Possessive Alien’s Mate by Luna Hunter
Chapter Fifteen
Viliana
They saythat all good things must come to an end. We’ve reached our destination, after two wonderful days spent together in our make-shift bed. Sex, snacks, more sex, long talks as we watch the world pass by, more sex… that is how me and the Thaana warrior spend our time.
There was a time when I was afraid of him, of his black eyes and his silver skin. He seemed so different, so alien, so completely impossible to read. Now I feel more comfortable than ever in his presence. I can tell he cares for me in a way no one’s ever done before.
I can also tell he’s holding back from me. There are things he’s not telling me. He dodges questions about his past, about his people, their history. Is he ashamed? Or is there a dark secret he’s hiding?
Whatever it is, the truth will come out one way or another, for his home planet is waiting. A place no human has ever been. Not even the Dohan knew where the Thaana came from.
And I’m about to set foot on their homeworld.
The large planet, all purple and green, looms in front of us. A white band swirls around the planet.
“What’s that? Ice?”
“That is Yssadril,” Thiray says. “Part of it.” His dark eyes shine brightly, and his tattoos pulse with energy. They didn’t do that back on Earth, but the closer we’ve gotten to his homeworld, the more they’ve lit up.
“Do I frighten you?” The Thaana asks when he catches me staring. “It’s okay if I do, Viliana. The purification might alarm you.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. The purification? That does not sound at all pleasant.
“I’m a little concerned, yeah,” I admit.
“That white band is the pure energy of Thulara, of Yssadril, the Life-Tree that sustains us all. It will purge me of my toxins.”
“I thought you meant we were going to get medicine on your planet. You’re saying the planet itself will heal you?”
“Correct, human.”
My throat is suddenly dry. “Is it safe for me on your planet, though?”
“Of course. You mean it no harm.”
Thiray takes us down, our cruiser passing straight through the pure white band. I hold onto Thiray tightly and hold my breath, but nothing happens.
“How old do you think I am, Viliana?”
“What? I don’t know. I hadn’t given it much thought.”
That’s a weird question to ask all of a sudden.
“Take a guess.”
“I don’t know. Thirty something? Forty? You’re older than me, but I don’t know by how much.”
“You’re only off by about… a century or thirteen.”
“What?”
My voice drops and I whirl around to face Thiray.
“You’re not over a thousand years old. That’s impossible. I know your hair is white, but come on. Your skin is flawless. Your body… well. I’m not buying it.”
“It is still true, my little human.”
“But…”
“Yssadril blesses us Thaana with extremely long lifespans,” he says. “You will see.”
I am speechless.
The ship touches down on the surface of this alien world. The glass canopy slides open, and Thiray steps out and helps me down. I take a deep breath of the freshest air I’ve ever had the pleasure of breathing. The planet is beyond beautiful. I instantly recognize it from my dreams. There are the twin moons, up high in the sky that is streaked purple and blue. The calm sea stretches out in front of us, while behind us there’s an ancient forest as far as the eye can see.
“I know this place, Thiray. Thiray?”
My alien companion drops to his knees. His eyes turn from the darkest black to the whitest of white. His tattoos pulse as well with bright white light.
I totally freak out.
“Thiray?! What’s happening?
The light grows so bright I’m blinded. I shield my face with my hands and blink rapidly.
A familiar hand grabs my arm. “Relax, farlin. It’s okay.”
My vision returns slowly but surely. Thiray’s black eyes greet me. He looks like himself again, only healthier. His skin seems to glow, and his eyes have got their dark sparkle back.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Never better,” he answers as he rests his forehead against mine. “Do you believe me now? Yssadril has healed me.”
“But… how? What is Yssadril?”
He gestures vaguely. “Yssadril is all around us, my mate. It is the leaves on the trees, it is the pebbles that wash up on the beach, it is the pollen in the air. Yssadril is life.”
I frown deeply. “Yssadril is a metaphor?”
Thiray chuckles and shakes his head. “No, my little human, Yssadril is as real as you and me — and it sustains the life of the Thaana for as long as we wish, until it is time for us to return to the stream.”
It’s all a bit overwhelming. I was just starting to fall for him. I didn’t factor him being practically immortal into it.
“What does that mean for… us?” I ask, searching for the right words. “If you live that long, then… am I just a distraction to you, a fling?”
His gaze hardens. “No,” he says forcefully. “My dear farlin, I love you. It’s true I am much older than you, but I’ve never experienced anything in my thousand years in this universe than I have with you by my side. My two hearts beat for you and you alone. If you’ll let me, I want to spend the rest of my life by your side.”
Thiray grabs my hand and gazes deeply into my eyes.
“Yssadril can sustain your life as well, if you so choose it, my mate.”
“What?” My eyes fly open. He’s talking about immortality. For little old me. Something I haven’t even given an iota of thought. “I don’t have to choose that now, right?”
“Of course not. We have all the time in the world.”
My heart hammers in my throat as his words wash over me. He loves me. He wants to spend all eternity with me. It’s overwhelming.
And I’m also ecstatic with joy.
“Oh Thiray, I love you, too!” I blurt out.
I move to kiss him when a spotlight suddenly shines down on us. Three flying motorbikes appear overhead, their roaring engines blowing our conversation away.
“HALT!”
Thiray shields my body with his, spreading his arms wide.
“She is with me! Lower your weapons!”
The bikes land. Three armored Thaana step off brandishing curved blades. I press myself closely against Thiray’s back and peek at the men.
“She is with me,” Thiray repeats. “We have come seeking an audience with the Council.”
The men stare at Thiray in shock.
“Thiray th’Rasda Di’ylian! You have brought an outsider to our world willingly?! Your request will be granted, for you must answer to the Council for this crime!”
“What are they talking about?” I ask, my heart hammering in my throat. This is not the reception I expected.
“Bringing outsiders to our world is a capital offense!” One of the soldiers barks.
“C-capital?!”
“For me, not for you, little one,” Thiray says.
“That doesn’t make it any better!”
Panic grips my throat. This is not supposed to happen. I thought Thulara was paradise.
Now I’m in hell.