lack of context.
Survii was back on his feet. Grinning. Unconcerned by the blood that continued trickling down his chin from his lower lip. His tongue flicked out and tasted it.
“Easy, vi Dominani,” he said easily. “I’ve done nothing she hasn’t given me permission to do.”
“She rejected you.”
“I’ve changed her mind.”
He snarled, fangs gleaming, at the cocky suggestion.
“Atem,” Alanna pulled on the sleeve of his shirt. “It’s really okay. I’m okay. He’s telling the truth. I said he could do this.”
Atem whipped his head around to look at her in surprise. She offered him a soft smile.
“We’re taking it slow,” she said. “He apologized. And I’m willing to let him try to make this right.”
Atem looked back at Survii and growled but said nothing for a moment. When he finally moved, it was to herd Alanna away from him. Grumbling under his breath.
She let it happen. Not because she wanted to go, but because she didn’t want to make a scene while other humans were watching.
But she kept her eyes on Survii. And because she did, she didn’t miss the wink he gave her.
It made her giggle as she allowed her overprotective alien brother to drag her away.