Nanny For The Alien General by Athena Storm
Keilon
There is no ion stone to be found so our enclosure is cold and dark. Trust me, I looked. Sera and I are being held in an empty cabin (one presumably still under construction or waiting to be occupied) in the center of the settlement.
The only good thing about the situation is that the settlement didn’t build an official jail so they seem to be a somewhat peaceful group.
Which is fortunate for all involved because if they hurt my children, I’m not sure any bonds would have been able to restrain me.
We are not bound cruelly or without the ability to move but, despite all my efforts, I cannot find a way out of this cabin.
After searching, Sera gives me a stern warning to cease looking. The villagers are not cruel, but they need to keep me under control while they sort out what they’d like to do. Apparently, group consensus seems to be highly prized in this illegal settlement.
“They won’t hurt the children,” Sera says, in response to my angry looks.
“How do you know?”
“Because they’ve assured me. And I believe them. I trust them. They are my people, after all. Would you not trust your own?”
“I wouldn’t be in this situation with my own people.”
“No, that’s true. But humans live in much worse conditions in Kiphian cities. Whether they are prisoners or not.”
I grunt at this. I’m in no mood to argue.
“The children are safe and warm. I know this.”
Though I hate to sit and do nothing, I know I don’t have much of a choice. And, as long as my children are safe, I don’t want to cause any further damage.
Though Sera’s words have rankled me to a degree I didn’t think possible, I have created chaos in her world. After all her kindnesses and her efforts to save me, I need to restrain my anger.
Besides, she did leap out into that snowstorm to save your kids without a second thought…
“What happens now, then?” I ask.
“I don’t know.” Upon my look, she speaks further. “I really don’t. They won’t harm the children, that is not their way. But us…? I’m not so sure.”
“But you are highly respected. You are their healer.”
“I was. But I have broken that trust. Even I know that some sort of punishment is warranted.”
“But—“
“They are merely protecting their existence. We fought so hard for it and it can’t be broken now. I did not honor that pact.”
Her eyes are downcast and, for the first time, I notice she is shivering uncontrollably. As I breathe out, I notice that wisps of air cloud the space around me. With my body temperature, I hadn’t noticed (yet again) that someone around me is cold.
You really need to get better at that.
Awkwardly, I stop my fruitless pacing and sit down on the tamped ground beside her. She looks at my warily, resembling a small woodland creature that doesn’t quite trust me.
“Would I…could I…perhaps…help you?”
“How?” She says, her suspicion deeply etched in her voice.
“I could..if you don’t mind, hold you. You seem cold. My body temperature runs higher than humans. I could keep you warm. Strictly platonic, of course.”
Her gaze tells me of the internal gymnastics of her mind as she considers my offer. A part of me aches for her to accept but I quickly correct myself.
This is merely for survival. Nothing more.
She continues to shiver and I scoot closer. By now, I know she can feel the waves of heat coming off me.
“Okay. But only for a minute.”
“All right.”
I open my arms and shift until the sides of our bodies are touching. Incredibly, she fits right into the crook of my arm, almost like she was carved out of the negative space there.
For several moments, we sit in silence, until I hear a small sigh escape her. Her body also seems to relax a little as some of my warmth seeps into her.
However, the more she relaxes, the more I tense up. My spine buzzes and tingles with the sensation and I find myself loving every second of it.
What if you abandon this notion of hesitancy for a second? What would it mean?
Unbidden, new thoughts drop into my brain. All seemingly inspired by this simple touch with this human woman.
Can it be that my nerves aren’t shot, after all? That she really is a fated mate? And, if so, what can I do to salvage whatever this relationship could be?
Before I can censor myself any further, my mouth opens and words just fall out. Once I start talking, I can’t seem to start. Just touching this woman disorients me, it seems.
“I apologize for my earlier statements. About humans. You are right. I do not have much interaction with them. And the reports I receive are always negative. I realize that I may have been given a poor impression of them from my advisors.”
She begins to speak, but I gently interrupt. I can’t help myself.
“That is not an excuse. I know this. But it is what I know. From now on, I will keep an open mind.”
“Apology accepted,” she says quietly.
“And, when I return to Cytheira, I will enact laws that will rectify these…imbalances.”
She scoots away from me to look at me in surprise. I can’t tell if she believes me.
Can’t say I blame her. I’m not sure I can believe you either.
Truly, I don’t know where these words are coming from, but I cannot stop them. And, as soon as they are told, they feel right. They feel as right as…sitting next to this woman.
How can I possibly deny myself that?
“It’s true. You have my word.”
In response, she returns to her place at my side. A second later, she speaks again.
“Thank you. I believe you. And so…I thank you.”
A surge pulses up my spine.
You want to kiss her. You can’t help yourself.
No. Now I will exert some self control. The connection between us is tenuous at best. Only a fool would shatter it.
I have behaved like a boor and am now, slowly, winning back her trust. Having her by my side is enough. I am content knowing she is warm and safe beside me.
For now, this is enough.
Silence falls around us.
